Assessment of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus and other fungi in millet and sesame from Plateau State, Nigeria.

Sixteen fonio millet and 17 sesame samples were analysed for incidence of moulds, especially aflatoxigenic Aspergillus species, in order to determine the safety of both crops to consumers, and to correlate aflatoxin levels in the crops with levels produced by toxigenic isolates on laboratory medium. Diverse moulds including Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cercospora, Fusarium, Mucor, Penicillium, Rhizopus and Trichoderma were isolated. Aspergillus was predominantly present in both crops (46-48%), and amongst the potentially aflatoxigenic Aspergillus species, A. flavus recorded the highest incidence (68% in fonio millet; 86% in sesame kernels). All A. parvisclerotigenus isolates produced B and G aflatoxins in culture while B aflatoxins were produced by only 39% and 20% of A. flavus strains isolated from the fonio millet and sesame kernels, respectively. Aflatoxin concentrations in fonio millet correlated inversely (r = -0.55; p = 0.02) with aflatoxin levels produced by toxigenic isolates on laboratory medium, but no correlation was observed in the case of the sesame samples. Both crops, especially sesame, may not be suitable substrates for aflatoxin biosynthesis. This is the first report on A. parvisclerotigenus in sesame.

Characteristics of patients presenting with complications of abortion in a tertiary health facility in south-west Nigeria

Objectives: Abortion is associated with significant health problem with short- and long-term complications that affect the quality of life of those who are fortunate enough to escape mortality. This study evaluated the population of patients with complications of abortion; identified the abortion providers and the pattern of contraceptive usage in these patients managed in our hospital; and suggests strategies on the required heath intervention.Design: The design was a descriptive study of cases of abortions with complications. Setting and subjects: We reviewed all (225) cases of abortions with complications managed at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital; Osogbo; Nigeria; over a five-year period. Outcome measures: Records of patients managed for abortion-related complications were retrieved; data were extracted and analysis was carried out for socio-demographic factors and other abortion-related characteristics. Results: The study showed a more common occurrence of abortions among middle-aged (64.4); multiparous (53.3) women with a low socio-economic background (62.6); and they were performed mostly by medical doctors in private settings (37.8). The low usage of contraception (11.1) was of significance. Conclusion: This study provided considerable insight into the complications of abortion in a tertiary institution in Nigeria. Most of the patients were aware of contraception; but usage; which mainly constituted emergency contraception; was low. Despite prophylactic antibiotics; sepsis was the most common observed complication. Healthcare intervention should be re-focused through the encouragement of the adoption of effective methods to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Healthcare providers should re-appraise their antibiotics regimen

Microbiological quality ofnono.

Microbiological examination of the uninoculated whole-milk product 'nono' during incubation at room temperature (27 ± 2°C) for 120 h showed a high incidence of undesirable microorganisms: minimum bacterial, staphylococcal, yeasts and mould counts were 2.28 × 10(6), 1.50 × 10(3) and 1.70 × 10(4) organisms/ml, respectively.Nono is thus of poor microbial quality even when prepared under hygienic conditions.