The agricultural sector contributes approximately 10–20% of the total anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions. Consequently, climate change can negatively affect crop yields and livestock production thus threatening food security, especially in a vulnerable continent like Africa. This review provides an overview of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices and their impacts on smallholder farmers in five African countries (Algeria, Senegal, Benin, Nigeria and Zambia). A total of 164 published articles on CSA practices were reviewed. Analysis of extracted data showed that CSA practices are classified as follows: agricultural practices, restoration practices of degraded lands, forest and cropland regeneration practices, practices in the livestock sub-sector, water resources and use of weather and climate information services. Moreover, climate change effects differed alongside strategies adapted from one country to another. Adoption of these strategies was often influenced by financial means put in place by governments, the role of policy legislation, access to climate information and farmers’ intellectual level. To address this deficiency, scientific-outcome-based research should be used to increase the effectiveness of climate adaptation management programs. In conclusion, to enhance the uptake of climate-smart agricultural practices in Africa, this review recommends the use of scientific-research-driven adaptation measures and prioritization of climate change in governments’ agendas.

In Africa, the agricultural sector contributes approximately 10–20% of the total anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It presents rapid growth as a result of rising food demand in Africa, which is being driven by population growth. Consequently, climate change can negatively affect crop yields and livestock production, thus threatening food security. This review highlights the existing gender gaps in African agriculture and discusses the drivers and barriers that maintain gender gaps in climate-smart agriculture (CSA) adoption in African countries. Moreover, the review offers a comprehensive roadmap for the essential measures required to facilitate the widespread uptake of CSA practices among female farmers. Several CSA practices were reported, such as agricultural practices, forest and cropland regeneration practices, water resources, and the use of weather and climate information services. The gender gap in the adoption of CSA practices was influenced by policy legislation, financial resources, social and cultural taboos, and technical determinants such as climate information access. To address this gender gap, scientific-outcome-based research should be used to address gender gaps among female small farmers. In conclusion, to overcome the gender gap in CSA adoption in Africa, this review recommends the use of a gender-responsive approach, the development of scientific research-driven measures, and the prioritization of gender equality in governments’ agendas in the context of climate change uncertainty.

Objective: The objective of this study was to isolate and phenotypically characterize methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)from clinical and community samples in Abakaliki, Nigeria. Methods: A total of 709 clinical (303) and community samples (406) samples were obtained for this study. MRSA isolates were detected using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method with the inclusion of 1 μg oxacillin and cefoxitin antibiotic disc. The isolates were screened for the β-lactamase production using nitrocefin sticks. Results: A total of 44 MRSA isolates were obtained from the samples with prevalence frequency of 22.6 % and 20.8 % from clinical and community samples respectively. The clinical isolates were completely resistant (100 %) to ceftazidime, tetracycline and penicillin. Gentamicin and ciprofloxacin were the most effective antibiotics against the clinical and community isolates respectively with a susceptibility frequency of 63.2 % and 80 %. Exactly 38.1 % and 24.2 % of the clinical and community S. aureus isolates were positive for beta-lactamase production respectively. The HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA isolates had MARI values within the range of 0.3 to 1.0. Conclusion: This present findings of multi-drug resistance MRSA is very worrisome as it further highlights the pressing need to keep a strict watch on MRSA emerging from this study area. Keywords: MRSA, beta-lactamase, antibiotics, multidrug resistance, clinical samples, community samples.

This present study was designed to determine the occurrence frequency of blaCTX-M and blaTEM genes in extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing uropathogenic Escherichia coli, and their antibiotic resistance patterns among hospital attendees in Abakaliki, Nigeria. Out of the 73 uropathogenic E.coli isolates analyzed, 52 were identified to be ESBL producers using double disk synergy technique. The frequency of beta-lactamse (bla) genes (CTX-M and TEM) among E. coli was molecularly determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Out of 52 (71.2%) ESBL-producing uropathogenic E. coli, 17 (32.7%) were positive for blaTEM, 35 (67.3%) were positive for blaCTX-M while 8 (15.3%) harboured both blaTEM and blaCTX-M genes. CTX-M gene was the most prevalent gene. Isolates evaluated in our study were resistant to cefotaxime (83.6%), ceftazidime (79.5%), amoxycillin (72.6%), cefpodoxime (68.5%), aztreonam (61.6%), ceftriaxone (57.5%), and cefepime (37%). This study demonstrated the occurrence frequency of CTX-M and TEM genes in uropathogenic E. coli strains in Abakaliki. Even though molecular techniques are more reliable in the detection of ESBL production, routine clinical screening for ESBL-producing uropathogens using phenotypic method should be introduced and encouraged in clinical settings as they are less expensive. This will go a long way in checkmating drug resistance. Key words: Escherichia coli, uropathogens, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL), resistance genes, antibiotics. This present study was designed to determine the occurrence frequency of blaCTX-M and blaTEM genes in extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing uropathogenic Escherichia coli, and their antibiotic resistance patterns among hospital attendees in Abakaliki, Nigeria. Out of the 73 uropathogenic E.coli isolates analyzed, 52 were identified to be ESBL producers using double disk synergy technique. The frequency of beta-lactamse (bla) genes (CTX-M and TEM) among E. coli was molecularly determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Out of 52 (71.2%) ESBL-producing uropathogenic E. coli, 17 (32.7%) were positive for blaTEM, 35 (67.3%) were positive for blaCTX-M while 8 (15.3%) harboured both blaTEM and blaCTX-M genes. CTX-M gene was the most prevalent gene. Isolates evaluated in our study were resistant to cefotaxime (83.6%), ceftazidime (79.5%), amoxycillin (72.6%), cefpodoxime (68.5%), aztreonam (61.6%), ceftriaxone (57.5%), and cefepime (37%). This study demonstrated the occurrence frequency of CTX-M and TEM genes in uropathogenic E. coli strains in Abakaliki. Even though molecular techniques are more reliable in the detection of ESBL production, routine clinical screening for ESBL-producing uropathogens using phenotypic method should be introduced and encouraged in clinical settings as they are less expensive. This will go a long way in checkmating drug resistance. Key words: Escherichia coli, uropathogens, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL), resistance genes, antibiotics.

This study aims to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HIV infections among pregnant women visiting Healthcare Institutions within Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Blood samples were collected from 100 pregnant women who visited Rural Improvement Missionary Hospital (RIMH) and General Hospital (GHE) within Ebonyi State. The presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in serum was determined using Antec strips (Antec Diagnostics UK) while commercially available Enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) based rapid diagnostic test kit (Biotech diagnostic, USA) was used to assay for HIV. Sixteen 16 (11.8%) of the pregnant women examined were sero-positive for HBV, 15(10%) were positive for HIV and 4% were positive for co-infection of HBV and HIV. Occupation was significantly associated with the prevalence of the hepatitis B co-infection in the population examined as 8.8% of housewives and 5.5% of business women had co-infection at p<0.05. The prevalence rate of 11.8% for HBV; 10% for HIV; and 4% for HBV and HIV co-infection reported in this study confirms the endemicity of HBV and HIV within the study area. This could cause serious public health problem if not properly tackled. Thus, it is very pertinent to carry out HBV and HIV screening as a routine in ante-natal care. Key words: Hepatitis B virus (HBV), HIV, pregnant women, co-infection.

Background and Aim: ESBL-producing bacteria are a significant public health problem due to their resistance to multiple antibiotics, making infections caused by these organisms challenging to treat. The study surveyed the prevalence of ESβL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in Abakaliki using 600 urine samples. Materials and Methods: A 30-50 ml sample of urine midstream was collected in a sterile container and immediately taken to laboratory for analysis. The isolation and identification of K. pneumoniae were performed using standard microbiological techniques. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion technique on Mueller-Hinton agar, following theClinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) procedure. Results: Out of the 600 urine samples from primary and secondary school children, 96 (16 %) K. pneumonia isolates were recovered, 29(4.8 %) from primary and 67(11.2 %) from secondary school children. Susceptibility test results showed that the test organisms were susceptible to gatifloxacin 68(70.8 %), Ofloxacin 65(67.7 %), pefloxacin 65 (67.7 %), ciprofloxacin 71(74 %), nitrofurantoin 87(90.6 %), but showed resistance to tetracycline 33(34.4 %), sulphamethoxazole/trimethoprim 30(31.3 %), and streptomycin 36(37.65 %). The test organisms were also shown to be susceptible to beta-lactam antibiotics: Ceftazidime 67(69.8 %), imipenem 81(84.4 %), and cefoxitin 77(80.20 %) but showed resistance to ceftriaxone 32(33.3 %) and cefotaxime 26(27.1 %). Out of 96 isolates of K. pneumoniae screened for the presence of ESβL enzymes, 17(17.7 %) were positive. ESβL-producing organisms showed resistance to three or more antibacterial classes and thus exhibited multi-drug-resistant patterns. Conclusion: This study highlights the resistance to commonly used antibiotics by the isolates, emphasizing the need for ongoing surveillance and infection control. The findings provide crucial data for preventing and managing ESβL infections, thus addressing this critical public health issue.