Abstract
(Af. J. of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology: 2003 4(1): 63-71)
(Af. J. of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology: 2003 4(1): 63-71)
(Af. J. of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology: 2003 4(1): 72-77)
Rabies is an endemic disease in Nigeria and it produces disease in warm-blooded animal species. In this report, molecular techniques have been used to study seven rabies isolates from the brain of Dogs in Lagos. Analysis of the 1400-b.p RT-PCR products of the N gene and the views by sequencing and restriction endonuclease analysis enabled division of isolates into 3 types. The conclusion from the study is that RT-PCR and restriction endonuclease analysis of the amplified products of the N gene would allow identification and differentiation of rabies virus strains in a location and in different parts of Nigeria.
(Af. J. of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology: 2002 3(2): 48-54)
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MOLECULAR STUDY OF NUCLEPROTEIN GENE OF RABIES VIRUS ISOLATES FROM DOG BRAINS
Though of global importance, the developing world bears the highest burden of tuberculosis (TB) worldwide and Nigeria has been rated amongst 222 countries where TB prevalence is highest worldwide. In Nigeria, diagnosis is largely by direct smear microscopy using the Ziehl-Neelson method. Studies have shown that the sensitivity of smear microscopy varies between 30 70% depending on whether direct or connected smears are examined. It is thus likely that up to half or more of TB sufferers in Nigeria are not diagnosed, automated culture and molecular methods exist but the requirement for especially dedicated, very expensive instrumentation and reagents prohibit their use in developing countries including Nigeria. The World Health Organization recognizes the need for new, affordable, rapid and highly sensitive diagnostics for use in developing countries. Phage amplification technology employs a specific mycobacteriophage which infects a live TB bacillus if represent in a sample. These replicate and lyse the cells to release progeny phage. The presence of progeny phage is detected visually as plagues on a lawn of a raid-growing, non-pathogenic Mycobacterium. Phage Amplification Technology has been evaluated and found to detect most cases missed by smear microscopy and to give results with good correlation with culture (which though highly sensitive requires 6 8 weeks incubation to give results), within 24 hours of sample preparation. It is thus faster than culture and cheaper that the new rapid automated methods, as it requires no especially dedicated instrumentation.
(Af. J. of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology: 2002 3(2): 55-63)
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PHAGE AMPLIFICATION TECHNOLOGY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS
Electrolyte and haematological parameters in rabbits infected with pathogenic isolates of Escherichia coli from rural water supplies in Rivers State, Nigeria, where monitored. Rabbits were orally infected with suspension containing 3×107 cfu /ml of Escherichia coli to induce diarrhoea, and the electrolyte (sodium, potassium and chloride ions) levels as well as the haemoglobin (hb) packed cells volume (PVC), and total white blood cell count (WBC) were determined after 48, 72, 96 hours and post infection following standard procedures. Subsequently blood samples were collected every week for 6 weeks for further estimation of WBC and HB and PVC. Results of the electrolyte (sodium, potassium and chloride ions) levels obtained revealed that significant amount of electrolytes were lost after 96 hours post-infection. Potassium ions concentration decreased by 57.2%, sodium ions by 64.6% and chloride ion concentration decreased by 59.9% as compared to the normal control rabbits not infected with E. coli.
(Af. J. of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology: 2002 3(2): 64-68)
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PATHOGENIC POTENTIALS OF ESCHERICHIA COLI ISOLATED FROM RURAL WATER SUPPLIES
(Af. J. of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology: 2002 3(2): 69-71)
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CHLAMYDIAL NEONATAL CONJUNTIVITIS (CNNC) IN ILORIN MIDDLE BELT OF NIGERIA
(Af. J. of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology: 2002 3(2): 78-81)
This is a descriptive cross-sectional study, carried on childbearing women in Okelele community of Ilorin West Local Government of Kwara State, Nigeria. The aim was to assess the knowledge and attitude of childbearing women towards antimalaria chemoprophylactics and highlight socio-cultural factors influencing their knowledge and attitude. Three hundred and eighty childbearing women were interviewed but only 375 (98.7%) responded. A systematic sampling method was used to determine the houses where respondents were interviewed after obtaining informed consent; highly structured close-ended questionnaires were administered by trained interviewers. The respondents age range between 15 and 47years. More than half (52.8%) of the respondents were literates. Knowledge of antimalaria chemoprophylactics among the respondents was good 0f375 respondents, 353(94.1%) had knowledge and 317(84.5%) had ever used antimalaria chemoprophylactic drugs. The study revealed that respondents with higher educational level had significantly better knowledge of antimalaria chemoprophylactics and higher level of usage p
(Af. J. of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology: 2002 3(2): 85-90)