Posted on

HIV seroprevalence rates among prospective service personnel in a Nigerian security facility

EE Nwokedi, A Aminu Taura, AI Dutse, A Bukar

 

Abstract

Background: There is no doubt that the greatest health problem threatening the human race in these times is the HIVIAIDS pandemic. The greatest burden of this scourge is in sub-Saharan Africa. According to the joint United Nations Committee on HIVIAIDS (UNAIDS), over 40 million people have been infected with the disease as of the end of 2001 and of which over 28 million are in sub-Saharan Africa. These are the group presenting themselves for paramilitary recruitment in Nigeria.

Objectives: The aim of this retrospective study is firstly to analyse the results of the HIV antibodies screening and confirmatory tests in order to determine the seroprevalence rate of HIV infection among this prospective service personnel. Secondly, to compare the prevalence rates between the males and females. Finally, to compare the seroprevalence rate in 2003 with that of 2002 among similar group.

Methodology: A total of 900 consecutive prospective recruits were screened for HIV antibodies using double technique. Confirmatory tats were then performed on positive sera using Immunoconfirmatory kits. Chi square was used to analyze the results. Of the 900 tested 8l7 are males while 83 are females.

Results: The prevalence is 1.4%. Overall in 2002, out of 431 officers screened in both groups, 8 (1.86%) were positive for HIV antibodies comprising 5 men (1.16%) and 3 women (0.69%). In 2003, out of a total of 900 recruits tested for HIV seropositivity, 13 (1.4%) were found to be seropositive with a 95% confidence interval of 1.0% to 1.8%.

Discussion and Conclussion: Our results show a seroprevalenee of 1.44% among members of this security outfit and it is quite low compared to the national average of 5%. Our findings are low compared to seroprevalenee rata among ANC clients, Tb patients, STD clients and blood donors. However, it is comparable to 1.7% among another group of paramilitary in 2002, 1.4% among people with leprosy and 1.8% in Jigawa State sentinel survey. Health education is advised.

African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology Vol. 7(2) 2006: 101-105

Posted on

Prevalence of intestinal-parasites and its association with sociodemographic, environmental and behavioral factors in children in Pokhara valley, Nepal

Rabindranath Das, Pradipta Swain Kumar, R Biswas

 

Abstract

No Abstract.

African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology Vol. 7(2) 2006: 106-115

Posted on

Recent trends in management of malaria in pregnancy

A AG Jimoh

 

Abstract

Malaria remains a significant causal factor in both maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality in this environment though it is essentially preventable. There are increasing incidence rates worldwide, including those areas of the world where, hitherto, malaria infection was rare. More women than before now present with clinical malaria in pregnancy with both obstetric and non-obstetric complications, including severe anaemia, IUGR, miscarriage etc. Recent rapid diagnostic tests are available, more sensitive and specific than microscopy but their applications are limited in scope. Antimalarial Combination Therapy (ACT), Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPT), Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs), good and adequate antenatal (ANC), intraparturn and postpartum care will ensure optimal health and reduction in the incidence rate of malaria infection in pregnancy.

African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology Vol. 7(2) 2006: 116-124

Download full journal in PDF below

Recent trends in management of malaria in pregnancy

Posted on

Viruses cancer – an overview

MO Buhari, JO Omotayo

 

Abstract

Viruses were initially seen as unusual agents that caused cancer in animals but were o f no relevance to humans. They are now accepted as bonafide aetiologic factors o f human cancers. Carcinogenesis is a multistep process and in virally associated human cancers, the viruses appear to be necessary but are not sufficient for tumour development. Viruses possess genes with potential to modulate host responses and through this means, they evade detection and recognition by the immune system. The mechanism o f transformation o f a normal cell into a neoplastic cell can either be direct or indirect. Better understanding o f the role o f viruses in human cancer will have therapeutic implication as control can be instituted.

African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology Vol. 7(2) 2006: 125-131

Download full journal in PDF below

Viruses cancer – an overview

Posted on

Overview and experience with the use of fluoroquinolone in children in the tropics

Olanrewaju T Adedoyin, Temitope O Obasa, M Olufumilayo Olgoge

 

Abstract

The use of fluoroquinolone is contraindicated in children because of the potential complication of arthropathy. In spite of this, the role of ciprofloxacin is becoming increasingly significant. We report two cases in which organisms that did not respond to the use of some other potent antibiotics clearly responded to the use of ciprofloxacin. A general overview of the fluoroquinolones is also highlighted. It is concluded that ciprofloxacin is a very useful agent in the management of serious infections in children and available data clearly supports its use where the efficacy outweighs any considerable risk. Fluoroquinolone is therefore recommended in children where it offers a clear therapeutic advantage over other classes of antibiotics but not for routine empirical use.

African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology Vol. 7(2) 2006: 132-135

Posted on

Outbreak of turkey pox disease in fowl pox vaccinated poults in Vom Plateau State of Nigeria

EM Odoya, A Abegunde, BG Agyogbo, SO Omatainse, E Gwankat, UG Okpara

 

Abstract

An outbreak of poxvirus infecting 45 turkeys of 8 weeks of age is reported. Poults were previously vaccinated against pox using fowl poX vaccine. The outbreak persisted for 5 weeks with 100% morbidity hut no mortality. The cutaneous form only existed. Turkey pox virus was isolated by propagation in chorioallantoid membrane and confirmed by reproducing the disease in susceptible turkeys.

African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology Vol. 7(2) 2006: 136-138

Posted on

Antistaphylococcal metabolite from Aureobasidium pullulans: production and characterization

NE Kalantar, RL Deopurkar, BP Kapadnis

 

Abstract

Aureobasidium pullulans (NI.3) isolated from the leaves of Dracaena reflexa variegate produced intracellular antimicrobial metabolite the yield of which was 700-800 U from about 0.7-0.85 g of dry biomass. The antistaphyloccocal metabolite showed strong activity against different Staphylococcus spp. The MICs ranged from 1.25 to 3.6 U/ml. The metabolite was only moderately sensitive to temperature. After keeping at 400C and 700C for one hour it lost only 20% and 60% of its activity respectively. However, it was completely inactivated upon exposure to 1210C for 20 min. The antistaphyloccocal metabolite was insensitive to various protein-denaturing detergents and enzymes like trypsin, proteinase K, lipase and lysozyme. The activity was fairly stable over a wide range of pH (5.7–8). When S. aureus was grown in the medium in presence of antimicrobial metabolite (10 U/ml) the number of CFU started to decrease. However, most of the cells had lost their viability after nine hours exposure. A slower killing of the S. aureus was noted when cells were kept in buffer containing antimicrobial metabolite (5 U/ml). Antimicrobial metabolite induced efflux of potassium ions from cells of Staphylococcus indicating the channel forming activity.

Keywords: Aureobasidium, antistaphylococcal activity, potassium efflux

African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology Vol. 6 (3) 2005: 177-187

Posted on

Species of fungi associated with skin diseases of different age groups in plateau state, Nigeria

AO Ogaraku, CIC Ogbonna, VC Nwokedi

 

Abstract

A survey was carried out on the species of fungi associated with skin diseases of thirty subjects of different age groups in Plateau State, Nigeria. The age groups included 1-10, 11-20, 21-30, 31-40 and 41-50 years, accounting for 27%, 38%, 23%, 8% and 4% of total number of individuals with fungal infections respectively. The skin diseases involved included ringworms, dermatitis, burns, impetigo and boils. The fungal isolates included Microsporium canis, M. audouinii, M. ferrugineum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. megninii and Aspergillus niger, with frequencies of occurrence in the skin lesions being 80%, 60%, 40%, 60%, 60% and 20% respectively. The implications of the results are discussed.

Keywords: fungi, skin disease, age groups, Plateau State

African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology Vol. 6 (3) 2005: 188-191

Posted on

Effect of trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma brucei mixed infection on the pattern of haematological changes in murine trypanosmosis

JN Abenga, SA Sands, OGC Ezebuiro

 

Abstract

The effect of Trypanosoma congolense and T. brucei mixed infection on the pattern of haematological changes was demonstrated in a rat model. At the end of 21 days post infection (PI), anaemia which was characterised by drop in the packed cell volume (PCV), was found to be significantly (P<0.05) severer in rats with mixed infection than those infected with T. congolense or T. brucei. Similar pattern of drop in the total white blood cell (WBC), differential WBC, and platelet counts was observed in the group with mixed infection. It was concluded that even though T. congolense and T. brucei may cause milder haematological changes in animals compared to T. vivax, mixed infection by these parasites may cause severer haematological changes in the natural hosts.

Keywords: mixed infections, pattern of haematological changes, rats, Trypanosoma congolense, Trypanosoma brucei

African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology Vol. 6 (3) 2005: 193-197