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Seroprevalence of Bacillus antracis in Jos and environs

JD Mawak, AS Fayam, PM Lar, H Zakari, J Ngbede

 

ABSTRACT

The fears of a possible out break of infection following media reports of intentional release of anthrax spores has drawn attention to the need to establish a baseline information on the prevalence of Bacillus anthracis in the cattle, sheep and goat population in Jos. We conducted a survey to determine the prevalence of antibodies to Bacillus anthracis in cattle, sheep and goats slaughtered at the Jos Abattoir using the agar diffusion method. The survey involved two hundred animal subjects (160 cattle, 20 each of sheep and goats). Out of the total number of samples screened, were seropositive, with antibody titre levels of 4/80. Of the 21 seropositive cases, 18 (9.0%) were cattle, were sheep and there was none for goats. These findings allay our fears of the possibility of an outbreak of anthrax infection following the consumption of meat from animals slaughtered at the Jos Abattoir.

African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology Vol. 7(3) 2006: 195-198

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Seroprevalence of Bacillus antracis in Jos and environs

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The trend of hepatitis B surface antigenimia among teaching hospital patients in Kano

* Nwokedi, E.E. ; ** Emokpae, M. A.; * Taura, A.A.;* Dutse, A. I.

ABSTRACT
The prevalence and trend of Hepatitis B Virus infection in 2966 patients attending clinics of Aminu
Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano Nigeira was determined over a 3 year period 2001 to 2003. The samples
was initially screened by latex agglutination techniques while the positive samples repeated by Enzyme
linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique for confirmation. A seroprevalence of 23.3% units with
coefficient variation of 22.5 to 24.1% were reported during the study period. More males (24.1%) than
females 21.5% patients were observed to be seropositive for HBsAg. The differences was not however
statistically significant. The overall trend in HBsAg seropositivity over the study period showed 21.7% in
2001, 24.7% in 2002 and 22.4% in 2003 respectively. Despite the availability of methods by which these
viruses can be detected and surveillance activities to reduce the occurrence of the infection, the virus
continues to constitute threat to health of the individuals. Our findings suggest that it is necessary to
reappraise the need to intensify preventive measures in order to reduce the trend of HBV infections.
Key Words: Hepatitis B, HbsAg, Blood, Serum, Samples

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The trend of hepatitis B surface antigenimia among teaching hospital patients in Kano

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Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with reduced susceptibility to vancomycin among healthy women in two Nigerian metropolitan cities

A Onanuga, AR Oyi, BO Olanyika, JA Onaolapo

 

Abstract

No Abstract.

African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology Vol. 7(3) 2006: 205-212

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Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women in an antenatal clinic in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

RK Obi, SC Umeh, OH Okurede, II Iroagba

 

Abstract

A total of ten thousand and thirty two (10,032) pregnant women attending ante-natal clinic in Braithwaite Memorial Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria were screened between January 2000 to December 2004 for the possible occurrence of hepatitis B virus using HBV paper strips. The results showed that a total of 290 (2.89%) of the pregnant women tested positive for hepatitis B Virus. The years 2001 and 2002 had the highest prevalence of 61, while 2004 had the least prevalence of 52. No significant difference (P<0.5) was however observed in the annual prevalence of the infection among pregnant women in the hospital. Studies of the age distribution of the infection among the studied pregnant women showed that women in the age group of 41-45 had the highest prevalence rate (60%) for the sampled population within that age group, followed by women in the age group of 31-35 with an occurrence rate of 11.04% within that age group. The least rate of occurrence was observed in the age group of 21-25 which showed only 1.75%. The prevalence of the deadly hepatitis B virus among pregnant women whose immunity is often compromised by gynaecological and nutritional factors is of grave clinical importance.

African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology Vol. 7(2) 2006: 78-82

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Evaluation of Sida acuta subspecie acuta leaf/flower combination for antimicrobial activity and phytochemical constituents

Alhaji Saganuwan Saganuwan, Gulumbe Mohammed Lawal

 

Abstract

Sida acuta subspecie acuta Ieaf/flower combination was evaluated for antimicrobial activity and phytochemical constituents using methanol, hexane, chloroform and aqueous method of extractions. The antibacterial activities were exhibited by the four extracts on E. coli, S pyogenes, P.multocida and S. typhumrium as there was no activity exhibited on S. tyhi, S. pneumoniae and K. phneumoniae. Phytochemical analyses revealed the presence of alkaloid, tannin, flavonoid and saponin whereas steroid and glycoside were absent.

Keywords: evaluation, sida, acuta, leaf, flower, antimicrabial, phytochemical, constituents

African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology Vol. 7(2) 2006: 83-88

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Resistance patterns of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from the upper respiratory tract of persons attending various clinics of a University Teaching Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria – a preliminary study

OO Oduyebo, DU Nwaka, C Nwaowolo, FT Ogunsola

 

Abstract

The upper respiratory carriage rate, serotypes and resistance patterns of Streptococcus pneumoniae in persons attending four clinics of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) were determined. Nasal swab specimens were collected from a total of 372 persons, 175 of whom were males and 177 were females. Their ages ranged from 14 weeks to 65 years. The upper respiratory carriage rate found in the total population of both adults and children was 9.9%, but the rate was highest in children less than 5 years (18.6%). Among the 17 isolates that were available for serotyping, there was no significant serotype, though resistant serotypes like 23F. 19F. 6A and I4 were identified. Initial oxacillin screening for penicillin resistance revealed that 12 out of 36 isolates were clearly sensitive, but combined with the result of Etest, penicillin resistance was found to be 6.8%. Susceptibility testing by disc diffusion revealed that 80.5% of isolates were sensitive to ceftriaxone and 94.4% to chloramphenicol. Sixty one percent were sensitive to erythromycin while 94.4% were resistant to co-trimoxazole and 80.5% to tetracycline. Except for amoxicillin and cefotaxime which showed high activity, sensitivity pattern by Etest was found to be similar to that of disc diffusion. The result of this study makes it possible to formulate hypothesis for a larger study. In this study. the carriage rate of S. pneumonia probably ranged from 2.6% to over 18.6% depending on the study population. If the limitations of this study are excluded in a larger study, the rate most likely will be higher. Also, penicillin resistance in carriage strains would be up to 6.8%, probably higher, but may be intermediate, so penicillin could still be useful for treatment of pneumonia and probably otitis media, but not meningitis. There is reason to watch out for increased resistance to penicillin, cephaloporin and erythromycin. Most pneumoeoccal isolates would likely be resistant to tetracycline and co-trimoxazole.

African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology Vol. 7(2) 2006: 89-97