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Detection of human immunodeficiency virus among individuals presenting with febrile illness in Lagos, Nigeria

O.B. Salu, F.O. Nwaokorie, T.E. Banwo, B.O. Oke, A.B. James, S.A. Omilabu

 

Abstract

Introduction: The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the aetiological agent of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which is a chronic and potentially life-threatening condition. Fever is mostly associated with the early stage of virus replication known as acute HIV infection or  syndrome; as such, determination of HIV status during this critical period is a good means of improving clinical outcome in those infected. Thus, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of HIV among febrile individuals in Lagos, Nigeria.

Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study of 250 febrile individuals attending General Hospitals at Isolo, Mushin and Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria. Analysis was carried out at the Virology Research Laboratory, Central Research Laboratory, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos from July to October 2017. Sample analysis was done according to the Nigerian National Testing Algorithm to determine HIV status using Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) and data analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.

Results: Out of the 250 febrile participants, 8 were positive for HIV, with an overall prevalence of 3.2%. Further analysis however showed that 90% of the HIV positive participants had four or more episodes of fever in a month. HIV infection was still majorly among the ages 15-24 and 25-34 for male and ages 25-34, 35-44 and 45-54 for females.

Conclusion: This findings showed that different cohorts are significantly at risk of HIV infection. Hence, policies and all efforts to reduce the burden of HIV are paramount for a HIV free future for Nigeria.

Keywords:Acute Retroviral Syndrome (ARS), Fever, Asymptomatic and  Enzyme–Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). 

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Detection of human immunodeficiency virus among individuals presenting with febrile illness in Lagos, Nigeria

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Prevalence of malaria infection among patients attending Murtala Muhammed specialist hospital Kano, Nigeria

O.V. Oladele, S.C. Onuoha, H.S. Hamafyelto, O. Omisope, A. Fauziyya, M. Akindigh, T. Abdullahi, M.L. Ilu, E. Ikeh

 

Abstract

Malaria is one of the most common diseased conditions in Nigeria and  across most developing countries triggered by one of four species of Plasmodium. The objective of this study was to screen and detect for the presence of Plasmodium species via microscopic analysis on Malaria patients attending a healthcare facility Northern Nigeria and present the epidemiological data of malaria.Finger prick blood samples, Thick and Thin Giemsa-stained blood smears, were collected from 350 malaria-suspected individuals representing all age groups. The Giemsa-stained blood smears were examined microscopically. Demographic information on rural and urban dwellings, use of  insecticides and mosquito nets were collected using structured questionnaires. Malaria cases were detected in in 227 (64.9%) of the participants with a higher infection rate amongst the males (147) than the females (80). The  predominant specie found was Plasmodium  falciparum. All age groups in this study were vulnerable in the order of 61-above>31-40>51-60>41-50>1-10>21-30> 11-20 years of age.A large number of participants dwelling in urban area (219) were tested positive for malaria in contrast to eight(8) from the rural area. Not using insecticides and mosquito treated nets were significantly associated with the prevalence of malaria as 59.4% of participants who were tested positive for  Plasmodium falciparum infection utilized insecticides, while 66.9% of those who did not were also tested positive. Individuals residing close to gutters and bushes were the most susceptible (85.6%) to Plasmodium infection.

Keywords: Prevalence, Malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, Kano

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Prevalence of malaria infection among patients attending Murtala Muhammed specialist hospital Kano, Nigeria

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Antifungal properties of methanolic extracts of some medical plants in Enugu, south east Nigeria

N. Onyemelukwe, P. Ndam, S. Ogboi, U. Maduakor, D. Nwakile

 

Abstract

Objective: The current study evaluated the anti-fungal activities of  methanolic extracts of the leaves and fruits of some medicinal plants of health value in Enugu, southeast Nigeria.
Materials and methods: Volumes of the different extracts into molten  Sabouraud Dextrose Agar to make up for concentrations of 25 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml respectively. Concentrations of 125 ag/ml, 250  ag/ml and 500 ag/ml of Miconazole were incorporated to serve as a positive control while 0.5 ml of DMSO served as a negative control. The  plants extracts employed were from Azadirachta indica (Neem), Anacardium occidentale (Cashew), Euphorbia hirta (Asthma weed),Jatropha curcas (Physic nut), Acantus montanus (Mountain thistle) and Picralima nitida  (òsúigwe in Igbo). A 2 mm agar disc cut out from the margin of actively growing cultures of each dermatophyte (Trichophyton soudanense, T.mentagrophytes, Cladosporium sp, T.rubrum and Fusarium sp) were inoculated on the agar plates containing varying concentrations of the different plant extracts, the standard antifungal agent and negative control in triplicates and incubated at 28 ºC.
Results: All the extracts exhibited antifungal activities of varying degrees with radial growth inhibitions (RGIs) ranging from 0-0.45 mm radius. Fifty percent (50 %) of the plants extracts comprising of Picralima nitida, Euphorbia hirta and Acantus montanus exhibited complete inhibition at 100 mg/ml against all the clinical isolates under investigation (p < 0.05).  Picralima nitida seed was the only plant extract with complete inhibition at 25 mg/ml against T.soudanense and T.rubrum. Picralima nitida was the closest in activity to miconazole. Azadirachta indica (Neem) did not exhibit complete inhibition against any of the clinical isolates at 100 mg/ml yet exhibited a significantly lower RGI at the lowest concentration of 25 mg/ml better than others.
Conclusion: Antifungal activities showed that leaves extract of fruits plants against the clinical isolates are good source of medicinal applications

Key words: Antifungal agents, medical plants, Enugu, Nigeria.

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Antifungal properties of methanolic extracts of some medical plants in Enugu, south east Nigeria

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Indentifying and modeling the distribution of cryptic reservoirs of Ebola virus using artificial intelligence

T.M. Kollars Jr., C. Senessie, G. Sunderland

 

Abstract

Fruit bats (Megachiroptera) have been found to be the principal reservoirs  of Ebola virus (EBOV) to humans. However, bats do not appear to be the primary reservoir in the environment and between outbreaks. The cryptic reservoir species of EBOV and its distribution have not been identified. The purpose of the study was to identify the most likely cryptic reservoir species of EBOV and the probable distribution of cryptic reservoir species where  EBOV could be maintained in Sierra Leone. The Bioagent Transport and Environmental Modeling System (BioTEMS) was used to analyze mammals, arthropods, plants and protists in order to identify the most likely species to be the cryptic reservoir for EBOV. ArcGIS and BioTEMS were used to  determine the probable distribution of cryptic reservoir species. BioTEMS identified free-living pathogenic amoebae (FLPA) as the probable cryptic reservoir species (Test Performance = 93.3). Diptera in the order Chrysops were also identified as possible secondary reservoirs and mechanical vectors of EBOV. Distribution of likely hot spots for FLPA and  phytotelmata/tree-holes were identified in several regions of Sierra Leone, primarily in the southeast and are similar to those predicted by other  authors, but at a much higher resolution (15 m for BioTEMS verses up to 5 km in other studies). Water-filled cavities (phytotelmata), specifically  tree-holes, were identified as the most likely sites for the cycle of  transmission to occur among FLPA and susceptible secondary reservoirs. Free-living pathogenic amoebae are not only pathogenic to humans and animals but they serve as reservoirs and Trojan horses of infection as well. Identifying what and where cryptic reservoirs of EBOV persist between  outbreaks provides an opportunity for the first time to conduct  environmental epidemiologic surveillance to mitigate outbreaks and to test anti-microbial delivery systems such as the ProVector® to reduce EBOV
and FLPA.

Keywords: Filovirus, Amoeba, Epidemiology, Machine Learning, Vector, Disaster Management

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Indentifying and modeling the distribution of cryptic reservoirs of Ebola virus using artificial intelligence