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Prevalence and factors associated with dengue fever among febrile patients attending secondary health facilities in Kano metropolis, Nigeria

*1,2Abdulaziz, M. M., 2Ibrahim, A., 3Ado, M., 4Ameh, C., 4Umeokonkwo, C., 5Sufyan, M. B., 4Balogun, M. S., and 6Ahmed, S, A.

1Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (NFELTP)

2Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Medical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University and Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria

3Molecular Laboratory, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria

4Africa Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET)

5Department of Community Medicine, College of Medical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University and Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria 6Department of Morbid Anatomy, College of Medical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University and Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria Correspondence to: mukaziz@yahoo.com

Abstract:

Background: The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has categorized dengue fever as a priority epidemic-prone disease. Kano metropolis is a hub for international trade and has seen rapid population growth with unplanned urbanisation. This provides the right environment for dengue virus transmission and spread. Most fevers in Nigeria and Kano in particular are treated as malaria or typhoid. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with dengue fever and dengue-malaria co-infection among febrile patients in Kano metropolis.

Methodology: We conducted a hospital-based cross-sectional study among febrile patients attending secondary health facilities in Kano metropolis. We used multistage sampling technique to recruit 440 participants into the study. An interviewer administered structured questionnaire was used to collect participants’ information, while blood was screened for malaria using rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kit and tested for dengue fever using an ELISA kit for dengue IgM. Data was cleaned and analysed using Microsoft Excel 2016 and Epi Info version 7.2 to calculate frequencies, proportions and odds ratios.

Results: The median age of participants was 24 years (IQR= 13-36 years) while the age-group most represented was the 10-19 years’ age group with 97 (22.9%) participants. Males constituted 257 (60.6%) while most were single 238 (56.1%). Dengue IgM was positive for 332 (78.3%), while malaria RDT was positive for 81 (19.1%) and 67 (15.8%) were positive for both. Those aged above 25 years were less likely to present with dengue fever (OR=0.6; 95% CI=0.33-0.97). Dengue fever contributes a high percentage to febrile illnesses seen in Kano metropolis. Significant proportions of febrile patients have both dengue and malaria co-infection. None of the participants had dengue as a presumptive diagnosis.

Conclusion: These findings imply dengue fever should feature as a prominent differential for febrile illnesses and dengue screening tests should be made available for all cases seen in Kano.

Keywords: seroprevalence; dengue fever; RDT; secondary health facilities; Nigeria. Continue reading “Prevalence and factors associated with dengue fever among febrile patients attending secondary health facilities in Kano metropolis, Nigeria”

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Gastrointestinal parasites among swine bred in Edo State, Nigeria

*Omoruyi, Z., and Agbinone, I
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences,
University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
*Correspondence to: zainab.omoruyi@uniben.edu

Abstract:

Background: Swine production in Nigeria is encountering several constraints among which are diseases. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of swine with respect to sex, age, location and hygiene practices in the breeding sites in three piggery farms; University of Benin Animal Farm; Osasio Farm Uselu in Egor Local Government Area (LGA), and Ojemai Farm Ekehuanwa Road, Oredo LGA, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.

Methods: A total of 150 pigs were sampled from the 3 piggery farms. Faecal sample (10g each) was aseptically collected from the rectum of each selected pig and processed by concentration method to microscopically identify parasites in both saline and iodine preparations. A designed pre-tested structured questionnaire was interviewer-administered to each piggery owner to collect information on husbandry practices, animal health care issues and potential risk factors associated with parasitosis. Data was analysed using SPPSS version 20 software, while odd ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated on each potential risk factors.

Results: Of the 150 pigs examined, 130 (86.6%) were infected with five gastrointestinal parasitic agents. Strongyloides ransomi 81 (54%) was the most frequently identified parasite, followed by Ascaris suum 68 (45.3%), Giardia lamblia 31 (20.6%), Entamoeba polecki 10 (6.6%) and Trichuris suis 10 (6.6%). Single and mixed infections were not significantly associated with the observed prevalence (p>0.05). Similarly, the sex of pig was not significantly associated with the prevalence of parasites (p=0.8824). The prevalence of parasitosis among the grower (87.8%) was not significantly different from the adult swine (87.5%) (p>0.05). Osasio had the highest infection rate (90.0%) but this rate was not significantly different from the two other farms (p>0.05).

Conclusion: This study confirms high prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic infections in pigs bred in Edo State, Nigeria. It is therefore recommended that farmers improve on their biosecurity and adhere to routine de-worming regimen of pigs.

Keywords: age, gender, prevalence, gastrointestinal, parasite, swine Continue reading “Gastrointestinal parasites among swine bred in Edo State, Nigeria”

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Comparative distribution of bacterial contaminants of packaged and unpackaged polyherbal products sold in Nnewi, Nigeria

*Udeogu, C. V., Agbakoba, N. R., and Chukwuma, G. O.
Medical Microbiology Unit, Department of Medical Laboratory Science
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria Correspondence to: chidozie.udeogu@yahoo.com

Abstract:

Background: The use of herbal medicine continues to remain popular despite advances in orthodox medicine largely as a result of affordability and availability. However, contaminated and potentially toxic polyherbal preparations remain a public health challenge despite regulations instituted by concerned agencies in Nigeria. The objective of this study was to determine and compare the bacterial contaminants of different polyherbal products sold in Nnewi, Nigeria

Methodology: This study evaluated the bacteriological profile of 22 packaged and 22 unpackaged polyherbal preparations sold in Nnewi, Nigeria. The samples were collected from different herbal medicine shops in Nnewi by simple random sampling and were assayed for comparative bacterial loads with chromogenic media and their total viable counts evaluated following standard method for microbial load analysis.

Results: Bacterial contaminants were isolated from 9 of 22 (40.9%) packaged polyherbal samples while 13 of 22 (59.1%) samples were bacteriologically sterile. For the unpackaged polyherbal, bacterial contaminants were isolated from 18 of 22 (81.8%) samples while 4 of 22 (18.2%) were bacteriologically sterile (OR 0.1538, p=0.0122). The most frequently isolated bacterial contaminant in the packaged polyherbal samples was Enterococcus faecalis with 33.3% (6/18) while Salmonella sp was the least frequently isolated with 5.6% (1/18). For the unpackaged polyherbals, the most frequently isolated bacterial contaminant was Staphylococcus aureus with 25% (7/28) while Salmonella sp and E. faecalis were the least frequently isolated with 10.7% (3/28) each. The median total viable count of the packaged group of the polyherbal products was 1.48×106 CFU/ml, while the median total viable count for unpackaged group of polyherbals was 1.95×106 CFU/ml.

Conclusion: This study shows that many polyherbal products sold in Nnewi are potentially contaminated with bacterial agents. It is therefore imperative that herbal medicine practitioners be enlightened on hygienic ways of preventing microbial contamination during polyherbal production.

Keywords: Bacterial contaminants, herbal products, Nnewi, Nigeria Continue reading “Comparative distribution of bacterial contaminants of packaged and unpackaged polyherbal products sold in Nnewi, Nigeria”

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Hookworm presenting as acute febrile illness and surgical abdomen

1,2Efunshile, A. M., 1,2Ojide, C. K., 1Nwangwu, C. C., 2Emelobe, G., and 3Akpa, C.

1Department of Medical Microbiology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria 

2Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria 

3Department of Haematology, Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria 

*Correspondence to: drefunshile@yahoo.com

Abstract:

Hookworm is estimated to infect about 500 million people worldwide. It is usually associated with diarrhoea, abdominal pain and iron deficiency anaemia, but diagnosis can be missed because it sometimes presents unusually or mimics other diseases. We present in this report the case of an 18-year-old asthmatic medical student who was referred to a general surgeon on account of abdominal pain of 8 days duration. His problem started initially with fever, chills and rigor which was managed as malaria but no improvement. The diagnosis shifted from enteric fever to peptic ulcer disease, and his worsening condition was later reviewed as acute abdomen. Abdominal X-ray and ultrasound were normal. Stool microscopy showed numerous ova of hookworm. He was then treated with albendazole leading to full recovery on subsequent follow up. Hookworm disease can mimic a lot of other clinical conditions. A careful review of literature is a reminder that the clinical presentation of hookworm can be diverse and misleading. The current report emphasizes the fact that hookworm should always be considered a possible differential in endemic regions when clinicians are confronted with acute non-malaria febrile illnesses or cases of acute surgical abdomen. 

Keywords: acute abdomen, fever, hookworm. Continue reading “Hookworm presenting as acute febrile illness and surgical abdomen”