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Molecular detection of hepatitis E virus among swine and poultry birds in Lagos, Nigeria

1,2Salu, O. B., 3,4Mutiu, B. P., 1Etok, M. J., 2Orenolu, M. R., 2Anyanwu, R. A., 2Abdullah, M. A., 3,5Saka, B. A., 3,6Abdus-Salam, I. A., 7Macaulay, R. M., 2,8Oyedeji, K. S., and *1,2,9Omilabu, S. A.

1Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Medicine University of Lagos (CMUL), P.M.B. 12003, Lagos, Nigeria

2Centre for Human and Zoonotic Virology (CHAZVY), Central Research Laboratory, College of Medicine, University of Lagos (CMUL)/Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos, Nigeria

3Lagos State Bio-bank Laboratory, Mainland Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria

4Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria

5Centre for Biomedical Research Initiatives (CBRI), Nigeria

6Lagos State Ministry of Health (LSMOH), Alausa Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria

7Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture (LSMOA), Alausa Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria

8Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine University of Lagos (CMUL), P.M.B. 12003, Lagos, Nigeria

9Department of Microbiology, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, P.M.B. 2013, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria

*Correspondence to: somilabu@unilag.edu.ng; Tel: +2348023119431

Abstract:
Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV), the only hepatitis virus that replicates in humans and a wide range of animal hosts, is a significant public health enteric virus with a growing trend of infection globally. The public and environmental implications associated with HEV as a zoonotic transmitted virus remain to be fully elucidated. Thus, with the limited information on HEV in other species other than humans in Nigeria, this study aimed to detect by molecular methods HEV among some livestock in Lagos, Nigeria. Continue reading “Molecular detection of hepatitis E virus among swine and poultry birds in Lagos, Nigeria”

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Elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (eMTCT) in Western Nigeria: how far have we gone?

S.O. Usman, G.B. Agboola, A.J. Afe, G.P. Olubayo, T. Akinmurele, O.T Oluwaniyi, O.O Abodunde, O. Adeola, M. Onyema

 

Abstract

Background: HIV pandemic has continued to be a huge challenge in Nigeria, with the problem of stigmatization reducing the chances of early determination of the HIV status of pregnant women, which may increase the chances of transmission to the child from the mother. Hypotheses tested were the influence of maternal antiretroviral therapy (ART) use and infant’s feeding option on baby’s final early infant diagnosis (EID) outcome. The study was aimed at determining the trend as well as diagnosis of HIV infection in exposed infants. It will also determine among infants the factors associated with the transmission of the infection from their mothers.
Methods: This study was a prospective cohort study of HIV-exposed infants conducted in Ekiti State, South Western Nigeria, between June 2015 and June 2017. Dried Blood Spots (DBS) were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction technique. All data were statistically analyzed, using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) and statistical test of significance was performed with Chi-Square test.
Results: A total of 200 infants were included in the study, 91 (45.5%) female and 109 (54.5%) male. Three (1.5%) babies were confirmed positive after cessation of all exposures. Maternal antiretroviral therapy (ART) use has significant effect on baby early infant diagnosis (EID) outcome (χ² = 65.40, df = 2, P = 0.001). Infant feeding option has significant effect on baby early infant diagnosis (EID) outcome (χ² = 132.67, df = 2, P = 0.001). Baby’s mode of delivery have higher association with the final EID outcome of the baby (OR: 1.018, 95% CI: 0.998 – 1.038).
Conclusion: ART administration to both HIV-infected mothers and their babies has demonstrated an effective mechanism in the elimination of mother-to-child transmission (eMTCT), as this is evident in the very low positivity outcome. However, the degree to which Cuba, Armenia, Belarus, and Thailand have eliminated HIV transmission from mother-to-baby is achievable in Nigeria through provision of universal access to health care.

Key words: infant, mother, dried blood spot, polymerase chain reaction

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Elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (eMTCT) in Western Nigeria how far have we gone Elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (eMTCT) in Western Nigeria how far have we gone

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Polymerase chain reaction versus enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in detection of Chlamydia trachomatis infection among gynaecological patients in southwestern Nigeria

T.A. Ajani, C.G. Anaedobe, T.A. Oluwasola, M.A. Ajani, S.A. Fayemiwo, R.A. Bakare

 

Abstract

Background:  Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis), is the most common bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infection, a major cause of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease and female infertility. Since C. trachomatis infections are frequently asymptomatic with higher prevalence in developing countries, highly sensitive and affordable methods are desirable for routine screening and diagnosis. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of C. trachomatis-specific IgG antibody by ELISA as a screening tool for C. trachomatis infection, by comparing the performance of ELISA with the gold standard Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).

Method: In this cross sectional study, we enrolled 150 women attending infertility clinic at Ibadan between January and November, 2015. ELISA for detection of IgG antibodies specific to C. trachomatis major outer membrane protein (MOMP) was performed on the blood samples using third generation indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and endocervical samples were analyzed for presence of C. trachomatisnucleic acid using PCR. Socio-demographic bio-data and gynaecological history were obtained with questionnaire; data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0.

Results: Overall, 58 (38.7%) were positive for C. trachomatis specific IgG antibody by ELISA and 11 (7.3%) for C. trachomatis nucleic acid by PCR. Using PCR as the gold standard, ELISA had a sensitivity of 81.8% specificity of 64.8%, positive predictive value of 15.5% negative predictive value of 97.8% and accuracy of 66%.

Conclusion: The high sensitivity of the ELISA indicates that over 80% of patients identified as being positive in the screened population are truly infected. Also, the negative predictive value approaches 100% amongst those screened out as being
negative. Thus its use as a screening tool for C. trachomatis infection is warranted particularly in developing countries where cheaper and easier to use alternatives to PCR are in dire need.

Keywords: C. trachomatis, infertility, polymerase chain reaction, ELISA, sexually transmitted infections

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Polymerase chain reaction versus enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in detection of Chlamydia trachomatis infection among gynaecological patients in southwest

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PCR Detection of Entamoeba histolytica in Microscopically Positive Stool Samples of Hospital Patients in Soroti, Eastern Uganda

J Ekou, JI Nakavuma, J Erume, M Ocaido

 

Abstract

Amoebiasis is an infection caused by water borne protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica. In Uganda where sanitation infrastructure and health education was not adequate, amoebiasis was thought to be still an important health problem. However there was little or no data on prevalence of this very important protozoan infection. In addition, microscopy remained the main method for the diagnosis of amoebiasis but could not differentiate between Entamoeba dispar/moshkovskii and Entamoeba histolytica infections. This made determination of true prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica infections difficult. It was against this background that this study was designed to carry out species specific diagnosis of Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar/moshkovskii in Uganda where these species had been reported to be endemic. This study used microscopy and polymerase chain reaction amplification of Serine-rich Entamoeba histolytica (SREHP) gene. It was shown that 36.7% (n=22) of the samples initially diagnosed as positive by microscopy were positive by PCR. The true prevalence of E. histolytica and E.dispar/ moshkovskii was found to be 7.31% and 12.6% respectively. It was concluded that Entamoeba infection in Soroti, Eastern Uganda is more frequently due to E. dispar /moshkovskii (13.3%) the non-pathogenic forms than to E. histolytica, the pathogen (7.31%).

Key words: Entamoeba histolytica, Microscopy, Polymerase chain reaction, Prevalence.

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PCR Detection of Entamoeba histolytica in Microscopically Positive Stool Samples of Hospital Patients in Soroti, Eastern Uganda

 

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Molecular identification and prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex amongst people living with HIV in Osun state, Nigeria

O Alli, D.O Ogbolu, M.A Salawu, J.G Oyedeji, L Oladokun, F Obaseki

 

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has created a special niche for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in humans as a result of the defect/reduction in cell mediated immunity. M. tuberculosis still responsible for most cases of death due to infectious diseases after HIV. In this study, prevalence of M. tuberculosis was determined in people living with HIV in Osun state of Nigeria with identification of culture positive isolates by polymerase chain reaction. A total of 160 samples were collected from people living with HIV with mean age of 36.8 years old of age (Median -34; age range 16 – 68; 95% confidence interval – 2.49) after seeking ethical approval from the Ministry of Health, Osun State. The result of the microscopy by ZN stain showed that 40 (25%) of the 160 samples were positive for acid fast bacilli while culture on Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) medium revealed that 30 (18.75%) of the samples processed, grew organism that conformed to the characteristics of M. tuberculosis complex. Polymerase chain reaction for IS6110 was used to confirm the identity of the colonies on LJ slope as M. tuberculosis complex while the PCR for 260 bp of Rv1255c was used in identifying M. tuberculosis. M. tuberculosis represented 92% of the M. tuberculosis complex. The prevalence of M. tuberculosis among people living with HIV was found to be 15% after PCR identification. The effects of socio-demographic factors on the prevalence of TB were analysed. Occupation was found to be associated with the proportional distribution of TB in people living with HIV (X2 = 14.85; p < 0.05). The study concluded that PCR should be integrated into the schema for identification of tuberculosis in reference laboratories in developing countries.

Key words: Molecular identification, Polymerase chain reaction, Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Prevalence, HIV, Nigeria

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Molecular identification and prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex amongst people living with HIV in Osun state, Nigeria.