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Prevalence of trypanosomiasis in sheep in the Kachia Grazing Reserve, Kachia, Kaduna State, Nigeria

B Wayo, S.M. Samdi, A.O. Fajinmi, R Bizi, H Dauda, A.A. Muhammad, J.O. Kalejaiye

 

Abstract

An investigation was carried out in the Kachia grazing reserve in Kaduna, Nigeria, to determine the prevalence of trypanosomiasis among sheep. The reserve has had a history of high prevalence of the disease and farmers in the area are known to ignore the control of trypanosomiasis in sheep and goats and focus more on cattle. The sheep studied showed lacrimation, pale mucous membranes, hair loss, lameness and tick infestation. Blood samples from 110 sheep were collected and examined by using the Standard Trypanosome Detection Method i.e. Haematocrit Centrifugation Technique (HCT),Buffy Coat Method (BCM), and Giemsa stained thick and thin blood films.The packed cell volume (PCV) of each animal was also determined.An overall point prevalence rate of 40.9%(45 positive) was recorded. The average PCV of the infected sheep (19.6±0.45) appeared lower but statistically not significant (p>0.05)than that (18.6±0.51) in those non-infected.The trypanosomes observed were T. congolense (40.0%),T. Brucei (28.8%), T.vivax (17.7%) and mixed infections (13.3%). The potential of small ruminants serving as reservoirs of infection for cattle, insufficiency of professional Veterinary services, absence of alternative trypanosomiasis control methods other than chemotherapy and poor land use practices which forces migration of herds and complicates the control of the disease in the area were discussed.

Keywords: Prevalence, Trypanosomiasis, Sheep, Grazing reserve, Chemotherapy, Reservoir

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Prevalence of trypanosomiasis in sheep in the Kachia Grazing Reserve, Kachia, Kaduna State, Nigeria

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Prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica in stool specimens at Muhondo Health Center, Rwanda

Noel Gahamanyi, Jean de Dieu Mugabo, Claude Bayingana

 

Abstract

Entamoeba histolytica is a protozoan parasite causing amebiasis. It occurs usually in the large intestine and causes internal inflammation as its name means (histo = tissue, lytic = destroying). Between 40 and 50 million people are infected worldwide, mostly in tropical countries, in areas of poor sanitation. The infection occurs by ingestion of mature cyst in fecally contaminated food, water or hands. The disease shows different symptoms including vomiting, abdominal pain, nausea, watery and bloody diarrhea. While the infection becomes extra intestinal, it may cause abscess in other organs such as liver, kidney, brain and lungs.

The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence of E. histolytica in stool specimens at Muhondo Health Center. A total of 103 fecal specimens were collected over a period of three months. Out of 103 specimens, only 26 (25.2%) were positive for E. histolytica. Out of the 26 specimens positive for E. histolytica, 17 (16.5%) and 9 (8.7%) were from males and females respectively. Furthermore, of the 26 Specimens positive for E. histolytica, 15 (14.6%) and 11 (10.7%) were from people ≤ 15 and >15 years of age respectively. Entamoeba histolytica was more prevalent 26 (25.2%) than other parasites including Giardia with 15 (14.6%), Ascaris sp with 5 (4.9%), Trichomonas intestinalis with 16 (15.5%) and Entamoeba coli with 1 (1%). In order to reduce Entamoeba histolytica contamination and infections, the following recommendations were pointed out: (i) improving personal hygiene (washing hand before eating and after using latrines) ; (ii) avoiding fecal contamination of food, water, and utensils ; and (iii) boiling drinking water before consumption.

Keywords: Parasites, Prevalence, Entamoeba histolytica, amebiasis, Stool specimens, Muhondo Health Center

Prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica in stool specimens at Muhondo Health Center, Rwanda

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Prevalence of HIV/Sputum AFB positivity among patients attending University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Nigeria

O Iyoha, WO Osarogiagbon

 

Abstract

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Tuberculosis(TB) have synergistic interactions that speedily accelerate decline of the host’s immune system and accentuate the progression of each other. Eight hundred and ninety five patients referred from different units of University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Nigeria were screened for antibodies to HIV-1 and HIV-2 using ELISA and sputum microscopy for acid-fast bacilli. The result showed that, 92(10.3%) were HIV positive with females 68(14.2%) higher than males 24(5.8%) though not statistically significant (p=0.066), 123(13.7%) patients were AFB positive, with males 75(18.1%) significantly higher than females 48(10%) (p=0.046) and 14(1.6%) patients were co-infected. Although the co-infection rate was higher among females 9(1.9%) than males 5(1.2%), there was no significant difference (p=0.450). The age group 40-49 and 50-59 had the highest TB/HIV co-infection (2.5% each).Regular screening for TB in HIV patients and HIV in TB patients would demonstrate the true burden of TB disease amongst HIV infected patients.

Key words: prevalence, TB, HIV, co-infection, Nigeria.

LA PREVALENCE DE LA POSITIVITE DU VIH/EXPECTORATIONS AFB CHEZ LES PATIENTS QUI
FREQUENT L’UNIVERSITE HOPITAL D’ENSEIGNEMENT DE BENIN (UBTH), BENIN CITY, NIGERIA.

Le virus de l’immunodéficience humaine(VIH) et la tuberculose (TB) ont des interactions synergiques qui rapidement accélèrent le déclin du système immunitaire de l’hôte et accentuent la progression de l’un l’autre. Huit cent quatre – vingt quinze patients des différentes unités de l’université hôpital  d’enseignement de Benin, Nigeria, ont été criblés pour les anticorps a VIH – 1 et VIH – 2 en utilisant ELISA microscopique des expectorations pour les bacilles acide – Résistant. Le résultat a montrée que 92 (10,3%) étaient séropositifs avec des femelles 68(14,2%) plus élevé que les males 24(5,8%), mais pas
statiquement significatif, (p=0,066), 123(13,7%) patients étaient AFB positif, avec les males 75(18,1%) significativement plus élevés que les femelles 48 (10%) (p=0,046) et 14 (1,6%) patients ont été Co – infectés. Bien que le taux de la Co – infection était plus élevé parmi les femelles 9(1,9%) que les males 5 (1,2%), il n y avait pas de différence significative (p=0,450). Le groupe d’âges 40 – 49 et 50 – 59 avait la plus forte Co – infection de TB/HIV (2,5%). Le dépistage régulier de la tuberculose chez les patients VIH et VIH chez les patients tuberculeux démontrerait le véritable fardeau de la maladie de la tuberculose chez les patients infectés par le VIH.

Mots Clés : Prevalence, Tuberculose, VIH, Co – infection, Nigeria.

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Prevalence of HIVSputum AFB positivity among patients attending University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Nigeria

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Candiduria among HIV- Infected Patients Attending a Tertiary Hospital in Benin City

NO Esebelahie, IB Enweani, FO Newton-Esebelahie, R Omoregie

 

Abstract

Background: Candiduria is a common finding. However, in  immunocompromised patients like HIV-infected individuals, it has high risk of morbidity and mortality as it could be a pointer to systemic candidiasis. Unfortunately, there are no clear criteria for differentiating between colonization and infection or between upper or lower urinary tract infections.

Objective: This study focused on determining the spectrum of Candida species implicated in candiduria among HIV-infected individuals and their
susceptibility to fluconazole and voriconazole in a tertiary hospital.

Methods: A total of 300 subjects comprising of 200 HIV patients and 100 non-HIV individuals were used for this study. Clean catch midstream were collected from each individual and processed using standard  microbiological techniques. Emergent Candida isolates were identified with CHROMagar Candida and sugar fermentation tests.

Results: The overall prevalence of candiduria among HIV patients was 13.5%. HAART-naive patients had a significantly higher prevalence  (OR=4.165, 95%CI=1.602, 10.828; P=0.0038) than their counterpart on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Female gender was a  significant risk factor for acquiring candiduria. Age had no significant effect on the prevalence of candiduria in this study. A CD4+ count <200 cells/µl was a significant risk factor for acquiring candiduria only among  HAART-naive patients (OR=11.711; 95%CI=3.943, 34.780; P= 0.0001). The three species of Candida recovered from this study were C. albicans, C. krusei and C.parapsilosis. C. albicans (64.52%, 83.36%) and C. krusei (66.67%, 100.00%) were resistant to fluconazole and voriconazole  respectively.

Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between  antiretroviral therapy, CD4+ counts, and the prevalence of candiduria among the study population.

Keywords:HAART, HAART-naive, candiduria, CD4+ counts, Candida,  prevalence.

 

Contexte: La candidurie est un problème commun de sante publique. Cependant, chez les patients immunodéprimés comme les individus infectés par le VIH, elle présente un risque élevé de morbidité puisqu’elle peut évoluer vers la candidose systémique. Malheureusement, il n’existe pas de critères clairs permettant de distinguer la colonisation et l’infection de même que les infections des voies urinaires supérieures et inférieures.

Objectif: Cette étude a porté sur la détermination du spectre d’espèces de Candida impliqués dans la candidurie chez les personnes infectées par le VIH et leur sensibilité au fluconazole et voriconazole dans un hôpital tertiaire.

Methodes : Un total de 300 sujets comprenant 200 patients atteints du VIH et 100 personnes non -VIH ont été utilisés dans cette étude. Les echantillons d’urine ont été collectées auprès de chaque personne par la methode de ‘‘Clean catch midstream’’et traitées en utilisant des techniques microbiologiques standard. Les isolats émergents de Candida ont été identifiés avec CHROMagar Candida et les tests de fermentation de sucre.

Résultats : La prévalence globale du VIH chez les patients atteints de candidurie était de 13,5%. Les patients en naïfs de la multithérapie HAARTavaient une prévalence significativement plus élevée (OR = 4,165, IC à 95% =1,602, 10,828, p = 0,0038 ) par rapport a leurs homologues sous traitement antiretroviral hautement actif (HAART ) . Le sexe feminin etait un facteur de risque important d’acquisition de candidurie. L’age n’avait pas d’effet significat nif sur la prevalence de candidurie dans cette etude. Un compte de CD4 + < 200 cellules / µl ete un facteur de risque important pour l’acquisition de candidurie que chez les patients en multitherapie naifs (OR = 11,711 ; IC a 95% = 3, 943, 34, 780, p = 0,0001). Les trois especes de Candida recuperes de cette etude etaient C. albicans, C. krusei et C.parapsilosis. C. albicans(64,52%, 83,36 %) et C. krusei (66,67%, 100,00 %) etaient resistants respectivement au  fluconazole et voriconazole.

Conclusion: Il existe une relation significative entre le traitement  antiretroviral, CD4 +, et la prevalence de candidurie parmi la population de l’etude..

Mots-cles: multitherapie HAART , naifs , candidurie , CD4 + , Candida , prevalence

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Candiduria among HIV- Infected Patients Attending a Tertiary Hospital in Benin City

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Paediatric malaria: a ten-year retrospective study at the national hospital, Abuja, Nigeria

IC Peletiri, JO Ajobiewe, NKO Ibecheozor

 

Abstract

A ten year study of malaria amongst paediatric patients was carried out in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria, West Africa from 2000 to 2010. Giemsa staining methodology was used. Of the 24 289 blood samples analyzed (comprising of 13 435 male children and 10 854 female children), 8668 (35·7%) were positive for malaria parasites. 267 (3·1%) had parasite density of > 5000 parasites/Zl of blood; 382 (4·4%) had between 500 – 5000 parasites/Zl of blood; 1262 (14·6%) had between 50 – 500 parasites/Zl of blood; while 6757 (77·9%) had between 5 – 50 parasites/Zl of blood. The 11-15 years age group had the highest prevalence of 40·6%, while neonates (<1 – 28 days), 1 month – 5 years, and 6 – 10 years age groups recorded 27·2%, 34.5% and 36·5% respectively. Of the 13 435 male children, 4845 (36·1%) had positive malaria result as against 35·2% (3823) of positive cases recorded among the 10854 female children. There is need to enhance parasitological diagnosis by way of providing diagnostic tolls at all levels of health care – primary (rural settings), secondary and tertiary. There are negative implications associated with the continued use of malaria rapid diagnostic tests (M-RDTs) methodologies which includes underdiagnosis, misdiagnosis of malaria and mismanagement of non-malarial fever, which wastes limited resources, erodes confidence in the health care system, and contributes to drug resistance. Finally, appropriate antimalarial drugs for treatment should be given free to all malaria positive children.

Keywords: Malaria, paediatric patients, parasite density, prevalence, laboratory diagnosis, treatment.

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Microbial status of smoked fish, scombia scombia sold in Owerri, Imo state, Nigeria

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Prevalence of Rubella virus-specific immunoglobulin-g and -m in pregnant women attending two tertiary hospitals in southwestern Nigeria

OT Obijimi, AB Ajetomobi, WP Sule, DO Oluwayelu

 

Abstract

Background: Rubella is a self-limiting disease that causes congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) when rubella virus (RV) infects women in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Objective: To assess a population of pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in two tertiary hospitals in southwestern Nigeria for anti-RV IgG and IgM in order to determine the proportions susceptible to the viral infection and infectious to their fetuses.
Method: Ninety consenting pregnant women were consecutively recruited and aseptically bled for the study. The sera were screened with commercial ELISA kits for anti-rubella virus IgG and IgM. Due to the controls and calibrators included in the tests, the IgG test was performed on 89 sera while all 90 samples were screened for IgM.
Results: Of the 89 pregnant women tested for anti-RV IgG, 86 (96.6%) were positive with protective serum concentrations of the antibody. Only six (6.7%, 95% CI: 1.5-11.8%, n = 90) women were positive for anti-RV IgM with 5 (5.6%, 95% CI: 0.8-10.3%) having both anti-RV IgG and IgM. Overall, three (3.4%) of the women were susceptible to RV infection, one (1.1%) of these in the first trimester of gestation was probably infectious.
Conclusion: Majority of the pregnant women had protective levels of anti-RV IgG antibody although susceptibility to rubella as well as level of infectiousness were low. Intensification of rubella immunization of all females of child-bearing age in Osun and Oyo States is advocated.

Keywords: Prevalence, Rubella, Antibodies, Pregnant women, Southwestern Nigeria.

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Prevalence of Rubella virus-specific immunoglobulin-g and -m in pregnant women attending two tertiary hospitals in southwestern Nigeria

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Prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility of AmpC and ESBLs producing clinical isolates at a tertiary health care center in Kano, north-west Nigeria

I Yusuf, M Haruna, H Yahaya

 

Abstract

The increase in production of Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL) and Amp C beta lactamase among clinical isolates in our hospitals is of utmost importance. Failure to detect these enzymes in many of our hospitals has greatly led to treatment failure and uncontrolled spread of multi drug resistant pathogens. It was for this purpose that the present study was conducted to determine the prevalence, distribution and susceptibility pattern of Gram negative bacteria producing ESBLs and Amp C beta lactamases in the largest tertiary health care provider in Kano, North-West Nigeria. A total of 75 ESBL and 10 AmpC producing bacteria were involved in the study which were obtained from a study involving 500 Gram negative clinical bacterial isolates from various hospital wards over a period of 9 months from Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano, Nigeria. Isolates were screened for ESBLs and AmpC using Double Disc Diffusion Method and Amp C Disc test respectively. All confirmed ESBL and Amp C producing isolates were tested for susceptibility to sixteen (16) different antibiotics by the Disc Diffusion Method (DDM). The prevalence of ESBLs was high in Shigella spp. (1/2 or 50%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (10/50 or /20%), and E. coli (47/247 or 19.3%) while Amp C producers were detected more in Klebsiella pneumoniae (4%) and E. coli (2.8%). Of the specimens screened, distribution varies between ESBL and AmpC producers, but more prevalent in urinary tract pathogens in both. Highest prevalence of ESBLs and AmpC producers was recorded in intensive care units and surgical wards. ESBL and AmpC production in the hospital is not sex dependent statistically, thought higher in males (52 and 60%) than in females (48 and 40%) for ESBL and AmpC respectively. ESBL and AmpC producers were both sensitive to Imipenem, Nitrofurantoin and Levofloxacin and resistance to Amoxycillin, Ceftazidime and Tetracycline. The study indicates the occurrence of ESBL and AmpC producers in our tertiary health provider, widely distributed in various clinical samples, wards
and sexes and are multi drug resistant posing serious threat in managing life threatening infections.

Key words: prevalence, distribution, ESBL producers, Amp C producers, antibiotic susceptibility

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Prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility of AmpC and ESBLs producing clinical isolates at a tertiary health care center in Kano, north-west Nigeria

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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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Toxoplasma antibodies amongst HIV/AIDS patients attending the University Teaching Hospital Yaounde in Cameroon

JCN Assob, AL Njunda, DS Nsagha, HL Kamga, PE Weledji, VB Che

 

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is caused by an obligatory intracellular protozoon. It causes a wide range of diseases with toxoplasma encephalitis commonly encountered in HIV/AIDS patients. This work was carried out to determine the seroprevalence of toxoplasma antibodies (IgM and IgG) in HIV/AIDS patients attending the Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Cameroon. Sera were collected from 133 HIV/AIDS patients at the out-patient department and the ELISA technique was employed serologically to determine toxoplasma antibodies. Of the 133 patients 83 (62.4%) were females and 59 (37.6%) were males; ninety three (69.9%) were positive for toxoplasma antibodies. Fourteen (10.8%) of the 93 of seropositive patients presented with both IgG and IgM-antibodies in their sera while fifty six (42.1%) and 8 (6.0%) were only sero-positive for toxoplasma IgG or IgM-antibody respectively This rate of infection was not dependent on the patient’s sex or age (X2=11.49, P>0.05). The data provides enough evidence to conclude that 64.7% of the positive cases were due to reactivated infection.

Key words: Toxoplasmosis, HIV/AIDS, Pregnancy, Risk factors, Prevalence, Yaounde, Cameroon.

Toxoplasma antibodies amongst HIVAIDS patients attending the University Teaching Hospital Yaounde in Cameroon

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Importance of the confirmatory assay for the detection of the HBsAg in the epidemiological studies and in the diagnosis of the viral Hepatitis B

L Sangaré, R Sombié, T Ouedraogo, I Sanou, A Bambara, C Ouédraogo, I.P Guissou

 

Abstract

Several epidemiological studies have reported high prevalence of HBsAg among pregnant women in Burkina Faso. They used various algorithms, as it is also done for the routine diagnostic. Knowing this antigen carriage rate in such a population or in other clinic attendees is important for the implementation of a national immunisation programme and the monitoring of patients with hepatitis B. Often, the screening tests were not confirmed in spite of the existence of known false positive and false negative results. The aim of this study was to determine a more accurate prevalence of HBsAg, among the pregnant women in Burkina Faso. From October 2006 to January 2007, blood samples were collected from 1139 pregnant women. Each sample was analyzed for HBsAg, using two assays and according to manufacturers’ instructions vis, Hepanostika®HBsAg Uniform II B9 (Bio-Mérieux; France) and HBsAg (V2) Abbott AxSYM® system (Abbott Diagnostics). All the positive samples were tested with a confirmatory neutralization assay- Hepanostika®HBsAg Uniform II B9 Confirmatory (Bio-Merieux). The mean age of the pregnant women was 24.85years [range: 15-45years] and the age range of 20-24 (37%) and 25-29 (25.4%) years were the most represented. The overall rate of HBsAg-positive pregnant women with the two screening assays was 20.9%. The HBsAg detection rate was significantly higher with Hepanostika® UniformII B9 (16.9%) than with HBsAg (V2) AxSYM system assay (12.1%), with P<0,0001. The general seroprevalence of HBsAg was 9% after the confirmatory neutralization testing, with 56.7% of false positive results: this difference was statistically significant (P<0.0001). The rate of HBsAg positive pregnant women was higher in the age range of 25-29years than in the others; however, this difference was not statistically significant. In an epidemiological approach, the results found in this study confirmed the Burkina Faso belonging to the high endemic carriage area for HBsAg. The results showed that in an individual approach, the confirmatory assay is necessary and there is a need to implement more accurate algorithm for the routine diagnostic in patients.

Key words: HBsAg, confirmatory assay, prevalence, pregnant women, Burkina Faso.

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Importance of the confirmatory assay for the detection of the HBsAg in the epidemiological studies and in the diagnosis of the viral Hepatitis B