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Comparative gender analysis of the seroprevalence of varicella zoster virus among HIV-infected individuals receiving care at Offa, north-central Nigeria

*1Udeze, A. O., and 2Odebisi-Omokanye, M.

1Virology Unit, Department of Microbiology, University of Ilorin, P.M.B 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria

2Infectious Disease, Environmental Health and Toxicity Research Group, Department of Microbiology, University of Ilorin, P.M.B 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria            *Correspondence to: udeze.ao@unilorin.edu.ng; austok90@yahoo.com; +2348135586003

ORCiD: 0000-0002-5492-4925

Abstract:

Background: Varicella zoster virus (VZV) infections are common and contribute substantially to morbidity and mortality among HIV-infected patients. This study was conducted to determine the level of exposure, compare the gender distribution pattern and correlate with CD4 count, history of chicken pox and demographics among HIV patients.

Methodology: Blood samples were collected from 273 randomly selected HIV-positive patients (93 males and 180 females) receiving care and management at the General Hospital Offa, Kwara State, Nigeria, between September 2019 and March 2020, after obtaining informed consent. Sera were separated from the blood samples and tested for the presence of VZV-specific IgG antibodies using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Continue reading “Comparative gender analysis of the seroprevalence of varicella zoster virus among HIV-infected individuals receiving care at Offa, north-central Nigeria”

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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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Seroprevalence of Toxoplasmosis and associated risk factors in pregnant women at the Protestant Hospital, Mbouo-Bandjoun, Cameroon

1 Guemgne Todjom, F., 1 Makou Tsapi, E., 1 Gamago, G. A., 2 Vignoles, P., 3 Wabo Pone J., and 4* Djuikwo Teukeng, F. F.

1 Evangelical University of Cameroon, BP 127, Bandjoun, Cameroon
2 INSERM U 1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology, 2, rue du Docteur Raymond Marcland, 87025 Limoges, France
3 Research Unit of Biology and Applied Ecology, Faculty of Science, BP 067, Dschang, Cameroon
4 Faculty of Health Sciences, Université des Montagnes, BP 208, Bangangté, Cameroon
*Correspondence to: Dr. F. F. Djuikwo Teukeng (ffnouboue@yahoo.fr)

Abstract:
Background: Toxoplasmosis is a common worldwide infection caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. In Cameroon, several recent studies have reported high seroprevalence of this parasitosis in various hospitals (Douala, Limbe, Njinikom and Yaoundé). The aim of this study was to determine whether this high prevalence of toxoplasmosis might occur in other regions of the country.
Methodology: Serological tests by the indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for IgG and IgM were carried out on 200 pregnant women (36 HIV-positive and 164 HIV-negative) at the Protestant Hospital of Mbouo-Bandjoun in western Cameroon to determine the presence of Toxoplasma gondii infection and to identify the risk factors associated with seropositivity of the subjects.
Results: The overall seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies was 45.5%. The prevalence rate was 80.5% in the HIV-positive group (47.2% IgG, 22.2% IgM and 11.1% IgG + IgM) and 37.8% in the HIV-negative group (25.6%, 9.7% and 2.4% respectively). Using a multivariate logistic regression analysis, the secondary level of educational, presence of HIV infection, and frequency of close contacts with cats were significantly associated with the prevalence of IgG and/or IgM antibodies.
Conclusion: Compared with previous reports of human toxoplasmosis in Cameroon, the prevalence in our study showed a decrease in the disease occurrence. Further studies are needed to determine whether this decrease is localised to our study or a general phenomenon currently affecting the country.

Keywords: Cameroon, IgG, IgM, pregnant women, seroprevalence, Toxoplasma gondii

Received January 9, 2019; Revised May 6, 2019; Accepted May 7, 2019

Copyright 2019 AJCEM Open Access. This article is licensed and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attrition 4.0 International License (//creativecommmons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided credit is given to the original author(s) and the source.

 

Séroprévalence de la toxoplasmose et facteurs de risque associés chez des femmes enceintes à l’Hôpital Protestant de Mbouo-Bandjoun, Cameroun

1 Guemgne Todjom, F., 1 Makou Tsapi, E., 1 Gamago, G. A., 2 Vignoles, P., 3 Wabo Pone J., and 4* Djuikwo Teukeng, F. F.

1 Université évangélique du Cameroun, BP 127, Bandjoun, Cameroun
2 INSERM U 1094, Neuroépidémiologie tropicale, Institut de neuroépidémiologie et de neurologie tropicale, 2, rue du Docteur Raymond Marcland, 87025 Limoges, France
3 Unité de recherche en biologie et écologie appliquée, Faculté des sciences, BP 067, Dschang, Cameroun
4 Faculté des sciences de la santé, Université des Montagnes, BP 208, Bangangté, Cameroun *Correspondance à: Dr. F. F. Djuikwo Teukeng (ffnouboue@yahoo.fr)

Résumé:
Contexte: La toxoplasmose est une infection répandue dans le monde entier et causée par le protozoaire Toxoplasma gondii. Au Cameroun, plusieurs études récentes ont signalé une forte séroprévalence de la parasitose dans divers hôpitaux (Douala, Limbé, Njinikom et Yaoundé). Le but de cette étude était de déterminer si cette forte prévalence de la toxoplasmose pouvait se produire dans d’autres régions du pays.
Méthodologie: Des tests sérologiques pour quantifier les IgG et IgM par dosage indirect immuno-enzymatique indirect selon la méthode ELISA ont été effectués sur 200 femmes enceintes (36 VIH-positives et 164 VIH-négatives) à l’hôpital protestant de Mbouo-Bandjoun, dans l’ouest du Cameroun, afin de déterminer la présence d’infectiona à T. gondii et d’identifier les facteurs de risque associés à la séropositivité des sujets.
Résultats: La séroprévalence globale des anticorps anti-Toxoplasma était de 45,5 %. Le taux de prévalence était de 80,5 % dans le groupe VIH-positif (47,2 % IgG, 22,2 % IgM et 11,1 % IgG + IgM) et de 37,8 % dans le groupe VIH négatif (25,6 %, 9,7 % et 2,4 %, respectivement). L’emploi d’une analyse de régression logistique multivariée a montré que le niveau secondaire d’éducation, la présence d’une infection par le VIH et la fréquence des contacts étroits avec les chats étaient significativement associés à la prévalence des anticorps IgG et/ou IgM.
Conclusion: Par rapport aux rapports précédents sur la toxoplasmose humaine au Cameroun, la prévalence dans notre étude a montré une diminution de la fréquence de la maladie. Des études complémentaires sont nécessaires pour déterminer si cette baisse est localisée dans notre étude ou est un phénomène général qui affecte actuellement le pays.

Mots clés : Cameroun, femmes enceintes, IgG, IgM, séroprévalence, Toxoplasma gondii

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Seroprevalence of Toxoplasmosis and associated risk factors in pregnant women at the Protestant Hospital, Mbouo-Bandjoun, Cameroon

 

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Seroprevalence of Cytomegalovirus Infection amongst Pregnant Women in Kaduna State, Nigeria

M Yeroh, M Aminu, BOP Musa

 

Abstract

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a major public health problem throughout the world. It is the leading cause of congenital infections leading to neurological disabilities in children that result to severe sequelae such as sensor neural hearing loss, neuro-developmental delay and blindness. This study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of human cytomegalovirus among pregnant women in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Three hundred and sixty three (363) blood samples were collected from 330 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics and 33 non pregnant women attending the Outpatient Department in three selected General Hospitals in Kaduna State. Serum obtained from the blood samples were examined
for the presence of CMV IgG antibodies by IFA method. About 94.8% of pregnant women tested positive to CMV IgG antibodies while all (100%) of the non pregnant women tested positive. There was no statistically significant association between CMV and pregnancy (÷2=1.784, df=2, p=0.182). Infection with CMV was strongly associated with zone location
(÷2=15.381, df,=2, p=0.000) and employment status of the women (÷2=5.519, df=1, p=0.018). There was no significant association between CMV infection and age, gravida, gestation age, education, number of marriages and history of previous transfusion. The high prevalence of CMV infection observed in this study indicates that the virus is prevalent in
the study area and it is therefore advisable that routine screening of CMV infection be implemented for all antenatal women in the State.

Keywords: Seroprevalence, Cytomegalovirus, IgG, Pregnant women, Kaduna, Nigeria

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Seroprevalence of Cytomegalovirus Infection amongst Pregnant Women in Kaduna State, Nigeria

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Toxoplasma Gondii Infection in HIV/AIDS: Prevalence and Risk Factors

O Okwuzu, NN Odunukwe, OC Ezechi, TA Gbajabiamila, AZ Musa, PM Ezeobi, BA Oke, T Somefun, RN Okoye, CC Onyeitu, MA Adetunji, AO Otubanjo

 

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. It is common in severely immunecompromised
persons.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection and the risk factors associated with the infection and to investigate the association between T. gondii infection and CD4 cell count.
METHODS: Sera collected from 242 HIV positive HAART- naive patients were tested for T. gondii specific immunoglobulin G antibodies. Information was obtained using a structured questionnaire. Baseline CD4 cell counts were obtained from patients case files. Data was managed using SPSS version 20 software and Microsoft Excel worksheet.
RESULTS: One hundred and sixty eight (69.4%) subjects were females while 74(30.6%) were males. One hundred (41.3%) of study participants were Toxoplasma IgG antibody positive. Thirty two(32) HIV positive pregnant women were among this group studied with 12( 37.5%) being Toxo IgG antibody positive. Toxoplasma seropositivity was higher in females (42.8%) than in males (39.2%), P= 0.60. CD4 cell count level of < 200 was negatively associated with Toxoplasma seropositivity than CD4 count . 200 by logistic regression (OR= 0.6; 95% CI 0.3- 1.0). Living in proximity with cat was positively associated with T. gondii infection (P= 0.01).
CONCLUSION: T. gondii infection is common in pregnant women indicating greater probability of congenital transmission of T. gondii. This could form a basis for recommending intensifying health education and prophylactic treatment for all HIV positive pregnant women. Measures should be taken to prevent stray cats from entering homes.

Keywords: Toxoplasma gondii , IgG, Seroprevalence, HIV positive, CD4 cells.

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Toxoplasma Gondii Infection in HIV AIDS Prevalence and Risk Factors

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Seroprevalence of parvovirus BI9 antibody in blood donors and sickle cell disease patients at Lagos university teaching hospital (LUTH): a comparative study

MC Iheanacho, SA Akanmu, B Nwogoh

 

Abstract

Introduction: Parvovirus B19 (PVB19) is a DNA virus transmissible by blood transfusion. It is a major cause of aplastic crisis especially in chronic haemolytic anaemic patients such as sickle cell disease patients.
Objective: The study was aimed to determine the seroprevalence of PVB19 in blood donors and sickle cell anaemia (SCA) patients and to evaluate its association with blood transfusion in SCA patients.
Methods: This is a cross sectional study conducted at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos Nigeria. Three hundred participants, consisting of 150 voluntary blood donors and 150 sickle cell anaemia subjects were enrolled into the study. Seroprevalence of parvovirus was determined using ELISA kits for IgG and IgM anti-PVB19 antibodies by Immuno-Biological Laboratories, (IBL) inc. Minneapolis, USA. Results was analyzed with SPSS 11 software and presented in tables. Fishers Exact test, Chi-square and student T-test were used as appropriate to compare variables between both groups. P-values <0.05 were considered significant.
Results: Ninety nine (66%) blood donors were positive for anti-PVB19 IgG antibody while ninety two (61.3%) sickle cell patients were positive. Two (1.3%) blood donors were positive anti-PVB19 IgM antibodies while 8 (5.3%) SCD patients were positive for anti-PVB19 IgM antibodies. There was no significant difference in the seroprevalence of IgG and IgM antiPVB19 virus in both groups. There was no association of parvovirus seroprevalence with blood transfusion.
Conclusion: The study has shown a high seroprevalence of IgG anti-PVB19 antibodies in both blood donors and SCA patients. Therefore routine screening for parvovirus infection for donor blood is not justified. However seronegative SCA patients who require blood transfusion should have the blood screened for parvovirus to reduce the risk of associated aplastic crisis.

Key words: Seroprevalence, parvovirus B19, blood donors, sickle cell anaemia

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Seroprevalence of parvovirus BI9 antibody in blood donors and sickle cell disease patients at Lagos university teaching hospital LUTH a comparative study

 

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Seroprevalence and risk factors of Hepatitis C Virus in patients and blood donors in Kano, Nigeria

O Azeez-Akande, A Sarki, E.E Wokedi, A Olabode, P Alabi

 

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease resulting in cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma. It is believed to be widespread in Africa but its epidemiology is incomplete and is yet to be determined in many areas of the sub-saharan Africa including Nigeria. Using third generation enzyme immuno-assay (EIA-3) and recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) technique as confirmatory test, we examined the prevalence of HCV antibodies in 226 blood donors and 226 patients attending Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) in Kano, Nigeria and evaluated the risk factors of HCV transmission in this environment. HCV antibodies were detected in 0.4% and 2.2% blood donors and patients respectively. The overall HCV seroprevalence was 1.3%. There was increased infection acquisition with increasing age; one (16.7%) HCV infection occurred in 25-34 years age group and 5 or 83.3% in subjects > 45 years in age which was significant (P< 0.05). The ratio of infection in male to female was 1:5. Evidence of previous exposure via transfusion was common in HCV seropositive subjects and could be a major risk factor of acquisition in this environment. Adequate screening of blood products in sub- Saharan Africa (Nigeria inclusive) may minimize the risk of HCV transmission and associated health complications.

Key words: Hepatitis C virus, seroprevalence, patients, blood donors, risk factors.

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Seroprevalence and risk factors of Hepatitis C Virus in patients and blood donors in Kano Nigeria