Effect of artemether-lumefantrine treatment of falciparum malaria on urogenital schistosomiasis in co-infected School Aged Children in North Central of Nigeria

The focus of the present study is to assess the effect of artemether-lumefantrine treatment of falciparum malaria on urogenital schistosomiasis in co-infected individuals. Urine samples were collected from 159 microscopically confirmed malaria patients and diagnosed for urogenital schistosomiasis before treatment. The schistosomiasis cure rate and egg reduction were determined in co-infected patients, who were treated with artemether-lumefantrine. Out of 103 malaria infected children, 56 were co-infected 54.4% (56/103) with schistosomiasis. All 56 co-infected  patients were found urine-negative for Schistosoma haematobium eggs four weeks after treatment. The extent of co-infection was associated with age and sex level. Cure rate and egg reduction rate following the treatment of artemether-lumefantrine were 100% (p=0.0000).  Artemetherlumefantrine was effective against S. haematobium in  co-infected children. Further studies however, are needed for a better understanding of the efficacy of artemether lumefantrine against  schistosome infection with ranges of intensity.Keywords: Urogenital haematobium, malaria, Cure rate, Egg reduction rate

Organoleptic profiles of bread produced using various natural flavours

Bread is one of the world’s most common and widely consumed foods. It is an important and affordable food for the poor in developing countries like Nigeria. The nutritional values of bread can be greatly improved by the addition of natural flavours. However, there have not been many studies on flavouring breads with natural flavours. The objective of this study was to evaluate sensory and consumer acceptability of breads produced using natural flavours. Selected flavours were ginger, garlic, cinnamon, turmeric, and nutmeg. These natural flavours are revered for their potential health attributes. They are reported to have positive effects in the treatment of numerous diseases, especially chronic ones such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Nutrition and health are intricately linked, and this is a well-established fact. The ability of nutrition (in this case, nutrients from the selected natural flavours) to reduce the risk of diseases has engaged the attention of researchers and nutritionists alike in recent decades. In this study, five samples were produced using each of the selected flavours in the production of breads. Each of the five bread samples was produced using 5 % ginger, garlic, cinnamon, turmeric or nutmeg powder. Bread was baked using automatic commercial baking line according to American Association of Cereal Chemists. Production of the various bread samples was done under the same environmental conditions. Sensory analysis was done for various sensory attributes of the five bread samples by 50 consumer panelists comprising staff and students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The panelists ranked the consumer acceptability of the various samples using a 9-point hedonic scale. The colour, taste, flavour, texture, and general acceptability were rated. Bread produced using 5 % ginger powder had the highest mean hedonic score for colour, taste, flavour, texture, and general acceptability, implying that sample A was the most preferred and would be the likely most acceptable by consumers

Causes of Sexual Dysfunction among Married Women as Expressed by Nurses in Public Health Institutions in Kwara State, Nigeria

This study examined the causes of sexual dysfunction among married women as expressed by nurses in health institutions in Kwara State. A total of 210 Nurses from the General Hospitals in Ilorin, Lafiagi and Offa representing the three senatorial districts in Kwara State participated in the study. The instrument used to collect data was Cause of Sexual Dysfunction among Married Women Questionnaire. The data were analyzed using frequency count, simple percentage and t-test statistics. Three research hypotheses were tested at 0.05 levels of significance. The result of the findings indicated that there was no significant difference in the perception of causes of sexualdysfunction among respondents on the basis of sex, religion and educational qualification. It was recommended that couples who experience any form of sexual discomfort at any stage of their marital relationship should seek professional assistance from medical doctors and marital counselors, since most of the causes identified are either medical or psychological.Key words: Sex, sexual dysfunction, married women, public health institution

Asymptomatic intestinal protozoa in school age children in Pategi, Pategi LGA of Kwara state, Nigeria.

Introduction: Intestinal protozoan infection is one of the principal diseases contributing to human illness and suffering in tropical countries with significant morbidity and mortality effect on children. The prevalence of intestinal asymptomatic protozoan infection was assessed (November, 2012 through May, 2013) among school age children in Pategi, Pategi Local Government area of Kwara State, Nigeria.Materials and methods: Four public primary schools with nursery, prebasic and basic sections were used for the study. The age range was from 1 to 15 years old. Seven hundred and forty eight (748) stool specimens were collected and examined for protozoan cysts using the direct wet preparation and formol-ether concentration methods.Results: One hundred and ninety seven (26.3%) of the samples were positive for intestinal protozoan parasite. The distribution of the parasites was E. histolytica/dispar (75.1), E. coli (18.8) and G. lamblia (6.1%). Balantidium coli cyst was not detected in the stool samples of the pupils. Highest prevalence of E. histolytica was observed among Gboke primary school (35.0%), closely followed by Nyamkpan (31.7%) and Sudan Interior Mission (SIM) (5.9%). Though males (28.0%) were more infected than female (24.7%), the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05) except for G. lamblia infection (P<0.05).Conclusion: The public health implication of asymptomatic carriage in cysts of intestinal protozoan among the children with poor personal hygiene was discussed. The use of mass chemotherapy and integrated measures of parasitic control would be of utmost importance in reducing the level of symptomatic infections among children.Key words: Asymptomatic, amoebiasis, giardiasis, rural area, children

Risk Factors, Threats And Prevention Of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) In African Countries

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a viral disease that affects the digestive, nervous and respiratory systems of all domestic and wild birds with high morbidity and mortality. It is highly contagious disease which can be fatal in humans. The avian influenza viruses (AIVs) are classified as types A, B and C with 15 subtypes of the type A. To date, all disease causing HPAI Viruses belong to H5 or H7 subtypes; and affect pigs and humans with the pigs serving as a mixing vehicle for re-assortment of the virus. The domestic ducks get infected without showing clinical signs and serve as a source of infection for domestic poultry. Outbreaks of HPAl in Europe, Asia and Turkey are reported to be associated, with the presence of wet lands and lakes where migratory birds rest. In some African countries like Nigeria, such wet lands exist with free flying wild birds and domestic ducks visiting and resting. The possible source of introduction into a country could be through importation or smuggling of infected poultry products across the borders and through migratory birds that fly through identified pathways. The status of HPAl in many African countries including Nigeria is still under investigation so that appropriate strategies / measures to prevent introduction of the disease into the country can be implemented and / or strengthened through restriction of importation of poultry and poultry products from high risk countries, effective disease surveillance, functional National Veterinary services, quarantine and community based participatory epidemiological system for HPAI surveillance and control. This article reviewed the global epidemiology and risk factors of HPAI infection in Nigeria and other African countries with emphasis on specific preventive measures that can reduce introduction of the virus into the country and the epidemiological surveillance for case detection / identification, screening and management. This review provides useful information and updates for health workers in tropical countries on the trends of AIVs and HPAI, diagnostic criteria using case definitions for both community and health facility levels and management protocols for confirmed cases as recommended by the World health Organization. African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology Vol. 10 (2) 2009: pp.99-11

Prevalence of intestinal protozoan parasites in stray and domicile dogs in Ilorin, North Central, Nigeria

Uncontrolled population of stray and domicile dogs with intestinal protozoan in close proximity to increasing densities of human population in urban environments is a common fact in developing countries, in conjunction with the lack of veterinary attention and zoonotic awareness, increases the risks of disease transmission. We examined using standard method 108 stool specimens of stray and domicile dogs collected randomly from Ilorin, state capital of Kwara State, Nigeria for intestinal protozoan. The prevalence of intestinal parasites from both stray and domicile dogs was 64(59.3%). Three parasites were encountered; Anchylostoma sp, Cryptosporidium sp and Isospora sp. Female dogs were more infected (48.9%) than male dogs (11.1%) (P<0.001) while the stray dogs had more intestinal parasitic infection (68.3%) than domicile dogs (46.7). More of Cryptosporidium sp was observed among strayed dogs (36.5%). Double infection was highest in stray dogs (12.7%) than in domicile dogs (4.4%) but not statistically significant (p=0.051). Consistent sanitary education must be included in public health government actions as a first step for the control of intestinal parasites in dogs and good sanitation and hygiene should be encouraged minimize environmental contamination and contact with the infectious oocysts that may be shed by dogs.Keywords: Stray dog, domicile dog, zoonoses, Crysptosporidium, Isospora

Recent rubella infection among childbearing women in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria: A seroepidemiological indication for vaccination need

Background: Congenital Rubella Infection can be prevented and future generation saved from  disability by protecting women of reproductive age through vaccination. The study is aimed at  determining serological evidence of recent rubella infection among women of childbearing age.Method: A cross sectional study was carried out among 285 women aged between 15 and 49 years. Enzyme immunoassay method was used to detect and quantify human IgM and IgG antibodies with avidity for Rubella virus in sera of participants. Socio-demographic characteristics of the subjects, along with recent history of fever, rash and adverse pregnancy outcome among others were obtained using a questionnaire. Statistical analysis was carried out using the program statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 16. Majority (78.3%) of the women recruited for the study were within 15-34 years age range. Of the 285 sera assayed for Rubella IgM antibodies, 23 (8.1%; 95% CI: 4.9%-11.3 %.) was IgM seropositive, while the remaining 262 (91.9%) were seronegative. A total of 7 (2.5%) of reproductive age women in Ilorin had a recent primary infection while 16 (5.6%) had a persistent Rubella infection or recent re-infection.In conclusion, there is need for vaccination of susceptible women of reproductive age in Ilorin as a large number of women have Rubella in their reproductive age.Keywords: Rubella, Immunoglobulin M, avidity, reproductive age, Ilorin, Nigeri

Microbiological quality of some brands of intravenous fluids produced in Nigeria

Microbiological quality of some brands of intravenous fluids produced by some pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria was investigated. Membrane filtration method was used for concentration of contaminating organisms in the intravenous fluids. Thioglycollate medium, Tryptone Soya broth,Brilliant Green Agar, Pseudomonas medium, Mannitol salt agar, MacConkey agar, and Nutrient agar and Saboraud dextrose agar were the media used for the isolation and differentiation of the microbialspecies. Rabbitory method was used for Pyrogen test. Out of 160 samples analyzed, 14 (8.25%) were contaminated and remaining 146 (91.75%) were found sterile. The result of pyrogen test showed that 58(36.25%) of the samples were pyrogenic. Dextrose (5%), peritoneal dialysis and Normal saline were free of detectable microbial species. Contaminating organisms in Dextrose Saline are Microsporum fulvumand Aspergillus sp. In Half strength Darrow’s Bacillus cereus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Aspergillus sp. were detected. In Half strength Darrow’s, Full strength Darrow’s and Ringer Lactate, the contaminating bacterial species include K. pneumoniae, M. fulvum, Aspergillus sp. and Penicillium sp

Peak Expiratory Flow as a Surrogate for Health Related Quality of Life in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Preliminary Cross Sectional Study

Background: Health Related Quality of Life (HRQL) measures can capture the non-respiratory effects of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). However the relationship with Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) is not well understoodAim: To determine the relationship of PEF and quality of life measurements in patients with COPD Settings and Design: A cross section of consecutive patients in a university clinicMethods: Stable patients with COPD defined by the Global Initiative on chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria, were recruited into the study. Spirometry was done using American Thoracic Society’s standards and  reference equations from African American norms of the US population. Quality of life was measured with the St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ)Results: Out of 50 patients recruited for the study, 48 provided complete data with acceptable spirometry and PEF data. The mean (SD) age and body mass index was 68.4 (8.9) years and 21.4 (4.6) kg/m2 respectively and 96% of the patients were in moderate-severe stages of COPD using the GOLD criteria. Percent predicted PEF correlated with percent predicted FEV1; r= 0.559 p<0.001 and also showed a significant, though moderate correlation between PEF readings and SGRQ scores especially in the activity (r= -0.455 p< 0.01) and total scores (r=-0.415 p<0.01) for pre bronchodilator (BD) percent predicted PEF. In regression analysis, PEF was associated with SGRQ (-0.11 95% CI -0.19, -0.03) after adjusting for age, sex, height, smoking and disease severityConclusions: PEF correlates with SGRQ scores and may be a useful surrogate for HRQL in patients with COPDKey words: Peak expiratory flow, quality of life, spirometry, primary car

Malaria parasitaemia among blood donors in Ilorin, Nigeria

Background: The prevalence of malaria parasitaemia among blood donors in Ilorin has not been documented. In this study, we determined the prevalence of malaria parasitaemia among blood donors in Ilorin, as well as, the sociodemographic and other factors associated with it.Method: This was a hospital- based cross sectional study involving 308 consenting blood donors. The sociodemographic characteristics of participants as well as blood donation history were obtained using structured questionnaires specifically designed for this purpose. Giemsastained thick and thin blood films to identify malaria parasites were performed using standard method. ABO blood grouping and haemoglobin electrophoresis tests were also done using standard methods.Results: The prevalence of malaria parasitaemia among blood donors in Ilorin was 27.3%. The parasite species found were more of Plasmodium falciparum(85.7%) than Plasmodium malariae(14.3%) . There was no age or sex difference in malaria parasitaemia. (p-value of 0.8 and 0.32 respectively). A greater proportion of blood group O individuals had malaria parasitaemia than groups A and B but this difference was not significant (p-value = 0.13). There was also no significant difference among haemoglobin genotypes.Conclusion: The prevalence of malaria parasites among blood donors in Ilorin is considerably high and lack of routine screening of blood puts recipients at risk. We recommend that routine screening for malaria parasites be commenced in our blood banks. Treatment of donor blood with riboflavin and UV light to inactivate malaria parasites and other infectious pathogens before they are transfused to patients may also be considered in our blood banks.Key words: malaria, parasitaemia, blood donors, Nigeri