A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY ON THE MORTALITY RATE OF HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV) AND PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS (PTB) CO-INFECTED INDIVIDUALS IN NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Tuberculosis (TB) co-infection with HIV is becoming a global emergency especially in the sub-Saharan Africa. Its diagnosis is notoriously challenging in countries with poor resource settings with limited diagnostic facilities. The purpose of this study is to investigate the mortality rate of HIV/TB co-infection among the seropositive HIV individuals in Nasarawa state, Nigeria. A five year retrospective study from January 2007 to December 2011 was carried out using profiles of seropositive HIV individuals. A total of 3,470 case records of subjects were retrieved and pre-designed case record forms (CRF) were used to record vital information in demographic data, social and medical history, laboratory results, treatment access and mortality data. 841 (24.2%) individuals had HIV/TB co-infection. The age group 20-29 years had the highest prevalence rate (30.3%) with HIV/TB co-infection while females had higher prevalence rate (56.7%) throughout the five year period of study. Individuals with formal education had the least prevalence rate (21.9%) in all the years under review except in 2009 (35.9%) while individuals “not educated” had the highest prevalence rate (41.1%) except in 2010 (36.0%).The married individuals had the highest prevalence rate (46.0%) followed by the single adults (26.0%). The unemployed individuals had the higher prevalence rate (52.6%) in four years while the employed rated 50.3% in 2009. There was a rise in the number of individuals who had access to ATTB treatment   from 2009-2011, while there was a decline in the number of individuals who had   access to ART treatment from 2007-2011. Females had higher mortality rate (54.5%) from 2008-2011 while the mortality rate of males in 2007 was 50.5%.Women were greatly affected by HIV/TB co-infection as a result of poor socio-economic status. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) for all demographic indices except for educational status (p<0.05).Greater intervention programs and services should be provided especially for women. KEY WORD. Pulmonary, Tuberculosis, Antiretroviral, Treatment, Socio-economical

A Retrospective Study on the Epidemiological Trend of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) Co-Infection in Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

Tuberculosis (TB) co-infection with HIV is becoming a global emergency especially in the sub-Saharan Africa. Its diagnosis is notoriously challenging in countries with poor resource settings with limited diagnostic facilities. The purpose of this study is to investigate the epidemiological trend of HIV/TB co-infection among the seropositive HIV individuals in Nasarawa state, Nigeria. A five year retrospective study from January 2007 to December 2011 was carried out using profiles of seropositive HIV individuals. A total of 3,470 case records of subjects were retrieved and pre-designed case record forms (CRF) were used to record vital information in demographic data, social and medical history, laboratory results, treatment access and mortality data. 841 (24.2%) individuals had HIV/TB co-infection. The age group 20-29 years had the highest prevalence rate (30.3%) with HIV/TB co-infection while females had higher prevalence rate (56.7%) throughout the five year period of study. Individuals with formal education had the least prevalence rate (21.9%) in all the years under review except in 2009 (35.9%) while individuals “not educated” had the highest prevalence rate (41.1%) except in 2010 (36.0%).The married individuals had the highest prevalence rate (46.0%) followed by the single adults (26.0%). The unemployed individuals had the higher prevalence rate (52.6%) in four years while the employed rated 50.3% in 2009. There was a rise in the number of individuals who had access to ATTB treatment   from 2009-2011, while there was a decline in the number of individuals who had   access to ART treatment from 2007-2011. Females had higher mortality rate (54.5%) from 2008-2011 while the mortality rate of males in 2007 was 50.5%.Women were greatly affected by HIV/TB co-infection as a result of poor socio-economic status. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) for all demographic indices except for educational status (p<0.05).Greater intervention programs and services should be provided especially for women. Key Word. Pulmonary, Tuberculosis, Antiretroviral, Treatment, Socio-economical

Parasitology and urban livestock farming in Nigeria : prevalence of ova in faecal and soil samples and animal ectoparasites in Makurdi

Domestic environmental pollution resulting from urban livestock farming was investigated in Makurdi using parasitological techniques. The test tube flotation technique was used for the parasitological analysis of animal faecal matter and soil samples collected from residential premises. Ectoparasitic fauna of dogs, goats, sheep and cattle cohabiting with humans within the same residential compound were also collected and identified. The hand-picking and body brushing methods were employed to search for ticks, fleas, lice and mites. Of the 150 soil samples examined, 55 (36.7 %) were positive for 1 or more eggs of helminth parasites. There was no significant difference in the distribution of eggs in the soil samples from the 3 areas sampled (c2=0.046, df=2, P>0.05). Ascaris species were the dominant parasite eggs found. Of the 180 faecal samples examined, 107 (59.4 %) were positive for 1 or more eggs of helminth parasites. Chi-square analysis showed no significant difference in the level of infection of different animal faeces sampled (c2=5.74, df=4, P>0.05). Ascaris species were again the dominating helminth parasite eggs found. There was also no significant difference in the prevalence of helminth eggs in the animal faecal samples from the 3 areas sampled (c2=5.99, df=4, P>0.05). A total of 1908 ectoparasites was recovered (ticks: 32.80 %; lice: 22.43 %; fleas: 22.06% and mite: 22.69 %). There was no significant difference in infestation animals between sexes (c2=0.10, df=4, P>0.05). The predominant genus encountered for ticks were Amblyomma, while Linognathus (43.90%), Ctenocephalides (97.38%) and Sarcoptes (58.89 %) were most predominant for lice, fleas and mites respectively. The public health implications of the findings, especially as these relate to the increasing incidence and prevalence of zoonotic infections, are discussed

Gastrointestinal parasites of non-human primates and the zoonotic implications in Gashaka-Gumti National Park, Nigeria

This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence, age and sex distribution of gastrointestinal parasites in non-human primates (NHP) in Gashaka-Gumti National Park. A total of one hundred and fifty faecal samples (30 from each species of nonhuman primates) was collected and examined using formol-ether concentration and double wet smear techniques. Twelve species of gastrointestinal parasites (5 protozoans and 7 helminths) were recovered. C. aethiops tantalus, C. mona and C. nictitans had the highest number of parasites preponderance with 66.7 % (8/12) each. Ascaris sp, 38.7% (58/150) had the highest prevalence followed by Trichiuris sp, 18.7% (28/150), Strongyloides sp, 18.7% (28/150), Chilomatix meslini, 6.7%(10/150) and Entamoeba coli, 6.7% (10/150). With regards to the distribution of gastrointestinal parasites between the species of non-human primates, Ascaris sp varied significantly with P. anubis, 60.0% (18/30) and C. mona, 50.0% (15/30) having the highest prevalence (χ2 = 12.532; p=0.014). Likewise, Trichiuris sp was significantly higher in C. guereza, 33.3% (10/30) and C. anethiops tantalus, 30.0% (9/30) (χ2 = 19.581; p=0.001). Chilomatix meslini, 20.0% (6/30) and Entamoeba coli, 20.0% (6/30) were significantly higher in C. guereza (χ2 = 11.780; p=0.038) and C. aethiops tantalus (χ2 = 13.921; p=0.008), respectively. The age-related distribution reported Chilomatix meslini, 20.0% (3/15) and Trichiuris sp, 26.3% (20/76) higher in Infants (χ2 = 5.305; p=0.040) and adults (χ2 = 5.305; p=0.040) respectively. Sex did not significantly affect distribution of parasites between non-human primates though Ascaris sp, 41.1% (28/6) and Trichiuris sp, 21.9% (18/82) were higher in males (χ2 = 0.330; p=0.565) and females (χ2 = 1.285; p=0.257) respectively. This study revealed the endemicity of gastrointestinal parasites among the NHP in Gashaka-Gumti National Park which has zoonotic implication to their human counterparts. It is recommended that humans living in the enclaves and visitors should avoid contact with sources of water where the NHP congregateKeywords: Gastrointestinal, Parasites, Primates, National, Park, Nigeri

Evaluation of falciparum parasitemia and urogenital schistosomiasis co-infection on haemoglobin and nutritional status of children and adolescents in riverine communities of southern Taraba State, Nigeria.

Malaria and urogenital schistosomiasis are parasitic infections usually acquired unknowingly and sometimes cause anaemia and affect the  nutritional status of persons in endemic areas. This study assessed asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum, Schistosoma haematobium and their co-infection status with respect to the association of haemoglobin level and nutritional status in children and adolescents resident at Takum Local Government, a rural suburb of Taraba State, Nigeria. Thick blood films and urine filtration technique were used respectively to determine P. falciparum and S. haematobium species. Haemoglobinometer measured haemoglobin concentration and Body Mass Index determined nutritional status for each participant. The study reported 32.9% (87/264), 28.7% (76/264) and 30.3% (80/264) respectively for asymptomatic malaria, urogenital schistosomiasis and co-infection. Participants in Chanchanji community significantly had the highest asymptomatic P. falciparum infection, 56.4% (22/39) (p=0.003). Sufa and Manya communities respectively had the highest S. haematobium infection, 39.4% (15/38) (χ2= 41.3, p=0.000) and coinfection, 32.1% (12/37) (χ2= 52.45, p=0.000). A negative association was observed between anaemia and co-infection (r = -0.77, p=0.000) as well as between nutritional status and co-infection (r = -0.63, p=0.000). Participants who did not use LLTNs and lived close to water bodies were predisposed to co-infection with adjusted OR=0.003 (%95CI: 0.00 – 0.03; p=0.000). Birama and Manya areas highly predicted participants to co-infection with respective adjusted OR = 13.20 (%95CI: 2.34-74.38; p=0.003) and adjusted OR=57.9, (%95CI: 4.92-681.24, p=0.001). The co-infection predisposed participants to moderate and severe anaemia with respective adjusted OR of 2.198 (%95CI:1.307-3.696, p=0.021) and 1.192 (%95CI:0.355-4.009, p=0.017). Undernutrition was significantly affected with co-infection adjusted OR=3.732 (95%CI:1.003-7.393, p=0.011). Co-infection was significantly associated with anaemia and nutritional status at p≤0.05. It is recommended that the State and NGOs should provide malaria Intermittent Prevention Treatment as well as deworm the children and adolescents in Takum LGA