Parasites contamination of salad vegetables sold in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state, Nigeria

Parasitic infections are of great public health importance because of their high prevalence and effects on both nutritional health and immune status of people living in tropical and sub-tropical countries. Five types of vegetable samples such as tomatoes, (Solanium iycapersicum), cucumber (Cucumis sativus), carrot (Daucus carota), cabbage (Brassica olerecea), lettuce (Lactuca sativa), were investigated for parasites using sedimentation and floatation methods. Out of 430 samples of the vegetables screened, 258(60%) were found to be contaminated with helminth ova/larvae and protozoan cysts. Ova/larvae of Ascaris lumbricoides 23(20.4%), Strongyloides stercoralis 32(28.3%, Trichuris trichuria 21(18.6%), hookworm 28(24.8%) and Fasciola species 6(5.3%) were identified. Strongyloides stercoralis and hookworm were the most encountered with prevalent rates of 28.3% and 24.8%, respectively, while the protozoan cysts recovered were those of Entamoeba histolytica 3(2.7%). Among the vegetables, lettuce 36(28.6%) was the most contaminated while cucumber 14(11.1%) had the least contamination. The results of this study implicated salad vegetables in the transmission of intestinal parasites. It is therefore imperative that the sanitary condition of these vegetables be improved from the producers down to the consumers.Keywords: Parasites contamination, Strongyloides stercoralis, Hookworm, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichuria, Fasciola species, Entamoeba histolytica Salad vegetables, Tomatoes, Carrot, Cucumber, Cabbage, Lettuc

Haematological indices of malaria infected residents of Isu community, Onicha local government area, Ebonyi state, Nigeria

Malaria as a major mosquito-borne public health problem is likely to initiate changes in haematological parameters of its sufferers. This study investigated the changes in haematological indices of malaria infected residents of Isu community in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. A two-stage sampling design was adopted in which selection of villages constituted the first stage/Primary Sampling Units (PSUs) where three (3) villages (Isuachara, Agbabor and Mgbala-ukwu) out of the seven villages were selected using simple random sampling. In the second stage, a simple random sample of 240 individuals was taken from the three villages using 95% confidence level and a margin of error of 6.32% with a standard deviation of 0.5. Thick blood smears of venous blood stained with Giemsa were examined microscopically for malaria parasitaemia (MP) and its intensity. Those negative for malaria parasite served as controls. Haematological indices (packed cell volume (PCV)), total leucocyte counts (TLC) and white blood cell differentials of malaria positive and negative individuals were determined using standard procedures. Packed cell volume and monocytes of malaria infected individuals were higher and differed significantly from those of uninfected individuals (p<0.05). Correlation analysis showed significant association between the total leucocyte count, packed cell volume and eosinophil count and intensity of malaria parasites. From the results of this study, intensity of malaria parasite altered the values of haematological indices of the sufferers. It was therefore recommended that the diagnosis of malaria and changes in haematological parameters of patients should go hand in hand in our health institutions for effective management and control of the infection.Keywords: Malaria, Haematological, Indices, Parasites, Infected, Resident

RISING PROFILE OF ORAL CAVITY PROTOZOA AMONGST DENTAL PATIENTS IN SOUTH EASTERN NIGERIA

The observed low knowledge of oral hygiene and the need to investigate the possible cause(s) of the existing oral diseases in our study area motivated this study. This study investigated the prevalence of human oral protozoan parasites amongst dental patients attending the clinic at Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, South Eastern Nigeria. A total of 180 patients (72 males and 108 females) were sampled. Dental plaque, dental calculus, and saliva samples were collected from the patients. Samples were analyzed following standard methods. An overall prevalence rate of 40% occurred. Entamoeba gingivalis was the most encountered 28 (15.56%), followed by Trichomonas tenax 24 (13.33%) while mixed infections were recorded in 20 (11.11%) patients. The prevalence of both protozoans was higher in females 44 (40.74%) than in males 28 (38.89%). The highest prevalence was recorded among patients within the age range of ≤ 50 years (22 (81.48 %)) and least within the age range of ≤ 20 years 4(16.00%). There was an observed significant relationship between age and oral hygiene status. We, therefore report that poor oral hygiene is a predisposing factor that exposes the buccal cavity to frequent colonization by parasites. Constant oral health education should be encouraged especially among dental patients