Entomological and transmission risk indices of malaria vectors in selected communities in Osun state, Nigeria

Baseline survey is an integral component of a malaria vector control programme, providing valuable information on mosquito behaviour that guide the suitability of chosen interventions. A need assessment of baseline entomological indices towards the future implementation of indoor residual spray (IRS) was conducted in Osun State, Nigeria. Indoor resting mosquitoes were collected in human households from three LocalGovernment Areas. These were morphologically identified, subjected to species specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and analyzed for sporozoite infection and blood meal origin using enzyme linked   immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All female Anopheles identified fed on human blood but tested negative to Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite antigen. The PCR analysis showed a predominance of An. gambiae s.s. (95%) over An. arabiensis (5%). The preponderance of indoor resting An. gambiae s.s and the incidence of exophilic An. arabiensis suggest a combination of IRS and long lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) for this region.Keywords: Malaria vectors, Transmission risk indices, Species specific PCR, Plasmodium falciparum, Circumsporozoite antigen, Long lasting insecticidal nets, Osun State, Nigeri

Africanization of Music Education in Nigeria within the Context of Globalization: A Critical Appraisal

This paper investigates why culturally sensible music education which integrates the study of music into a larger social, cultural and historical framework has not taken place in Nigeria. It traces, historically, how music educators in Nigeria have come to present a monolithic, homogenous view of music education. It uses critical pedagogy to examine the relationship between knowledge and power, question the status quo and investigate “whose music” is/should be important in the Nigeria curriculum. It argues that, even in the context of globalization, the indigenous African musical way of being, thinking and generating knowledge should have the strongest emphasis

Social Activities And Socio-Economic Status Of Rural Farmers Cultivating Improved Maize In Kaduna State, Nigeria

This study was conducted to investigate and establish relationship between some variables (social activities and socio-economic status) of farmers who cultivated improved maize in rural areas of Kaduna State, Nigeria. A total of 125 respondents who constituted growers of maize were purposively and randomly sampled. Based on their responses, data analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and Linear regression analyses. The three objectives of the study were to; (1) examine the social activities of rural farmers cultivating improved maize (2) examine the relationship between the socio-economic status of rural farmers cultivating improved maize, and (3) examine the effect of social status of rural farmers cultivating improved maize on adoption of farm practices. It was found that the respondents\' scores on social participation were in the following order of ranking; Farmers\' cooperative group, agricultural shows, farmers\' general meetings, Field days, farmers\' club, Farmers Council meetings and agricultural festivals. Results further indicate that among the socio-economic status of the respondents the following were positively and significantly correlated; farm size and age of farmer, social participation and level of education, social participation and contact with extension agent (at P=0.01) while contact with extension and age of farmer and social participation and access to radio (at P=0.05). And, results of stepwise regression showed that age, level of education and farm size of farmers were significantly related to adoption (at P=0.05). Keywords: Improved maize, socio-economic status, rural farmers, social participationGlobal Approaches to Extension Practice Vol. 2 (1) 2006: pp. 29-3

Effects of pyrethroid resistance on the cost effectiveness of a mass distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets : a modelling study

The effectiveness of insecticide-treated nets in preventing malaria is threatened by developing resistance against pyrethroids. Little is known about how strongly this affects the effectiveness of vector control programmes.; Data from experimental hut studies on the effects of long-lasting, insecticidal nets (LLINs) on nine anopheline mosquito populations, with varying levels of mortality in World Health Organization susceptibility tests, were used to parameterize malaria models. Both simple static models predicting population-level insecticidal effectiveness and protection against blood feeding, and complex dynamic epidemiological models, where LLINs decayed over time, were used. The epidemiological models, implemented in OpenMalaria, were employed to study the impact of a single mass distribution of LLINs on malaria, both in terms of episodes prevented during the effective lifetime of the batch of LLINs, and in terms of net health benefits (NHB) expressed in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) averted during that period, depending on net type (standard pyrethroid-only LLIN or pyrethroid-piperonyl butoxide combination LLIN), resistance status, coverage and pre-intervention transmission level.; There were strong positive correlations between insecticide susceptibility status and predicted population level insecticidal effectiveness of and protection against blood feeding by LLIN intervention programmes. With the most resistant mosquito population, the LLIN mass distribution averted up to about 40% fewer episodes and DALYs during the effective lifetime of the batch than with fully susceptible populations. However, cost effectiveness of LLINs was more sensitive to the pre-intervention transmission level and coverage than to susceptibility status. For four out of the six Anopheles gambiae sensu lato populations where direct comparisons between standard LLINs and combination LLINs were possible, combination nets were more cost effective, despite being more expensive. With one resistant population, both net types were equally effective, and with one of the two susceptible populations, standard LLINs were more cost effective.; Despite being less effective when compared to areas with susceptible mosquito populations, standard and combination LLINs are likely to (still) be cost effective against malaria even in areas with strong pyrethroid resistance. Combination nets are likely to be more cost effective than standard nets in areas with resistant mosquito populations

Evidence of carbamate resistance in urban populations of <it>Anopheles gambiae s.s.</it> mosquitoes resistant to DDT and deltamethrin insecticides in Lagos, South-Western Nigeria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Resistance monitoring is essential in ensuring the success of insecticide based vector control programmes. This study was carried out to assess the susceptibility status of urban populations of <it>Anopheles gambiae</it> to carbamate insecticide being considered for vector control in mosquito populations previously reported to be resistant to DDT and permethrin.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Two – three day old adult female <it>Anopheles</it> mosquitoes reared from larval collections in 11 study sites from Local Government Areas of Lagos were exposed to test papers impregnated with DDT 4%, deltamethrin 0.05% and propoxur 0.1% insecticides. Additional tests were carried out to determine the susceptibility status of the <it>Anopheles gambiae</it> population to bendiocarb insecticide. Members of the <it>A. gambiae complex</it>, the molecular forms, were identified by PCR assays. The involvement of metabolic enzymes in carbamate resistance was assessed using Piperonyl butoxide (PBO) synergist assays. The presence of kdr-<it>w/e</it> and ace-1R point mutations responsible for DDT-pyrethroid and carbamate resistance mechanisms was also investigated by PCR.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Propoxur resistance was found in 10 out of the 11 study sites. Resistance to three classes of insecticides was observed in five urban localities. Mortality rates in mosquitoes exposed to deltamethrin and propoxur did not show any significant difference (P > 0.05) but was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in populations exposed to DDT. All mosquitoes tested were identified as <it>A. gambiae s.s</it> (M form). The <it>kdr -w</it> point mutation at allelic frequencies between 45%-77% was identified as one of the resistant mechanisms responsible for DDT and pyrethroid resistance. <it>Ace-1R</it> point mutation was absent in the carbamate resistant population. However, the possible involvement of metabolic resistance was confirmed by synergistic assays conducted.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Evidence of carbamate resistance in <it>A. gambiae</it> populations already harbouring resistance to DDT and permethrin is a clear indication that calls for the implementation of insecticide resistance management strategies to combat the multiple resistance identified.</p