Rifampicin-monoresistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis among the patients visiting chest clinic, state specialist hospital, Akure, Nigeria

Background:Tuberculosis (TB), one of the most important contagious diseases, is a leading cause of death due to a single pathogen worldwide. Co-infection of people living with HIV with M. tuberculosis has been shown to increase the mortality rate in sub-Saharan Africa.Methods:This present study was carried out to establish the rifampicin resistant profiles among the patients attending chest clinic, state specialist hospital, Akure. We enrolled clinical samples submitted between January 2013 and December 2013 for this study. The sputum samples were analyzed using GeneXpert.Results:Of the 135 sputum processed by GeneXpert, 48 (35.6%) contained Mycobacteria tuberculosis (MTB) and 9 (18.8%) were rifampicin resistant Mycobacteria tuberculosis. Patients within the age group of 24-32 years showed the highest resistant to RIF 6 (12.5%).Conclusion:This study has helped to establish that there is presence of rifampicin resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Akure, Ondo state, Nigeria and most of them were observed among patients who default treatment. This is considered as a threat to TB control programme in Akure, Nigeria and it is recommended that strategies should be put in place in order to ensure patients’ compliance and monitoring of patients’ response to TB treatment.

Butchering activity is the main risk factor for hepatitis E virus (Paslahepevirus balayani) infection in southwestern Nigeria: a prospective cohort study

IntroductionPaslahepevirus balayani (Hepatitis E virus; HEV) is an emerging virus that poses as a public health threat. The virus is now reported to be the leading cause of acute viral hepatitis, with a unique impact on African settings. Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for HEV infection in three cohorts (animal handlers, villagers, and students).MethodsA prospective cross-sectional study was carried out on a total of 752 subjects from southwestern Nigeria. In all individuals, anti-HEV IgG and anti-HEV IgM antibodies were evaluated by using ELISA (confirming positive results via immunoblotting), and serum viral RNA was evaluated by using two RT-PCR assays.ResultsThe overall seroprevalence of HEV IgG and HEV IgM was 14.9% (95% CI: 12.5–17.6%) and 1.3% (95% CI: 0.7–2.5%), respectively. We observed the highest seroprevalence among animal contact individuals, with butchers being the population with the highest HEV IgG seroprevalence (31.1%). Similarly, HEV IgM was higher in the animal contact group (2.2%) than in the non-animal contact cohort (0%).DiscussionsViral RNA was not detected in any of the samples. Butchering was significantly associated with higher HEV prevalence. Although all efforts to prevent HEV in Africa have focused on the chlorination of water, our study suggests that most new infections could currently be linked to animal manipulation. Therefore, education and guidelines must be provided in southwest Nigeria to ensure that animal handling and processing methods are safe

High seroprevalence of asymptomatic viral haemoparasites among prospective blood donors in Nigeria

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of viral haemoparasites in prospective Nigerian blood donors.MethodsEthical clearance was obtained and informed consent questionnaires were distributed to blood donors to obtain their demographical data. A total of 186 blood donors from LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo were tested for hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) using rapid test kit and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsThe highest prevalence of blood transmitted infections was 182 (97.85%) while the prevalence of HIV, HAV, HBV and HCV were 6.45%, 97.85%, 14.52% and 3.23%, respectively. Highest seroprevalence for hepatitis A, B and C occurred among low risk occupation. There was no significant association between all the hepatitis viruses and demographic factors except occupation with P value of 0.002 7. Hepatitis A, B and C seropositive blood donors on average tend to have PCV within the normal reference range. Out of the 27 hepatitis B positive blood donors, 22 were donating blood for the first time while 5 were repeat donors. None of the hepatitis C seropositive donors have been exposed to blood or any form of its products and were all donating blood for the first time. However, the distribution of donor type for HAV is random.ConclusionsThe prevalence of HAV, HBV, HCV and HIV among prospective donors in Nigeria is alarming particularly HAV. These infections can be transmitted to recipients if proper screening is not carried out, hence they should be included as a routine test for blood donors