Seroprevalence of hepatitis E among restaurant food handlers in Ibadan, Nigeria

 Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the causative agent of acute viral hepatitis in humans. HEV is an important public health disease in many parts of the world because it is transmitted faeco-orally.  Majority of the documented studies on hepatitis E virus in Nigeria have focused on pregnant women and animal handlers with limited data among food handlers. Thus the current study aimed at investigating the prevalence of HEV infection among food handlers operating within the premises of a tertiary care facility.Methods: One hundred and seventy seven (177) food handlers were screened using commercial Enzyme-Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay (ELISA) to detect IgM antibodies to Hepatitis E. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to assess risk factors for HEV infection.Results: HEV IgM antibodies were detected in 16 (9.0%) of the participants. Age-specific HEV IgM seroprevalence appeared to decrease with age, however there were no significant differences in HEV IgM seropositivity regarding age (P=0.251), gender (P = 0.231), marital status (P=0.735) and religion (P = 0.906). Significant risk factors for HEV IgM seropositivity included source of water for drinking (P=0.03) and the use of soap for hand washing (P=0.02).Conclusion: Our findings suggest that HEV remains a public health problem, as the virus circulates at low but considerable levels especially among food handlers; thus posing a threat to potential contacts. Proper hand washing practices as well as provision of portable water are important factors for the control of Hepatitis E

Significant Bacteriuria Among Asymptomatic Antenatal Clinic Attendees In Ibadan, Nigeria

Untreated asymptomatic bacteriuria can lead to urinary tract infection (UTI) in pregnancy with devastating maternal and neonatal effects such as prematurity and low birth weight, higher fetal mortality rates and significant maternal morbidity. We carried out a two year (April 2007 to March 2009) cross-sectional epidemiological study to determine the prevalence of significant bacteriuria among asymptomatic antenatal clinic attendees at two antenatal clinics (ANCs) in University College Hospital and Adeoyo Maternity Hospital, both in Ibadan, Nigeria

Computational study of the inhibitory potential of Gongronema latifolium (benth) leave on farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase, a target enzyme in the treatment of osteoporosis. A molecular modelling approach

Background & Aim: Osteoporosis is an increasing medical threat which is referred to as a systemic skeletal disorder that is characterized mainly by low bone mass and microarchitectural wear of bone tissue and strength, which eventually results in an increase in the fragility of bone and makes bone to be susceptible to fracture. Osteoporosis is known globally as a severe health problem affecting approximately 200 million people worldwide. Therefore, a pharmacological solution is urgently needed. Studies have shown that farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase is a crucial enzyme in the mevalonate pathway that causes bone resorption, thus serving as a key pharmacological target. Experimental: Gongronema latifolium’s (Benth) phytoconstituents were screened against the mevalonate pathway enzyme farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase computationally using molecular docking, pharmacokinetics screening and Molecular Mechanics/Generalized Born Surface Area approach to identify compounds with the better inhibitorypotentials against this target in this study. Results: The study resulted that five compounds; hyperoside, rutin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, kaempferol-3-arabinoside, and isoquercetin show a better inhibitory potential by binding to the active site of farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase compared with a co-crystalized ligand. These hit compounds were further subjected to pharmacokinetics studies to predict their drug-likeness and toxicity characteristics which show that all hit compounds except Rutin are drug-like leaving Kaempferol-3-Arabinoside as the most drug-like hit compound compared to the co-crystallized ligand. Recommended applications/industries: This study suggests that G. latifolium leaf could be a good plant source for a drug-like compound that may treat osteoporosis by inhibiting the farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase, in the mevalonate pathway, thereby stopping bone resorption

Diagnostic accuracy of Xpert® MTB/RIF Ultra for childhood tuberculosis in West Africa - a multicentre pragmatic study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra ('Ultra') for diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis (TB) within public health systems. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, children aged <15 years with presumptive pulmonary TB were consecutively recruited and evaluated for TB at tertiary-level hospitals in Benin, Mali and Ghana. Bivariate random-effects models were used to determine the pooled sensitivity and specificity of Ultra against culture. We also estimated its diagnostic yield against a composite microbiological reference standard (cMRS) of positive culture or Ultra. RESULTS: Overall, 193 children were included in the analyses with a median (IQR) age of 4.0 (1.1 - 9.2) years, 88 (45.6%) were female, and 36 (18.7%) were HIV-positive. Thirty-one (16.1%) children had confirmed TB, 39 (20.2%) had unconfirmed TB, and 123 (63.7%) had unlikely TB. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of Ultra verified by culture were 55.0% (95% CI: 28.0 - 79.0%) and 95.0% (95% CI: 88.0 - 98.0%), respectively. Against the cMRS, the diagnostic yield of Ultra and culture were 67.7% (95% CI: 48.6 - 83.3%) and 70.9% (95% CI: 51.9 - 85.8%), respectively. CONCLUSION: Ultra has suboptimal sensitivity in children with TB that were investigated under routine conditions in tertiary-level hospitals in three West African countries

Influence of fertilizer application and cropping system on growth, dry matter accumulation and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench)

Reduction in agricultural land with increasing population has led to a need for multiple cropping to maximize limited land resources and thus require an improvement. A field experiment was conducted during the growing seasons of 2019 in two locations (Ikenne and Ibadan) in Southwest Nigeria to assess the effects of cropping system and fertilizer application on the yield of okra intercropped with Jatropha. The experiment was a split-plot arrangement in a Randomized Complete Block design, replicated three times. Fertilizer types (NPK; Organic; Organic + NPK (50:50) and control were the main plots while cropping systems of sole okra; sole Jatropha and Jatropha/okra intercrop were sub-plots. Data collected to determine okra growth includes: plant height, number of leaves/ plant, leaf area and dry matter accumulation. Yield components assessed were: number of days to 50 % flowering, number of fruits/ ha, fruit yield and fruiting duration. Jatropha growth parameters taken include: plant height (cm) and number of leaves/plant. Okra can be intercropped with Jatropha with no significant reduction in okra yield as the number of fruits/ha, 172.25 in sole crop and 147.23 in intercrop, and fruit yield/ha in both intercrop, 2.79 t/ha, 1.06 t/ha and monocrop, 3.31 t/ha, 1.35 t/ha in Ikenne and Ibadan sites respectively were not different significantly. Growth, dry matter accumulation and yield were similar to sole cropping. Growth of Jatropha as well as okra yield was significantly 0.05) better in fertilized plots than the unfertilized plots. Complementary use of organic and inorganic fertilizer (50:50) produced the highest number of fruits/ha and fruit yield/ha than other nutrient sources. Intercropping of okra with Jatropha should be encouraged with the combine use of organic and inorganic fertilizer to enhance productivity at reduced cost for sustainable agriculture

Biofilm Formation by Mycobacterium bovis: Influence of Surface Kind and Temperatures of Sanitizer Treatments on Biofilm Control

Mycobacterium bovis causes classic bovine tuberculosis, a zoonosis which is still a concern in Africa. Biofilm forming ability of two Mycobacterium bovis strains was assessed on coupons of cement, ceramic, or stainless steel in three different microbiological media at 37°C with agitation for 2, 3, or 4 weeks to determine the medium that promotes biofilm. Biofilm mass accumulated on coupons was treated with 2 sanitizers (sanitizer A (5.5 mg L−1 active iodine) and sanitizer B (170.6 g1 alkyl dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride, 78 g−1 didecyldimethyl ammonium chloride, 107.25 g L−1 glutaraldehyde, 146.25 g L−1 isopropanol, and 20 g L−1 pine oil) at 28 and 45°C and in hot water at 85°C for 5 min. Residual biofilms on treated coupons were quantified using crystal violet binding assay. The two strains had a similar ability to form biofilms on the three surfaces. More biofilms were developed in media containing 5% liver extract. Biofilm mass increased as incubation time increased till the 3rd week. More biofilms were formed on cement than on ceramic and stainless steel surfaces. Treatment with hot water at 85°C reduced biofilm mass, however, sanitizing treatments at 45°C removed more biofilms than at 28°C. However, neither treatment completely eliminated the biofilms. The choice of processing surface and temperatures used for sanitizing treatments had an impact on biofilm formation and its removal from solid surfaces

Cultural Characteristics and Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of Helicobacter pylori Isolated from Dyspepsia Patients

Helicobacter pylori consist in a helical shaped Gram-negative bacterium, approximately 3 micrometers long with a diameter of approximately 0.5 micrometers. It has 4-6 flagella. It is microaerophilic and tests positive for oxidase, catalase and urease. With its flagella, the bacterium moves through the stomach lumen and drills into the mucus gel layer of the stomach. In humans, H. pylori have been associated with peptic ulcers, chronic gastritis, duodenitis and stomach cancer. It is widely believed that in the absence of treatment, H. pylori infection, once established in its gastric niche, persists for life. The aim of this research is to study the cultural characteristics and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of H. pylori strains isolated from southwest Nigeria. The cultural characteristics and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from gastric mucosal antral biopsy specimens collected from 43 of 52 dyspepsia patients in the University College Hospital Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, were determined using standard microbiological methods for Helicobacter pylori isolation. The 43 isolates were subjected to 23 different antibiotics and each of the antibiotics demonstrated a variable degree of activity against the isolates. Among the antibiotics to which the organism was most susceptible are: ofloxacin (30 μg) 100% activity, ciprofloxacin (5 μg) 97.67% activity, gentamicin (120 μg) 95.35 activity, amikacin (30 μg), kanamycin (30 μg) and chloramphenicol (30 μg) each 90.70% activity, clarithromycin (15 μg) 93.02, while the less active antibiotics are: augmentin (30 μg) 23.26% active, amoxycillin (25 μg) and metronidazole (50 μg) each 27.91% active and clindamycin (2 mg) 30.23% active. From the result of the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the strains of the organism, 95.35% of the total isolates are multi drug resistant. Resistance was developed to, among others, augmentin (30 μg), amoxycillin (25 μg), metronidazole (50 μg) and clindamycin (2 mg)