The study of asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum in humans infectedwith immunodeficiency virus in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

The study of the prevalence of asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum in humans infected with immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was carried out in Ile-Ife, Osun State Nigeria. The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic infection P.falciparum in HIV positive individuals and correlate it to age Parasitaemia and CD4 T cell count. Out of ninety three (93) HIV positive patients that participated in the study, 53 (58.8%) were females while 40 (41.4%) were males; 48 (52.4%) females and 35 (33.8%) males were positive for asymptomatic P. falciparum given a total number of 83 (86.6%). Twenty non-HIV patients were used as control samples: 9 (45%) were males and 11 (55%) were females. With 3.0 (33.3%) males and 5 (45.45%) females were positive with insignificant value of mean Parasitaemia of 125.0µl of blood. Age group 31-40 had the highest positive rate of 26 (32.2%) and age group 11-20 and above 60 had the least of positive rate. The correlation between age and both CD4 T cell count and Parasitaemia showed levels of significance less than 0.01 (P<0.01) while the correlation between CD4 T cell and count and Parasitaemia showed no significant correlation, having P-value of P>0.05. Comparing the males mean age, CD4 T cell count and Parasitaemia with that of females there was no level of significance P-value being greater than 0.05 (P>0.05) each. In conclusion, the study showed that in asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum, almost all the tested samples were positive which could be as a result of depletion in the immune level, hence there is need to always screen for Plasmodium falciparum whether in asymptomatic or symptomatic patients. The CD4 T cells count from the study can not be used for the detection or determination of the presence of malaria infection in HIV positive patients. The best method for malaria identification so far is still the staining method. There should not be discrimination when sampling the patient when investigations on HIV and malaria are to be carried out when both are infected

Detection and Characterization of Human Enteroviruses, Human Cosaviruses, and a New Human Parechovirus Type in Healthy Individuals in Osun State, Nigeria, 2016/2017

Human enteroviruses and human parechoviruses are associated with a broad range of diseases and even severe and fatal conditions. For human cosaviruses, the etiological role is yet unknown. Little is known about the circulation of non-polio enteroviruses, human parechoviruses, and human cosaviruses in Nigeria. A total of 113 stool samples were collected from healthy individuals in Osun State between February 2016 and May 2017. RT-PCR assays targeting the 5′ non-coding region (5′ -NCR) were used to screen for human enteroviruses, human parechoviruses, and human cosaviruses. For human enteroviruses, species-specific RT-PCR assays targeting the VP1 regions were used for molecular typing. Inoculation was carried out on RD-A, CaCo-2, HEp-2C, and L20B cell lines to compare molecular and virological assays. Ten samples tested positive for enterovirus RNA with 11 strains detected, including CV-A13 (n = 3), E-18 (n = 2), CV-A20 (n = 1), CV-A24 (n = 1), EV-C99 (n = 1), and EV-C116 (n = 2). Three samples tested positive for human parechovirus RNA, and full genome sequencing on two samples allowed assignment to a new Parechovirus A type (HPeV-19). Thirty-three samples tested positive for cosavirus with assignment to species Cosavirus D and Cosavirus A based on the 5′-NCR region. Screening of stool samples collected from healthy individuals in Nigeria in 2016 and 2017 revealed a high diversity of circulating human enteroviruses, human parechoviruses, and human cosaviruses. Molecular assays for genotyping showed substantial benefits compared with those of cell-culture assays.Peer Reviewe

Children who have received no routine polio vaccines in Nigeria : who are they and where do they live?

Nigeria has made remarkable progress against polio, but 2 wild polio virus cases were reported in August 2016; putting an end to 2 y without reported cases. We examined the extent of geographical disparities in childhren not vaccinated against polio and examined individual- and community-level predictors of non-vaccination in Nigeria. We applied multilevel logistic regression models to the recent Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey. The percentage of children not routinely vaccinated against polio in Nigeria varied greatly and clustered geographically, mainly in north-eastern states, with a great risk of spread of transmission within these states and potential exportation to neighboring states and countries. Only about one-third had received all recommended 4 routine oral polio vaccine doses. Non-vaccinated children tended to have a mother who had no formal education and who was currently not working, live in poorer households and were from neighborhoods with higher maternal illiteracy rates

Co-endemicity of Loiasis and Onchocerciasis in Rain Forest Communities in Southwestern Nigeria

<div><p>Background</p><p>Loiasis is currently receiving attention as a disease of public health importance because of the possibility of increased risk of developing neurologic serious adverse event following mass ivermectin treatment against onchocerciasis in individual co-infected with <i>Onchocerca volvulus</i> and <i>Loa loa</i>.</p><p>Methodology/Principal Findings</p><p>Rapid assessment procedure for loiasis (RAPLOA) was conducted in 12 communities covering the 3 senatorial districts of Osun State, Nigeria. A total of 960 people were interviewed for history of eye worm using the WHO guidelines for rapid assessment. The survey confirmed the presence of loiasis in all the 12 communities with 4 in Osun East/Ife south senatorial district being at high risk with a prevalence of over 40%. Based on the RAPLOA results, communities within Osun East/Ife south senatorial district were selected for microfilaraemic assessment of <i>L</i>. <i>loa</i> and <i>O</i>. <i>volvulus</i>. A total of 1115 and 1091 individuals were screened for <i>L</i>. <i>loa</i> and <i>O</i>. <i>volvulus</i> microfilaria worms respectively. 160 (14.3%) had <i>L</i>. <i>loa</i> microfilaria detected in their blood with 8 (5.0%) individuals having <i>L</i>. <i>loa</i> loads above 8000 mf/ml. 166 (15.2%) subjects had <i>O</i>. <i>volvulus</i> microfilaria (range 4-504 mf/ml) detected in their skin snip. 30 (2.69%) subjects were co-infected with both <i>L</i>. <i>loa</i> and <i>O</i>. <i>volvulus</i>. There was a significant variation in the prevalence (2.1% to 33.3%) of onchocerciasis in the communities studied (p = 0.001). Five (41.7%) of the studied communities had a prevalence that is equal to or greater than 20%.</p><p>Conclusions/Significance</p><p>Low prevalence of onchocerciasis and loiasis co-infection in this study suggests that loiasis may not pose a serious epidemiological threat to the continuous distribution and sustainability of ivermectin for the treatment of onchocerciasis. Evaluation of the interruption of onchocerciasis transmissions in this region using all the indicators set forth by WHO is therefore suggested.</p></div

Clinical spectrum observed from filarial infected members of the surveyed population.

<p>Clinical spectrum observed from filarial infected members of the surveyed population.</p

Distribution of <i>Loa loa</i> microfilaraemia and <i>O</i>.<i>volvulus</i> by age and sex.

<p>Distribution of <i>Loa loa</i> microfilaraemia and <i>O</i>.<i>volvulus</i> by age and sex.</p

The prevalence of loiasis and onchocerciasis in the selected rural communities in Osun State.

<p>The prevalence of loiasis and onchocerciasis in the selected rural communities in Osun State.</p

Map of Osun State showing the three senatorial districts and the communities within the districts that were selected for the study.

<p>Map of Osun State showing the three senatorial districts and the communities within the districts that were selected for the study.</p