SOIL MOISTURE AND SEASONAL EFFECTS ON THE MORPHOMETRY OF THE OVIDUCT, PENIS AND RETRACTOR MUSCLE OF THE GIANT AFRICAN LAND SNAILS, ARCHACHATINA MARGINATA AND ACHATINA ACHATINA

This study evaluated the effect of soil moisture and season on the morphometry of part of the reproductive tract of the Giant African Land snails, in a 2 x 2 x 4 factorial experiment with two species (Archachatina marginata and achatina achatina), soil moisture at two levels (low – 25ml of water/ week and high – 100ml water/week) and season at four levels (cold dry, hot dry, hot wet and cold wet) constituting the three factors. Result showed that season had a highly significant effect (P<0.001) on the dimension of oviduct, penis and the retractor muscle of A. achatina and A. marginata. Significant species effect (P<0.001) was observed in the dimension of oviduct, penis and the retractor muscle of A. achatina and A. marginata. Soil moisture level significantly affected the oviduct weight, penis length and retractor muscle (P<0.01) as well as the retractor muscle weight of A. achatina and A. marginata.  There was significant interactions between season and species for oviduct dimension (P<0.001), penis length and retractor muscle weight (P<0.001), penis weight and retractor muscle width (P<0.01), penis width and retractor muscle length (P<0.05).  There was interaction between season and soil moisture for oviduct length, penis length and retractor muscle weight (P<0.01); the weight of the oviduct and retractor muscle.  The interactive effect of species and soil moisture significantly affect the penis length and weight (P<0.05) and the width of penis and retractor muscle, while no interactive effect of species and soil moisture (P>0.05) was observed on the oviduct dimensions. There was no significant interaction (P>0.05) between season, species and soil moisture. However, the effect of snail liveweight was highly significant (P<0.001) on the oviduct, penis and retractor muscle dimension.     It is concluded that snails reared on high soil moisture condition had higher dimensional values for oviduct, penis and retractor muscle while the seasonal variation also affected the dimension of the organs measured in this study.Â

Prevalence and Predictors of Tuberculosis Coinfection among HIV-Seropositive Patients Attending the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Northern Nigeria

Background: The HIV/AIDS epidemic has been accompanied by a severe epidemic of tuberculosis (TB), although the prevalence of coinfection is largely unknown, especially in developing countries, including Nigeria. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of TB coinfection among HIV-seropositive Nigerians. Methods: The case files of HIV/AIDS patients attending Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Nigeria from January to December 2006 were reviewed. Results: A total of 1320 HIV/AIDS patients had complete records and were reviewed, among which 138 (10.5%) were coinfected with TB (95% CI, 8.9% to 12.2%). Pulmonary TB was diagnosed in 103 (74.6%) patients, among whom only 18 (17.5%) were sputum-positive. Fifty (36.2%) coinfected patients had some type of extrapulmonary TB (EPTB); 15 had both pulmonary TB and EPTB. Among the 35 patients with EPTB only, 20 (57.1%) had abdominal TB, 5 (14.3%) had TB adenitis, 5 (14.3%) had spinal TB, 3 (8.6%) were being monitored for tuberculous meningitis, and 1 (2.9%) each had renal TB and tuberculous adrenalitis. The highest prevalence of TB, 13.7% (n = 28), was seen among patients aged 41–50 years. TB coinfection was significantly associated with marital status, WHO clinical stage, and CD4 count. Marital status (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.28–3.59; P = 0.04), WHO clinical stage at presentation (4.81; 1.42–8.34; P = 0.001), and baseline CD4 count (2.71; 1.51–6.21; P = 0.02) remained significant predictors after adjustment for confounding. Conclusions: The moderately high prevalence of TB among HIV-seropositive patients underscores the urgent need for strategies that lead to rapid identification and treatment of coinfection with active or latent TB

Investigation on the road mortality of Anuran species on the Ikorodu-Epe/Ejirin-Ijebu Ode Roads in Lagos and Ogun States, Nigeria

The effect of road kills of anuran species by vehicular traffic on the Ikorodu-Epe/Ejirin-Ijebu Ode road in Lagos and Ogun States was investigated. The mean traffic density on the road during the survey (between 18:30-20:30hr and 06:00 and 07:00hr) was 127±45 vehicles/hr, which ranged between 72 and 216 vehicles/hr. A total of 738 anuran road mortalities among eight species were recorded [661 (89.6%) were identifiable, while 77 (10.4%) were not]. Ptychadena pumilio had the highest mortality of 67±27.1 individuals, while Xenopus muelleri and Aubria subsigillata were the least susceptible to road kills. This respectively represented 2.66±1.5 and 2.66±3 individuals each. Most mortality (256 individuals) occurred on the section of the road bordered by grassland/tertiary vegetation. However there was no significant difference (at P> 0.05) between the anurans killed along the different vegetation structures bordering the road (F2,21 = 0.415). About 473 live anurans belonging to five species were observed of which P. pumilio, the highest constituted the greatest number (81±42.9), while the least Hoplobatrachus occipitalis 7.3±4.2 was recorded. Both species had greater live counts than road kills compared to other anuran species that had greater road kills than live counts recorded. The greatest number of live anurans was recorded at where grassland/tertiaryvegetation occurred. This constituted a total of 198 individuals (41.8%), while the least occurred at the secondary/primaryvegetation which had 95 individuals (20%). However, the difference was not significant (F2,12 = 0.600) at P> 0.05. It is evident that anuran migration is an integral part of their biological activity. However vehicular traffic sadly possesses a negative effect on this activity. Precautionary measures are necessary to reduce population decline and possible extinction of not only the anuran species but also other wildlife species, which is a positive direction in the conservation of biological diversity.  Keywords: Vehicular traffic, anuran, mortality, vegetation, road kill, conservation

Factors Determining Correct Case Management of Acute Respiratory Infections in Children by Primary Health care in Ibadan

Background: Inappropriate case management of Acute Respiratory Infections (ARIs) is one of the factors responsible for the high ARI mortality in developing countries. Identification of factors which influence ARI case management by health workers is key for interventions to improve Quality of case management. Objective: To identify factors which determine correct case management of Acute Respiratory Infections (ARIs) in children by primary health care workers in Ibadan. Design: A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out from June to December 1999 in Ibadan South East LGA and Lagelu LGA. Study materials included observation checklists, validation checklist, and health worker interview questionnaires. Results: Twenty-five health workers and 20 health workers were observed managing 390 children and 386 children in Ibadan South East and Lagelu LGA respectively. More than half of Pneumonia cases were correctly treated in the two LGAs (62.3% and 66.1% respectively). Sex and category of health workers was significantly associated with correct treatment of mild ARI with female workers and Nursing staff doing better (Odds ratio 4.57, 95% CI 2.15, 9.95 and 4.61, 95% CI 2.57, 8.31 respectively). Health workers who had been trained performed better in the management of Pneumonia though it was not statistically significant. Conclusions: There is a need for targeted research to identify the relative contribution of the myriad of factors influencing health worker performance in specific localities in order to improve the quality of care in child health programmes. Keywords: Factors, Case Management, ARI, Health workers.NQJHM Vol. 16 (1) 2005: pp. 14-1