Sero-epidemiology of Toxocara canis infection in children attending four selected health facilities in the central region of Ghana

Objective: The study determined the seroprevalence of Toxocara canis infection among children attending four selected health facilities in the Central Region of Ghana.Design: Cross-sectional studyMethod: Sera from 566 children aged 1-15 years attending four selected health facilities in the Central Region of Ghana between July and September 2012 was used in a Toxocara excretory-secretory antigenbased ELISA to detect serum IgG. A short questionnaire was designed to obtain data on respondents as to age, gender, educational level, locality of residence, habits of washing of fruits, vegetable and hands before eating, keeping of pet (dogs or cats) , and history of playing with soil and pets. Clinical information was also collected. Associations between sero-positivity and age group, gender, risk factors, educational level and other variables were determined by Chi square test.Results: The overall sero-prevalence was 53.5% (n=566). Age, educational level and hospital visited were significantly associated with sero-positivity (p< 0.05). Children with history of playing with soil (χ2=9.03, p=0.003), pet-keeping (χ2=14.77, p=0.001) and not washing hands with soap before eating (χ2=5.82, p=0.016) were significantly associated with sero-positivity.Conclusion: The sero-prevalence of T. canis infection in children in the study was high. The children should be educated to desist from risk factors such as playing with soil and pets and be encouraged to ensure proper personal hygiene.Keywords: Seroprevalence, Toxocariasis, risk factors, children, Ghan

Lipid and Lipoprotein Levels in Type 2 Diabetes Patients Attending the Central Regional Hospital in the Cape Coast Metropolis of Ghana

Purpose: To ascertain the prevalence of dyslipidaemia in diabetics in Cape Coast.Methods: This preliminary outpatient-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 79 diabetic patients (22 males and 57 females) receiving treatment at the Central Regional Hospital (CRH) in the Cape Coast Metropolis. Serum lipid profiles of the fasting diabetic patients were determined between September, 2008 and May, 2009. In addition, demographic information, height and weight were measured and BMI was computed.Results: BMI was significantly (P = 0.001) higher in females than in males, but the mean values of all the remaining measured parameters were comparable (P>0.05) between the sexes. No significant (P>0.05) correlation was observed between age or BMI and cholesterol levels. Percentage dyslipidaemia ranged from 7.60% to 55.70% in the studysample. A significantly (P<0.05) higher proportion of females than males in the entire sample were overweight/obese, had higher levels of total cholesterol (TCHOL) and TRG. No significant difference (P>0.05) was observed between proportions of individuals in both sexes who exhibited higher LDL-c but lower levels of HDL-c..Conclusion: Lipid profile should be a routine test for all diabetics receiving treatment at the CRH to identify those at increased cardiovascular risk for immediate attention.Keywords: Dyslipidaemia, Cardiovascular, Cholesterol, Body mass inde

Levels of serum alanine/aspartate aminotransferase and urea in apparently healthy rural community in Ghana: A case study in Sabin-Akrofrom and Trede in the Ashanti region

Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and urea levels were assessed in 27 males (mean age 32.33 yrs) and in 34 females (mean age 27.85yrs) Ghanaian rural dwellers to determine the functional status of their liver (ALT/AST) and kidney (Urea). No significant (P≥0.05) differences were observed between the sexes in all the assessed parameters. Mean values of 28.92 U/L, 31.64 U/L, 9.04 mmol/L for males and 30.09 U/L, 33.92 U/L, 8.72 mmol/L for females were obtained respectively for ALT, AST and Urea. The serum levels of ALT, AST and AST to ALT ratio indicated that both groups had normal functioning liver but theurea levels for both sexes appear to suggest renal impairment. Further investigations are needed to establish the underlying pathology

Autophagy in the control and pathogenesis of parasitic infections

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