Evaluation of Some Haematological Parameters Among Marijuana Smokers In Yenagoa, Nigeria.

The study investigated the effect of marijuana smoking on some haematological parameters of smokers in comparison to non-smokers. Blood samples were collected from one hundred and eighty nine randomly selected male voluntary marijuana smokers (test) and one hundred non-smokers (control) resident in Yenagoa, Nigeria. All subjects were between 18-50 years. The haematological parameters analysed include haemoglobin concentration (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), total white cell count (WBC), red blood cell count (RBC), differential white cell count, platelet count (PLT); using Sysmex SX-1000i automated haematology analyser; erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), using Westergren method; prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) using method adopted from Dacie and Lewis, 1994. There was no significant difference in the PCV, Hb, Total WBC, RBC, PT, APTT, PLT, monocyte count, and basophil count between the test subjects and the controls (p>0.05).  But there was a significant decrease in neutrophil count in the test subjects when compared with the controls (p<0.05). Also, there was a significant increase in ESR, lymphocyte count and eosinophil count in the test subjects when compared with the controls (p<0.05). This study has shown that marijuana usage results in marked differences in some haematological parameters which may lead to inflammation, reduced immunity and ability to fight infections by the users. Keywords: Evaluation, haematological parameters, cannabinoids

Immunodiagnosis of bovine trypanosomiasis in Anambra and Imo states, Nigeria, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay: zoonotic implications to human health

Background & objectives: The prevalence of trypanosomiasis was studied in cattle, being a major source of animal protein in Nigeria, thus, a very likely means of spread of Human African Trypano-somosis (HAT). Methods: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to diagnose bovine trypanosomiasis in 264 samples collected from adult cattle of mixed breeds, age and sex, in Anambra and Imo states, Nigeria. Results: Out of 264 samples analysed, 21 (7.96%) were seropositive for Trypanosoma congolense while 20 (7.58%) were seropositive for T. vivax and 8 (3.03%) were seropositive for T. brucei infections in both the states. Interpretation & conclusion: The predominant species was found to be T. congolense. Mixed infection of three species, T. vivax, T. congolense and T. brucei was found to dominate other mixed infections in both the states. ELISA detected the infection of the three species of trypanosomes in the same group of animals. The usefulness of antigen capture ELISA in the diagnosis of human or animal trypanosomiasis was established, and the possibility of the spread of HAT caused by T. brucei gambiense and T.b. rhodesiense through cattle was expressed