Occurrence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV) among alcoholics

Studies have shown that hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected alcoholics have more severe biochemical and histological evidence of liver disease than anti-HCV-negative patients. One possible mechanism for the increased liver damage is that alcohol may have a stimulatory effect on HCV replication. This study was therefore carried out to investigate the seroprevalence of HCV virus among alcoholics. Two-hundred and seventy (270) alcoholics and fifty (50) control subjects at selected locations in Jos South local government area (LGA), of Plateau State were screened for HCV antibodies using grand rapid diagnostic test strip. Structured questionnaire was employed to obtain demographic data of studysubjects. Overall, the prevalence of HCV infection was found to be 45(16.7%) in response to alcoholics while the non-alcoholic (control) subjects recorded 3 (6.0%) positivity, [(x2 = 3.765); P > 0.05]. Genderconsideration showed that females subjects had a higher prevalence of 25 (9.3%) compared to males with 20 (7.4%) among the alcoholic subjects. The 19 – 30 years age group recorded the highestseroprevalence of 14 (5.2%) to the HCV, [(x2 = 4.757); P > 0.05], while no significant difference was observed among positive subjects screened for serum aminotranferase levels in relation to age and gender. Available evidence from this study indicates that alcoholic consumption is a strong determinant of HCV infection. Drastic measures at creating awareness and the need for routine screening among alcoholics should be given due consideration. However, future HCV studies need toquantify concurrent alcoholic consumption to further our understanding of the total burden of illness from alcohol associated HCV in the community.Keywords: Alcoholics, hepatitis c virus, occurrenc

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) among Children of Primary School Age in a Community, North-Central, Nigeria

Globally, Hepatitis B Virus has been identified as one of the most common infectious diseases and a major public health problem.This study was therefore carried out to assess the prevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection among primary school children attending LGE primary school, Sabon Pegi, Kuru, Nigeria. Three hundred and sixty (360) blood samples were collected from the pupils and sera separated and analyzed for HBsAg using one step Hepatitis B surface antigen test strip. Of the 360 samples screened, 35 (9.7%) were sero-positive. Pupils within the age 7-9 years had the highest prevalence of 3.9%. Male subjects recorded a prevalence of 6.1% compared to 3.6% for females. Risk factors such as blood transfusion recorded 1.6%. Furthermore, family history of HBV infection accounted for 3.6%, while male subjects that had traditional method of circumcision recorded a high prevalence of 3.3%. Unfortunately, the prevalence of this ravaging infectious agent appears to be high amongst the subjects studied. It is strongly suggested that public awareness be accorded urgent attention while socioeconomic development in these areas be given priority as a measure to preventing further spread of this virus amongst children, particularly the school age group. Key words: Children, HBsAg, Primary school, Seroprevalenc

Neglected Tropical Diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa: Review of Their Prevalence, Distribution, and Disease Burden

The neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are the most common conditions affecting the poorest 500 million people living in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and together produce a burden of disease that may be equivalent to up to one-half of SSA's malaria disease burden and more than double that caused by tuberculosis. Approximately 85% of the NTD disease burden results from helminth infections. Hookworm infection occurs in almost half of SSA's poorest people, including 40–50 million school-aged children and 7 million pregnant women in whom it is a leading cause of anemia. Schistosomiasis is the second most prevalent NTD after hookworm (192 million cases), accounting for 93% of the world's number of cases and possibly associated with increased horizontal transmission of HIV/AIDS. Lymphatic filariasis (46–51 million cases) and onchocerciasis (37 million cases) are also widespread in SSA, each disease representing a significant cause of disability and reduction in the region's agricultural productivity. There is a dearth of information on Africa's non-helminth NTDs. The protozoan infections, human African trypanosomiasis and visceral leishmaniasis, affect almost 100,000 people, primarily in areas of conflict in SSA where they cause high mortality, and where trachoma is the most prevalent bacterial NTD (30 million cases). However, there are little or no data on some very important protozoan infections, e.g., amebiasis and toxoplasmosis; bacterial infections, e.g., typhoid fever and non-typhoidal salmonellosis, the tick-borne bacterial zoonoses, and non-tuberculosis mycobaterial infections; and arboviral infections. Thus, the overall burden of Africa's NTDs may be severely underestimated. A full assessment is an important step for disease control priorities, particularly in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the greatest number of NTDs may occur

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis C antibodies amongst pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Maiduguri, Nigeria

The Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection may have a much greater effect on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes than previously reported, indicating that routine HCV screening in pregnant women may need to be reconsidered. Two hundred (200) serum samples from pregnant women attending  antenatal clinic at University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri north-eastern Nigeria were screened for HCV antibodies using the HCV rapid immunoassay test strip which detects antibodies to HCV in the serum or plasma. A structured questionnaire was administered to obtain the risk factors in the population that were associated with the virus infection. Of the total samples analysed, 12(6%) were positive for Hepatitis C virus antibodies. The highest prevalence was found among the age groups 20-29 with an overall number of 6(3.0%) being positive for the HCV. Considering occupational exposure, higher seroprevalence was recorded among the civil servants, with 9(4.5%) being positive. The prevalence of HCV was statistically significant (

Occurrence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV) among alcoholics

Studies have shown that hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected alcoholics have more severe biochemical and histological evidence of liver disease than anti-HCV-negative patients. One possible mechanism for the increased liver damage is that alcohol may have a stimulatory effect on HCV replication. This study was therefore carried out to investigate the seroprevalence of HCV virus among alcoholics. Two-hundred and seventy (270) alcoholics and fifty (50) control subjects at selected locations in Jos South local government area (LGA), of Plateau State were screened for HCV antibodies using grand rapid diagnostic test strip. Structured questionnaire was employed to obtain demographic data of study subjects. Overall, the prevalence of HCV infection was found to be 45(16.7%) in response to alcoholics while the non-alcoholic (control) subjects recorded 3 (6.0%) positivity, [(x 2 = 3.765); P > 0.05]. Gender consideration showed that females subjects had a higher prevalence of 25 (9.3%) compared to males with 20 (7.4%) among the alcoholic subjects. The 19 – 30 years age group recorded the highest seroprevalence of 14 (5.2%) to the HCV, [(x 2 = 4.757); P > 0.05], while no significant difference was observed among positive subjects screened for serum aminotranferase levels in relation to age and gender. Available evidence from this study indicates that alcoholic consumption is a strong determinant of HCV infection. Drastic measures at creating awareness and the need for routine screening among alcoholics should be given due consideration. However, future HCV studies need to quantify concurrent alcoholic consumption to further our understanding of the total burden of illness from alcohol associated HCV in the community

Seroprevalence of hepatitis b virus infection amongst pregnant women at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital Maiduguri, Nigeria

Hepatitis B is a worldwide health care problem, especially in developing countries. An estimated one third of the global population has been infected with this virus. Two hundred (200) serum samples from pregnant women attending the antenatal centre of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, Nigeria were screened for Hepatitis B virus antigen (HBsAg) using the one step rapid chromatographic strip for HBsAg. Structured questionnaires were administered to obtain the risk factors associated with viral hepatitis in the population. Out of the total samples screened, 32(16%) were found to be positive for HBsAg. The highest prevalence was recorded among the age groups 20-29 years, with overall number of 19(9.5%). Relatively high seroprevalence (8%) was also recorded among civil servants. Considering the various risk factors, the prevalence of HBV was statistically significant (p<0.05) for subjects that had blood transfusion recording 14(7%), while those with history of surgery had a prevalence of 12(6%). In addition, subjects with tribal markings/tattoo recorded 16(8%) prevalence. This study emphasises the public health importance of HBV in subjects screened, indicating that blood should be well screened before transfusion, while the populace should abstain from sharing sharp and body piercing objects in order to reduce the rate of transmission.Keywords: Hepatitis B virus antigen, pregnant women, antenatal centre, Nigeria International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 5(4): 402-406, 200

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) among Children of Primary School Age in a Community, North-Central, Nigeria

Globally, Hepatitis B Virus has been identified as one of the most common infectious diseases and a major public health problem.This study was therefore carried out to assess the prevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection among primary school children attending LGE primary school, Sabon Pegi, Kuru, Nigeria. Three hundred and sixty (360) blood samples were collected from the pupils and sera separated and analyzed for HBsAg using one step Hepatitis B surface antigen test strip. Of the 360 samples screened, 35 (9.7%) were sero-positive. Pupils within the age 7-9 years had the highest prevalence of 3.9%. Male subjects recorded a prevalence of 6.1% compared to 3.6% for females. Risk factors such as blood transfusion recorded 1.6%. Furthermore, family history of HBV infection accounted for 3.6%, while male subjects that had traditional method of circumcision recorded a high prevalence of 3.3%. Unfortunately, the prevalence of this ravaging infectious agent appears to be high amongst the subjects studied. It is strongly suggested that public awareness be accorded urgent attention while socioeconomic development in these areas be given priority as a measure to preventing further spread of this virus amongst children, particularly the school age group