Epidemiology of Smear ‐ Negative Tuberculosis in Ibadan, Nigeria

Inadequate case detection has been identified as one of the reasons for high burden of tuberculosis (TB) in the world especially in poor resourced countries of Africa and Asia. This retrospective laboratory study involving the review of specimens processed at the TB laboratory of the Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria was carried out over a period of five years (January 2006‐December 2010) to access the epidemiology of smear‐ negative TB. Of the 3468 specimens processed, 2,175 (62.7%) were from males while a lower percentage (37.3%)1293 were from females, giving a M:F = 1:0.37. Over half of the specimens, 2,046 (59.0%) were from patients aged 21 to 60 years, 392 (11.3%) from 11 to 20 years, 825 (23.8%) from 60 years and above while 205 (5.9%) were from age 1‐10 years. Most of the 2,663 (76.8%) specimens processed were sputum while 201 (5.8%) were gastric washings. Three hundred and nine (8.9%) were smear positive while 392 (11.3%) out of the 3468 specimens processed were culture positive. However, 83 (2.6%) of the 3159 smearnegative specimens were culture positive (false negative) while 66 (21.4%) of the 309 smear‐ positive specimens were negative for culture (false positive). The majority, 3010 (86.8%) were smear and culture negative while 309 (8.9%) were positive for both tests. Of the 83 false negative specimens, 51 were sputum samples representing (61.4%), 19 (22.9%) were gastric washings while 13 (15.7%) were from extra‐pulmonary sites (CSF, aspirates, ascitic fluids, etc). The findings of 2.6% smear‐negative but culture positive (false negative) specimens in this study reveals that culture of specimens in addition to smear microscopy from suspected cases is necessary as a diagnostic /confirmatory tool for tuberculosis.Keywords: Epidemiology, Smear negative, TB, Ibadan, Nigeri

Antibiotic resistance profile of bacterial isolates from food sold on a University campus in south western Nigeria

The antibiotic resistance profile of bacterial isolates from cooked food samples sold in different eateries on the campus of the University of Ado-Ekiti was investigated. A total of seventy-eight bacterial isolates belonging to six genera were encountered in the following proportion: Escherichia coli (29.5%),Klebsiella spp. (25.6%), Proteus spp. (18.0%), Salmonella spp. (12.8%), Pseudomonas spp. (11.5%) and Enterobacter spp. (2.5%). The antibiotic resistance pattern of the isolates revealed that resistance to sixout of the eight antibiotic tested was above 50%. Nalidixic acid was the only antibiotic with a resistance rate below this range. Resistance to amoxicillin was the highest (89.1%), followed by augmentin (76.9%) and gentamycin (71.8%). The results suggest the need for intensive surveillance of isolates throughout food production continuum to prevent food-borne infections and also to detect emerging antimicrobial resistance phenotypes

Pattern of Urine Toxicology Screening in a Lagos Psychiatric Hospital

Toxicology screening has clinical and forensic applications in evaluating severe or life-threatening symptoms in patients presenting with signs and symptoms suggestive of intoxication or overdose. In both acute psychiatric and medical settings, urine toxicology has been found helpful in detection of substances of abuse. The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of substance use as detected by urine toxicology screening amongst patients at a psychiatric facility in Lagos Nigeria. A Total of 1555 subjects made up of males (1480) and females (75) were screened using the one step multi-6 drug test panel immunoassay for qualitative detection of Methadone, Methamphetamine, Benzodiazepine, Cocaine, Morphine and Tetrahydrocannabinol. 927 (59.6%) subjects were positive with one or more drugs passing the concentration cut off. Tetrahydrocannabinol (42.3%) and Benzodiazepine (49%) were found to be predominant in the population studied. This study shows the most common psychoactive substance used in this environment is cannabis and also, the significant agreement between clinical diagnosis and urine toxicology screening.Keywords: Urine screening, Toxicology, Substance use, clinical diagnosi

Cytomegalovirus antibodies among healthy blood donors at Lagos University Teaching Hospital

Objectives. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is found worldwide in all geographical locations and socio-economic groups and is the virus most frequently transmitted to a developing child before birth. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors for CMV antibodies among healthy blood donors at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out among consecutively recruited replacement blood donors attending the blood donor clinic at LUTH. A 5 ml blood sample was collected from each consenting participant and serum-assayed for CMV IgG/IgM using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based kit.Results. A total of 122 healthy donors were recruited; 96% of the donors were IgG anti-CMV positive while 19.5% were IgM anti-CMV positive. Previous history of blood transfusion was not significantly related to CMV positivity.Conclusion. The seroprevalence of CMV appears to be very high in this environment among healthy blood donors. Based on previous studies that showed a decrease in the incidence of CMV disease when blood is screened for CMV (IgM), the incidence of the disease can be decreased in Lagos if blood is screened for CMV

Assessment of the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Ekpoma, South-south Nigeria

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) is an enzyme in the  pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) which reduces NADP to NADPH while oxidizing glucose-6-phosphate. In turn, NADPH then provides reducing equivalents needed for the conversion of oxidized glutathione to reduced glutathione, which protects against oxidant injury. The activity of G-6-PD was determined in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and control subjects using enzymatic colourimetric method. A total of one hundred (100) subjects consisting of sixty (60) diabetes mellitus patients (test) and forty (40) apparently healthy subjects (control) were involved in the study. The mean ± standard deviation of G-6-PD activity in type 2 diabetic patients was 2.53±1.34ì/g Hb while the control was 14.44±3.27µ/g Hb. The resultsshowed that G-6-PD activity in type 2 diabetic patients was significantly lower (p<0.05) compared to the control subjects. This finding therefore suggests that there is a decrease in G-6-PD activity in type 2 diabetic patients. For that reason, monitoring of G-6-PD activity may be an  important tool in preventing diabetic injury due to inappropriate  antioxidation process.Keywords: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glutathione, diabetes mellitus, oxidant, oxidative stres

Plasma Renal Functions amongst 'Petrol Station' Attendants in Owerri, South-East Nigeria

This study assesses the renal function of individuals who are occupationally exposed to ‘petrol’ vapour. It is a cohortstudy of 100 individuals comprising 50 ‘petrol station’ attendants (test) in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria, and 50 apparently healthy individuals who are ‘non-petrol station’ attendants (control). Information on demographic and health profiles were obtained, and venous blood samples were collected for the analysis of plasma creatinine, Na+, K+, Cl- and HCO3 using standard laboratory procedures. Results showed that plasma creatinine (1.17±0.30), K+ (3.77 ± 0.55) and HCO3 - (28.52±2.72) concentrations amongst ‘petrol station’ attendants to be significantly higher  (P<0.05) compared to those of the control (0.87±0.18; 3.64±0.21 and 26.92±2.46 respectively). On the other hand,  plasma Na+ (131.70±4.16) and Cl- (97.43±3.48) amongst ‘petrol station’ attendants were significantly lower compared to the control subjects (136.70±4.86 and 100.28±2.24 respectively). There was also a significant increase   (p<0.05) in plasma creatinine, K+ and HCO3 - , and a significantly lower Na+ and Cl- amongst ‘petrol station’ with 3– 6 years exposure when compared with those exposed for <1-2 years. These findings therefore, suggests that renal function impairment and nephrotoxicity, are associated with exposure to ‘petroleum’ vapours and its impact is time dependent.Keywords: Renal/Kidney failure, Nephrotoxicity, Petroleum vapour, Owerri

Phoma stem canker disease on oilseed rape (Brassica napus) in China is caused by Leptosphaeria biglobosa ‘brassicae’

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of the following article: Ze Liu, Akinwunmi O. Latunde-Dada, Avice M. Hall, Bruce D. L. Fitt, ‘Phoma stem canker disease on oilseed rape (Brassica napus) in China is caused by Leptosphaeria biglobosa ‘brassicae’’, European Journal of Plant Pathology, Vol. 140(4): 841-857, December 2014. The final publication is available at Springer via: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10658-014-0513-7 © Koninklijke Nederlandse Planteziektenkundige Vereniging 2014Phoma stem canker of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) is a globally important disease that is caused by the sibling ascomycete species Leptosphaeria maculans and L. biglobosa. Sixty fungal isolates obtained from oilseed rape stems with phoma stem canker disease symptoms collected from four provinces in China in 1999, 2005 and 2006 were all identified as Leptosphaeria biglobosa, not L. maculans, by PCR diagnostics based on species-specific primers. There were no differences in cultural characteristics (e.g. pigmentation and in vitro growth) between these L. biglobosa isolates from China and those of 37 proven L. biglobosa isolates from Europe or Canada. In studies using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers, Chinese L. biglobosa populations were genetically more similar to European L. biglobosa populations than to the more diverse Canadian L. biglobosa populations. Sequencing of gene fragments of β-tubulin, actin and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA from L. biglobosa isolates from China, Europe, Australia and Canada showed a closer taxonomic similarity of Chinese L. biglobosa to the European L. biglobosa ‘brassicae’ than to Canadian L. biglobosa ‘canadensis’ or to the Australian L. biglobosa ‘occiaustralensis’ or ‘australensis’ subclades. These results suggest that the Chinese L. biglobosa population in this study is in the same subclade as European L. biglobosa ‘brassicae’ populationsPeer reviewe

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