Appraisal of young farmers’ club programme in Abia state, Nigeria

This study appraised Young Farmers’ Clubs programme in secondary schools in Abia State. Data were collected using simple random sampling technique and structured interview schedule as instrument. Results showed that only a small proportion (about 27%) of the secondary schools had functional YFCs. Reasons for this situation were government, school authorities, agriculture teachers and student-related. The projects embarked upon by the YFCs were Agriculture, Home economics, Handicrafts, Educational and Managerial projects. The activities most frequently embarked upon by these clubs were crop production under Agriculture and food preparation under Home economics. The problems facing the YFCs in the state were related to the government, school authorities, agriculture teachers and students, with government-related problems predominating. It was recommended that government should create a fund similar to industrial training fund to provide logistic support to YFCs, and make mandatory the organization of YFCs programme in secondary schools.Key words: Young Farmers’ Clubs programme, secondary school

Prevalence and pattern of intestinal parasites among pupils of private and public primary schools in an urban centre, Nigeria

Background: Intestinal parasitic infection is highly prevalent among children in the tropics. Identifying the most at risk group and subsequent targeted intervention will lead to cost effective and easy to implement control programme. We thus aim to determine the prevalence and pattern of intestinal parasite among pupils from public and private schools.Material and Method: This was a cross-sectional survey. Participants were recruited through multistage stratified random sampling. Information were collected using a questionnaire and early morning freshly passed stool sample was collected and processed from each participating pupil. Stool microscopy was done using saline and iodine preparations. Eggs were counted using Stoll’s method. Data obtained was analyzed using EPI INFO version 3.5.1.Results: Four hundred and twenty  pupils were studied, 210 pupils from each school type. Prevalence of 78.1% and 17.1% were recorded for the public and private schools respectively. The pupils from the public schools were 17.23 times more likely to have intestinal parasitic infestation compared to those from private schools (OR =17.23, 95% CI = 10.6-28.01, p = <0.0001). Ascaris lumbricoides was the most frequent isolate in both the public (62.8%) and private (66.7%) schools. The prevalence of multiple parasitic infestation was 14.8% in the public schools and none in the private schools. Socioeconomic status and source of water were the main factors with significant effect on the prevalence of intestinal parasite (p<0.0001).Conclusion: Intestinal parasitic infestation remains a very common health issue among the children particularly in the public schools. Distribution of free antiparasitic drugs to pupils at the beginning of every term should be incorporated into the school health program.Key words: Intestinal Parasites, Ascaris lumbricoides, public school, private school, socioeconomic status

Changes in some biochemical parameters of kidney functions of Plasmodium berghei infected rats administered with some doses of artemether

This study aimed at determining changes in urine concentrations of sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) of Plasmodium berghei infected rats during a week of intramuscular administration of artemether (12.5 to 50.0 mg/kg/day) and one week thereafter. Their concentrations and that of creatinine and urea in the plasma were also determined at the end of the study. The observed changes were related to the effects of artemether on the kidneys of the rats. The urine levels of the two electrolytes decreased significantly during treatment (P<0.05). One week post-treatment with 12.5 mg/kg of artemether, the urine concentrations of the electrolytes increased to values that were not significantly different from that of day 0. At 25 and 50 mg/kg, their urine concentrations still remained significantly lower than day 0 values (P<0.05). Plasma concentrations of the electrolytes one week post-treatment increased, but they were only significant at 25 mg/kg for K+. A significant increase in the plasma level of creatinine was observed at all the doses of the drug at one week post-treatment. A dose-dependent degeneration of the renal tissue of all the experimental rats was also observed. We concluded that high doses of artemether caused progressive degeneration of the renal tissue of P. berghei infected rats.Key words: Artemether, electrolytes in urine, plasma creatinine concentration, Plasmodium berghei

Effects of artemether on the plasma and urine concentrations of some electrolytes in rats

This study was carried out to determine the changes in the urine levels of sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), and calcium (Ca2+) of rats during a week of intramuscular administration of artemether (12.5 to 50.0 mg/kg/day), another one week thereafter and their concentrations in the plasma at the end of the study. At 12.5 and 25.0 mg/kg of artemether, urine Na+ concentration was significantly increased throughout the study (p < 0.05), except on Day 7 (at 12.5 mg/kg) and Day 11 (at 25.0 mg/kg), when it was not significantly different from the control. At 12.5 mg/kg of the drug, urine K+ concentration was significantly increased throughout the study (p < 0.05). Artemether caused no significant changes in urine Ca2+ concentration in the control rats as well as those that received 12.5 and 25.0 mg/kg of artemether. Progressive and significant reductions in the urine concentrations of all the electrolytes at 50.0 mg/kg of artemether were observed. Their concentrations in the plasma were also significantly reduced at this dose of the drug. A dose-dependent degeneration of the renal tissue of all the experimental rats was also observed. We concluded that high doses of artemether caused progressive degeneration of the renal tissue of rats, inability of the damaged kidneys to concentrate urine, which manifested as excessive water loss and electrolyte depletion.Key words: Artemether, electrolytes in plasma, urine concentrations, rats

Emergence of pathogenic bacteria isolates from zea maize extract using 16s rRNA molecular sequencing protocol as a tools for microbial identification and characterization

The purpose of this research work is to determine the molecular identity of bacteria isolated from infected Zea maize using the 16s rRNA molecular sequencing protocol. The samples were obtained from Okeagbe, Akoko north-west local government in Ondo state with latitude and longitude of Okeagbe at 7.6450° N, and 5.7603° E respectively. Preparation of infected maize samples was cultured using the serial dilution method.. Confirmatory characterization of bacteria isolates using 16s rRNA (ribosomal RNA) sequencing procedures (purification, amplication, Sequencing, and DNA extraction) inclusive.The result shows the isolation of the bacteria isolates involved the culturing, inoculation, and plating of the isolate on a plated agar, the identification of the bacteria isolate includes the use of Gram staining, biochemical tests, and characterization using Bergey's manual and antibiotics Susceptibility Test. In Gram staining all bacteria isolates were positive except one, in the biochemical test most bacteria isolate was positive for sugar Fermentation and citrate test and all were negative for the Voges Proskauer test. In antibiotics Susceptibility test few were sensitive, most were susceptible to antibiotics used. With the use of the 16S rRNA and procedures (purification and application of product, Sequencing, and Extraction of DNA) the bacteria isolate were identified and characterized. The phylogenetic analysis and molecular identification of 16S rDNA sequencing revealed that Escherichia coli, Samonella enterica and Staphylococcus aureus were found to infect maize. Molecular characterization based on 16S rRNA Gene sequencing confirms the identity of bacteria. The conventional procedure shows the presence of different arrays of microorganisms in the infected maize, microbes identified are Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus anthracis, Micrococcus luteus, Clostridium sporogenes, Microbacterium lacticum, Clostridium sporogenes, Lactobacillus casei and Micrococcus luteus. The phylogenetic analysis and molecular identification of 16s rRNA sequencing revealed that Escherichia coli, Samonella enterica and Staphylococcus aureus were found to infect maize in Band fragment Base pair 1500bp. In conclusion, the hearsay that maize can only be infected by fungi, it was observed that the possibility of being infected with pathogenic bacteria is imminent. The bottom line is, there should be proper surveillance and food safety in our farm, market and food store, to prevent and totally eradicate emergence of pathogenic organism in our food item

Assessment of a treatment guideline to improve home management of malaria in children in rural south-west Nigeria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Many Nigerian children with malaria are treated at home. Treatments are mostly incorrect, due to caregivers' poor knowledge of appropriate and correct dose of drugs. A comparative study was carried out in two rural health districts in southwest Nigeria to determine the effectiveness of a guideline targeted at caregivers, in the treatment of febrile children using chloroquine.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Baseline and post intervention knowledge, attitude and practice household surveys were conducted. The intervention strategy consisted of training a core group of mothers ("mother trainers") in selected communities on the correct treatment of malaria and distributing a newly developed treatment guideline to each household. "Mother trainers" disseminated the educational messages about malaria and the use of the guideline to their communities.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Knowledge of cause, prevention and treatment of malaria increased with the one-year intervention. Many, (70.4%) of the respondents stated that they used the guideline each time a child was treated for malaria. There was a significant increase in the correct use of chloroquine from 2.6% at baseline to 52.3% after intervention among those who treated children at home in the intervention arm compared with 4.2% to 12.7% in the control arm. The correctness of use was significantly associated with use of the guideline. The timeliness of commencing treatment was significantly earlier in those who treated febrile children at home using chloroquine than those who took their children to the chemist or health facility (p < 0.005). Mothers considered the guideline to be explicit and useful. Mother trainers were also considered to be effective and acceptable.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The use of the guideline with adequate training significantly improved correctness of malaria treatment with chloroquine at home. Adoption of this mode of intervention is recommended to improve compliance with drug use at home. The applicability for deploying artemisinin-based combination therapy at the community level needs to be investigated.</p

Adherence to Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy for the Treatment of Malaria: A Systematic Review of the Evidence.

Increasing access to and targeting of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) is a key component of malaria control programmes. To maximize efficacy of ACT and ensure adequate treatment outcomes, patient and caregiver adherence to treatment guidelines is essential. This review summarizes the current evidence base on ACT adherence, including definitions, measurement methods, and associated factors. A systematic search of the published literature was undertaken in November 2012 and updated in April 2013. Bibliographies of manuscripts were also searched and additional references identified. Studies were included if they involved at least one form of ACT and reported an adherence measurement. The search yielded 1,412 records, 37 of which were found to measure adherence to ACT. Methods to measure adherence focused on self-report, pill counts and bioassays with varying definitions for adherence. Most studies only reported whether medication regimens were completed, but did not assess how the treatment was taken by the patient (i.e. timing, frequency and dose). Adherence data were available for four different ACT formulations: artemether-lumefantrine (AL) (range 39-100%), amodiaquine plus artesunate (AQ + AS) (range 48-94%), artesunate plus sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (AS + SP) (range 39-75%) and artesunate plus mefloquine (AS + MQ) (range 77-95%). Association between demographic factors, such as age, gender, education and socio-economic status and adherence to ACT regimens was not consistent. Some evidence of positive association between adherence and patient age, caregiver education levels, drug preferences, health worker instructions, patient/caregiver knowledge and drug packaging were also observed. This review highlights the weak evidence base on ACT adherence. Results suggest that ACT adherence levels varied substantially between study populations, but comparison between studies was challenging due to differences in study design, definitions, and methods used to measure adherence. Standardising methodologies for both self-report and bioassays used for evaluating adherence of different formulations across diverse contexts would improve the evidence base on ACT adherence and effectiveness; namely, specific and measurable definitions for adherence are needed for both methodologies. Additionally, further studies of the individual factors and barriers associated with non-adherence to ACT are needed in order to make informed policy choices and to improve the delivery of effective malaria treatment