Stampidine prevents mortality in an experimental mouse model of viral hemorrhagic fever caused by lassa virus

BACKGROUND: The potential use of microorganisms as agents of biological warfare (BW) is a growing concern. Lassa virus, a member of the Arenavirus class of Hemorrhagic fever (HF) viruses has emerged as a worldwide concern among public health officials. The purpose of the present study was to further elucidate the antiviral activity spectrum of stampidine, a novel nucleoside analog with potent anti-viral activity against the immunodeficiency viruses HIV-1, HIV-2, and FIV, by examining its effects on survival of mice challenged with Lassa virus. METHODS: We examined the therapeutic effect of Stampidine in CBA mice inoculated with intracerebral injections of the Josiah strain of Lassa virus. Mice were treated either with vehicle or nontoxic doses of stampidine administered intraperitoneally 24 hours prior to, 1 hour prior to, and 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, and 96 hours after virus inoculation. RESULTS: The probability of survival following the Lassa challenge was significantly improved for stampidine treated mice (Kaplan Meier, Chi-squared = 11.7, df = 2, Log-Rank p-value = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Therefore, stampidine shows clinical potential as a new agent for treatment of viral hemorrhagic fevers caused by Lassa virus

ReviewHuman Oesophagostomiasis: A Serious Public Health Problem in Tropical Africa

A review was made on what was known of the history, geographical distribution, diagnosis, public health significance, pathology, epidemiology and control of human oesophagostomiasis, as well as the taxonomy, morphology and life cycle of its causative agents, with the following being the highlights. Historical events were described from its first record in Ethiopia in 1905. Notable among these include, a long period of only a few isolated cases and then mostly in association with immature worms which resulted in regarding man as an abnormal host; the subsequent proof of complete life cycle in man and demonstration of endemicity in Togo and Ghana on clinical, coprocultural, and sonographical grounds; the role of monkey as source of human infection, elucidation of progression of clinical disease; and high efficacy of alberndazole for clinical and mass treatments. Taxonomy of the causative agents adopted by majority of authors into various taxa, from kingdom to species level, was given, noting slight differences especially in the family. Geographical distribution was comprehensively described as covering many areas in Africa but also included few areas in Asia and one location in South America. Information on morphology of aetiological agents focused mainly on features of diagnostic value mostly in the cephalic region, and bursa copulatrix and spicules in males of adults, tails and sheath in infective larvae, and number of cells in eggs in fresh stool. The life cycle of the causative agents was described in details including all the pre-parasitic stages, histotropic phase with some progressing to adults in lumen and some failing to reach maturity and remain in cysts. Full pathology was given, the initiation of which is the migration of juvenile stages into sub-mucosa. Accounts on epidemiology provided information on patterns of distribution and relation of transmission to seasons and role of monkeys and of man in the propagation of infection in Togo and Ghana. Diagnosis by various means was provided including clinical signs; presence of palpable and often painful mass in the abdomen; use of coproculture, laparatomy serology, PCR based method, ultrasound; radiology; and histopathology. The public health and socioeconomic significance was described including details of clinical conditions produced, incapacitation and occasional deaths. Control measures available were given which included chemotherapeutic treatment and public health enlightenment on how to recognise infection for appropriate management and for prevention.Keywords: Human oesophagostomiasis, endemicity, albemdazole, histotropic, phaseNigerian Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 32 [2] September 2011, pp. 325-34

Prevalence of oesophagostomiasis in Primary School Children at Oke Ode, Central Nigeria

The prevalence of human oesophagostomiasis was studied in Oke Ode, a fairly large community in Derived Savanna area of central Nigeria in the late dry season in 2005. Based on microscopic detection of characteristic infective larvae from single coprocultures from 384 randomly selected school children, the prevalence of infection was 5.5%. The infection was gender-related, with males being more often infected than females (7.4% vs 3.6%). Similarly, the infection was age-dependent, the age group 10-14 years had a higher infection rate than 5-9 years old (7.3 vs 4.7%). It was concluded that endemic oesophagostomiasis was by no means restricted to Togo and Ghana as hitherto thought but also occurs in Nigeria too. Although so far associated with dry conditions of Sudan Savanna, this study demonstrated that infection can also thrive in the humid conditions of the Derived Savanna, at least in Oke Ode area of central Nigeria.Keywords: infective larvae, coprocultures, dry season, gender related, oesophagostomiasisNigerian Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 32 [1] March 2011, pp.67-7

Anti-Schistosomal Efficacy of Prosopis africana on Laboratory Rats

Nine batches of albino mice (CBA strain), each consisting of five mice replicates were infected with approximately 200 cercariae of the helminth parasite, Schistosoma mansoni, per mouse, using the Paddling method. Eight of the batches were subsequently treated with the plant extract at weekly intervals, while the 9th batch, treated with Praziquantel served as the control. Oral dose of 2mg of extract/kg of body weight was administered. The efficacy of the extract against the disease was evaluated from the mean percentage reduction in worm load, mean percentage reduction in tissue egg count and by a qualitative evaluation of hepatosplenic disease. Schistosoma mansoni was highly susceptible to the plant extract administered on days 1, 7, 14, 42 and 49 post-infection but the helminth parasite was not controlled by treatment on days 21, 28 and 35. While mice treated on days 1, 7 and 14 were cured on normal livers and spleens. Those treated on days 42 and 49 were cured but had hepatosplenic disease comparable to those mice in the control, as well as those treated on days 21, 28 and 35, where the extract was ineffective. Cure rate gauged  from percentage worm reduction, was from 80.52 to 87.01% in the experimental mice.Keywords: screening, anti-schistosomal efficacy, Albinomice, Schistosoma mansoni, and egg countNigerian Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 32 [1] March 2011, pp. 93-9

Toxoplasmosis in HIV-seropositive patients in Ilorin, Kwara State Nigeria

No Abstrac

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infestation in HIV seropositive and seronegative patients in Ilorin, Nigeria

Objective: To determine the prevalence, severity and pattern of intestinal parasitic infestation in HIV-seropositive patients.Methods: A Cross-sectional study from January 2007 to December 2008.Patients were recruited from the HIV clinics of the hospital. Paired blood and single stool specimens were collected from each patient. The stool sample was investigated for intestinal parasites while the blood sample was tested for antibodies to HIV-1 and 2. HIV-seropositivesubjects also had CD4+ cells count done.Result: Ninety each of stool and blood samples were collected from HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative patients. Four species each of helminthes and protozoan parasites and three species of coccidian parasites were isolated from the stool of both HIV-seropositive and seronegative subjects. The prevalence of these parasites was two anda halve times higher among the HIV seropositive patients than the seronegative ones. The range of CD4 cells count was 20-680 cells/ìl with a median of 259 cells/ìl. Patients with CD4+ coun

Prevalence of ectoparasites attacking helmet guineafowl, Numidamele agridis, in Sokoto, north-western Nigeria

A study was conducted to determine the prevalence of ectoparasites infesting the grey-breasted guinea fowls in Sokoto, north-western Nigeria for a period of one year, July 2010 to June 2011. In the study, the ectoparasites were recovered from the birds by dust-ruffling technique and identified using light microscope following clearing in lactophenol. From a total of 165 birds of various ages examined, 19 species of ectoparasites were recovered. They included 9 species of chewing lice as follows: Menacanthus cornutus with a prevalence of 84%, Lipeurus tropicalis 68%, Lipeurus caponis 20%, Amyrsidea powelli 80%, Goniodes gigas 70%, Goniodes fimbriatus 70%, Goniocotes gallinae 68%, Cuclotogas teroccidentalis 10%, Numidicolaan tennatus 45%;six species of mites; Rivoltasiabi furcata 20%, Epidermoptes bilobatus 20%, Megniniacu bitalis/Megninia tetraonis 65%, Bdellonys susbursa 45%, Cnemidocop tesmutans 15%; three species of ticks: Argaspersicus (Iarvae) 30%, Amblyomma variegatum (larvae and nymphs) 6%, Haemphy salishoodi 4%, and a species of flea: Echidno phagagallinacea 12%. Ectoparatises fluctuated seasonally with overall prevalence higher in the hot dry season (p<0.01) and warm wet season (p<0.05) than the cool dry harmattan season. It was striking that classical clinical infestations were seldom seen despite widespread occurrence of heavy burdens.Keywords: ectoparasites, guineafowls, semi-arid area, Sokoto, season

Prevalence of Eimeria Infections in Cattle in Sokoto Metropolis

Faecal samples collected from 410 cattle of various age groups, breeds and sexes were screened for different Eimeria (E.) species based on sporulated oocysts. Of the 410 faecal samples examined, 145 (35.4%) were positive for Eimeria oocysts of one or more species. A total of 9 different Eimeria species including E. auburensis(23.4%), E.bovis (19.3%), E. zuernii(14.5%),E. cylindrica (11.0%), E. subspherica (11.7%), E. ellipsoidalis(9.0%), E. bukidnonensis (5.5%) E. illinosensis (4.8%) and E. alabamensis (0.7%) were encountered. Yearlings were more commonly infected 170(51.0%) than calves 131 (29.0%) and adults 109(20.0%). The prevalence was higher in males 276 (65.5%) than in females 134 (34.5%). The highest prevalence was in Sokoto-Gudali (36.6%) followed by Friesian (29.6%), and the least was in White-Fulani breeds (4.8%). It was concluded that there could be clinical outbreak of Eimeria infections in the area with respect to the high occurrence of pathogenic species.Keywords: Eimeria infections; sporulated occysts, faecal samples, yearlings and Sokoto-GudaliNigerian Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 33 [1] March 2012, pp. 55-5