Role of sialic acids in the midguts of Trypanosoma congolense infected Culex pipense pipiense mosquitoes

Free and total sialic acid concentrations were determined in the midgut extract of Culex pipiense pipiense mosquitoes infected with Trypanosoma congolense. The mean total sialic acid concentrations were found to be 1.5 to 2 fold higher than the mean free sialic acid concentrations in the midgut extracts of all the groups of the T. congolense infected C.p. pipiense. Infusion of 10 mg/ml galactose and 10 mg/ml lactose did not change the pattern of this difference but resulted to 1.3 to 1.4 fold decrease in the total sialic acid concentration. The relevance of these findings to the role of sialic acids in the midgut of T. congolense infected C.p. pipiense mosquitoes is discussed in this paper. Key Words: Trypanosoma congolense, Culex pipiense pipiense, sialic acid, midgut. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol.3(8) 2004: 405-40

Urinary schistosomiasis infection in Dumbin Dutse, Igabi local government area, Kaduna State, Nigeria

No Abstract

Cofactors Influencing Prevalence and Intensity of Schistosoma haematobium Infection in Sedentary Fulani Settlements of Dumbi, Igabi LGA, Kaduna State, Nigeria

An epidemiological study of sedentary Fulani settlements in Dumbi, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State was undertaken to determine cofactors of Schistosoma haematobium prevalence and intensity of infection. Consenting individuals were recruited after sensitization from six settlements and administered a structured questionnaire to obtain demographic and risk factors data. Urine samples were collected from 657 individuals and analyzed by centrifugation, and the number of ova was determined by microscopy. The population had an overall intensity of 73.93±17.4 with the highest value of 100.9±31.3 recorded in Dumbin Ladan while Angwan Sarki and Angwan Majima had lower intensities of 4.00 ± 0.00 and 15.0 ± 0.00 respectively. Differences in intensity between males (73.44± 17.04) and females (77.82±48.96) were not significant (P>0.05). Although the correlation between age and intensity of infection was negative (r=–0.81), the infection was significantly associated with the age group 11-20 years. There was significant association between risk factors; such as occupation, activities at the ponds, source of domestic water supply and distance of hamlets to ponds and the prevalence of the disease. Cattle rearing (OR=9.01; CI=4.00-20.75; P=0.00) and farming (OR=3.14; CI=1.82-5.43; P=0.00) showed significant association with the prevalence and intensity of the disease. Based on activities at the water bodies, people who fished and washed had the highest prevalence rate of 63.53%, while the highest mean intensity of the infection was observed in individuals that wash, fish, bath and water their cattle in the water bodies (OR=13.41; CI=8.64-20.8; P<0.05). Similarly, other activities such as bathing (OR=3.32; CI=1.76-6.27; P<0.05) and washing (OR=2.17; CI=0.59-7.72; P<0.05) were significantly associated with the intensity of the infection. Pond water as a major source of water supply showed significant association with the intensity of the disease (OR=61.63; CI=29.37-133.7; P<0.05). The study has revealed that urinary schistosomiasis is endemic in the settlements based on the intensity and human activities in the ponds that are the major source of water. The integrated control is recommended for the control of the disease in this area.Key words: Urinary schistosomiasis, prevalence, Dumbin Dutse, centrifugation, epidemiological, sedentar

Nigeria Anopheles vector database: an overview of 100 years' research.

Anopheles mosquitoes are important vectors of malaria and lymphatic filariasis (LF), which are major public health diseases in Nigeria. Malaria is caused by infection with a protozoan parasite of the genus Plasmodium and LF by the parasitic worm Wuchereria bancrofti. Updating our knowledge of the Anopheles species is vital in planning and implementing evidence based vector control programs. To present a comprehensive report on the spatial distribution and composition of these vectors, all published data available were collated into a database. Details recorded for each source were the locality, latitude/longitude, time/period of study, species, abundance, sampling/collection methods, morphological and molecular species identification methods, insecticide resistance status, including evidence of the kdr allele, and P. falciparum sporozoite rate and W. bancrofti microfilaria prevalence. This collation resulted in a total of 110 publications, encompassing 484,747 Anopheles mosquitoes in 632 spatially unique descriptions at 142 georeferenced locations being identified across Nigeria from 1900 to 2010. Overall, the highest number of vector species reported included An. gambiae complex (65.2%), An. funestus complex (17.3%), An. gambiae s.s. (6.5%). An. arabiensis (5.0%) and An. funestus s.s. (2.5%), with the molecular forms An. gambiae M and S identified at 120 locations. A variety of sampling/collection and species identification methods were used with an increase in molecular techniques in recent decades. Insecticide resistance to pyrethroids and organochlorines was found in the main Anopheles species across 45 locations. Presence of P. falciparum and W. bancrofti varied between species with the highest sporozoite rates found in An. gambiae s.s, An. funestus s.s. and An. moucheti, and the highest microfilaria prevalence in An. gambiae s.l., An. arabiensis, and An. gambiae s.s. This comprehensive geo-referenced database provides an essential baseline on Anopheles vectors and will be an important resource for malaria and LF vector control programmes in Nigeria