Epidemiological and Entomological Evaluations after Six Years or More of Mass Drug Administration for Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination in Nigeria

The current strategy for interrupting transmission of lymphatic filariasis (LF) is annual mass drug administration (MDA), at good coverage, for 6 or more years. We describe our programmatic experience delivering the MDA combination of ivermectin and albendazole in Plateau and Nasarawa states in central Nigeria, where LF is caused by anopheline transmitted Wuchereria bancrofti. Baseline LF mapping using rapid blood antigen detection tests showed mean local government area (LGA) prevalence of 23% (range 4–62%). MDA was launched in 2000 and by 2003 had been scaled up to full geographic coverage in all 30 LGAs in the two states; over 26 million cumulative directly observed treatments were provided by community drug distributors over the intervention period. Reported treatment coverage for each round was ≥85% of the treatment eligible population of 3.7 million, although a population-based coverage survey in 2003 showed lower coverage (72.2%; 95% CI 65.5–79.0%). To determine impact on transmission, we monitored three LF infection parameters (microfilaremia, antigenemia, and mosquito infection) in 10 sentinel villages (SVs) serially. The last monitoring was done in 2009, when SVs had been treated for 7–10 years. Microfilaremia in 2009 decreased by 83% from baseline (from 4.9% to 0.8%); antigenemia by 67% (from 21.6% to 7.2%); mosquito infection rate (all larval stages) by 86% (from 3.1% to 0.4%); and mosquito infectivity rate (L3 stages) by 76% (from 1.3% to 0.3%). All changes were statistically significant. Results suggest that LF transmission has been interrupted in 5 of the 10 SVs, based on 2009 finding of microfilaremia ≥1% and/or L3 stages in mosquitoes. Four of the five SVs where transmission persists had baseline antigenemia prevalence of >25%. Longer or additional interventions (e.g., more frequent MDA treatments, insecticidal bed nets) should be considered for ‘hot spots’ where transmission is ongoing

Reducing maternal mortality by strengthening community maternal support systems: findings from a qualitative baseline study in northern Nigeria

The “three delays model” illustrates how issues around obstetric emergency can lead to maternal deaths. This study applied in-depth interviews of key community gatekeepers in 16 rural communities across two states in northern Nigeria to evaluate the presence and functionality of key community maternal support systems for reducing maternal mortality. Findings show that only one out of the 16 communities had all the key support systems. Five rural communities reported that pregnant women have standing permission to visit health facilities during obstetric emergencies. A quarter of the communities reported the presence of transport for maternal emergencies. One rural community each reported the existence of community savings for obstetric emergencies and the presence of blood donor groups. Establishing and/or strengthening community support systems, ensuring citizens are well-informed about maternal danger signs and preparing for safe pregnancies can enable communities overcome the delays and reduce maternal mortality especially in low resource settings.Keywords: Community maternal support systems, ''three delays‟, maternal mortality, Northern Nigeri

Anthropogenic stressors induced climate change and ecological implications on fisheries resources in tropics: a review

A number of reports have shown that there is an increased in agricultural activities among the agrarian populace of developing countries resulting to habitat loss and degradation as riparian forest, mangrove forest are cleared for irrigation along the major river basin, flood plains and lakes of East Africa, Tangayika, Zaire, Victoria, Chad, Amazon etc. The implication of this is that there is the concomitant increase in CO2 emission above the threshold. Since the industrial revolution, human activities have continued to lead to increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and now occurring at alarming levels impacting our climate, which lead to trapping heat reflected from the land and even prevent it from leaving the earth’s atmosphere making it “Warmer”. This change impacts aquatic animal altered the communities status and ocean/fresh water chemistry. This affects fish and its interactions with aquatic organism and habitat. Most Aquatic animals are poikilothermic and so any change in habitat temperature will significantly influence metabolism rate, growth rate, total production, seasonality, possibly reproduction efficacy and susceptibility to diseases and possible toxins. Reported strong impact will be on the spatial distribution of fishes, their productivity and yield. The timing of flood events, drought and pollution from effluent affect water levels fluctuation which is a critical physiological trigger which affect fish migration and spawning activities. The climate change impacts are both “positive and negative” the understanding of the basic weather current trends, can be utilized to mitigate and adapt measure in the right direction to sustain, conserve and manage aquatic resources to provide food securityKeywords: Anthropogenic impact, Climate change, Fishery Resource

Hand stripping of Male Clarias gariepinus Treated with Ovaprim at Varying Levels

Matured African catfish (Clarias gariepinus), size ranging from 200-1600g total body weight (TBW) were procured from a private fish farm and transported in perforated 50 litre water holding capacity jerry can to Federal University of Technology, (F.U.T.) Minna, Bosso campus indoor fish hatchery and maintained for 2 weeks. They were fed with 40 % crude protein commercial diet with good water quality management before being used for breeding. The male breeders were hand stripped after application of (Ovaprim Overdose Inducement (OOI) at 1 ml, 1.25 ml and 1.5 ml to obtain milt to fertilize eggs. Fecundity increased with body weight and hence larger fish had higher fecundity and differed significantly (P<0.05) from each other. Mean fecundity was (280744±302). The hatchlings bred from Conventional Method (CM) and OOI were maintained for 12 weeks to determine survival and mortality rates. Percentage hatching and volume of milt extracted differed significantly (P<0.05) between CM and OOI with highest volume of milt extracted from CM (0.86±0.006a). CM gave the highest percentage survival (75.20 %) though not significantly different (P>0.05), and with ±SEM (2.232) and SD (2.923) of the bred fingerlings that were managed for 12 weeks. The male species of Clarias gariepinus could be re-used for further genetic studies after milt stripping. Milt can be stripped without killing the male but proper and adequate feeding is necessary to hasten recovery and development of the gonads. The inducement by application of Ovaprim at 1.25 ml was most effective at 10 h latency period and temperature of 25-290 C. This treatment or dosage is hence recommended for hand stripping of male breeders of Clarias gariepinus for breeding. Keywords: Hand stripping, milt, Clarias gariepinus, Ovaprim, breedingNigerian Journal of Technological Research, 8(2), 201

MF prevalence in 10 sentinel villages: baseline and by year (n = 10,753).

<p>Nocturnal microfilaremia as determined by 60 ul thick smear. The total n value in the table is also reflected in the related graph (<a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0001346#pntd-0001346-g004" target="_blank">Figure 4</a>). Baseline data point is explained in <a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0001346#pntd-0001346-g004" target="_blank">Figure 4</a> legend. NA = not applicable or not available.</p><p>°Started treatment in 2000.</p><p>*Started treatment in 2001.</p><p>**Started treatment in 2002.</p><p>***Started treatment in 2003.</p