Knowledge, Attitude And Practice (Kap) Of School Teachers On Malaria, Helminthiasis And Associated Risk Factors In Primary Schools In Onitsha, Anambra State, South-Eastern Nigeria

Structured questionnaires were administered to 160 teachers from different Nursery and Primary Schools in GRA Onitsha, Nigeria to assess their knowledge, atttude and practices (KAP) on malaria, helminthiass and associated risk factors in the schools’ premises. Educational attainments of the teachers were Masters Degree (0.8 %), Bachelors Degree (39.2 %), Diploma Certcate (50.8 %), and Secondary School Certificate (9.2 %). There were more female (99.2 %) than males (0.8 %). A high percentage o the teachers (754 %) attributed malaria to eating too much oily food, hereditary (0.7 %), intense sunlight (2.1 %), drinking of dirty water (0.7 %), butter (3.5 %), and fried foods (1.4 %). On malaria prevention, about 64.2 % of teachers heard about insecticide treated net (ITN) but have never used it. Other preventive measures mentioned were use of clean environment (31.9 %), mosquito nets (20.2 %), and antmalarial drugs (12.3 %). KAP on helminthiass indicated that some of teachers attributed worm infection to eating sugary foods (19.2 %), drinking dirty water (9.3 %), natural occurrence (1.3 %), eating with diry hands (13.9 %), unwashed fruits and vegetables (10.6 %), unripe fruits (3.3 %), and over ripped fruits (2.0 %). About 48.33 % had seen worms in pupil’s stool., while 375 % had de-wormed pupils; 533 % of them using Ketrax®. Teachers’ perceved methods o preventing worm infection were avoidanceof sugary foods (27.9 %), washing hands before eating (10.46%), washing fruits and vegetables before consumption (26.2 %), and drinking clean water (10.46 %), while 22.1-30 % dd not knowhow to prevent nor treat helminthiasis Risk factorsfor parasitic infections observed in most of theschools included indiscriminate defecation, unhygienic lavatories, blocked drainages, container breeding habitats and open dumping of wastes. Health education for teachers in nursery and primary schools on transmission, prevention and treatment of malaria and helminthiass is hghly advocated. Keywords: Malaria, Helminthiasis, Parasitic infections, Risk factors, Primary schools children, KAP

Significance of meat inspection in the estimation of economic loss due to Bovine Cysticercosis

The records of meat inspection carried out for 24 consecutive days at the Awka main abattoir in Anambra State, south-eastern Nigeria, was used to estimate the direc economic loss in carcass condemnaton due to bovine cysticercosis. Among the 614 catte slaughtered 306 (49.8 %) were examined, out of which cystcerci were detected in 61.1 %, 61.1 %, 46.2 %, 45.2 % and 50.7 % of the Massetter, Tongue, Inter-costal, Diaphragmatic and Pectoral muscles from 221 (72.2 %) ofinfected cattle. This amounted to an estimated loss of N186892.38 in terms of condemnaton of cysticerci-infected carcasses. Condemnation due to generalized infection o the specified organs amounted to N109467.50 (58.6 %), whle moderatey and ocaly infected organs contributed N28435.08 (15.2 %) and N48989.8 (26.2 %) to the tota loss, respectively. This loss was equivalent to 4 heads of cattle in 24 days at N50000 per head, which translated to an annual loss of N2842321.61 or 57 heads of catte at the Awka main abattor alone. Since 10000 to20000 trucks of beef-cattle are reported to be daily transported to abattoirs in different parts of Nigeria, the direct economic loss of revenue in the beef industry on account of cysticercosis would run into billions of naira. This result will promote evidence-based decision on the control of cysticercosis inthe country and elsewhere.Keywords: Meat inspection, Cysticercosis, Carcass condemnation, Economic loss, Managemen

Arthropod-Associated Skin Diseases among Occupants of Five Designated Junior Staffs\' Quarters in Owerri and Enugu, Nigeria

A total of 650 residents from 5 designated junior staffs' quarters in Owerri and Enugu, south-eastern Nigeria were visually examined for arthropod-associated skin diseases between May 2005 and June 2006. Overall, 428 (65.8%) were affected, but prevalence differed according to residence (58.74%), gender (65.30%), age-group (64.88%) and crowding index (62.80%). Scabies was observed on about 46% of the affected individuals, followed by Pediculosis (33%), Tungiasis (11%) and Bedbug-related infection (10%). Tungiasis was dependent on residence but independent of gender, age-group and crowding index. Scabies was dependent on residence and age-group but not on gender and crowding index. Pediculosis was dependent on age-group but independent of residence, gender and crowding index (P>0.05). Bedbug-related infection was however dependent on residence but not on gender, age and crowding index. Keywords: Arthropod, Skin diseases, Socio-economic status, ResidentsBio-Research Vol. 6 (2) 2008: pp.359-36

Diagnosis Of Nasal Myiasis In The West African Dwarf (WAD) Sheep At Umudike, Abia State, South-Eastern Nigeri

A West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep with typical symptoms of nasal myiasis was procured on 9th December, 2008 by the Department of Microbiology and Parasitology at the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU) in Abia State, south-eastern Nigeria for the purpose of teaching the subject, ‘nasal myiasis’, to para-clinical students ofveterinary entomology. A sagittal secton of the head of the suspected sheep was carried out for post mortem examination, whereupon two mature maggots, identified as the third stage larvae of the sheep nostril fly Oestrus ovis, were observed in the ventral meatus. The preserved specimens will help to expand the students’ knowledge of the key identfication features of the larva of Oestrus ovis, as well as the relative positions of the anatomical organs thatmay be affected by thedeveloping larvae leadingto pathological conditions which manifest as clinica symptoms of nasal myiasis in the sheep

Evaluation of the effectiveness of diaznon against Amblyomma variegsatum (Acarina Ixodidae)

The evaluation of the effectiveness of acaricides against ticks (Acarina Ixodidae) using a modified tea bag technique is described. The tests involved natural populations of Amblyomma variegatum from natural infestations and cattle at the slaughterhouse Onitsha, South Nigeria. The test carried out between November 2002 and May 2003 mimics the exposure of ticks to freshly prepared differing concentrations of the Diazintol® (containing 162mg/mL or 16.2%w/v of Dimphylate). Fifty percent lethal concentration (LC50) of diazinon for larvae, nymphs, adult males and females of A. variegatum were determined (from the plots of concentration 1 against mortality) as 0.047, 0.056, 0.07 and 0.075% respectively. Treatment was highly significant (

Dermatophilus Infection in Nigeria: A Mini-Review

Dermatophilosis in Nigeria is reviewed. Dermatophilosis, a chronic dermatitis that damages the skin of cattle, is caused by Dermatophilus congolensis. The organism requires existing skin lesions to establish infection. An association between ticks bites and dermatophilosis has been established. 12% prevalence of infection in Nigeria's estimated 10.8 million cattle, and 10% prevalence in draught cattle may account for the loss of nearly 50.81% of annual revenue expected from hides. Infected cattle, which are retarded in growth, are culled early thereby contributing indirectly to the nation's shortfall of about 43.75% in meat expected from domesticated ruminants. 20% drop in milk yield has been observed in lactating cows unwilling to be milked due to painful lesions of dermatophilosis on their udders and teats. Systemic antibiotic chemotherapy is uneconomically feasible, and there is no immunity to re-infection. Control of tick infestation in cattle may help to reduce the incidence of dermatophilosis, but the emergence of resistant strains has rendered most of the available acaricides ineffective for field use in Nigeria. Dermatophilosis has been diagnosed in man in New York, and surveillance is necessary to establish the zoonotic status of the infection in Nigeria. Search for a safe and effective vaccine for immune-prophylaxis should be a priority in current bioresearch in Africa. Key Words: Dermatophilosis, Nigeria, Cattle, Economy, Control, and Public Health. Bio-Research Vol.2(2) 2004: 37-4

Species composition and abundance of mosquitoes of a tropical irrigation ecosystem

Exophagic-anthropophilic mosquitoes were collected during the April 2007-January 2008 planting season in four designated milet and guinea-corn irrigaton fields sampled in Gezawa Agro-ecological Zone of North-central Nigeria. Gezawa-1, Gezawa-2, Ketawa and Jogana irrigaton fieldscontributed about 31.2 %, 24.8 %, 22.8 % and 21.2% respectvely, to the number of mosquito species collected in the zone. There was preponderance of Anopheles gambiae complex (20.7 %) over Culex quinquefasciatus (11.8 %), C. pipiens fatigans (9.0%), A. funestus complex (7.0 %), Aedes aegypti (6.9%), A. albopictus (6.6 %), C. ppiens pipiens (5.7 %). C tigripes (5.0%), A. pharoensis (3.7 %), A africanus (3.6%), A. taylori (3.4%), A. coustani (3.3 %), A. luteocephalus (2.9 %), A. vittatus (2.8 %), A. rhodesiensis (2.1 %) Mansona (2.0 %) A. simpsoni (1.9 %) and Psorophora species (1.6 %). A Shannon-Wiener and Simpson’s diversity values of 1.1431 and 0.0925 were recorded for the mosquito species in Gezawa Agricultural Zone. A. gambiae had the highest Shannon-wiener diversity and Simpson’s dominance indces of 0.1415 and 0.0427 respectively. There was no significant difference between species diversity for the four irrigation fields (P>0.001). Vector control mustbe carried out in the irrigation fields to reduce the number ofthese out-door biting mosquitoes, since total reliance on ACTs and ITNs could not offer full protection against malaria to farmers in Gezawa irrigation fields.Keywords: Mosquitoes, Composition, Diversity, Dominance, Tropical ecosystem, Irrigatio

Productive Performance Of The Grasscutter (Rodentia: Thryonomyidae) Reared Under Three Different Housing Systems

The floor housing, open-cage and closed-cage housing systems for rearing grasscutters in captivity were respectively used to evaluate the performance of the grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus Temmnick, 1827) in the humid tropics of southern Nigeria. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the average initial weights of the grasscutters reared under the three different housing systems. But there were significant differences (P0.05) in the mean litter sizes, average litter mortality, and average number of litters weaned. But the numerical values of mean litter sizes and average number weaned were floor housing (2.85 and 2.44) greater than closed-cage (2.65 and 2.22) greater than open-cage (2.45 and 1.88) housing systems. The mortality rates (%) occurred in the reverse order of floor-housing (21.50) less than closed-cage (22.60) less than open-cage (24.90) housing systems. There were significant differences (

Bioassays and susceptibility of adult ticks (Acarina: Ixodidae) to diazinon dimpylate

No Abstract.Bio-Research Vol. 3(2) 2005: 37-3

Preliminary survey of ectoparasites of chicken in Awka, south-eastern Nigeria

Atotal of 4650 domesticchickens, comprising 1410 cocks (30.3 %), 2550 hens (54.8 %) and 690 chicks (14.8 %), dspayed for sales between February and May 2008 at Eke-Awka market in Anambra State, south-eastern Nigeria were systematically examined for ectoparasites. Most of thecocks originated from the North while the hens and chicks were raised on nearby farms in Anambra and Enugu States. Overall, ectoparasites infested about 40.5 % of the chickens examined. The wing louse, Lipeurus caponis moderately infested 1935 chickens (41.61 %). The shaft louse, Menopon gallinae, extensively infested 2205 (3190 %), while the fluff louse Gonoicotes gallinae ghtly infested 471 (7.07 %) chickens. The stcktght fea, Echidnophaga gainacea, atacked the head regon of 3087 (69.37 %) whe the symptoms of scaly leg mite, Knemidocoptes mutans, was observed on 1679 (27.70 %) of the birds, respectvely. Market survey revealed a depreciation of about 10 to 20 % in the selling prizes of the affected chickens, a positive indication that ectoparasites on chickens are associated with financial losses incurred by operatives of the poultryindustry in Nigeria.Keywords: Ectoparasites, Chickens, Lipeuus caponis, Menopon gallinae, Gonoicoes gallinae, Echidnophaga gallinacea