Occurrence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV) among alcoholics

Studies have shown that hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected alcoholics have more severe biochemical and histological evidence of liver disease than anti-HCV-negative patients. One possible mechanism for the increased liver damage is that alcohol may have a stimulatory effect on HCV replication. This study was therefore carried out to investigate the seroprevalence of HCV virus among alcoholics. Two-hundred and seventy (270) alcoholics and fifty (50) control subjects at selected locations in Jos South local government area (LGA), of Plateau State were screened for HCV antibodies using grand rapid diagnostic test strip. Structured questionnaire was employed to obtain demographic data of studysubjects. Overall, the prevalence of HCV infection was found to be 45(16.7%) in response to alcoholics while the non-alcoholic (control) subjects recorded 3 (6.0%) positivity, [(x2 = 3.765); P > 0.05]. Genderconsideration showed that females subjects had a higher prevalence of 25 (9.3%) compared to males with 20 (7.4%) among the alcoholic subjects. The 19 – 30 years age group recorded the highestseroprevalence of 14 (5.2%) to the HCV, [(x2 = 4.757); P > 0.05], while no significant difference was observed among positive subjects screened for serum aminotranferase levels in relation to age and gender. Available evidence from this study indicates that alcoholic consumption is a strong determinant of HCV infection. Drastic measures at creating awareness and the need for routine screening among alcoholics should be given due consideration. However, future HCV studies need toquantify concurrent alcoholic consumption to further our understanding of the total burden of illness from alcohol associated HCV in the community.Keywords: Alcoholics, hepatitis c virus, occurrenc

Studies on Prevalence and Risk Factors for Hepatitis B Surface Antigen among Secondary School Students in North-central, Nigeria

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) Infection is one of the major global public health problems, with its attendant risks especially among the young adults. This study was therefore carried out to assess the sero-prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and associated risk factors among students of a secondary school in Jagindi Tasha, Kaduna State, Nigeria. One hundred and ninety (190) apparently healthy students were screened and sera samples obtained were separated and analysed for HBsAg using a commercially available Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)-based kit (Dialab). Information was obtained for risk factors using structured questionnaire. Out of the 190 samples screened, 35 (18.4%) were sero-positive. Subjects aged 13-15 years recorded 6.8% positivity (x2 = 1.084; p>0.05) and male subjects had 25.5% positivity compared to 10.9% positivity for females (x2 = 6.768; p<0.05). Risk factors such as blood transfusion was 32.0% among male subjects compared to 30.0% in females (x2 =18.07; p-value = 0.113). Furthermore, alcoholic consumption, the predominant lifestyle of the youths in this community was 20.0% among male subjects as compared to none in females. Unfortunately, the prevalence of HBV appears high among the studied population. This suggests that public awareness on the virus be accorded urgent attention, while vaccination programme should be improved in the community

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) among Children of Primary School Age in a Community, North-Central, Nigeria

Globally, Hepatitis B Virus has been identified as one of the most common infectious diseases and a major public health problem.This study was therefore carried out to assess the prevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection among primary school children attending LGE primary school, Sabon Pegi, Kuru, Nigeria. Three hundred and sixty (360) blood samples were collected from the pupils and sera separated and analyzed for HBsAg using one step Hepatitis B surface antigen test strip. Of the 360 samples screened, 35 (9.7%) were sero-positive. Pupils within the age 7-9 years had the highest prevalence of 3.9%. Male subjects recorded a prevalence of 6.1% compared to 3.6% for females. Risk factors such as blood transfusion recorded 1.6%. Furthermore, family history of HBV infection accounted for 3.6%, while male subjects that had traditional method of circumcision recorded a high prevalence of 3.3%. Unfortunately, the prevalence of this ravaging infectious agent appears to be high amongst the subjects studied. It is strongly suggested that public awareness be accorded urgent attention while socioeconomic development in these areas be given priority as a measure to preventing further spread of this virus amongst children, particularly the school age group. Key words: Children, HBsAg, Primary school, Seroprevalenc

Seroprevalence of hepatitis C in type 2 diabetes: evidence for a positive association

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is a growing body of literature on the relationship of Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, there are certain gaps in literature and the data is inconclusive. This study was, therefore, carried out to determine the prevalence of HCV infection in diabetic patients and to elucidate the presence of any possible relationship between HCV and T2DM in this region.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Serologic testing for anti-HCV antibody was done on a sample of 3000 individuals with T2DM visiting Diabetes Clinic of Nishtar Medical College Hospital, Multan and 10,000 volunteer blood donors visiting blood bank of the same hospital during the study period using Accurate rapid immunochromatographic kits which was later confirmed by using Chemelex S.A third generation ELISA kit for positive cases. Data about various variables was collected from diabetic patients using a structured questionnaire after taking informed consent.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Prevalence rate of 13.7% for HCV infection was recorded among subjects having T2DM with seropositivity rate of 4.9% among the control group of volunteer blood donors without diabetes. The patients with T2DM were more likely to have HCV infection as compared to the control group (OR = 3.03, 95%CI = 2.64-3.48, p = 0.001). Diabetic patients with age above 55 years had higher prevalence rate as compared to younger individuals. Male patients had significantly high seropositivity as compared to female patients (15.3% vs. 12.4%, p = 0.02). Those with duration of diabetes 11 years and above and the ones with good glycemic control had higher seroprevalence rates of 18.2% and 18.7% respectively. There was no statistically significant difference among subjects when the distribution of HCV was studied on the basis of marital status, locality, or family history of diabetes.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results show that there is a strong association between HCV and T2DM in the region as evident from significantly higher prevalence of HCV infection in diabetics as compared to the control group in the present study.</p

Assay of Serum Antibodies against Newcastle Disease Virus in Local Chickens at Kaduna, Nigeria

Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly contagious viral disease of domestic poultry, caged, aviary and wild birds caused by the Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Assay of antibodies to Newcastle disease virus was undertaken using 300 sera samples from unvaccinated local chickens marketed and slaughtered at the Central Market, Kaduna, Northern Nigeria using the Haemagglutinin inhibition (HI) method. Of the 300 sera assyed, 202 (67.3%) tested positive for NDV antibodies, with 75% of them showing specific immunity to ND. NDV-HI Geometric mean titre of 18.4 was recorded showing a low level of antibody protectiveness to NDV attack due to natural infection. The result highlights the epizootic nature of the disease among local chickens in the area and concludes that the data is of economic importance since poultry local chickens are known to spread NDV to other avian species. Vaccination of local chicken is recommended when practicable

Sero-prevalence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) amongst apparently health individuals at Jos, Nigeria

No Abstract.International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 4 (1) 2008: pp. 41-4

Prevalence of Hepatitis C virus in apparently health individuals at Jos, Nigeria

No Abstract.International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 4 (1) 2008: pp. 37-4

Screening response to hepatitis c virus antibodies among diabetic patients attending a tertiary hospital in Nigeria

Epidemiological studies have suggested that hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a risk factor for the development of diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2; hence, this study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of HCV antibodies among diabetic patients attending the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Ilorin, north central Nigeria. One hundred and eighty (180) diabetic patients made up of seventy-five males (41.7%) and 105 females (58.3%) were recruited for the study. Structured questionnaire on demographic data and risk factors for HCV was administered to the participants. The sera of all the subjects were assayed for antibodies to HCV using a fourth generation Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. The overall prevalence of HCV infection among diabetic patients was 5.0%. Of the nine participants&#8217; positive for HCV antibodies, three were males (1.7%), while six were females (3.3%). Although more female attended the diabetic clinic, there was no significant difference between HCV infection across sex (P = 0.603; p&gt;0.05). The prevalence of HCV infection was highest in the 40-60 age group. Two of the sero-positive individuals had elevated transaminases, with one of the two being an alcohol consumer. Since type 2 diabetes is a debilitating disease condition, especially in individuals above 30 years of age, these results highlight the need for screening to determine the presence of HCV among diabetic patients.Keywords: Hepatitis C virus, antibodies, type 2 diabetics, antibodies, NigeriaInternational Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 6(3): 306-310, 201

Assay for Serum Antibodies to Infectious Bursal Disease Virus in Local Chickens at Kaduna Metropolis, Northwestern Nigeria

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is an acute, lymphocidal disease that has been a threat to poultry production in Nigeria and a major disease problem of poultry producing areas of the world. A serological detection of antibodies to the virus was conducted on 300 sera samples derived from local chickens slaughtered at Sheik Abubakar Gumi Central Market Kaduna State, Nigeria. Agar Gel Precipitation test (AGPT) was used for both qualitative and quantitative analysis. A prevalence of 36.7% was recorded, with only 2(1.8%) of the seropositive samples having titre of 32, which was below OIE&rsquo;s advocated titre of &ge; 64 for conferment of specific immunity. These findings confirm endemicity of IBDV in Kaduna and indicate that field strains of IBDV still existing in local chickens serve as vehicles of transmission of the virus, thereby maintaining the infectious cycle amongst avian species in Kaduna