The Sero-Prevalence of Parvovirus Antibodies among Children with Sickle Cell Anaemia in Zaria

Parvovirus is an erythrovirus that infects red cell precursors in individuals with conditions characterised by a high red cell turnover like sickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia. Arthritis, vasculitis, carditis, bone marrow failure, and the slapped cheek appearance have been associated with Parvovirus B19 infection. Recurrent blood transfusion is a risk factor for the B19 serotype of Parvovirus infection, with the P antigen as the mediator for erythroid invasion presenting as transient erythroblastopaenia (TEB). Although TEB is self-limiting a few cases may progress to aplastic anaemia. Previous studies report seroprevalence rates of between 44 and 71%, but the dearth of data on the seroprevalence of B19 parvovirus strain in our region prompted this study. Venous blood samples from 239 children aged 1to 15 years of consenting parents and guardians were screened for Parvovirus B19 IgG antibodies using the ELISA technique and antibody titer assessed spectrophotometrically. All the participants have sickle cell anaemia, but were in the steady state. Of this serum samples from 204 (85.4%) participants were positive for IgG antibodies against Parvovirus B19 while 35 (14.6%) were negative for the IgG antibodies.). The age-group with the highest prevalence is 10-12year group with seroprevalence rate of 88.9%. The overall seroprevalence of Parvovirus B19 antibodies is 85.4 %. The seroprevalence of Parvovirus B19 antibodies is high in all socio-economic groups. Antibody prevalence is higher in thenon-transfused group suggesting that other factors than transfusion play a role in the spread of the B19 strain of Parvovirus B19

Molecular Epidemiology of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in Kadun State

Objective: To determine the distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV)  genotypes and subtypes among blood donors and outpatients attendees positive for antibody to HCV (anti-HCV).Justification: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) continues to be a major disease burden on the world and Man is the only known natural host of Hepatitis C virus (Chivaliez and Pawlotsky, 2007). There is no published data on the prevalence of the genotypes and subtypes of HCV in Kaduna State.Setting: Three hospitals one in each of the 3 senatorial zones in Kaduna State.Patients: Blood donors who reported for blood donation and outpatient department attendees.Method: Antibody detection by a third generation HCV ELISA (Biotech Laboratories, UK); HCV RNA and genotyping by Reverse Transcriptase polymerase chain reaction with genotype-specific primers. (Sacace Biotechnologies, UK).Results: of the 259 plasma specimens screened for Hepatitis C virus in this study, 20(7.7%) were positive for anti-HCV antibodies by ELISA and 16(6.2%) of the antibodies positive specimen were positive for HCV RNA. Of the 139 blood donors tested, 8 (5.8%) were HCV RNA positive. Similarly, 120 were tested from the outpatient Department attendees and 8 (6.7%) were HCV RNA positive. Hepatitis C virus genotype 1b was found in the entire HCV RNA positive sample.Conclusions: The findings of 6.2% prevalence of HCV infection based on HCV RNA test confirmed that there is Hepatitis C virus in Kaduna State with genotype 1b as the predominant genotype found in all the three senatorial zones

The Prevalence Of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen And Human Immunodeficiency Virus Antibodies Among Persons With Sickle Cell Anaemia In Zaria

Aims: To determine the prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection among persons with sickle cell anaemia. Methods: Serum samples of 47 non- transfused persons with sickle cell anaemia (controls) and 73 transfused (subjects) were sreened for HIV antibody or the Hepatitis B surface antigen using ELISA based kits and methods. Results: Non of the 47(0%) control persons were positive for either HIV antibody or the Hepatitis B surface antigen. Three out of 73 transfused persons were positive for the HIV antibody. Of these, one was positive for HIV-1, another was positive for HIV-2 and a third was positive for both HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies. Another three out of 73bv transfused persons were positive for the Hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg). None of the participants was co-infected with both HIV and HBV. Conclusion: Blood transfusion increases the risk of both HIV and HBV by at least a factor of 4. Key words: Blood Transfusion; Sickle cell Anaemia; HIV-1; HIV-2; HBV. Highland Medical Research Journal Vol.2(1) 2004: 28-3

The Prevalence Of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen And Human Immunodeficiency Virus Antibodies Among Persons With Sickle Cell Anaemia In Zaria

Aims: To determine the prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection among persons with sickle cell anaemia. Methods: Serum samples of 47 non- transfused persons with sickle cell anaemia (controls) and 73 transfused (subjects) were sreened for HIV antibody or the Hepatitis B surface antigen using ELISA based kits and methods. Results: Non of the 47(0%) control persons were positive for either HIV antibody or the Hepatitis B surface antigen. Three out of 73 transfused persons were positive for the HIV antibody. Of these, one was positive for HIV-1, another was positive for HIV-2 and a third was positive for both HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies. Another three out of 73bv transfused persons were positive for the Hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg). None of the participants was co-infected with both HIV and HBV. Conclusion: Blood transfusion increases the risk of both HIV and HBV by at least a factor of 4. Key words: Blood Transfusion; Sickle cell Anaemia; HIV-1; HIV-2; HBV. Highland Medical Research Journal Vol.2(1) 2004: 28-3

Zidovudine induced pure red cell aplasia: A case report

No Abstract

In vivo antitrypanosomal effects of stem-bark extracts of Securidaca longipedunculata in rats experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei

The efficacy of stem-bark extracts of Securidaca longipedunculata against Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected rats was investigated. For curative study, forty adult Wistar rats of both sexes were randomly divided into 8 groups of 5 rats each. Each rat was infected with 106 cells of trypanosomes per ml of blood intraperitoneally (ip). Rats in groups 1 and 2 received the crude methanol extract (CME) at 0.7 and 0.35 mg/kg, respectively. Similarly, rats in groups 3 and 4 received ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) at 0.7 and 0.35 mg/kg, respectively; while 5 and 6 were treated with 0.9 and 0.45 mg/kg of aqueous methanol fraction (AMF), respectively. Rats in groups 7 and 8 were treated with diminazene aceturate (3.5 mg/kg) and phosphate buffered saline, PBS (2 ml/kg), respectively. Four rats (group 9) were neither infected nor treated and served as neutral control. In the prophylactic studies, 25 rats of both sexes were randomly divided into V groups of 5 rats each. Rats in groups I, II, and III were pre-treated with CME at 0.7 mg/kg i.p. for 3, 5 and 7 days, respectively; while group IV received PBS for 7 days and served as negative control. The rats were then individually infected with 106 parasites per ml of blood on days 3, 5 and 7 for groups I, II and III, respectively. Rats in group V were neither treated nor infected and served as neutral control. CME of S. longipedunculata suppressed level of parasitaemia and prolonged the survival period of rats when compared to other groups (P<0.05). Pre-treatment of animals with CME before challenge with the parasite could not prevent infection. Thus, stem-bark extract of S. longipedunculata exhibited some levels of curative antitrypanosomal effect against T. brucei brucei infection in rats despite its low margin of safety.Keywords: Curative effect, High toxicity, In vivo, Phytochemical screening, Prophylactic effec

Severe depression following á-interferon usage in a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia

Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), with a median age of 40 years, is one of the commonest haematological malignancies in Nigeria. Cytoreductive agents, which were hitherto the mainstay of treatment, neither induce cytogenetic nor haematologic remission. Alphainterferon (á-IFN), an endogenous glycoprotein with cytotoxic and natural killer cell enhancer effects has been found to induce haematologic and cytogenetic remission in patients with CML, but neuro- psychiatric complications of á -interferon (á-IFN) usage were not reported in Nigeria. Objective: To report a case of deliberate self-harm in University Lecturer as a side effect of á-IFN in the treatment of CML Method: Clinical and laboratory follow up of a patient receiving á-IFN in the management of CML from the time of diagnosis of CML to the point of loss of contact. Result: Severe depression is a complication that may adversely influence the clinical outcome of á-IFN usage Conclusions/Recommendations: Although interferon related depression is uncommon, it is suggested that pre-therapy interferon assays and neuro-psychiatric assessment are carried out in prospective users of á-IFN Keywords: Chronic myeloid leukaemia, interferon-á, depressionAfrican Health Sciences Vol. 9 (1) 2009: pp. 54-5

Prevalence of Lupus Anticoagulant in Women with Spontaneous Abortion in Zaria

Introduction: Spontaneous abortion (SA) is a common complication of pregnancy. Presence of lupus anticoagulant (LA), one of the antiphospholipid antibodies, has been associated with SA in many studies, especially in Caucasians. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of LA in women with SA in ABUTH, Zaria. Materials and Methods: A cohort of 100 consecutive women presenting with SA with no history of thrombotic episodes were enrolled into the study. Prothrombin time (PT), kaolin clotting time (KCT), and activated partial  hromboplastin time (APTT) were conducted on samples of all the participants. Eight patients had prolonged APTT, and after a 50:50 mixture of their plasma with pooled control plasma, four (50%) had uncorrected APTT. Staclot® (a hexagonal‑phase phospholipid) test and calculated Rosner index for prolonged KCT were used for the confirmation of LA in samples with uncorrected APTT after mixing studies. Results: We analyzed 100 women with one or more SA with a mean age of 31.0 ± 3.8 years. Nearly 4% and 3% of the participants were LA positive with Staclot® and KCT tests, respectively. Patients with LA were more likely to have had a past history of preeclampsia/eclampsia, small for gestational age deliveries, and previous SA (prevalence odds ratio [95% confidence interval]) of 1.9 (0.2, 20.1), 3.2 (0.3, 34.3), and 1.4 (0.1–13.6), respectively. The PT, APTT, and KCT were significantly prolonged in patients with LA (P ≤ 0.001 for each, respectively). Conclusion: LA may be one of the causes of SA and other adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preeclampsia/eclampsia and small for date deliveries. It is recommended that patients with prolonged APTT, uncorrected with 50:50 mixing study with pooled control plasma, should be evaluated further for LA.Keywords: Lupus anticoagulant, spontaneous abortion, uncorrected activated partial thromboplastin tim

Juvenile myelodysplastic syndrome in a Nigerian child-a case report and review of literature

No Abstract. Highland Medical Research Journal Vol. 3(2) 2005: 149-15

The incidence of HIV among blood donors in Kaduna, Nigeria

No Abstract. African Health Science Vol. 8 (1) 2008: pp. 60-6