Prevalence and seasonality of parasites of fish in Agulu Lake, Southeast, Nigeria

A study was undertaken to assess the prevalence, mean intensity, abundance and seasonality of parasites of fish in a natural, freshwater, tropical lake, southeast Nigeria. A total of 1191 fish specimen belonging to four families (Cichlidae, Bagridae, Hepsetidae and Channidae), seven genera and nine species were collected from the lake and examined for parasites. Eleven (11) species of parasites comprising metacercariae of three digenetic trematodes, one cestode, five nematodes and two acanthocephalans were isolated. Clinostomoides sp. showed the highest range of sites of infection, and the operculum carried significantly more worm burden (F = 196.843, d.f. = 5, p = 0.000) than other sites infected by this parasite. Prevalence ranged from 0.7% in Clinostomum tilapiae infection of T. zillii to 71.7% in Neochinorhynchus sp.2 infection of Hepsetidae fasciatus with an overall prevalence of 59.5%. Mean intensity ranged from 1.0 ± 0.0 in Clinostomoides sp. and Proteocephalus sp. infection of P. obscura and Anemone occidentalis, respectively, to 76.5 ± 29.7 in Neoechinorhynchus sp. 2 infection of H. fasciatus. Neoechinorhynchus sp. 2 infection also had the highest mean abundance (54.90 ± 2.74) while the lowest was recorded in the Clinostomoides sp. infection of H. fasciatus. Patterns of infection were significantly different in the prevalence and abundance of Clinostomoides sp; Camallanus sp.3 and Neoechinorhynchus sp.1 while mean intensity was comparable in all cases.Keywords: Natural lake, freshwater, fish parasites, worm burdenAfrican Journal of Biotechnology, Vol. 13(3), pp. 502-508, 15 January, 201

Reduced serum tetanus antibody titre in HIV infected subjects with malaria co-infection in a malaria endemic area of Nigeria

Tetanus infection is widespread and difficult to completely eradicate. Thus the present study was designed to assess the tetanus antibody titre in HIV infected subjects in relation to the presence or absence of malaria parasitaemia. 107 subjects consisting of asymptomatic group (asymptomatic HIV, n=17 and asymptomatic HIV-Malaria co-infection, n=17), symptomatic group (symptomatic HIV, n=18 and symptomatic HIV-Malaria co-infection, n=17), and control group (control without malaria, n=19 and control with malaria, n=19) participated in the study. Blood sample collected from the participants were used for the determination of packed cell volume, CD4+ T cell count, malaria parasite, HIV seropositivity and tetanus antibody titre using standard laboratory methods. The tetanus antibody titre was significantly reduced in symptomatic HIV infected subjects with malaria co-infection compared with symptomatic HIV infected subjects without malaria (

Packed cell volume and serum iron in subjects with HIV-malaria co-infection in Nnewi, South-Eastern Nigeria

The present study was designed to assess the PCV and serum iron in HIV-malaria co-infected subjects in Nnewi, South Eastern Nigeria. 207 participants aged between 16-72 (44 ± 28) years were recruited andclassified as follows based on standard screening and WHO criteria: (i) Asymptomatic HIV stage I subjects with or without malaria. (ii) Symptomatic HIV stage II subjects with or without malaria and not on (ART). (iii) HIV/AIDS subjects with or without malaria and on ART. (vi) HIV seronegative control subjects with or without malaria. Blood sample from these participants were analyzed for HIV seroreactivity, Plasmodium falciparum antigen, parasite density, serum iron concentrations and PCV using Standard Laboratory methods. The result showed that serum iron and PCV were significantly reduced amongst all the groups studied when compared with the control (

Prognostic Values of Albumin and Iron in Symptomatic HIV/Malaria Co-infected subjects on ART in Nnewi, South Eastern Nigeria

This study was designed to assess the prognostic value of albumin and iron in symptomatic HIV subjects on ART with or without malaria infection. 150 participants (male, n=65, female, n=85) aged between 17 and 70 years were recruited for the study at the HIV clinic of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Nigeria and grouped as Symptomatic HIV subjects (n=68) of which 33 had malaria co-infection; Symptomatic HIV subjects on ART (n=47) of which 28 had malaria infection; and HIV seronegative subjects (n=40) of which 20 had malaria infection. HIV and Plasmodium falciparum antigen screening, CD4+ count, packed cell volume, serum albumin and iron were determined using standard laboratory methods. The results showed that positive associations were observed between CD4+ count and PCV (r=0.347, P<0.05) in symptomatic HIV subjects on ART with or without malaria and between CD4 count and serum iron (r=0.487, P<0.05). Positive associations were also observed between CD4+ count and serum albumin (r=0.301, P<0.01) in the same group of subjects. The implication of these relationships is that as HIV/AIDS progressed, the CD4+ T cells become more depleted and biochemical parameters like serum albumin and iron become reduced due to reduced intake and reduced hepatic synthesis. The prognostic implication of this observation was discussed.Keywords: Albumin, iron deficiency, HIV, malaria, serum albuminNigerian Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 32 [1] March 2011, pp.11-1

Evaluation of prognostic value of albumin and iron in symptomatic hiv/malaria co-infected subjects on art in Nnewi, south eastern Nigeria

Background & objectives: This study was designed to assess the prognostic value of albumin and iron in symptomatic HIV subjects on ART with or without malaria infection.Methods: 150 participants (male, n=65, female, n=85) aged between 17 and 70 years were recruited for the study at the HIV clinic of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Nigeria and grouped as Symptomatic HIV subjects (n=68) of which 33 had malaria co-infection; Symptomatic HIV subjects on ART (n=47) of which 28 had malaria infection; and HIV seronegative subjects (n=40) of which 20 had malaria infection. HIV and Plasmodium falciparum antigen screening, CD4+ count, packed cell volume, serum albumin and iron were determined using standard laboratory methods.Results: The results showed that positive associations were observed between CD4+ count and PCV (r=0.347, p<0.05) in symptomatic HIV subjects on ART with or without malaria and between CD4 count and serum iron (r=0.487, p<0.05). Positive associations were also observed between CD4+ count and serum albumin (r=0.301, p<0.01) in the same group of subjects.Conclusion: The implication of these relationships is that as HIV/AIDS progressed, the CD4+ T cells become more depleted and biochemical parameters like serum albumin and iron become reduced due to reduced intake and reduced hepatic synthesis. The prognostic implication of this observation is discussed

Neutrophil Ingestion Rate Of Nitroblue Tetrazolium In Subjects With Malaria-Hiv Co-Morbidity

Objectives: This study was designed to assess the WBC count, absolute neutrophil count, CD4 +T cell count and neutrophil ingestion rate of nitroblue tetrazolium in subjects with Malaria and HIV Co-morbidity. Method and materials: 134 participants were recruited and group as follow: Symptomatic HIV infected participants (n=63), 32 of these participants had malaria co-infection; Asymptomatic HIV infected participants (n=42), 17 of these participants had malaria co-infection; and HIV seronegative Control subjects (n=27), 15 of these subjects had malaria parasitaemia. Blood samples collected from the participants were used to determine the WBC count, absolute neutrophil count, CD4 + T cell count and the rate of reduction of NBT to formazan by the neutrophils in vitro. Result: The result showed that the rate of reduction of NBT to formazan (fmol/phagocyte) was significantly reduced in both Symptomatic and asymptomatic HIV participants with or without malaria parasitaemia compared with the corresponding values in the HIV seronegative control participants with or without malaria respectively. There was no significant difference in WBC and absolute neutrophil counts. This was also true for the CD4 = T cell count amongst participants with malaria but not with those without malaria. Conclusion: This study suggests that inhibition of phagocytic function may be an early sign in HIV infection. This has grave consequences in malaria endemic area where phagocytosis is important in the clearance of malaria parasites. Keywords: HIV, Malaria, NBT, phagocytes and participants.Tropical Journal of Medical Research Vol. 12 (1) 2008: pp. 1-