Impact Assessment of Repeated Mass Ivermectin Treatment on Onchocerciasis in Abia State, Nigeria

The impact assessment of repeated mass ivermectin treatment on onchocerciasis in Abia state, south eastern Nigeria was carried out between June and September 2011, using skin snipping method. Abia state is made up of 17 Local Government Areas, eight of which are endemic for onchocerciasis (2 hyper-endemic and 6 meso-endemic LGAs). The study captured the two LGAs of the state that were rated as hyper-endemic by REMO assessment and had been receiving treatment since 1995. Out of 547 individuals skin snipped, only 3 (0.55%) were infected with microfilariae of Onchocerca volvulus, and this occurred in one community Amiyi-Obilohia. The distribution of infection showed that 0.50% of the infected were males while 0.58% were females. The overall age specific prevalence showed that infection only occurred in individuals 60 years and above, who were low compliers and were not treated during the last treatment period. A CMFL of 0.28 mf/mg obtained is an indication that ivermectin is an effective microfilaricide. Key words: Impact assessment, Repeated, mass, ivermectin, treatment, Onchocerciasis

Evaluation of Onchocerciasis among community members of Okigwe Local Government Area, Imo State, Nigeria

Human infection with Onchocerca volvulus study was conducted to compare the prevalence of different manifestations of onchocerciasis according to gender and age, with view to determine if there had been a change in prevalence of onchocerciasis among residents of some communities in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State. A cross sectional survey method was adopted for the study. Skin snips were collected from randomly selected consenting adults aged 18-62 years. Palpation for mobile subcutaneous lumps and clinical manifestation were carried out on 960 persons comprising of 511 males and 449 females. The commonest symptoms observed were poor vision (8%), nodules (7%), leopard skin (9%), lizard skin (7%), and hanging groin (1%). Musculo-skeletal pain (MSP) was recorded as one of the major complaints by (14%) of the subjects. This result indicates (69.8%) reduction on clinical features of onchocerciasis prevalence among sampled population in the study-area.Keywords: onchocerciasis, manifestation, prevalence, palpatio

Concomitant bacteria in the blood of malaria patients in Owerri, southeastern Nigeria

The presence of concomitant bacteria was assessed in the blood of 125 malaria positive patients and 60 malaria negative controls, resident in Owerri, southeastern Nigeria. Blood samples were cultured in MacConkey, Chocolate and Blood agar, respectively using oxoid signal system after the manufacturer’s instructions. Blood cultures of 44 (35.2%) of the 125 malaria positive patients had bacterial growth while none was observed in the blood cultures of malaria negative patients. The bacteria species identified included: Staphylococcus aureus   4 (3.2%), Escherichia coli   3 (2.4%) Salmonella typhi   25 (20%), Klebsiella pneumoniae   10 (2.4%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa   2 (1.6%). The presence of concomitant bacteria in malaria-positive cases usually results in persistence of malaria-like symptoms after treatment with antimalarials and subsequently taken as resistance of the parasites to the particular drugs in question. The significance of concomitant bacteria in the management of malaria should be given priority

Preliminary studies on human lymphatic filariasis transmission control trials using Insecticide Treated Bednet (ITBN) in parts of Imo State, Nigeria

Human lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a significant public health problem in many tropical and sub tropical countries resulting in disfigurement and disability which warrants preventive action. The effectiveness of insecticide-treated bednet (ITBN) was compared in selected sentinel villages of Imo State, Nigeria, between February 2009 and December 2011, to evaluate their potential for LF control. Two cohorts were used; ITBN-full coverage/wide scale use and ITBN-vulnerable coverage/ selective use. Endophilic mosquitoes caught twice a month by pyrethrum spray catch (PSC) and day resting indoor collection (DRI) with aspirator were identified using standard morphological keys. Of 8,349 engorged female mosquitoes dissected/ examined for parity infection/infectivity status with Wuchereria bancrofti larvae, 60.88% (5,088/8,349) and 39.12% (3,266/8,349) represented ITBN-vulnerable and ITBN-full coverage catches respectively. Overall, ITBN-vulnerable cohorts collections were insignificantly higher than ITBN-full coverage cohorts (62.31% versus 37.69%, 59.22% versus 40.73%, 62.22% versus 37.78%) for 2009, 2010 and 2011 respectively. Five species present in both cohorts comprised Anopheles gambiae s.l., the most abundant (85.19% versus 74.04%), An. funestus s.l. (8.42% versus 12.19%) and Cx. quinquefasciatus (5.88% versus 3.83%) while Aedes aegypti and Mn. africana were rarely present. Village-specific vector densities/relative abundance from ITBN-vulnerable cohorts and ITBN-full cohorts showed no significant difference (p>0.05). Similarly, the physiological, infection (0.18% versus 0.49%) and infectivity status (0.00% versus 0.00%) were insignificant between the cohorts (p>0.05). The study highlights the importance of integrating vector borne disease interventions in the on-going plan to eliminate LF and the transmitting mosquito vectors in Nigeria.Keywords: Lymphatic filariasis; ITBN-full household coverage; ITBN-vulnerable household coverage; W. bancrofti; vector

Prevalence of intestinal parasites and bacteria among school pupils in Aba, Abia State

Epidemiological research carried out in different countries has shown that the social and economic situations of the individuals are an important cause in the prevalence of intestinal parasites and bacterial infections. The prevention of these infections improves health care, work efficiency and economic productivity. In this study, a total of 1,092 stool samples were examined using culture method on special media for bacteria isolation, direct wet preparation and formal-ether concentration for parasites. The overall prevalence with parasitic/bacterial infection were 83 (7.6%) for Entamoeba histolytica, 64 (5.9%) for Ascaris lumbricoides, 30 (2.7%) for hookworm ova, 5 (0.5%) for G. lamblia cyst, 1 (0.1%) for B.coli cyst, 51 (4.7%) for Salmonella paratyphi and 17 (1.6%) for E. coli. There was a higher infection in males 43 (63.2%) than females 25 (36.8%). The statistical analysis showed there was a significant difference (p>0.05) observed between the sexes. Pupils between the ages 6-10 years had higher prevalence of bacteria and parasitic infection 45 (66.2%) and 81 (48.8%), followed by 11-15 age-group (33.8%) and 77 (46.4%) respectively while age 16+ had no bacteria and parasitic infection. There was significant difference with age (p>0.05). ASUBEB criteria for selection were used to group the school into urban, suburban and rural. The schools in group 4 had higher prevalence 72 (28.7%) which are suburban schools while Group 5 had the least prevalence 23 (9.2%) and are urban schools.Keywords: Prevalence; intestinal parasites; intestinal bacteria; school pupil

The use of herbs in malaria treatment in parts of Imo State, Nigeria

Persistence of malaria symptoms after treatment with over the counter available antimalarial drugs has resulted in a gradual loss of faith in orthodox drugs. There is thus an increased tendency towards the use of herbs in the treatment of malaria in Imo State, Nigeria. In this study we report activities of two herbalists in the treatment of malaria as well as the effectiveness of the herbal treatment. The study covered two areas namely, Umuneke Ugiri in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area (LGA) and Odummara Obi-Orodo in Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State, Nigeria. A participant–observation technique was used. Finger prick blood samples were collected from patients who visited the herbalists complaining of malaria, and blood smears were stained with Field's B stain. Blood smears were taken again one-week post – treatment. A total of 75 patients from Umuneke Ugiri and 265 patients from Odumara Obi-Orodo were involved in the study. All the 75 patients (100%) from Umuneke Ugiri and 163 (61.51%) patients from Odummara Obi-Orodo were positive for malaria parasites. Only 13 (17.3%) patients from Umuneke Ugiri and 149 (56.23%) from Odummara Obi-Orodo returned for the post–treatment blood parasite analysis. From Umuneke Ugiri 4 (31%) were still positive for malaria parasite while 9 (69%) were negative. All 149 patients from Odummara Obi-Orodo were negative. This indicates that the herbal treatment was effective. However, there is need for further studies into the efficacy of herbal concoctions, their effective life span, as well as possible toxic effects

Placental malaria in Owerri, Imo State, south-eastern Nigeria

Malaria in pregnancy jeopardizes the outcome of pregnancy, affecting both the mother and the foetus. The prevalence of placental malaria (PM) in women, who routinely attended ante-natal clinics in Owerri, south-eastern Nigeria, was assessed using three hospitals between March 2004 and August 2005. Placental blood was collected in EDTA bottles from incisions made on cleaned basal plate of the placenta, within an hour of delivery. Blood collected was used to assess ABO blood group, haemoglobin level as well as malaria parasitaemia. Malaria parasitaemia was determined from thick and thin smears stained with Giemsa, while the haemoglobin level was measured using the cyanomethaemoglobin method. A total of 586 pregnant women were involved in this study with written consents. Malaria parasites were observed in 175 (29.9%) of the women on delivery. Of these women, 64 (36.6%) were anaemic. A significant relationship at P<0.05 variation, was observed between the prevalence of malaria parasites in the placenta and gravidity, age and blood group. The rate of occurrence of malaria parasitaemia, in the placenta of women who were on a weekly prophylaxis against malaria is alarming and calls for more serious efforts in the prevention of malaria especially in this vulnerable group