Antifungal Activity Assessment of Selected Locally Sold Over-The-Counter Azole against Candida Isolates from Hospital and Community Settings of Rivers State, Nigeria

There seems to be multiple factors that could affect the performance of a drug which may range widely from measurements to packaging, storage, handling and standardization. Candida species are ubiquitous in nature and are found at different parts of the body, with some present as normal flora. However, drug abuse as mostly associated with the conscious intake of drugs without the guide or prescription of a physician, poses enormous challenge to personal and public health. Hence, this study was designed for comparative analysis of the antifungal activity of over the counter azole and standardized fluconazole disc on the Candida species isolated from community and hospital settings in Rivers State. All Candida isolates were inoculated onto a Sarbouraud dextrose agar plate to obtain a pure culture and then used for normal saline microscopy, germ tube test and carbohydrate assimilation tests to confirm Candida species. Antifungal susceptibility testing using the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method was carried out and the data generated were type-set in Microsoft Excel version 2003, and transferred into statistical package for social sciences (SPSS), IBM version 21 for statistical analysis. The study results showed 59 Candida isolates with 11.9% Candida isolated testing negative to germ tube test while 88.1% of the tested positive to germ tube test. However, distribution of germ tube positive Candida species from hospital and community settings showed that the community setting had 90.6% germ tube positive Candida isolates and 9.4% germ tube negative Candida isolates while hospital settings showed 85.2% germ tube positive isolates and 14% germ tube negative isolates. In this study, 28.6% Non-albicans Candida (NAC) were susceptible to clotrimazole, 14.3% NAC were susceptible dose dependent while 57.1% were resistant to clotrimazole. However, fluconazole recorded 0% susceptibility dose dependence by Non-albicans Candida, 42.9% susceptibility and 57.1% resistance. Similarly, 63.5%, 15.4%, and 21.2% of Candida albicans were susceptible, susceptibility dose dependent and resistant respectively to fluconazole. While, 30.8%, 34.6% and 34.6% of Candida albicans were susceptible, susceptibility dose dependent and resistant to itraconazole. In conlusion, fluconazole had the best efficacy on non-albicans Candida while clotrimazole was best for killing Candida albicans It is believed that a change in attitude from self medication is very crucial as it remains a key factor that could be responsible for increased incidence of Candida species’ resistance to azole therapy. Furthermore, change towards adherence to antifungal drug regimes when encouraged and cultivated as a positive habit for all patients, could enhance monitoring of drug efficacy and clinical/treatment outcomes

Malaria parasitaemia among long distance truck drivers in the Niger delta of Nigeria

Background: Malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa.Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of malaria among long distance truck drivers in the Niger Delta of Nigeria.Methods: A total of one hundred consecutively recruited long distance truck drivers aged 21-60 years, with a mean age of 42.36 ± 5.23 years were screened for the presence of malaria parasitaemia.Results: Out of the 100 truck drivers screened, 35 (35%) were positive for malaria while 65 (65%) were negative. Plasmodium falciparum was responsible for all cases of malaria infection. The highest prevalence of malaria occurred among drivers in the 51-60 years age group (40.5%). The mean and standard deviation (SD) of parasite load was 1 020 (125) parasites/ìl in subjects positive for malaria. The mean CD4 count wassignificantly higher among non-parasitized truck drivers compared to P. falciparum parasitized drivers 820 ± 42.0 (731-902 cells/ μl) and 570 ± 30.0 (510-630 cells/ μl) respectively (chi square = 74.00; p = 0.03). We observed a significant negative correlation between plasmodial infection and CD4 lymphocyte count among Plasmodium falciparum-infected subjects with r = - 0.56 (p= 0.001).Conclusion: Preventative strategies including regular chemoprophylaxis, intermittent preventive treatment with antimalarials and provision of insecticide-treated bed nets should be implemented.Keywords: CD4 count, Malaria, Long distance drivers, Niger Delta, Nigeri

Malaria parasitaemia among long distance truck drivers in the Niger delta of Nigeria

Background: Malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of malaria among long distance truck drivers in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. Methods: A total of one hundred consecutively recruited long distance truck drivers aged 21-60 years, with a mean age of 42.36 ±5.23 years were screened for the presence of malaria parasitaemia. Results: Out of the 100 truck drivers screened, 35 (35%) were positive for malaria while 65 (65%) were negative. Plasmodium falciparum was responsible for all cases of malaria infection. The highest prevalence of malaria occurred among drivers in the 51-60 years age group (40.5%). The mean and standard deviation (SD) of parasite load was 1 020 (125) parasites/ìl in subjects positive for malaria. The mean CD4 count wassignificantly higher among non-parasitized truck drivers compared to P. falciparum parasitized drivers 820 ± 42.0 (731-902 cells/ µl) and 570 ±30.0 (510-630 cells/ µl) respectively (chi square = 74.00; p = 0.03). We observed a significant negative correlation between plasmodial infection and CD4 lymphocyte count among Plasmodium falciparum-infected subjects with r = - 0.56 (p= 0.001). Conclusion: Preventative strategies including regular chemoprophylaxis, intermittent preventive treatment with antimalarials and provision of insecticide-treated bed nets should be implemented

Evaluation of Falciparum Parasitaemia and Associated Inflammatory Cytokines Among Some Malaria-Vulnerable Subjects in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

A cross-sectional assessment of some inflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) concentrations and parasitaemia levels in 162 pregnant women and 160 children infected with Plasmodium falciparum parasites in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, were evaluated. Blood samples collected from the subjects were analyzed, and the blood plasma analysed for cytokine using commercial standard enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kit. Malaria diagnosis and some blood parameters were carried out using standard parasitological and haematological techniques. Pregnant women with falciparum malaria within age group 29-33 years had the highest infection rate of 41%, and mean parasitaemia level of 7955.11±1225.75 parasites/μl while those within the age group 19-23 years had the least mean parasitaemia level of 5042.00±900.18 parasites/μl, and the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.328). Comparatively, children within the age group 3-5 had the highest prevalence of 53.8%, those within 9-11 years had the highest mean parasitaemia level of  4813.03±1180.05 parasites/μl while those within age 6-8 years had lowest mean parasitaemia level of 2324.62±546.63 parasites/μl. The mean difference was statistically significant (P=0.048). The mean concentration levels of cytokines IL-6, and IL-10 (176.32±27.34 pg/ml, and 329.09±19.11 pg/ml, and 376.78±24.95pg/ml respectively) were significantly elevated in pregnant women with severe parasitaemia compared with their concentration levels in mild and moderate parasitaemia; The mean concentration levels of IL-6, and IL-10 (81.79±6.36pg/ml, 24.67±2.00pg/ml, 365.30±40.31 pg/ml, and 318.57±39.29 pg/ml respectively) were significantly higher in children with severe parasitaemia (P=0.6857, 0.1816, P=0.0014, and 0.0347 respectively).The mean cytokine levels of TNF-α, IL-β, IL-6, and IL-10, were significantly elevated in pregnant women and children with P. falciparum infection when compared to their  respective healthy matched controls (P<0.0001). Correlations between plasma levels of IL-6 and P. falciparum parasite density in the study population showed a relatively strong positive linear relationship (P<0.0001). Inflammatory cytokines are involved in immunopathogenesis and immunoregulation of Plasmodium falciparum infection. Cytokines as found in this study could be used as promising prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers for falciparum malaria progression or regression

The influence of community ecology and behaviour on the bionomics of intestinal helminthiasis in parts of Niger Delta, Nigeria

Four hundred and ninety-four (494) faecal samples were examined for various intestinal helminth parasites in four communities of Asari-Toru Local Government Area, Niger Delta, Nigeria . Buguma, Ido, Minnama, and Omekwe-ama. Of the number examined, 273 (55.3%) were positive for Ascaris, hookworm, Trichuris, Strongyloides, and Enterobius. Species. Prevalence of infection with these parasites decreased with increasing age. It was highest in individuals of 10-14 years old, followed by 15-19 years old and the lowest occurred in individuals of 40-44+ years. Statistical analyses show that infections with these intestinal helminth parasites were both community dependent (p value = 1.80, i.e.