Intestinal Helminthiasis among School Children in Ilie, Osun State, Southwest, Nigeria

A cross sectional study of intestinal helminthiasis among school pupils was undertaken in three primary schools in Ilie in Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun state in order to determine the prevalence and intensity of helminthic infections. The relationship between intestinal helminths and anthropometric indices and the factors that could favour the infection were also studied. Faecal samples from three hundred and four (304) randomly selected out of the four hundred and seven (407) school children in the study area were collected and analysed with the semi-quantitative Kato Katz technique and concentrated method. The intensity of infection was classified into light, moderate or high according to World Health Organisation (WHO) thresholds. The overall prevalence rate was 52.0% while five species of intestinal helminths were identified. Ascaris lumbricoides (36.2%) was the most common, followed by Hookworm (10.5%), Schistosoma mansoni (4%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.7%) and Hymenolepis nana (0.7%). Multiple helminthic infection were recorded with Ascaris –Hookworm (6.58%) having the highest prevalence among the children. Female (56.6%) were more infected than male (46.4%) and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.0019). Seventeen percent (17%) of the children were below the third percentile for weight (wasted) while fourteen percent (14%) were below the third percentile for height (stunted). There was a relationship between intensity of infection and wasting since there were fewer underweight pupils (13%) with normal stool than those moderately infected (35%) (

Intestinal parasitic infections among school children in a rural community, Southwest Nigeria

No Abstract. The Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol. 23(1) 2002: 11-1

ANTI BACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF SOME SELECTED DISINFECTANTS REGULARLY USED IN HOSPITALS

The antibacterial activities of three commercial disinfectants: Dettol, Robert and Savlon against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Klebsiella spp. and Bacillus spp. were investigated. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined using the well technique of media diffusion method. The highest MIC of 1:10 against Pseudomonas aeruginosa by Roberts and the lowest MIC of 1:60 by Savlon against Staphylococcus aureus were observed. The highest minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 1:10 against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was by Robert. All test organisms were susceptible to various dilution of Savlon used. African Journal Of Clinical And Experimental Microbiology Jan 2004 Vol.5 No.1 126-13

Antibiogram of Klebsiella Pneumoniae urinary isolates of apparently healthy individuals in Osogbo Metropolis, Nigeria

One thousand (1,000) urine samples from apparently healthy subjects were cultured for Klebsiella pneumoniae and its antibiotic susceptibility profile to commonly used antimicrobial drugs was determined. The study was conducted in two randomly selected local government areas within Osogbo metropolis. The occurrence rate of Klebsiella pneumoniae was 38 (3.8%) and isolate were highly resistant to Tetracycline (92.1%), Amoxyllin (76.3%) and Co-trimoxazole (71.9%). Resistance to gentamicin was moderate (63.2%) while Ofloxacin, nitrofurantoin, ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid and pefloxacin were very effective with 92.1%, 84.2%, 78.9% and 76.3% respectively sensitive to it and Cephalexin (57.9%) was moderately sensitive. More females {55.3%} than males (44.7%} had the highest infection rate and the difference was statistically significant (

Review Article: Prospect and Progress of Malaria Vaccine Development

Malaria kills one child every 30 seconds in Africa. The development of a safe vaccine remains an urgent unmet need which could greatly control and even lead to the eradication of the disease. The success recorded in the recent vaccine trials have given some ray of hope that a safe and effective vaccine against malaria will soon be produced. In this article, we bring together important published information on the status of malaria vaccine development and reviewed some field trials and the obstacles as well as prospect for effective malaria vaccination. Key words: Malaria vaccine, prospect, review Afr. J. Clin. Exper. Microbiol. 2005; 6(2): 145-15

Allelic Diversity of Merozoite Surface Protein 2 Gene of P Falciparum among Children in Osogbo, Nigeria

The genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum (P falciparum) infections in humans is implicated in the pathogenesis of malaria. This study provides the first estimate of the genetic diversity and genotype multiplicity of Plasmodium falciparum infection in children with uncomplicated P falciparum malaria in Osogbo, Nigeria. One hundred and one isolates were used for analysis of parasite population polymorphism and genotyped by nested-PCR of merozoite surface protein 2 (MSP2) block 3. Amplicons were obtained for all the 101 genotyped samples in MSP2 PCR with 9 alleles varying in size between 300 and 800 base pair. Thirty-three (31.7%) samples had FC27 allele while 27 (26.7%) had 3D7 allele and 35 (34.7%) had mixed alleles (3D7+FC27). The Multiplicity of Infection (MOI) in the population was 1.6. Children in the age group of > 4–8 years had the highest number of different genotypes in their samples (1.8). The number of MSP2 bands per isolate was lower in the older age group (1.3) but the difference was not statistically significant. Children with parasite density range 5001–10 000 had the highest MOI of 2 while those with parasite density range 1000–5000 had the lowest of 1.5. In conclusion, the present study shows that the field isolates are highly diverse in respect of MSP2 and multiplicity of infection was neither age nor parasite density dependent in the study population. Keyword: Genetic diversity, MSP2, Nigeria, plasmodium falciparum. Diversidad Alélica del Gen de la Proteína de Superficie del Merozoíto 2 del P Falciparum entre los Niños de Osogobo, en Nigeria RESUMEN La diversidad genética de las infecciones por Plasmodium falciparum en los humanos se halla implícita en la patogénesis de la malaria. Este estudio proporciona un primer estimado de la diversidad genética y multiplicidad del genotipo de la infección por Plasmodium falciparum en los niños con malaria por P falciparum malaria sin complicaciones en Osogbo, Nigeria. Ciento un aislados fueron usados para el análisis del polimorfismo de la población parasitaria, y genotipificados mediante reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (RCP) anidada de la proteína de superficie del merozoíto 2 (MSP2) bloque 3. Se obtuvieron amplicones para las 101 muestras genotipificadas con RCP de MSP2, con 9 alelos variando en tamaño entre 300 y 800 par de bases. Treinta y tres (31.7%) muestras tenían el alelo FC27 mientras 27 (26.7%) tenían el alelo 3D7 y 35 (34.7%) tenían alelos mezclado (3D7+FC27). La multiplicidad de infección (MOI) en la población fue 1.6. Los niños en el grupo etario de > 4–8 años tenían el número más alto de genotipos diferentes en sus muestras (1.8). El número de bandas de MSP2 por aislado era más bajo en el grupo etario de mayor edad (1.3) pero la diferencia no era estadísticamente significativa. Los niños con un rango de densidad parasitaria 5001–10 000 tenían el MOI más alto equivalente a 2, mientras aquéllos con rango de densidad parasitaria 1000–5000 tenían el MOI más bajo equivalente a 1.5. En conclusión, el presente estudio muestra que los aislados de campo son altamente diversos con respecto al MSP2, y que la multiplicidad de la infección no depende ni de la edad ni de la densidad parasitaria de la población en estudio. Palabras claves: Diversidad genética, MSP2, Nigeria, plasmodium falciparum

Prevalence of filariasis among prospective blood donors at Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria

It has been stated that high prevalence of microfilaria in Africa has compounded the problem of blood shortage in our blood banks as prospective blood donors positive for microfilaria are automatically excluded from donation. This fact, together with changing population demographics, increased travels with respect to rural urban migration and the problems of commercial blood donors has made it necessary to determine the prevalence of filarial infection among blood donors in our institution. A total of 491 subjects aged 18 years and above and voluntarily consenting to donate blood at the blood bank of the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria between April and June 2005 were screened for microfilaria. Five milliliters of blood was collected from each subject. The modified thick smear technique described by Denham, and Giemsa and Haematoxylin stains were used to detect microfilaria in the blood. Of the 491 prospective blood donors (402 males, 89 females, M:F ratio 4.5:1, age range 18-62 years) screened, the age group 21-30 years and 31-40 years constituted 39.3% and 28.3% respectively. Five (1.01%) were positive for microfilaria; 3 (60%) had Mansonella perstans, 1 (20%) had Onchocerca volvulus while 1 (20%) had Loa loa. All the 5 donors were male aged 23, 25, 31, 50 and 55 years and were asymptomatic. The average parasite density of the donors was 1.4 microfilaria/20 µL of blood. Because of the possibility of allergic reactions from transfused microfilariae, routine screening for microfilariae should be incorporated into transfusion policy in our hospitals. However, in view of the generally low apathy to voluntary blood donation in Nigeria, it may not be justified to exclude potential donor positive for microfilaria. Instituting prompt antifilarial treatment for patients receiving such blood may be a credible alternative Keywords: Prevalence, Filariasis, Blood donors, Osogbo Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol. 5 (2) 2006: 71-7

Prevalence of malaria among the nomadic Fulani in Osun state, southwest Nigeria

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of malaria among the nomadic Fulani in Osun state, Nigeria. In this study, 102 blood samples were collected from male and female nomads and assayed by Giemsa staining of thick and thin blood film for detection and identification of plasmodium species and parasitaemia count for determination of parasitaemia load. Malaria prevalence was 55.9%. All infection was diagnosed as Plasmodium falciparum infection. Malaria prevalence was high in children, while location, age, sex, the use of bed net and the type of prophylaxis and therapeutic drugs used had no significant influence on prevalence.Keywords: Malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, nomadic Fulani, Nigeria International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 6(2): 223-227, 201

Screening for Schistosoma haematobium infection in a rural cohort of pregnant women in Nigeria

Studies were conducted to investigate the occurrence of Schistosoma haematobium infection among 37 pregnant Nigerian women in llie, Osun state, Nigeria and to determine the effects on haemoglobin concentration and clinical symptoms. Out of the 37 pregnant women seen over a period of nine months, 14 (37%) had urinary schistosomiasis, with a mean egg count of 82.5 eggs/10 mls of urine. The mean haemoglobin values in women with schistosomiasis mothers were lower than in women negative for the parasite but the differences were not stastically significant (P>0.05). Abdominal pain was the predominant complaint among the women seen in with 71% of the infected women while other complaints were dizziness, fever and headache. This study shows that schistosomiasis is prevalent among pregnant women in rural area and could contribute to anaemia and abdominal pain commonly seen in pregnant women in our environment. Keywords: schistosomiasis, pregnant women, abdominal pain, haemoglobin values, Nigeria African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology Vol. 6 (3) 2005: 199-20