Significance of IgG-Avidity in Antenatal Rubella Diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE: A descriptive study was carried out to determine the significance of IgG-affinity in the serological diagnosis of rubella infections in pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 92 pregnant women who had never received antirubella vaccines were recruited by simple random selection and did not exceed 24 weeks of gestation were recruited from the antenatal clinics of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. Rubella virus-specific IgG, IgG-affinity and IgM were tested, using the Indirect ELISA methods. RESULTS: IgG-Affinity tests showed that 2 (2.2%) out of the 92 pregnant women, who were in their first and second trimester pregnancies respectively, had primary Rubella infections, while 1 (1.1%) primigravidae had a re-infection with rubella virus. It was also discovered that out of the 13 multigravid subjects that reported to have lost previous pregnancies, 2 (15.4%) cases may have been due to rubella infections that occurred during organogenesis. CONCLUSION: Although the isolation of the whole virus or the viral nucleic material is the best basis for diagnosis, IgG-affinity is a proven supplementary serological diagnosis, to distinguish reinfection or viral persistence from primary exposure for prompt and accurate diagnosis. This is necessary for proper counselling of pregnant women especially in low economies where molecular diagnosis may not be affordable

Risk factors and seroprevalence of hepatitis C antibody in mothers and their pre-school age children in Ilrorin

No Abstract. African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology Vol. 7(3) 2006: 155-15

High seropositivity of IgG and IgM antibodies against cytomegalovirus (CMV) among HIV-1 seropositive patients in Ilorin, Nigeria

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a major public health problem in sub-saharan Africa. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) has been reported to enhance HIV replication and accelerate the progression of HIV infection to AIDS.Objective: This study reports on the high seropositivity of immunoglobulin (Ig) G and M antibodies against CMV and the risk factors for CMV infection among HIV/AIDS patients in Ilorin, Nigeria.Method: A total of 180 consented HIV-1 seropositive patients (age-range 16-56 years; 108 females and 72 males) were consecutively recruited. Socio-demographic/behavioral data and 5 ml blood samples were collected from each patient. Plasma of each sample was assayed for anti-CMV IgG/IgM using a CMV IgG and IgM Enzyme Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) kit.Results: Twenty (11.1%) of the 180 HIV-1 seropositive subjects were positive for anti-CMV IgM antibody while 169(93.9%) were positive for anti-CMV IgG antibody. Age, marital status, number of sexual partners, CD4 cells counts and previous history of blood transfusion were the main correlates of CMV seropositivity among these patients. However, occupation, sex, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) were not statistically associated with CMV seropositivity in this study.Conclusion: This study has shown that greater percentages of HIV-1 seropositive patients had active CMV infection. It has further shown that CMV is hyperendemic in HIV-1 seropositive patients in Ilorin, Nigeria.Keywords: CD4, CMV, HIV/AIDS, IgG, IgM, Risk factors, HAAR

Short day photoperiod protects against acetaminophen-induced heptotoxicity in rats

This study investigated the effect of different photoperiods on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Twenty four adult male rats (average weight = 160±7g) were conditioned to different photoperiod regimens for 6 weeks. At the end of the 6-week period, rats exposed to normal, short and long photoperiods received oral acetaminophen (2g/kg body weight) while in the control group, exposed to normal photoperiod, received oral saline. Rats were sacrificed 24 h after acetaminophen administration by cervical dislocation and blood was collected by cardiac puncture for the estimation of liver enzymes activities. Liver tissues were excised and homogenized for estimation of liver malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. Elevation of serum levels of alanine and aspartate transaminases and alkaline phosphatase caused by acetaminophen intoxication were not affected in rats subjected to long photoperiod while these parameters were significantly (P<0.05) reduced in rats subjected to short photoperiod. However, alteration of photoperiod resulted in significantly (P<0.05) lower serum gamma glutamate transpeptidase and total protein in acetaminophentreated rats. All groups of rats had similar serum albumin while serum malondialdehyde concentration was significantly lower in rats subjected to short photoperiod. This study revealed the protective effects of short photoperiod against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity and lipid peroxidation in rats.Published onlin

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infestation in HIV seropositive and seronegative patients in Ilorin, Nigeria

Objective: To determine the prevalence, severity and pattern of intestinal parasitic infestation in HIV-seropositive patients.Methods: A Cross-sectional study from January 2007 to December 2008.Patients were recruited from the HIV clinics of the hospital. Paired blood and single stool specimens were collected from each patient. The stool sample was investigated for intestinal parasites while the blood sample was tested for antibodies to HIV-1 and 2. HIV-seropositivesubjects also had CD4+ cells count done.Result: Ninety each of stool and blood samples were collected from HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative patients. Four species each of helminthes and protozoan parasites and three species of coccidian parasites were isolated from the stool of both HIV-seropositive and seronegative subjects. The prevalence of these parasites was two anda halve times higher among the HIV seropositive patients than the seronegative ones. The range of CD4 cells count was 20-680 cells/ìl with a median of 259 cells/ìl. Patients with CD4+ coun

Bacteriological Assessment of Quality of Water Used at the Bodija Municipal Abattoir, Ibadan, Nigeria

The water used for cleaning procedures and meat processing in the abattoir must meet drinking water standards. It must be freeof chemical substances or microorganisms in amounts that could cause hazards to health. The bacteriological status of water supply to the Bodija Municipal Abattoir, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, was evaluated. Water samples from different sources within and around the abattoir were collected and examined. Average coliform count per 100 ml and confirmatory Escherichia coli counts per 100ml respectively were determined using the multiple tube method. The surface tank had the highest mean coliform count of 173.6 ± 10.9 per 100 ml, while the borehole had the lowest mean count of 17.0 ± 8.1 coliform per 100 ml. The confirmatory Escherichia coliform count per 100 ml was highest for wells (20.8 ± 18.5) and lowest for borehole (1.0 ± 0.07). A significantly higher number of the samples(

Toxoplasmosis in HIV-seropositive patients in Ilorin, Kwara State Nigeria

No Abstrac

Antiretroviral treatment among students of tertiary institutions in Ilorin; Assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practice

No Abstract.Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol. 53 (6) 2008: pp. 94-9