Seroprevalence of Human Immunodifficiency Virus (HIV) amongst inmates of Kaduna prison, Nigeria

A cross sectional period prevalence study was carried out amongst inmates of Convict Prison, Kaduna Nigeria to determine their HIV status and provide baseline data. Out of the 100 samples collected, 12 (12 %) were positive for HIV with the highest proportion (41.7 %) occurring in the 20-29 yrs age bracket and lowest prevalence of 8.3% in younger inmates below 20 yrs and those above 50 yrs. Infection was detected in both sexes, but was greater in males (91.7%). The mean age of the inmates was 32 yrs, with a range 18-59yrs and sex ratio of 49:1 (male: female). The adoption of HIV counseling and screening (at the point of entering, incarceration and exit) is recommended. Provision of specific HIV/AIDS preventive measures, care and treatment should be part of routine medical practice for inmates irrespective of the diagnosis at presentation. Key words: HIV seroprevalence, Convict Prison inmates, baseline data, Kaduna Nigeri

Factors affecting the parasitic contamination of edible locally produced dry season leafy vegetables cultivated in south east Enugu, Nigeria

Background/Aim: Outbreaks of human infections associated with consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables have occurred with increased frequency during the past decade. This study evaluated parasitic contamination of locally produced dry season vegetables cultivated in Enugu metropolis, Enugu State, Nigeria.Materials/Method: Vegetables, water and soil samples selected from vegetable farms were investigated. A total of 160 vegetable samples, 15 soil samples and 15 water samples were investigated. The samples were washed separately in saline and the resulting solution was subjected to standard sedimentation and flotation techniques. Physiochemical analysis of soil and water samples was done using the standard DREM technique. Furthermore, the water samples were investigated for C. parvum using the modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique.Results: Parasitic contamination of the different vegetables were Teifeairia occidentalis 242 (18.1%), Amaranthus hybridus 193 (15.1%), Cucurbita maxima 192 (15.0%), Solanum species 191 (14.9%), Ocimum grattisimum 136 (10.6%), Solanun nigrum 114 (8.9%), Gongronema latifolium 101 (7.9%), Talinum triangulare 73 (5.7%) and Murraya koenigii 39 (3.0%).The parasites identified included; Ascaris lumbricoides, Taenia spp, Fasciola hepatica, Schistosoma spp, Trichuris spp, Enterobius vermicularis, Toxocara.spp, Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba spp and Cryptosporidium parvum. Entamoeba species was the highest contaminating parasite 529 (41.3%) while Schistosoma haematobium was the least,14 (1.1%). Physiochemical analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between parasite load in water and total suspended solutes (TSS) (r = 0.59, p = 0.021) and turbidity ( r = 0.55, p = 0.032) and also a strong positive correlation between parasite load in the soil and organic matter (OM), (r = 0.71, p = 0.003) and silt (r = 0.63, p = 0.011).Conclusion: These vegetables should be considered as potential sources of parasitic infections, especially when they are not properly cooked (the type called ‘Half Done’) or consumed raw like the local salad (abacha) because of the high risk of parasitic infections such as giardiasis, amoebiasis, enterobiasis, cyptosporidiosis, ascariasis, etc. Public enlightenment is necessary to enhance the adoption of effective food safety approaches by agronomic practices of vegetable farmers which will in turn reduce foodborne illnesses.Keywords: Parasite, contamination, vegetables, Enug

Antifungal properties of methanolic extracts of some medical plants in Enugu, south east Nigeria

Objective: The current study evaluated the anti-fungal activities of methanolic extracts of the leaves and fruits of some medicinal plants of health value in Enugu, southeast Nigeria.Materials and methods: Volumes of the different extracts into molten Sabouraud Dextrose Agar to make up for concentrations of 25 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml respectively. Concentrations of 125 μg/ml, 250 μg/ml and 500 μg/ml of Miconazole were incorporated to serve as a positive control while 0.5 ml of DMSO served as a negative control. The plants extracts employed were from Azadirachta indica (Neem), Anacardium occidentale (Cashew), Euphorbia hirta (Asthma weed), Jatropha curcas (Physic nut), Acantus montanus (Mountain thistle) and Picralima nitida (òsúigwe in Igbo). A 2 mm agar disc cut out from the margin of actively growing cultures of each dermatophyte (Trichophyton soudanense, T. mentagrophytes, Cladosporium sp, T. rubrum and Fusarium sp) were inoculated on the agar plates containing varying concentrations of the different plant extracts, the standard antifungal agent and negative control in triplicates and incubated at 28 ºC.Results: All the extracts exhibited antifungal activities of varying degrees with radial growth inhibitions (RGIs) ranging from 0-0.45 mm radius. Fifty percent (50 %) of the plants extracts comprising of Picralima nitida, Euphorbia hirta and Acantus montanus exhibited complete inhibition at 100 mg/ml against all the clinical isolates under investigation (p < 0.05). Picralima nitida seed was the only plant extract with complete inhibition at 25 mg/ml against T. soudanense and T. rubrum. Picralima nitida was the closest in activity to miconazole. Azadirachta indica (Neem) did not exhibit complete inhibition against any of the clinical isolates at 100 mg/ml yet exhibited a significantly lower RGI at the lowest concentration of 25 mg/ml better than others.Conclusion: Antifungal activities showed that leaves extract of fruits plants against the clinical isolates are good source of medicinal applicationsKeywords: Antifungal agents, medical plants, Enugu, Nigeri