Anti-Hepatitis B Surface Antibody (Anti-HBsAb) in a Representative Population of Ozuoba in Rivers State, Nigeria

Background: Hepatitis B infection is a foremost worldwide health issue of public health significance and chief origin of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). There are vaccines available for hepatitis B infection which can be used for prevention before infection. In an effort to prevent and control HBV, the Nigeria Government in 2004 made HBV vaccine as part of national immunization programme. This definitely is an essential procedure to minimize the occurrence of HBV in many countries. Thus, our study was designed to investigate the seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) in a representative population of Ozuoba in Rivers State, Nigeria following the incorporation of HBV vaccine into NPI schedule.Methods: Ninety (90) blood samples were obtained from a male and female population of Ozuoba community in Rivers State, Nigeria. Questionnaires were distributed to obtain demographic profile of participants. ELISA (DIA.PRO Diagnostic Bioprobes, Milano-Italy) was employed for the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of HBsAb in sera and plasma of representative population of Ozuoba in Rivers State, Nigeria. The serological evaluation and result interpretation were carried out as stipulated by the kit’s manufacturers. We engaged Fisher's exact test and Chi-square test to estimate variances amid groups at p < 0.05 significance.Results: Of the 90 participants evaluated, nine tested seropositive for HBsAb giving a general prevalence of 10.0% and a seronegativity of 90.0%. The sex-related prevalence was males (7.1%) and females (12.5%). Sex and age had no effect in hepatitis B surface antibody (p-value >0.05). The age-specific prevalence was 7.7% for age group 13-19 years, 10.2% for 20-35 years of age and 10.7% for 36 years and above.Conclusion: This study revealed that the presence of HBsAb was low (10.0%). Our outcomes indicted that seropositivity and seronegativity of HBsAb have no significant relationship with age and sex. It further showed that 90.0% were HBsAb seronegative and hence, more susceptible to HBV infection. Vaccination programme must be strengthened further to grasp those continuing at highest risk

Antimicrobial chemotherapy and Sustainable Development: The past, The Current Trend, and the future

Antimicrobial chemotherapy is a highly valued medical science which has shaped modern humanity in a phenomenal fashion. Within the past half century, a wide variety of antimicrobial substances have been discovered, designed and synthesized; literally hundreds of drugs have been successfully used in some fashion over the years. Today, the world wide anti-infective market exceeds $20 billion dollars annually and overall antimicrobial agents comprise the bulk of this trade. A number of general classes of antimicrobial drugs have emerged as mainstays in modern infectious disease chemotherapy. Regardless of a better understanding of infectious disease pathogenesis and the importance of sanitation, most individuals will become infected with a microbial pathogen many times, throughout their lives and in developed countries, anti-infective chemotherapy will be periodically administered. Antibacterial amount for the majority of anti-infective agents in comparison to antifungals, antivirals and antiparasitic agents. An antimicrobial is a chemical substance produced by microorganisms that can inhibit the growth of, or kill other microorganisms. The goal of antimicrobial in disease such as gastroenteritis is to decrease stool water and electrolyte losses, thus limiting the morbidity resulting from dehydration. Most antiretroviral only suppress the pathogen and boast the immune status but does not provide cure. To date, several drugs have been tried in the treatment of acute diseases such as diarrhea, HIV/AIDS but none has met the requirements enumerated above. They are therefore of very limited value in the department of diarrhea, especially in children as well in department of HIV/AID

Hepatitis B surface antigenaemia and risk factors of transmission among apparently healthy students of University of Ilorin, Ilorin-Nigeria

This study aimed at determining the prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigenaemia among first year students of University of Ilorin, Ilorin Nigeria. A total of 200 students (119 males and 81 females: ages 16 to 40 years), who consented voluntarily after thorough explanation of the purpose of the study, were selected. The sera of the participants were tested for the presence of HBsAg by parallel diagnostic method using Diaspot® HBsAg test kit and Smart CheckTM HBsAg device. Of the 200 samples tested, 18 (9.0%) were HBsAg positive. The result also showed that 13 (10.9%) out of the 119 males were positive, while 5 (6.2%) out of the 81 females were positive. Analysis of the results by age groups showed that subjects ≤20 years had a prevalence of 9.8%, subjects of age range 21-30 years had a prevalence of 8.1% while subjects of age range 31-40 years had zero prevalence. Analysis of the results according to the risk factors of transmission showed that subjects who reported circumcision only had a prevalence of 7.4%, while subjects who reported history of medical operation and blood transfusion had a prevalence of 10.0%. Among subjects who reported HBV vaccination only, prevalence of 8.3% was recorded, while 12.5% prevalence was recorded for subjects who reported a combination of circumcision, medical operation and blood transfusion. This study however confirmed the presence of Hepatitis B surface antigenaemia among apparently healthy first year students of the University of Ilorin. General surveillance, mass immunization and public health education to stop the spread of the infection on campus and indeed the whole society is advocated.Key words: Prevalence, HBsAg, antigenaemia, student

Bacteriological evaluation of some sachet water on sales in Owerri metropolis, Imo State, Nigeria

Aims: Continuous increase in the sale and indiscriminate consumption of packaged drinking waters in Nigeria is of public health significance. In order to safe guard public health, it is essential that the available packaged water is of the highest quality. This study was carried out to evaluate the bacteriological quality of packaged water on sale in Owerri metropolis, Imo State of Nigeria.Methodology and Results: From 30 registered sachet water factories, 8 samples each was purchased randomly fifteen of the brands of sachet water all over Owerri metropolis in Imo State, Southeastern Nigeria. These were analyzed for presence of bacterial indicators of water quality. Four weeks later, a second batch of the samples was collected from other brands. A mean plate counts was taken and the organisms from each water sample identified using standard procedures. The results showed that 11 (73.3%) sachet water brands had growths of pathogenic organisms in the first batch while 10 (66.6%) had growth in the second batch. The isolates were identified to be Klebsilla spp., Serratia spp., Proteus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Chromobacterium spp. The study showed that Klebsiella pneumoniae [7(29.2%)] was the most predominant. This was closely followed by Serratia spp. [6(25.0%)] and Proteus mirabilis [6(25.0%)]. Pseudomonas aeruginosa [3(12.5%)] and Chromobacterium spp. [2(8.3%)] was least predominant. Mean total heterotrophic bacteria plate counts (HPC) per millilitre ranged from 0.0 to 6.0 x 102 CFU/mL at 22 °C and 0.0 to 7.0 x 102 CFU/mL at 37 °C (first batch) and 0.0 to 5.0 x 102 CFU/mL at 22 °C and 0.0 to 10.0 x 102 CFU/mL at 37 °C for the second batch. Thus they fell below the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water standard of 100 HPC per millilitre of water. Bacteriological examination of different brands of sachet water samples collected from different locations showed that only Vince water and Akudo table water was found to be safe for drinking while the other brands of sachet water from mobile vendors in Owerri metropolis was not potable.Conclusion, Significance and Impact of study: Hence, the bacteriological quality of some of the brands of sachet water on sale in Owerri was of poor quality index. The study suggests that sachet water could be a route of transmission of enteric pathogens among the populace. In order to safe guard public health, highest quality brands of sachet water is therefore advocated