Seropositivity and determinants of immunoglobulin-G (IgG) antibodies against Herpes simplex virus (HSV) types -1 and -2 in pregnant women in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Background: This study is the first documented prevalence of IgG antibody against HSV-1&-2 in Port Harcourt, Nigeria and thus provides baseline data for future in-depth studies on HSV infection in South-South, Nigeria. Objective: This study determined the seropositivity and determinants of serum IgG antibody against HSV-1 & HIV-2 among pregnant women attending BMSH, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Methods: Serum samples from 180 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH) in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Serum samples were analysed with commercial HSV type-1&-2 specific IgG Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kits. Chi-square analysis was used to determine the association of infection with socio-demographic variables. Results: Of the 180 pregnant women, 179 (99.4%) were seropositive and 1(0.6%) was seronegative for HSV 1&2 IgG antibody. No statistical association existed between the prevalence of HSV-1&-2 IgG antibodies and the socio-demographic variables studied (p>0.05) except for marital status which was significantly associated (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our data shows that HSV-1 & 2 seropositivity among pregnant women in Port Harcourt is high; thus serological screening for HSV-1&-2 might be advisable for antenatal attendees

Trends in HIV prevalence from 2008 to 2012 among young adults in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Background: The pandemic of HIV lines amongst the utmost infectious disease menaces in antiquity. HIV remains a problem worldwide and it\u2019s a grave health snags in developing nations particularly in Nigeria. Objective: This study focused on \u201ctrends in HIV reporting from 2008 to 2012 among young adults in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Methods: Secondary data were collected from BMSH, Port Harcourt using a Performa specifically intended for this determination. Socio-demographic data for the subjects were recovered from coded patients\u2019 medical records kept at BMSH. The data generated was exposed to Fisher\u2019s Exact Test. Results: The study showed that a total of 3081 HIV-positive cases were reported between 2008 and 2012. The HIV trend were not well defined, it peaked in 2009(36.6%) and 2008(32.8%) and a decrease in 2011(16.6%), 2012(8.3%) and 2010(5.7%). A 3.8% increase was observed between 2008 and 2009 and 30.9% decrease between 2009 and 2010. However, the prevalence seemed to stabilize between 2009 and 2012. HIV patterns among various age-groups is not well-defined, it rose with increasing age and peaked at 26-30years (35.7%) after which it declined. Sex differences (P<0.05) in the trend was observed. Males ages 26\u201330years showed uniform pattern with an increasing trend while 36-40years showed decreasing trend except in 2009(34.1%). Females ages 26-30years showed uniform pattern with an increasing trend from 2008(21.7%) to 2010(41.9%) and decreased from 41.9% (2010) to 36.5%(2012). The low HIV prevalence in 2010 could be attributed to the fact that the proportion of centers giving ART enlarged from 2005 to date. Health care facilities providing HIV/AIDS counselling and testing services also increased. Conclusion: The long decades fight against HIV especially in Rivers State is making progress, though an unstable one. The observed increase in years with high HIV prevalences calls for an intensified focus of intervention

Anti-HCV antibody among newly diagnosed HIV patients in Ughelli, a suburban area of Delta State Nigeria.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) share common routes of infection and as such, co-infection is expected. Co-infection of the two viruses is of great medical importance as it determines the effect of drugs used for treatment at various stages. Objective: This interplay between HIV and HCV sets the tone for the objective of this study which is to ascertain the seroprevalence of HCV among newly diagnosed HIV patients in Ughelli, a suburban area of Delta State, Nigeria. Methods: A total of 200 newly diagnosed HIV-positive patients were recruited for this study. Each of the sera was tested for anti-HCV antibody using SWE-life HCV ultra rapid test strip. Appropriate questionnaires were used to ascertain other important information which include social behaviour such as whether the patients were MSM (males), IDU, tattoo and/or have received blood transfusion in the past. Results: The prevalence of HCV among the study population was determined to be 15.0%. A higher seroprevalence was observed among females (16.5%) than in males (13.0%). A higher seroprevalence was also observed among age groups >26 years (16.0%) than in age-groups 14-25 years (13.0%) and 2-13 years (0.0%). Of the 7 patients with tattoos, 1(14.3%) tested positive for HCV compared to 29(15.0%) with no tattoos. We found no significant correlation with transfusion, intravenous drug use (IDU), men that have sex with men (MSM), tattooing and the seroprevalence of HCV. However, significant correlation existed with age, sex and HCV prevalence. Conclusion: This study reports a 15.0% seroprevalence of HCV among newly diagnosed HIV patients and that is alarmingly well above several other studies done in the past in Nigeria and other countries of sub-Saharan Africa. Planned prevention, screening, and treatment are needed to reduce further transmission and morbidity. Future studies involving HCV-RNA assays are needed

Triple positivity of HBsAg, anti-HCV antibody, and HIV and their influence on CD4+ lymphocyte levels in the highly HIV infected population of Abeokuta, Nigeria

Background: Few studies exist on hospital-based seroprevalence of triple positivity of HIV/HBV/HCV in Nigeria. Objectives: The study aimed at determining the triple positivity of HIV, HBsAg and HCV among HIV-infected individuals in Abeokuta, Nigeria and defining the influence of these triple infections on CD4+ counts of HIV-infected individuals as antiretroviral therapy improves in Nigeria. Methods: Enumeration of CD4+ levels in 183 HIV-infected persons was done with Partec Flow Cytometer. Seropositivity of HBsAg and anti-HCV antibody was detected with rapid kits. Results: From the result obtained, significance variance (p<0.05) existed between HIV positive persons and persons who tested positive to HIV/HBV/HCV triple infection before and after the commencement of HAART. Of these infections, 31(16.9%) had HBV/HCV/HIV triple infection, while 152(83.1%) had HIV mono infection only, 56(30.6%) had HBV/HIV dual infection only and 43(23.5%) had HCV/HIV dual infection only. Significant variance (p<0.05) also existed between subjects with CD4 counts of <200 cells/\u3bcl, 200-499 cells/\u3bcl and >500 cells/\u3bcl. Highest seroprevalence of HIV (35.0%) was found in age groups 35-44 years and >65 years had the least (2.7%). Significant variance (p<0.05) also existed in the progression of CD4+ lymphocytes cells between subjects with persistent decrease (32.3%) in CD4+ lymphocytes cells and those with fluctuation in their CD4+ lymphocytes cells (12.9%) after the commencement of ART. Conclusion: The study further confirms that triple positivity of HIV/HBV/HCV infection is common in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Testing of these triple infections should be a big concern in the best choice and commencement of ART. Also, the study showed that consistent and prolonged use of HAART had a positive impact on the CD4 count of HIV-infected individuals

Microbiological and physicochemical analysis of different water samples used for domestic purposes in Abeokuta and Ojota, Lagos State, Nigeria

Samples of tap, well, stream, and wastewaters were collected from Abeokuta and Ojota (both in Nigeria) state and analyzed microbiologically and physico-chemically using standard methods. Total viable count was by pour plate technique while most probable number (MPN) counts were by the multiple tube fermentation technique. The pH (at 25OC) ranged from 3.10 to 8.33 for the untreated raw water samples while temperature ranged from 28 to 30OC while the turbidity of the water and waste water samples ranges from 0.08 to 1.00. All the water samples were found to harbor coliforms organisms in numbers greater than the required WHO/FAO standards for water. The total viable counts for all the water samples were generally high exceeding the limit of 1.0 x 102 cfu/ml for water. The MPN count ranges from 9.3 to 44 MPN/100 ml. The fecal coliform counts on EMB agar plate ranged between 5 and 48 cells, also exceeding the standard limit for water. The Isolated organisms were identified to be Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella species, Escherchia coli, Pseudomonas aerugionosa, Enterobacter aerogenes, Bacillus species, Proteus species, Klebsiella species, Flavobacterium species and Acinetobacter species

Comparative studies and microbial risk assessment of different water samples used for processing frozen sea-foods in Ijora-olopa, Lagos State, Nigeria

This study reports the comparative studies and microbial risk assessment of different water samples used for processing frozen sea-foods in Ijora-olopa, Lagos State, Nigeria. Twelve different samples of well, tap, borne-hole, river water used for processing frozen sea-foods were collected from different processing shops in Ijora-olopa, Lagos. These water samples were microbiologically analyzed for the presence of microorganisms. Total plate counts and total coliform counts were enumerated using Plate Count Agar (PCA) and Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) Agar, respectively. The total count of most the water samples ranges between 0.48 x 102 and 2.04 x 102 CFU/ml, exceeding the limit of 1.0 x 102 CFU/ml. The coliform counts per 100 ml of water samples ranged between 15 and 184 cells. Fifteen (15) isolates were characterized from the samples on PCA with percentage of occurrence of different microorganisms characterized as follows: Bacillus cereus (33.3%), Enterobacter aerogenes (33.3%), Flavobacterium sp. (13.3%), Micrococcus sp. (6.7%), Pseudomonasaerugionosa (6.7%) and Staphylococcus auerus (6.7%). Some of these organisms are of public health significance. Studies show the possibilities of survival of pathogenic microorganisms during water treatment/seafood processing. Therefore, stringent quality assurance measures should be put in order to safe guard the health of the consumer