A survey of the gut parasites of rodents in Nsukka ecological zone

A survey of gut parasites of rodents was undertaken in Nsukka ecological zone. Out of the 87 rodents caught and examined, 47 (54.0%) were positive for helminth parasites. The prevalence rates for the various rodents examined were 60.0% for Xerus erythropus (squirrels); 59.3% for Cricetomy sp. (giant rats) and 48.9% for Rattus rattus (house rats). The difference in prevalence rates amongst the rodents was statistically insignifcant (P>0.05). The parasites isolated were 2 Cestode species- Hymenolepis sp (172%) and Raillietina sp; 3 nematode species- Trichuris muris (9.2%),, Ascaris sp (2.3%), Cyathostomum sp (4.6%) and one Acanthocephalan- Moniliformis morniliformis.(6.9%). Keywords: Rodents, Xerus erythropus, Cricetomy sp, Rattus rattus, Gut parasites, Hymenolepis sp, Raillietina sp, Trichuris muris, Ascaris sp, Cyathostomum sp, Moniliformis morniliformi

Perception of onchocerciasis by rural hausa women in northeast Nigeria and the implications for onchocerciasis control

The survey was conducted to explore the hard-held beliefs of rural Hausa women that help to sustain onchocerciasis transmission in an onchocerciasis endemic focus in North eastern Nigeria. The beliefs explored pertained to the perceived symptoms and effects of onchocerciasis peculiar to women. The study area was the Hawul River Valley, North Eastern, Nigeria. An area known for serious ocular and socio-economic tolls of onchocerciasis. 158 women (age range 20 to 60) enlisted by purposive sampling were surveyed on their disease perception of onchocerciasis using standard guidelines. Focal group discussions, in-depth interviews and questionnaires were used as instruments. The disorders that the respondents associated with onchocerciasis included blindness (86.1 %), various menstrual problems (65.8 %), impaired (failing/blurred) Vision (61.4 %) and itching (58.2 %). Least responses were for ¡¥others¡¦ (17.7 %) and scrotal enlargement (22.8%). The respondents significantly associated barrenness (ƒÓ2 = 3.41; df = 4; P < 0.05) and foetal abortion/miscarriage (ƒÓ2 = 1.53; df = 4; P < 0.05), with onchocerciasis but their association of scrotal elephantiasis was statistically insignificant (ƒÓ2 = 0.26; df = 4; P > 0.01). Irregular menstruation (54.8 %); prolonged menstrual period (36.5%); painful menstruation (29.8 %) and others (22.1 %) were implicated for menstrual problems. Popular beliefs and deep-rooted convictions are valuable in formulating socio-culturally accepted health education programmes that directly address people¡¦s areas of concern while deep-rooted ignorance and incorrect beliefs about the causes and effects of a disease may lead to neglect of personal protection measures and allow the intensification of disease morbidity. The study throws more insight into local disease perception, which is known to have direct effect on health and illness behaviour

Liver histopathology in bovine Fascioliasis

The livers of slaughtered cattle were examined by visualization, palpation and incision. Macroscopically, some of the infected livers appeared to be slightly swollen with pale color at the round edges, while some appeared greatly swollen, with a few small irregular whitish areas indicating fibrosis over the parietal surface. In some cases, the capsule was thick and rough with whitish or reddish discoloration and parenchyma was hard due to fibrous tissue. Fibrosis of the bile ducts with numerous small and large patches scattered over the parietal surface and the pipe stem appearance of the liver were noticed. It could be concluded that the histopathological changes in the livers of cattle infected with Fasciola gigantica reflected tissue damage, which can amount to significant economic losses in animals and great health problems in man. Serious care and attention are required of both the veterinary workers and the public health planners in the state to ensure that seriously damaged livers are not passed on for human consumption despite their deranged nutritional values and health risk problems. The grazing of cattle should be highly restricted to areas of lesser snail infected site to reduce the rate of animal infection and the consequent economic losses.Key words: Fascioliasis, Fasciola gigantica, histopathology, cirrhosis

Parasites and Morphometric Indices of Frozen Fish Sold in Nsukka Urban Market, Enugu State, Nigeria

The parasites and morphometric indices of frozen fish sold in Nsukka Urban Market in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria were investigated between June and December 2008 to determine the parasite prevalence, mean intensity and abundance and some morphometric indices associated with parasitism. Two species of acanthocephalan endo-parasites were isolated from Savreda sp namely, Gorgorhynchus sp and Paragorgorhynchus sp with overall prevalence of 35.4%. The mean intensity for Gorgorhynchus sp was 14.1+0.2 and the mean abundance was 10.0+0.1. Paragorgorhynchus sp had mean intensity of 1.2+0.1 and mean abundance of 10.0+0.1. Some morphometric characteristics were calculated to correlate weight against standard length (SL) and total length (TL). There was a significant correlation between mean SL (2.76 + 0.59 cm) and mean TL (3.23+0.15 cm) with mean body weight (BW = 320 +0.49g) for Sardinella sp and mean SL (32.6+0.71cm) and TL (35.9+0.66 cm) with mean BW (440+0.13g) for Savreda sp. The mean condition factor (K) fell in 0.01+0.001 in both species, this shows that the fish overall condition is in a good state, whereas b-value (b=1.7) shows that the Savreda sp which hosted parasite had a negative allometric growth pattern (b3) showing a positive allometric pattern. The negative allometric pattern for Savreda sp is probably as a result of the parasites they hosted.Keywords: Parasites, Morphometric Indices, Frozen fish

Anti-inflammatory activity of fatty extract of Vitalleria paradoxa Kernel (Shea butter) and pattern of its clinical use in arthritis in Enugu, South East Nigeria

Background: The fatty seed extract of Vitellaria paradoxa Kernel (Sapotaceae) commonly called “Shea butter”, is a popular remedy for arthritis in west Africa. This study investigated the knowledge, prevalence and pattern of use of Shea butter in clinically diagnosed arthritic patients as well as its effects on acute (topical and systemic) and chronic inflammation in rodents.Methods: Knowledge, prevalence and pattern of use were determined using pre-tested questionnaire in clinically diagnosed patients whereas the anti-inflammatory activity was studied using xylene-induced mouse ear edema, carrageenan-induced rat paw edema, formaldehyde-induced arthritis in rats and cotton pellet granuloma test in rats.Results: The results showed that of the 164 respondents, 94.1% know about Shea butter and 59.6% have used it mainly as a massage ointment once or twice daily. However, 73.7% of the users combine this remedy with analgesics to achieve relief. The pharmacological tests showed that topical application of Shea butter inhibited acute edema of the mouse ear. Systemic oral administration caused significant (p<0.05) suppression of the development of systemic acute edema of the rat paw in a non-dose related manner. Twice daily topical application of Shea butter significantly (p<0.05) inhibited the edematous response to formaldehyde arthritis whereas once daily administration was not effective. Shea butter also caused a significant (p<0.05) non-dose related inhibition of granuloma tissue formation on implanted cotton pellets.Conclusions: These findings provide a scientific rationale for the use of Shea butter in treatment of disorders of inflammation in traditional medicine

Prevalence and associations of symptomatic renal papillary necrosis in sickle cell anemia patients in South‑Eastern Nigeria

Aim: To assess the prevalence and associations of symptomatic renal papillary necrosis (RPN) in sickle cell anemia patients.Patients and Methods: The case notes of homozygous hemoglobin (Hb) S patients diagnosed with RPN were retrospectively assessed. Diagnosis was based on microscopic hematuria and positive ultrasound findings. Their steady state diastolic blood pressure, Hb, leukocyte count, platelet count, serum direct bilirubin, and aspartate transaminase, were obtained by automated analyzers. These were evaluated for any relationship with the occurrence of RPN.Results: Two hundred and twenty patients were assessed aged 6–55 years with a median age of 24 years. The prevalence of symptomatic RPN was found to be 2.3%. RPN was positively associated with the female gender (Chi‑square P value 0.001), but not with any other clinical or laboratory variable. However, other predictors of disease severity were positively associated with RPN such as age, diastolic blood pressure 0.180 (P = 0.016), serum aspartate transaminase, serum bilirubin 0.145 (0.027), Hb, and leukocyte count − 0.155 (P = 0.003).Conclusion: The prevalence of symptomatic RPN is low in this group of homozygous S patients and occurs more commonly in females. Improvement in care for these patients will reduce these chronic complications.Keywords: Female gender, microscopic hematuria, renal papillary necrosis, sickle cell anemi

Health seeking behaviour and traditional management practices for symptoms of Onchocerciasis by residents of the Hawal River Valley, Nigeria

The health-care seeking behaviour of onchocerciasis infected residents of the Hawal River Valley; North Eastern Nigeria was investigated among 423 infected subjects using structured questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions and In-depth studies. The objectives of the investigationswere to determine the preferred forms of treatment and management practices for different symptoms of onchocerciasis. Result obtained showed that overall; self-medication (272%) was the most preferred form of treatment, followed by traditional healing or herbal treatment (251%) while visits to hospitals/clinics (128%) were the least preferred. %). The differences between thenumber of people seeking the various types of treatment was found satistically significant (p>0.05). Generally, the form of treatment sought depended on the particular symptoms. For example, whie 65.0% of those having musculoskeletal pains; 40.2% of those having pruritis and 34.8% of the visually impaired sought treatment from the drug hawkers/drug stores; none of those with LS, nodules, hydrocoele/elephantiasis and blindness patronised them. The symptoms forwhich treatment was sought most were musculoskeletal pains (467%) and pruritis (38.0%) and those for which least treatment were sought were leopard skin (1.3%) and blindness (1.3%). The result of the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) showed that screening of doors and windows was the most popular method (453%) of vector (Simulium) control. Personal hygiene (43.0%) and steam-bath (313%) were the most popular ways ofprevention and management of pruritis (craw-craw) respectively while no traditional medication was found potent for the treatment or reversal of severe visual lesion and blindness.Keywords: Health-care, Onchocerciasis, Treatment, Management, Blindnes

Effect of Root Extracts of Lantana camara (Verbenaceae) on Larvae of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

Larvicidal activity of three solvent root (bark and wood) extracts of Lantana camara Linn. was investigated against first and fourth instars of Aedes aegypti larvae after 24 and 48 h post-treatment exposure to serial concentrations (0.1, 0.05, 0.01, 0.005, 0.001 %) of aqueous, ethanolic and acetone crude extracts. All extracts showed varying degrees of larvicidal activity reported as LC50 and LC90 values. At 24 h post-treatment exposure of first instar larvae, larvicidal activities of acetone extract (LC50=0.011%; LC90=0.017%) was similar to the ethanolic extract (LC50=0.011%; LC90=0.023%) but differed from the aqueous extract (LC50=0.047%; LC90=0.056%). After 48 h treatment exposure of first instar larvae, acetone extracts (LC50=102 ppm or 0.0102%; LC90=162 ppm or 0.0162%) was significantly more toxic than either the ethanolic extract (LC50=107 ppm or 0.0107% ; LC90=216 ppm or 0.0216%) or aqueous extract (LC50=428 ppm or 0.0428%; LC90=548 ppm or 0.0548%). After 48 h treatment exposure of fourth instar larvae, acetone extracts (LC50=181 ppm or 0.0181%; LC90= 192 ppm or 0.0192%) exerted the most lethal effects, followed by ethanolic extract (LC50=225 ppm or 0.0225%) and aqueous extract (LC50=605 ppm or 0.0605% ; LC90= 710 ppm or 0.0710%). Sensitivity / susceptibility of larval instars to extracts appeared to be dose and developmental stage-dependent. Factorial analysis showed that extracts (F=0.044; df =2,36 ;

Formulated feed preference for survival and optimal growth of Bulinus species reared in the laboratory

Seventy-seven Bulinus snail species were fed for eight weeks with eleven diets consisting of different feed-formulations and vegetables. Snails reared exclusively on grower’s mash, corn fibre meal and fish meal did not survive for up to two weeks. The result from this investigation indicatesthat there isno signiicant difference in body growh gain between lettuce + blood meal, lettuce +groundnut fibre meal, blood meal, lettuce and cabbage. But they showed significant dfference withlettuce + corn fibre meal and lettuce + fish meal. It is therefore recommended that in a situation where lettuce which is well known as the snail’s food is not available as during the peak of rainy season, feeds like blood meal and cabbage can be used as viable substitutes for rearing experimental Bulinus snail species in the laboratory. Also, lettuce + blood meal has been shown bythis study as the best feed formulation for the optimal growth and development of Bulinus sp in thelaboratory.Keywords: Bulinus snail, Lettuce, Blood meal, Dietary formulations, Surviva