Epidemiology, Prevalence And Diagnosis Of Falciparum Malaria With The Molecular Surveillance For Antimalarial Drug Resistant Gene Markers In Akure, Nigeria

Malaria is a devastating parasitic disease of major public health problem worldwide, particularly in sub-Saharan African countries where Nigeria accounts for the highest burden of malaria disease. Currently, information on the epidemiology, diagnosis and prevalence of antimalarial drug resistant gene markers upon which malaria management and control could be based is scarce, particularly in Akure, Nigeria. Therefore, a randomized cross-sectional and hospital-based study was conducted to investigate the epidemiology and diagnosis of falciparum malaria and the molecular surveillance for antimalarial drug resistant gene markers in Akure, Nigeria. A total of 601 blood samples were collected from volunteered participants and examined through standard parasitological techniques of microscopy examination, rapid diagnostic test (RDT), nested polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR), and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). The participants information such as demographic, socioeconomic and environmental variables were collected through a structured and pre-tested questionnaire

Pattern of malaria parasitaemia in a high transmission setting of Oba-Ile, Akure North, southwestern Nigeria

Malaria is an infectious disease of major public health importance worldwide. This study was carried out to investigate the malaria parasitaemia in a high transmission setting of Oba-Ile, Akure North Local Government Area (LGA), Ondo State, Nigeria. Thick and thin blood smeared slides were prepared and examined under the light microscope. Out of 210 individuals examined, 148(70.50 %) were positive for malaria infection. The infection pattern among age groups revealed that the highest (84.61 %) and the lowest (66.67 %) infection rate were observed among age group 6 – 10 years and 5 years and below respectively. No significant difference (p>0.05) occurred between age-related malaria infection. Additionally, male had the highest (75.89 %) prevalence of infection compared to their female counterpart (64.28 %) though significant difference (p>0.05) did not occur. Parasite densities vary significantly (p<0.05) across age group and sex. The highest (4428 parasite/µl of blood) and lowest (824 parasite/µl of blood) parasite density was recorded among age group ≥ 21 years and ≤ 5 years respectively. Similarly, male significantly (p<0.05) had the highest parasite density (6484 parasite/µl  of blood) compared to their female counterpart (4316 parasite/µl of blood). Furthermore, prevalence of malaria infection varied significantly (p<0.05) with respect to occupation and income. This study revealed that malaria is prevalent in Oba-Ile. Thus, appropriate intervention programme should be designed to curtail the disease. Keyword: Malaria, Parasite density, Parasitaemia, Plasmodium  falciparum, Oba-Ile, Nigeria&nbsp

Prevalence of Malaria and COVID-19 Infection in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria

Introduction. The prevalence of malaria and coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is highly devastating and has led to a serious public health challenge worldwide. In order to ensure proper control and elimination, the State Ministry of Health (MoH) Ondo State, Nigeria conducted medical examinations in Iju/Itaogbolu, Igoba, and Ogbese Health centers to identify and confirm cases of COVID-19 and malaria infection. This study provides the outcome of the epidemiological investigation of the prevalence of COVID-19 and malaria in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria. Method. The study was a hospital-based secondary data analysis comprising of 11,389 and 682 individuals who visited various health centers in Akure North Local Government Area (LGA) for medical examinations on malaria and COVID-19, respectively. The COVID-19 cases were investigated using the fluid sample collected with a nasal swab or a throat swab, or spit of saliva into a tube and confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 (PfHRP2) RDT was employed to detect the P.falciparum antigen among participants’ blood samples. Results. The total prevalence of malaria and COVID-19 were 67.6% and 12.4%, respectively. Meanwhile, the month of September recorded the highest malaria prevalence of 81.8% while the month of April recorded the least malaria prevalence of 56.4%. Similarly, the highest case of COVID-19 (18.8%) was recorded in the month of November while the least case (2.4%) was recorded in the month of April (p0.05). Apparently, the children were more infected with malaria parasites while adults were more infected with COVID-19. Conclusion. Conclusively, malaria and COVID-19 infections were prevalent in the study area. Thus, the people should be enlightened on the deadly risk of malaria and COVID-19 through the health workers, social media, and the community leaders to ensure compliance with appropriate preventive measures

Performance Evaluation of Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (Nested PCR), Light Microscopy, and <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> Histidine-Rich Protein 2 Rapid Diagnostic Test (PfHRP2 RDT) in the Detection of Falciparum Malaria in a High-Transmission Setting in Southwestern Nigeria

Malaria remains a major public health challenge worldwide. In order to ensure a prompt and accurate malaria diagnosis, the World Health Organization recommended the confirmatory parasitological diagnosis of malaria by microscopy and malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT) prior to antimalarial administration and treatment. This study was designed to evaluate the performance of nested polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR), light microscopy, and Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 rapid diagnostic test (PfHRP2 RDT) in the detection of falciparum malaria in Akure, Nigeria. A cross-sectional and hospital-based study involving 601 febrile volunteer participants was conducted in Akure, Nigeria. Approximately 2–3 mL venous blood samples were obtained from each study participant for parasitological confirmation by microscopy and PfHRP2-based malaria RDT. Thick and thin films were prepared and viewed under the light microscope for parasite detection, parasite density quantification, and species identification, respectively. Dry blood spot samples were prepared on 3MM Whatman filter paper for nested PCR. The overall prevalence of microscopy, PfHRP2 RDT, and nested PCR were 64.89% (390/601), 65.7% (395/601), and 67.39% (405/601), respectively. The estimates of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, accuracy, and Youden’s j index of microscopy and RDT were 96.30, 100.00, 100.00, 92.89, 97.50, 0.963, and 95.06, 94.90, 97.47, 90.29, 95.01, and 0.899, respectively. Malaria RDT recorded higher false negativity, compared microscopy (4.94% vs. 3.70%). A near perfect agreement was reported between microscopy and nested PCR, and between PfHRP2 RDT and nested PCR with Cohen’s kappa (k) values of 0.94 and 0.88, respectively. This study revealed that PfHRP2 RDT and microscopy continues to remain sensitive and specific for falciparum malaria diagnosis in the study area

First Molecular Identification of <i>Caligus clemensi</i> on Cultured Crimson Snapper <i>Lutjanus erythropterus</i> on Jerejak Island, Penang, Peninsular Malaysia

Fish parasites such as Caligus clemensi are a serious concern for cultured fish in many regions of the world, including Malaysia. This study was designed to elucidate the parasites’ prevalence and intensity coupled with the morphology and molecular identification of C. clemensi on cultured Lutjanus erythropterus in Jerejak Island, Penang, Peninsular Malaysia. The study was carried out on 200 fish specimens of cultured L. erythropterus obtained from the GST group aquaculture farm. Parasites were collected from the infested part of L. erythropterus fish, and their prevalence and intensity were determined. The parasites were identified morphologically using a field emission scanning electron microscope. Molecular studies were performed through PCR amplification and sequencing. MEGA 5 was used to construct a phylogenetic tree using the pairwise distance method. The results showed that only the C. clemensi parasite was found prevalent on L. erythropterus fish with a prevalence and mean intensity (S.D) of 198 (99%) and 36.4 ± 12.2, respectively. The prevalence varied significantly with respect to fish length (p C. clemensi with the accession number DQ123833.1. Conclusively, C. clemensi remains a major parasite of L. erythropterus in the study area