11 research outputs found
Cryptosporidium Infection in Undernourished Children with HIV/AIDS in Jos, Nigeria
Background: AIDS and Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) severely
impair the immune system Cryptosporidium has over the last two
decades emerged as a life threatening disease. The study attempts to
determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in malnourished
children with HIV/AIDS. Method: Blood and stool samples of 52
HIV-seropositive children and another 52 HIV-sero-negative children
aged 0-5 years were collected and screened for HIV and Cryptosporidium
oocysts respectively. The sera were screened by double ELISA and the
stool by the modified Ziehl-Neelsen method. Results: Out of the 52
HIV-seropositive undernourished, under-five children, none (0%)
excreted Cryptosporidium oocyst in their stools while 2 (3.8%) of the
control group excreted the oocyst. Conclusion: Cryptosporidium
infection seems to be uncommon among undernourished under five children
with HIV/AIDS in Jos
Hepatitis C Virus Antibodies Among Blood Donors in Jos, Nigeria
Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the hepatitis agents
known to be transmitted through blood and blood products. Hepatitis C
virus has been implicated as a major cause of chronic liver disease and
hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide. This study was, therefore,
undertaken with the objective of determining the sero-prevalence of HCV
antibodies among blood donors in the central city of Jos, Nigeria.
Method: A total of two hundred blood donors were recruited from three
hospitals within Jos metropolis. Sera from all subjects were tested for
Hepatitis C virus antibodies using a second generation enzyme linked
immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Ninety five percent (95%)of the
blood donors were males and most of them were aged between 21 and
50years. Twelve (6.0%)of the blood donors were anti-HCV seropositive
and all of them males. Conclusion: There is an urgent need to
introduce routine screening of blood donors for Hepatitis C virus
markers in centers where this is not currently been practiced. This
will reduce the risk of transfusion-associated hepatitis C infection
and its complications in Nigeria
Understanding the Phylogenetics and Evolution of Genus Schistosoma- Africa and Asia Stand Point.
The evolutionary spread of schistosomes infection was reportedly prominent more in Africa
and Asia continents. This study therefore examined the evolutionary trend of this parasite
while limiting the investigation to Schistosoma species peculiar to this region of the world.
The evolutionary history of this species group was inferred using DNA sequences from
NCBI Genbank database and Maximum likelihood, Ancestral inference; Neighbor-Joining
method analysis was employed in this study. All members of this species complex were AT
rich, with S. mekongi and S. malayensis having the highest AT nucleotide composition. The
smallest evolutionary divergence was also observed in S. curassoni and S. bovis. The
finding of this study slightly contradict previous report on ancestral prediction of
Schistosomes
HEPATITIS C VIRUS ANTIBODIES AMONG BLOOD DONORS IN JOS, NIGERIA
Abstract Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the hepatitis agents known to be transmitted through blood and blood products. Hepatitis C virus has been implicated as a major cause of chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide. This study was, therefore, undertaken with the objective of determining the sero-prevalence of HCV antibodies among blood donors in the central city of Jos, Nigeria. Method: A total of two hundred blood donors were recruited from three hospitals within Jos metropolis. Sera from all subjects were tested for Hepatitis C virus antibodies using a second generation enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Ninety five percent (95%)of the blood donors were males and most of them were aged between 21 and 50years. Twelve (6.0%)of the blood donors were anti-HCV seropositive and all of them males. Conclusion: There is an urgent need to introduce routine screening of blood donors for Hepatitis C virus markers in centers where this is not currently been practiced. This will reduce the risk of transfusion-associated hepatitis C infection and its complications in Nigeria