Cytotoxicity testing of aqueous extract of bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina Del) and sniper 1000EC (2,3 dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate) using the Alium cepa test

Background: The unrefined nature of the herbal preparations from Vernonia amygdalina (VA) and toxicity potentials of Sniper may both have severe consequences on the biochemical and genetic systems.Objectives: To assess the microscopic and macroscopic effects of these substances.Methods: VA leafs and Sniper were prepared and dissolved in distilled water to give different concentrations. Series of baseline tests were carried out to establish concentration range for root growth. Series of twelve onion bulbs of three per series was prepared, with a series of three onion bulbs serving as control. Chromosomal aberrations were statistically analysed using chisquared test. Root bundle mean length was obtained after 96 hours and EC50 values at 95% confidence interval was determined from a plot of root length against sample concentrations using Microsoft Excel software.Results: Total cytotoxic effect was induced by 2% sniper and 70% VA. EC50 for VA and sniper were 33.07 and 0.346 respectively. The two substances induced chromosomal aberrations and the effect was concentration dependent.Conclusion: There are risks of these widely used substances for therapeutic and environmental purposes.Keywords: Chromosomal aberrations, Sniper 1000EC, Vernonia amygdalina, toxicit

Cytotoxicity testing of aqueous extract of bitter leaf ( Vernonia amygdalina Del) and sniper 1000EC (2,3 dichlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate) using the Alium cepa test.

Background: The unrefined nature of the herbal preparations from Vernonia amygdalina (VA) and toxicity potentials of Sniper may both have severe consequences on the biochemical and genetic systems. Objectives: To assess the microscopic and macroscopic effects of these substances. Methods: VA leafs and Sniper were prepared and dissolved in distilled water to give different concentrations. Series of baseline tests were carried out to establish concentration range for root growth. Series of twelve onion bulbs of three per series was prepared, with a series of three onion bulbs serving as control. Chromosomal aberrations were statistically analysed using chi-squared test. Root bundle mean length was obtained after 96 hours and EC50 values at 95% confidence interval was determined from a plot of root length against sample concentrations using Microsoft Excel software. Results: Total cytotoxic effect was induced by 2% sniper and 70% VA. EC50 for VA and sniper were 33.07 and 0.346 respectively. The two substances induced chromosomal aberrations and the effect was concentration dependent. Conclusion: There are risks of these widely used substances for therapeutic and environmental purposes

A barcode of multilocus nuclear DNA identifies genetic relatedness in pre- and post-Artemether/Lumefantrine treated Plasmodium falciparum in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: The decline in the efficacy of artemisinin-based combination treatment (ACT) in some endemic regions threatens the progress towards global elimination of malaria. Molecular surveillance of drug resistance in malaria-endemic regions is vital to detect the emergence and spread of mutant strains. METHODS: We observed 89 malaria patients for the efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum infections in Lagos, Nigeria and determined the prevalence of drug resistant strains in the population. Parasite clearance rates were determined by microscopy and the highly sensitive var gene acidic terminal sequence (varATS) polymerase chain reaction for 65 patients with samples on days 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 after commencement of treatment. The genomic finger print of parasite DNA from pre- and post-treatment samples were determined using 24 nuclear single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) barcode for P. falciparum. Drug resistance associated alleles in chloroquine resistance transporter gene (crt-76), multidrug resistance genes (mdr1-86 and mdr1-184), dihydropteroate synthase (dhps-540), dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr-108) and kelch domain (K-13580) were genotyped by high resolution melt analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fragments. RESULTS: By varATS qPCR, 12 (18.5%) of the participants had detectable parasite DNA in their blood three days after treatment, while eight (12.3%) individuals presented with genotypable day 28 parasitaemia. Complexity of infection (CoI) was 1.30 on day 0 and 1.34 on day 28, the mean expected heterozygosity (HE) values across all barcodes were 0.50 ± 0.05 and 0.56 ± 0.05 on days 0 and 28 respectively. Barcode (π) pairwise comparisons showed high genetic relatedness of day 0 and day 28 parasite isolates in three (37.5%) of the eight individuals who presented with re-appearing infections. Crt-76 mutant allele was present in 38 (58.5%) isolates. The mdr1-86 mutant allele was found in 56 (86.2%) isolates. No mutation in the K-13580 was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Persistence of DNA-detectable parasitaemia in more than 18% of cases after treatment and indications of genetic relatedness between pre- and post-treatment infections warrants further investigation of a larger population for signs of reduced ACT efficacy in Nigeria

Susceptibility status of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) to Malathion in Lagos, Nigeria

Mosquitoes are major vectors of infectious diseases transmitting malaria,  lymphatic filariasis, yellow fever, dengue fever, zika and chikungunya virus.  Resistance to DDT, pyrethriods and carbamates has been reported to different mosquito species in Nigeria. This investigation was carried out to determine the susceptibility status of mosquitoes in Lagos State, Nigeria to malathion. Mosquito larva were collected from four different Local Government Areas of Lagos, and reared to adult. Female adult mosquitoes were exposed to 5 % malathion insecticide test papers using WHO standard procedures and kits. Species identification was done using PCR assay. Suspected resistance was observed in Cx. quinquefasciatus from Kosofe and Alimosho with 24 hour mortality of 96 % and 95 % respectively. Other mosquito species and Cx. quinquefasciatus from Badagry and  Ibeju-Lekki were fully susceptible 24 hours post exposure period. KDT50 and KDT95 for An. gambiae s.s ranges from 14.6 – 25.1 and 23.7 – 51.5 minutes respectively for all the location, KDT50 and KDT95 for Ae. aegypti ranges from 24.8 – 27.8 and 44.8 – 62.5 minutes respectively for all the location and KDT50 and KDT95 for Cx. quinquefasciatus ranges from 21.5 – 37.8 and 41.5 – 77.7 minutes respectively for all the location. The relatively high values of KDT50 and KDT95 in all assayed mosquito species call for urgent attention and may indicate the gradual development of malathion resistance to different mosquito species in Lagos. Regular insecticide resistance monitoring is needed and the indiscriminate use of unapproved organophosphate insecticides to be discouraged to forestall the development of malathion resistance in mosquitoes. Keywords: Mosquitoes, Insecticide resistance, Malathion, Organophosphates, Infectious disease

Soil-transmitted helminth infections among school aged children in Lagos State, Nigeria

An epidemiological investigation was carried out between February to July 2017 to investigate the prevalence of soil transmitted helminths (STHs) among primary school children aged 7 – 14 years in Lagos Island and Ajeromi-Ifelodun LGAs of Lagos State. The pupils were screened parasitologically for STHs, anthropometric data which includes the height (cm) and weight (kg) of each pupil were recorded using height scale and weighing balance respectively. Furthermore, questionnaires which probed into their knowledge of cause, symptoms, predisposing factors to infection, level of hygiene and sanitation of each respondent were administered. The parasitological examination of the 413 stool samples collected showed that 132(32%) were positive for STHs. The three STHs recorded were: Ascaris lumbricoides (50%), Trichuris trichiura (23%) and hookworm (3%). Co-infections prevalence of A. lumbricoides with T. trichiura and A. lumbricoides with hookworm were 23% and 1% respectively. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the prevalence of STHs among males and females, the prevalence between the two LGAs was significantly different (p<0.05). Prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting were 10, 24.2 and 19.4% respectively. Majority of sampled children indicated washing their hands before food (98.1%), washing of fruits before eating (70.8%), washing of hands after toilet (98.6%), but only 25% of them actually wash their hands properly with soap. The high prevalence and impact of STH infections among school children can be attributed to poor hygienic condition and low socio-economic status of residents in the study area. Education on proper hygiene habits and regular deworming exercise is recommended.Keywords: Soil transmitted helminths, School aged children, Anthropometric data, Co-infections, Wasting, Stuntin