Comparative Studies on the Larvicidal Action of Novaluron (Mosquiron® 100EC) and Moringa Oliefera (LAM) Seed Oil against Aedes Aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) Larvae

Inhibition of emergence (IE) by Novaluron (Mosquiron 100EC) and Moringaoliefera Lam.(Moringaceae) seed oil (MOSO) was assayed with first andfourth instar larvae of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) at ambientlaboratory conditions. graded concentration ranging from 3.125- 200ìg/mlincluding a control were tested. Four replicates of each concentration inRCBD were variously challenged with cohorts of 20 active larvae of a giveninstar. Mortality resulting from eclosion inhibition was recorded at 3-hourlyintervals for 12 hours, and data analysed using log/probit transformation.Results indicated dosage-related mortality differences. High concentrationof Novaluron gave 95% mortality of both 1st and 4th instars, while sublethal dosages resulted in 45 and 35% mortality of 1st and 4th instars, respectively. Exposure to Moringa oil resulted in 90 and 100% mortality of 1st and 4th instars, respectively, and sublethal dosages gave 30 and 25% mortality, respectively. Both toxicants showed significant (

Malaria Infection Among Blood Donors in Onitsha Urban, Southeast Nigeria

Blood safety is a major issue of global concern in transfusion medicine especially in developing countries, where national blood transfusion policies and services as well as financial resources are lacking or inadequate. Transfusion-transmitted malaria is a potential health hazard but is often neglected in many malarious areas. Malaria infection among blood donors in Onitsha urban, Southeast Nigeria was studied between August and October 2008. Venous blood of donors was screened for malaria parasites using Giemsa-stained thick and thin blood films. The ABO and Rhesus phenotypes were classified using a haemaglutination standard test and demographic data of donors documented. Of the 410 blood donors analysed, 304 (74.1%) were infected. Plasmodium falciparium was identified in all positive cases and mixed infection with P. malariae was seen in 5(1.6%) cases. Infection significantly varied with age and not with sex and occupation (

Parasites Associated with Sachet Drinking Water (Pure Water) in Awka, South-Eastern, Nigeria

A study to ascertain the parasites associated with sachet drinking water, (popularly called “Pure Water” in Nigeria), in Awka, capital of Anambra State, southeast Nigeria was conducted. This was in order to determine the safety and suitability of such water for human consumption. Sachet water is a major source of drinking water for low and middle class Nigerians. The increase in demand of this water has led to the proliferation of industries in this sector, because of the economic benefits derivable from the sale. Samples of differently packaged sachet drinking water were purchased from producers, distributors, marketers and hawkers. Samples were observed macroscopically and pH tested. Using a sterile syringe, 10mls of water was taken from each sample and centrifuged at 2,500rpm per minute. Sediments observed were placed on a glass slide and observed microscopically using x10 and x40 objective lens for a possible parasite ova or cyst. The surface of each sachet of the packaged drinking water was also washed thoroughly and the resulting water was centrifuged and observed microscopically. All the tested water samples met the W.H.O. recommended standard, of being colorless, tasteless, odourless with average pH of 6.93. No parasites were found in the water in the sachets but some parasites were found on the surfaces of the sachets. The surface of the sachets of the packaged water purchased from hawkers had the highest number of parasites {15 (41.7%)}. Identified parasites include cysts of Ascaris lumbricoides (5.6%), Entamoeba histolytica (4.6%), hookworm (2.8), Trichuris trichuria (2.8%) and Giardia lamblia cysts (1.9%). Hawkers possibly play a very significant role (χ2 = 20.21, df =2,

Intestinal parasitosis and shigellosis among diarrheal patients in Gondar teaching hospital, northwest Ethiopia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Diarrheal diseases are the major causes of morbidity and mortality in developing world. Understanding the etiologic agents of diarrheal diseases and their association with socio-demographic characteristics of patients would help to design better preventive measures. Thus, this study was aimed to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites and enteropathogenic bacteria in diarrheic patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional study involving 384 consecutive diarrheal patients who visited Gondar teaching hospital, Gondar, Ethiopia from October 2006 to March 2007 was conducted. Stool specimens were collected and examined for intestinal parasites and enteropathogenic bacteria following standard parasitological and microbiological procedures.</p> <p><b><it>Results</it></b></p> <p>Intestinal parasites were diagnosed in 36.5% of the patients. The most frequently encountered protozoan parasite was <it>Entamoeba histolytica/dispar </it>(7.3%) followed by <it>Giardia lamblia </it>(5.0%), C<it>ryptosporidium parvum </it>(1.8%) and <it>Isospora belli </it>(1.3%). The dominant helminthic parasite identified was <it>Ascaris lumbricoides </it>(5.5%) followed by <it>Strongyloides stercoralis </it>and <it>Schistosoma mansoni </it>(3.1% each), hookworm infection (1.8%), and <it>Hymenolepis </it>species (1.3%). Multiple infections of intestinal parasites were also observed in 6.3% of the patients. Among the enteropathogenic bacteria <it>Shigella </it>and <it>Salmonella </it>species were isolated from 15.6% and 1.6%, respectively, of the patients. <it>Escherichia coli O57:H7 </it>was not found in any of the stool samples tested. Eighty eight percent and 83.3% of the <it>Shigella </it>and <it>Salmonella </it>isolates were resistant to one or more commonly used antibiotics, respectively.</p> <p>Intestinal parasitosis was higher in patients who live in rural area, in patients who were washing their hands after visiting toilet either irregularly with soap and without soap or not at all, in patients who used well and spring water for household consumption, and in patients who had nausea (<it>P </it>< 0.05). Statistically significant associations were also observed between Shigella infections and patients who were using well and spring water for household consumption, and patients who had dysentery and mucoid stool (<it>P </it>< 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The high prevalence of intestinal parasites and <it>Shigella </it>species in diarrheic patients calls for institution of appropriate public health intervention measures to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with these diseases. The rational use of antibiotics should also be practiced.</p

Some local beliefs on the causes of malaria in three rural areas of Enugu State, South-eastern Nigeria

A cross-sectional survey amongst 28 rural health workers from Nkanu West, Uzo-Uwani and Isi-Uzo Local Government Areas (LGAs) conducted within a workshop on the use of insecticide treated nets in the preventive control of malaria. The aim was to identify some local beliefs on the causes of malaria in the LGAs. Each participant was requested to compile a list of these beliefs encountered in the communities under his health catchment area. The individual lists were pooled to produce a single list for each LGA. The LGA lists were further combined to produce a grand list. Items on the grand list were classified into seven groups based on similarity of beliefs as follows: lifestyle (7 items), food (6), exposure (4), drinks (3), heredity (2), superstition 91) and biological (1). These depicted a gross unawareness to the causes of malaria. Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol. 25, 2004: 45-4

Intestinal Parasitosis Among Unicef Primary School Pupils Of Isingwu Oraifite Ekwusigo Local Government Area, Southeastern Nigeria

No Abstract

Field epidemiologic observations on human activities that promote the breeding of yellow fever mosquitoes in some parts of Nigeria

No Abstract. The Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol. 22(1&2) 2001: 143-14

Miracidial infectivity of snail host (Bulinus truncatus) in the laboratory

Miracidial infectivity rate of snail Bulinus truncatus collected from Agulu Lake was studied in the laboratory. The snails were maintained in the laboratory and eggs deposited were allowed to hatch and dates noted until snails of different ages were produced. These snails were consequently exposed to miracidia hatched from eggs collected from urine of patients known to have active S. haematobium infections. Infection of snails in the laboratory showed that the miracidia can penetrate snail of any age. For the snails of ages 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks, 15 (60%), 13 (52%), 12 (48%) and 14 (56%) miracidia respectively penetrated. The study showed that 54 out of 100 (54%) of miracidia penetrated the snail Bulinus truncatus while 46 out of 100 (46%) miracidia did not penetrate the snail species. Penetration was found to be independent of the age of snail (÷² = 7.8, df=3). The implication of the findings to the effort of the disease control is discussed. Keywords: Bulinus truncatus, miracidia, age of snail, S. haematobium, laboratory. Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol. 29 (2) 2008: pp. 77-7

Yellow fever vectors’ surveillance in three satellite communities of Enugu Municipality, Nigeria

Outbreaks of yellow fever have continued to occur in various parts of Nigeria. Between 1985 and 2000, sporadic outbreaks have plagued some parts of Oyo, Ekiti, Delta, Imo, Anambra, Cross River, Lagos and Benue States of Nigeria. In addition to favourable environmental factors encouraging the development and spread of the viraemia, there is preponderance of Aedes mosquito vector populations, animal reservoir hosts and high number of non-immune human populations, which do not easily render themselves to vector and environmental management strategies. Regular vector surveillance to detect warning signs posed by vector activities and regular immunization of non-immune human populations have remained a reliable method of abating yellow fever outbreaks. In consequence, yellow fever vectors surveillance has been undertaken in three satellite villages (Obe, Nkalagu and Uwani-Uboji) of Enugu Municipality. Four immunized volunteers were used to collect adultvectors, while locally adapted CDC (Centre for Disease Control) ovitraps were used to collect their eggs. Also, house inspection to detect the breeding index of vector populations in and around the houses was undertaken. Results of house inspections in the three communities showed that out of sixty (60) houses visited, 385 containers were found with water, 221 (57.6%) water containers had Aedes larvae with Uwani-Uboji and Obe communities having 83.5% and 53.8% of their water containers withAedes larvae. For the ovitraps, Nkalagu had an average of 22 eggs per trap. There were high numbers of Aedes africanus adults in the human bait collections at Obe and Uwani-Uboji communities. Aedes albopictus was amongst other mosquito species collected

Breeding of Aedes albopictus Skuse (Diptera: Culicidae) in water-holding containers around residential houses in Enugu, south-eastern Nigeria

Mosquito annoyance in buildings used for both commercial and residential purposes along Chime Avenue in the New Haven area of Enugu metropolis was investigated between June and August 2005. Twelve hours’ collectionof adult mosquitoes, with humans acting as baits, was employed for the study. Environmental inspection and collection of larvae in the water-holding containers around the buildings were used to study the breeding sites of the mosquitoes. A total of 73 adult mosquitoes, made up of Aedes albopictus (76.71%) and A. aegypti (23.29%) were collected through human-baited collections. A plot of hourly collections revealed two major peaks corresponding to the feeding periods in the morning and late afternoon hours. Graphic representation of hourly collections of A.albopictus trailed very closely to the total hourly collections. 207 larvae, made up of A. albopictus (84.54%) and A. aegypti (15.46%) were collected. Except for two larvae collected from water collections in a polythene sheet, A. albopictus were collected exclusively from water collections in fairly used heavy-duty vehicle tyres displayed in the open for sale in front of the buildings. The need for a strict surveillance and control is suggested to protect human lives from this fast-colonizer, avid-biter and highly anthropophilic mosquitoes