Molluscicidal Effects of Talinum triangulare on Bulinus truncatus

The molluscicidal effects of Talinum triangulare from two locations in Nigeria on Bulinus truncatus were studied in the laboratory. Snails were exposed for 96h to different concentrations of ethanolic extract of the plant root from Nsukka in Enugu State and Erei in Cross River State, Nigeria. Those in dechlorinated water served as control. On coming in contact with the test medium, the snails reacted by speedily crawling out of the containers. Exposure of snails to Talinum triangulare concentrations of less than 300ppm showed only ovicidal activity while varying numbers of those exposed to 300ppm died as the exposure time increased. The control group recorded no effects. Snail recovery was only observed in concentrations less than 300ppm. The LC50 of the plant root extract from Nsukka in Enugu State and Erei in Cross River State decreased (ranging from 505-251ppm) as exposure time increased. The molluscicidal activities (LC50) of the ethanolic plant root extracts from the two locations were not significantly different (p> 0.05). The ethanolic plant root extracts of T. triangulare may be a potential molluscicide in schistosomiasis control.Key words: Molluscicide, Talinium triangulare, Bulinus truncatus, Schistosomiasis

Studies on the morphometric characteristics of the Simulium damnosum complex in Uzo-Uwani, Enugu State, Nigeria

Studies on the morphometric characteristics of the Simulium vectors of onchocerciasis were carried out in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area (LGA), Enugu State, Nigeria, between September 2008 and January 2009, with the objectives of identifying the sibling species present in the area and comparing the result obtained with cytological studies earlier done in the area. It was also meant to relate fly types with the types of onchocerciasis present in the area. The Simulium flies were collected using human baits. Seventy-five (75) flies were subjected to morphometric examinations. The thorax length, antenna length, wing length, wing width and femur length were measured and the data obtained were transformed into ratios. The morphometric studies on the Simulium damnosum populations in Nkpologu showed a higher abundance of savanna flies (54) than forest flies (21) among those sampled. The classification was done using the thorax length/antenna length (TL/AL) ratio. Discriminate function analysis revealed that 96.0% of originally grouped cases were correctly classified. The result agreed with cytotaxonomic studies on Simulium done in the area which showed predominance of savanna flies. The implications of the results are discussed

ACORN (A Clinically-Oriented Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network) II: protocol for case based antimicrobial resistance surveillance

Background: Antimicrobial resistance surveillance is essential for empiric antibiotic prescribing, infection prevention and control policies and to drive novel antibiotic discovery. However, most existing surveillance systems are isolate-based without supporting patient-based clinical data, and not widely implemented especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: A Clinically-Oriented Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (ACORN) II is a large-scale multicentre protocol which builds on the WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System to estimate syndromic and pathogen outcomes along with associated health economic costs. ACORN-healthcare associated infection (ACORN-HAI) is an extension study which focuses on healthcare-associated bloodstream infections and ventilator-associated pneumonia. Our main aim is to implement an efficient clinically-oriented antimicrobial resistance surveillance system, which can be incorporated as part of routine workflow in hospitals in LMICs. These surveillance systems include hospitalised patients of any age with clinically compatible acute community-acquired or healthcare-associated bacterial infection syndromes, and who were prescribed parenteral antibiotics. Diagnostic stewardship activities will be implemented to optimise microbiology culture specimen collection practices. Basic patient characteristics, clinician diagnosis, empiric treatment, infection severity and risk factors for HAI are recorded on enrolment and during 28-day follow-up. An R Shiny application can be used offline and online for merging clinical and microbiology data, and generating collated reports to inform local antibiotic stewardship and infection control policies. Discussion: ACORN II is a comprehensive antimicrobial resistance surveillance activity which advocates pragmatic implementation and prioritises improving local diagnostic and antibiotic prescribing practices through patient-centred data collection. These data can be rapidly communicated to local physicians and infection prevention and control teams. Relative ease of data collection promotes sustainability and maximises participation and scalability. With ACORN-HAI as an example, ACORN II has the capacity to accommodate extensions to investigate further specific questions of interest

Molluscicidal Effects of Talinum triangulare on Bulinus truncatus

The molluscicidal effects of Talinum triangulare from two locations in Nigeria on Bulinus truncatus were studied in the laboratory. Snails were exposed for 96h to different concentrations of ethanolic extract of the plant root from Nsukka in Enugu State and Erei in Cross River State, Nigeria. Those in dechlorinated water served as control. On coming in contact with the test medium, the snails reacted by speedily crawling out of the containers. Exposure of snails to Talinum triangulare concentrations of less than 300ppm showed only ovicidal activity while varying numbers of those exposed to 300ppm died as the exposure time increased. The control group recorded no effects. Snail recovery was only observed in concentrations less than 300ppm. The LC50 of the plant root extract from Nsukka in Enugu State and Erei in Cross River State decreased (ranging from 505-251ppm) as exposure time increased. The molluscicidal activities (LC50) of the ethanolic plant root extracts from the two locations were not significantly different (p> 0.05). The ethanolic plant root extracts of T. triangulare may be a potential molluscicide in schistosomiasis control.Key words: Molluscicide, Talinium triangulare, Bulinus truncatus, Schistosomiasis

Reassessment of Onchocerciasis prevalence in Etteh, Nigeria, after a decade of mass mectizan chemotherapeutic intervention: Preliminary report

Areassessment of the prevalence of onchocerciasiswas carried out in Etteh community in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu state, Nigeria. The community has been known to be highly endemic for onchocerciasis. The assessment of endemicity was based on Rapid Assessment Method (RAM), which involved the use of two onchocercal indices namely the presence of palpable nodules and depigmentation (Leopard skin). Out o the 716 individuals examined consisting of 327 males and 389 females, the overal prevalence of palpable onchocercal nodules was 51.4%. The females had insignificanty (P>0.05) higher rate of onchocercomata (51.9%) than males (44.0%). The anatomical distribution of nodules in descending order of occurrence was pelvic regon (26.3%), head and neck regon (20.6%), thorax and lumbar (15.7%), upper limbs (14.5%), lower limbs (12.4%) and others (abdomen and shoulders, 5.9%). It is obvious that in spite of the decade-longannual free distribution of Mectizan in the area, onchocerciasis prevalence is still high.Keywords: Onchocerciasis, Mectizan, Reassessment, Nodules, Chemotherap

Epidemiology of road traffic accidents in Owerri, Imo state, south east Nigeria

Objectives: This study was designed as a retrospective, descriptive epidemiological analysis of cases of road traffic accidents (RTA) in Owerri within a four-year period 2006-2009.Method and Materials: One hundred and ninety five case notes of RTA patients treated at Federal Medical Centre, Owerri were retrieved from the Medical Records department and relevant data were obtained. Simple statistical terms like mean, median, were used to analyze the result.Results: Out of the 195 cases of road traffic accidents, 140(71.8%) were males. The highest proportion of cases occurred in the age group 20-29 years with a mean age occurrence of 39.7+17.1 years. The highest occurrence was recorded on Saturdays (17.95%) and in the month of July (12.8%). The “ember” months of September to December recorded the highest single proportion of accident cases (42.1%). The lower limb was the most frequently affected body part while the neck was the least.Conclusion: The study suggests that road traffic Accident remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in Owerri and young male individuals are at a higher risk than females and the elderly. The public health implication of this is discussed

Pattern of lipid profiles in hiv seropositive subjects on antiretroviral therapy

No Abstract

Case report - Lassa Fever Mimicking Ectopic Pregnancy: A Report Of Three Cases

No Abstrac