Public Health, Socioeconomic Responses, and associated Challenges against Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic in Nigeria

For over 6 months of its emergence, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, has resulted to unprecedented global health challenge and economic uncertainties. The pandemic swiftly disseminated to almost all the countries and territories of the world. The index case in Nigeria was imported by an Italian citizen on February 27, 2020. Typical of a novel respiratory tract viral infection, the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Nigeria was slow in the first few days. However, as at 8:00 AM GMT+1, July 1, 2020, there were 25694 confirmed COVID-19 cases. With the continuous daily rise in the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, enhanced surveillance programs were immediately activated and implemented in all parts of Nigeria. Even though an inadequate number of persons have been tested so far, the government of Nigeria has been activating public health laboratories to scale up its testing capacity. Due to the impact of partial lockdown and curfew in most states of Nigeria, the government has been able to provide some form of palliatives to vulnerable populations. This study aims to review and present the various public health and socioeconomic responses and challenges of the COVID19 pandemic in Nigeria. This reflects the efforts and successful steps taken to minimize the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria. &nbsp

Prevalence and risk factors associated with Giardia lamblia infection among cattle from Jere local government area of Borno state, Northeastern Nigeria

This study was designed to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of Giardia lamblia infection among cattle in Jere local government area (LGA) of Borno State, Northeastern Nigeria. A total of 279 faecal samples were randomly collected from 12 cattle herds of the six wards of Jere LGA. The samples were screened for Giardia lamblia antigens with Copro-antigen Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kit. Risk factors were analyzed using Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test where appropriate, and multivariable logistic regression. The overall prevalence of Giardia lamblia infection among cattle was 5.7% (95% CI = 3.20, 8.60). Location-specific prevalence of 5.4% (95% CI = 1.1, 9.8), 4.3% (95% CI = 0.0, 10.6), 4.3% (95% CI = 0.0, 10.6), 8.7% (95% CI = 0.0, 21.7), 6.4% (95% CI = 0.0, 14.9) and 8.7% (95% CI = 0.0, 21.7) for Old Maiduguri, Khaddamari, Bale Galtimari, Mashamari, Maimusari and Dusuman wards were respectively detected among the cattle herds. Multivariable logistic regression model revealed that Giardia lamblia positivity among cattle could be strongly predicted by age (Young cattle ≤ 1 year; OR = 32.0; 95% CI = 8.40, 120.13; p < 0.0001). The even spread of the infection among cattle throughout the wards could be described as endemic in Jere LGA suggesting high risk potential for infection of cattle handlers from calves. Therefore, further studies on genetic characterization to determine the incriminating assemblage as well as public enlightenment of cattle handlers on the public health significance of giardiasis in the study area was recommended

Humoral immunological kinetics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection and diagnostic performance of serological assays for coronavirus disease 2019: an analysis of global reports

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to rise and second waves are reported in some countries, serological test kits and strips are being considered to scale up an adequate laboratory response. This study provides an update on the kinetics of humoral immune response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and performance characteristics of serological protocols (lateral flow assay [LFA], chemiluminescence immunoassay [CLIA] and ELISA) used for evaluations of recent and past SARS-CoV-2 infection. A thorough and comprehensive review of suitable and eligible full-text articles was performed on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Wordometer and medRxiv from 10 January to 16 July 2020. These articles were searched using the Medical Subject Headings terms 'COVID-19', 'Serological assay', 'Laboratory Diagnosis', 'Performance characteristics', 'POCT', 'LFA', 'CLIA', 'ELISA' and 'SARS-CoV-2'. Data from original research articles on SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection >= second day postinfection were included in this study. In total, there were 7938 published articles on humoral immune response and laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19. Of these, 74 were included in this study. The detection, peak and decline period of blood anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM, IgG and total antibodies for point-of-care testing (POCT), ELISA and CLIA vary widely. The most promising of these assays for POCT detected anti-SARS-CoV-2 at day 3 postinfection and peaked on the 15th day; ELISA products detected anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG at days 2 and 6 then peaked on the eighth day; and the most promising CLIA product detected anti-SARS-CoV-2 at day 1 and peaked on the 30th day. The most promising LFA, ELISA and CLIA that had the best performance characteristics were those targeting total SARS-CoV-2 antibodies followed by those targeting anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG then IgM. Essentially, the CLIA-based SARS-CoV-2 tests had the best performance characteristics, followed by ELISA then POCT. Given the varied performance characteristics of all the serological assays, there is a need to continuously improve their detection thresholds, as well as to monitor and re-evaluate their performances to assure their significance and applicability for COVID-19 clinical and epidemiological purposes

Leveraging on the genomics and immunopathology of SARS-CoV-2 for vaccines development: prospects and challenges

The incidence and case-fatality rates (CFRs) of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, the etiological agent for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), have been rising unabated. Even though the entire world has been implementing infection prevention and control measures, the pandemic continues to spread. It has been widely accepted that preventive vaccination strategies are the public health measures for countering this pandemic. This study critically reviews the latest scientific advancement in genomics, replication pattern, pathogenesis, and immunopathology of SARS-CoV-2 infection and how these concepts could be used in the development of vaccines. We also offer a detailed discussion on the anticipated potency, efficacy, safety, and pharmaco-economic issues that are and will be associated with candidate COVID-19 vaccines