Dengue fever in Nigeria: a mini review

Dengue is a disease caused by dengue virus. It is a major mosquito-borne viral disease of humans that is endemic in areas of tropical and subtropical regions, which are environmentally suitable for vector propagation. The disease poses a major threat to the overwhelmed and weak public healthcare delivery system in the developing world, especially in Africa where febrile illnesses are common. The disease undermines the fight against febrile illnesses as infection with dengue often remains undetected or misdiagnosed as malaria or other febrile diseases. This review article highlights dengue epidemiology in Nigeria, dengue transmission dynamics, pathogenesis, diagnosis and current interventions strategies, challenges in addressing dengue infection and future prospects towards dengue elimination. The literature search for publications on dengue virus infection in Nigeria was performed using Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, African Journals Online and other scholarly online databases. Dengue remains a threat to Nigeria and other African countries. In Nigeria, the occurrence of this infection remains a low priority in the public health sector even though it has been reported in about 17 states across the country. The reports of dengue infection in all the geo-political zones suggests active transmission of dengue, hence the need to consider other etiologies of febrile illnesses and engage the public to sustain local involvement as local risk to dengue outbreaks is linked to the population’s knowledge, attitude and behavioral practices that encourage vector breedin

Antimicrobial resistance as a global public health threat: the way forward

Increased antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of bacterial and fungal pathogens pose a significant threat to public health, as it reduces the effectiveness of antibiotic and other antimicrobial drugs, making the control of infections difficult or almost impossible. This condition arises when microorganisms evolve and develop adaptive mechanisms to withstand the effects of the drugs which are designed to kill them. The emergence and spread of these antimicrobial pathogens that have acquired new resistance mechanisms continue to endanger and undermine efforts to treat common infections. As a result, an increase in morbidity and mortality due to bacterial and fungal infections has been observed with a ripple effect of economic hardship. The primary drivers of AMR include misuse and abuse in human, animal and the environment. To address this threat, it is important to have a good understanding of the cause, consequences, as well as the potential control strategies. Due to the cause and nature of AMR, a multidisciplinary approach is necessary in combating the threat posed by this condition. Some of the strategies through which AMR can be combatted include public health awareness, proper antibiotic use, accurate diagnosis, and research into the development of newer antimicrobial agents and alternative treatments. Additionally, the use of improved surveillance and monitoring systems are important in tracking patterns of resistance and provide guide towards the development of effective intervention strategies. Hence, this review focused on bacterial and fungal resistance to increase awareness and the way forward on this growing threat to human existenc

Serological and Molecular Survey for Dengue Virus Infection in Suspected Febrile Patients in Selected Local Government Areas in Adamawa State, Nigeria

Dengue is a disease caused by the dengue virus that is primarily transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Currently, the disease poses a threat to public health, with about 390 million people reported to be infected annually across the endemic regions of the world. In Nigeria, the disease is under-reported and often misdiagnosed as malaria. This study was designed to conduct a serological and molecular survey for dengue virus infection in febrile patients in three Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Adamawa State, Nigeria, from September through December 2020. Serum samples from 424 patients were analysed by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (CALBIOTECH, Dengue Virus IgM ELISA). Thick and thin smear microscopic techniques were used to determine the presence of malaria parasites. Overall, 19.4% patients were sero-positive for dengue in the three study locations. A total of 11%, 14.5% and 12.3% participants were found to be co-infected with dengue and malaria in Mubi, Jimeta and Numan, respectively. The CDC DENV1-4 RT-PCR Assay reagent was used for serotype-specific detection and identification of circulating serotypes. From the ELISA-positive samples, 11 (2.6%) cases were confirmed to be dengue serotype 1 by Real-Time PCR and sequencing and were found to be in circulation in all the three study areas. With an overall sero-prevalence of 19.4%, dengue virus infection may be one of the major causes of febrile illnesses across the study locations; hence, public healthcare professionals should not neglect other aetiologies of febrile illnesses and the need to conduct laboratory diagnoses to determine the possible causes of febrile illnesses

PHARMACOLOGICAL AND MEDICINAL ACTIVITIES OF RESURRECTION PLANTS

Resurrection plants are special kinds of plants in that they can survive almost complete desiccation from their vegetative parts. They do so by shutting down their metabolic systems to tolerate dehydration and the plants are obviously lifeless. In the recent past, invaluable bioactive compounds from resurrection plants have attracted much attention cognizance of their potential application in medicine. Some of these metabolites are reported to have antibacterial, anticancer, antifungal, and antiviral biological effectiveness. In this review article, particular emphases are made on pharmacological and medicinal applications of some resurrection plants

Arbovirus researchers unite: expanding genomic surveillance for an urgent global need

International audienc