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,

Concomitant bacteria in the blood of malaria patients in Owerri, southeastern Nigeria

No Abstract

The use of herbs in malaria treatment in parts of Imo State, Nigeria

No Abstract

Addressing the social determinants of neglected tropical diseases to achieve their control and elimination

Neglected populations living in poverty and in areas highly marginalized by the health sector throughout the world (e.g., slum and shanty-town dwellers, numerous indigenous groups and small ethnic groups as well as the rural-poor including migratory workers in agriculture, miners, and fishers) are often heavily burdened by somewhat neglected diseases. Fortunately, some drugs developed and donated by pharmaceutical companies are now available for effective control of morbidity as well as reduction in the transmission of many of these neglected diseases. This work brings to focus the determinants, which have been found to be particularly important for the perpetuation of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in endemic communities: water and sanitation, housing and clustering, environment, migration, disasters and conflicts, socio-cultural factors and gender, and finally poverty. Notwithstanding the successes achieved by the international community in the use of drugs to control the neglected diseases, this paper is of the strong opinion that for sustainability of this programme, national and international communities should re-channel expenditures and activities also on preventive and promotive measures in addressing the issue of these determinants. These include (a) addressing safe and clean water supply, improved sanitation and household-related factors including personal hygiene (b) reducing environmental risk factors (c) improving the health of migrating populations (d) reducing inequity due to socio cultural factors and gender (e) reducing poverty in NTD-endemic populations. Addressing the social determinants related to NTDs is a direct way of gaining headway within public health and at the same time is a prerequisite for confronting inequities in NTD control.Keywords: NTDs, poverty, housing and clusterig disasters and conflict

Integrating women in disease management: Case of malaria

Malaria is still, despite the influx of new drugs in the market, the main killer of children below five years of age as well as presently adults. About one million deaths yearly in Africa, in children under five years, are attributed to malaria. Malaria is such a common disease in Nigeria that everybody claims to know how to manager it. The Nigeria market has many affordable drugs for the treatment of malaria and at the same time there is an increase in the use of herbs, or local concoctions said to be effective against malaria. Malaria treatment is gradually becoming more complicated as the parasites become more resistant to drugs available. Women have the unique role of taking care of others. Their responsibility and role as care givers in the respective families enables them to be first to recognize as well as be informed of the onset of any abnormality in the health of their children/ward. The steps, as well as decisions they take to restore the health conditions determine their survival. The long lasting success of any control programme on malaria would to a large extent depend on the individual decisions of women. There's thus need to understand this very important role of women, and integrate in control programmes for a longer lasting success. The Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol. 24 2003: 53-5

Effects of Albendazole and Pyrantel Pamoate Chemotherapy on Soil Transmitted Helminths among Pupils of Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria

A parasitological study on soil transmitted helminthes in primary school pupils in relation to the effect of chemotherapy in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State using 745 pupils. . Two hundred and sixty four (264) pupils who had three species of soil transmitted helminthes, (Ascaris lumbricoides, Hookworm and Trichuris ), were randomly categorised into three groups (I, II and III), consisting of sizes 85, 89 and 90 pupils. Group II was treated with albendazole, group III with Pyrantel pamoate while group I was administered with placebo characterised with the same colour and shape as the anthelminths. Post treatment test was carried out two weeks after the administration of chemotherapy to ascertain the effect of the drugs on the treated pupils using normal saline wet mount and formal ether concentration method where there were no clear results. MacMaster egg count technique for estimation of egg intensities was also used. Effects of the treatment on the weight of the pupils was also determined. Overall results showed that out of 179 pupils who were treated with anthelminths,137 ( 76.5%) were cured.Specifically Albendazole and pyrantel pamoate gave the cure rate of 75.3%and 77.8% respectively. Overall, egg reduction rate was 98.3% (98.0% albendazole and 98.6% pyrantel pamoate). Subjects treated with placebos showed positive response as egg intensity increased from 135700 to 169000 egg per gram pre and post treatment respectively. There is significant difference between the effects of the drugs ,p> 0.05.A remarkable increase in mean weight from 33.2 to 34.5kg among those who were treated was observed while mean weight reduction from32.8 to31.6kg was also observed among the untreated group.Keywords: Chemotherapy, Albendazole Pyrantel pamoate and PlacebosNigerian Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 33 [1] March 2012, pp. 111-11

Urinary schistosomiasis in Anambra State, Nigeria

The knowledge, altitude and practices (KAP) of people in relation to urinary schistosomiasis in three endemic communities around Agulu Lake of Anambra State were investigated. Questionnaire was the main instrument used for the study. Of the 300 respondents, 67 (22.3%) said they were previously infected while 233 (77.7%) thought otherwise. All the respondents associated the disease with passing of blood in urine. Oya obala (disease with blood), mgbu obala (pain with blood), and mamiri obala (urine with blood) are various names for the disease in these communities. Although urinary schistosomiasis with its symptoms are well known, most did not associate the disease with swimming in infected water but with drinking infected water. Others till associated the disease with eating water snail, while a few linked it to God's wish. The presence of the disease was linked with the Nigeria-Biafra civil War of 1967-1970. The result revealed a general ignorance of the causation and mode of transmission of the disease in the area. The implication of the findings to the efforts of the disease control is discussed. Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol. 25, 2005: 127-13

The Role of Cockroaches (Blatta Orientalis and Periplaneta Americana) in Mechanical Transmission of Parasites in Households in Owerri, South East Nigeria

A study was carried out on the parasitic profile of cockroaches caught in various sections of many houses in Owerri. A total of 340 cockroaches trapped from different sites (toilet, kitchen, store room and living room) were examined using standard parasitological techniques which included washing and examination of the externals in saline, dissection and examination of the internal contents. The cockroaches caught were Periplaneta americana 200 (58.8%) and Blatta orientalis 140 (41.2%). Cysts and ova of medically important parasites were isolated from the cockroaches as follows; P. americana 147 (73.5%) and B. orientalis 81 (57.8%). The medically important parasites shared by the species include Ascaris lumbricoides (20.5%), Trichuris trichuria (6.76%), Moniliformis moniliformis (19.4%), Hookworm (8.52%), Entamoeba coli (5.58%), Entamoeba histolytica (12.1%), Balantidium coli (1.76%) and Enterobius vermicularis (1.47%). Significantly more parasites were recovered from the external surface than the internal surface. Cockroach trapped in the toilet had the highest parasite count of 65 parasites/ml followed by those from the kitchen, while 46 parasites/ml were observed from cockroaches trapped in the living room. The data from this study revealed the potentials of cockroaches as mechanical transmitter of cysts and ova of parasites.Keywords: cockroaches, mechanical transmitter parasites, OwerriNigerian Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 32 [2] September 2011, pp.153-15

A Review on the Adaptation Strategies to the Impact of Climate Change on Health: A Key to Achieving Millennium Development Goals

Nigerian Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 32 [1] March 2011, pp.143-15

Prevalence of microfilaria load of Onchocercal volvulus in some parts of Imo State, Nigeria

Nine hundred and sixty volunteers made up of males and females from age-group 5-62+ in Okigwe LGA, Imo State Nigeria were examined for Microfilaria load (MFL) between January 2008 and 2012, using parasitological examination was carried out by two techniques; skin snipping and microscopy on 960 volunteers individuals. There was 36.3% reduction rate of mf prevalence from 51.8% mf rate to 33.0% in 2012 after 15 years of mass drug administration (p<0.005). Community Microfilaria Load (CMFL) is generally low among the sampled-villages 0.90 mf per milligram (p<0.001). This implied that treatment with ivermectin has a significant impact on the microfilaria load of Onchocerca volvulus therefore long term treatment with ivermectin after more than 15 years there is hope that there will be total elimination of onchocercoaisis in the study-area because many villages are having zero prevalence of microfilaria load.Keywords: Onchocerca volvulus, microfilaria load, skin snip, parasitological, microscopy, mass drug administration