5 research outputs found

    Synergistic interactions of selected medicinal plants traditionally used to treat meningitis

    Get PDF
    The antibacterial and antifungal activities of aqueous, methanol and acetone extracts of the leaves of Geranium incanum, Mangifera indica, Bidens pilosa, Ricinus communis, Carica papaya and fruit pulp of Adansonia digitata as well as activity of their combined preparation were evaluated against selected meningitis causing pathogens. The microorganisms under study were methicillin and oxacillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 43300), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Salmonella typhimurium (ATCC 49416), Escherichia coli (ATCC 35218), Candida albicans (ATCC 10231) and Cryptococcus neoformans (clinical strain). The screening of antimicrobial activities were assessed using an agar well diffusion technique for the different plant extractions. The individual and combined plant extracts that demonstrated antimicrobial effects were further studied using the INT microtitre plate technique to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration. The sum of fractional inhibitory concentration indices were calculated and used to assess the type of antimicrobial interaction. The medicinal plants exerted antimicrobial effects independently and in combination on the bacterial and fungal organisms under study. The antimicrobial activities depended on the test organism and extracting solvents used. In the combination studies, the medicinal plants under study were combined in the ratio of 1:1. Antimicrobial interactions ranging from synergistic to antagonistic effects were noted. Methanol extracts of combinations B. pilosa: M. indica, R. communins: M. indica and C. papaya: M. indica had synergistic effects against P. aeruginosa. On the other hand, aqueous extracts of a mixture of C. papaya: B. pilosa exerted synergistic effects on E. coli and S. typhimurium. Acetone extracts of a mixture of A. digitata: G. incanum, G. incanum: M. indica as well as methanol extract of the combination of C. papaya: G. incanum exhibited synergistic effects against C. albicans. The aqueous extract combination of G. incanum: M. indica displayed the most noteworthy synergistic activity against C. neoformans. In addition, aqueous extracts of the combinations of A. digitata: B. pilosa and R. communis: G. incanum exhibited synergistic effects against C. neoformans. The results validate the traditional healing practices which utilise combinations of different species of plants for treatment of predisposing factors of meningitis

    Shrinking risk profiles after deworming of children in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, with special reference to Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura

    Get PDF
    Risk maps facilitate discussion among different stakeholders and provide a tool for spatial targeting of health interventions. We present maps documenting shrinking risk profiles after deworming with respect to soil-transmitted helminthiasis among schoolchildren from disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Children were examined for soil-transmitted helminth infections using duplicate Kato-Katz thick smears in March 2015, October 2015 and May 2016, and subsequently treated with albendazole after each survey. The mean infection intensities for Ascaris lumbricoides were 9,554 eggs per gram of stool (EPG) in March 2015, 4,317 EPG in October 2015 and 1,684 EPG in March 2016. The corresponding figures for Trichuris trichiura were 664 EPG, 331 EPG and 87 EPG. Repeated deworming shrank the risk of soil-transmitted helminthiasis, but should be complemented by other public health measures

    Low efficacy of albendazole against Trichuris trichiura infection in schoolchildren from Port Elizabeth, South Africa

    No full text
    Abstract Background Albendazole is one of two standard drugs for the control of soil-transmitted helminthiasis. Methods A total of 149 schoolchildren from Port Elizabeth, South Africa, were examined for soil-transmitted helminth infections using duplicate Kato-Katz thick smears before and 2 weeks after administration of albendazole (400 mg). Results Trichuris trichiura was the predominant soil-transmitted helminth species (prevalence 60.4%), followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (47.7%). While albendazole was highly efficacious against A. lumbricoides (cure rate [CR] 97.2%; egg reduction rate [ERR] 94.3%), it lacked efficacy against T. trichiura (CR 1.1%; ERR 46.0%). Conclusions Our study confirms low efficacy of single dose albendazole against T. trichiura. There is a need for safe and efficacious drugs against T. trichiura

    Low efficacy of albendazole against Trichuris trichiura infection in schoolchildren from Port Elizabeth, South Africa

    No full text
    Background: Albendazole is one of two standard drugs for the control of soil-transmitted helminthiasis. Methods: A total of 149 schoolchildren from Port Elizabeth, South Africa, were examined for soil-transmitted helminth infections using duplicate Kato-Katz thick smears before and 2 weeks after administration of albendazole (400 mg). Results: Trichuris trichiura was the predominant soil-transmitted helminth species (prevalence 60.4%), followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (47.7%). While albendazole was highly efficacious against A. lumbricoides (cure rate [CR] 97.2%; egg reduction rate [ERR] 94.3%), it lacked efficacy against T. trichiura (CR 1.1%; ERR 46.0%). Conclusions: Our study confirms low efficacy of single dose albendazole against T. trichiura. There is a need for safe and efficacious drugs against T. trichiura

    PCR-based verification of positive rapid diagnostic tests for intestinal protozoa infections with variable test band intensity

    No full text
    Stool-based rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for pathogenic intestinal protozoa (e.g. Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia intestinalis) allow for prompt diagnosis and treatment in resource-constrained settings. Such RDTs can improve individual patient management and facilitate population-based screening programmes in areas without microbiological laboratories for confirmatory testing. However, RDTs are difficult to interpret in case of 'trace' results with faint test band intensities and little is known about whether such ambiguous results might indicate 'true' infections. In a longitudinal study conducted in poor neighbourhoods of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, a total of 1428 stool samples from two cohorts of schoolchildren were examined on the spot for Cryptosporidium spp. and G. intestinalis using an RDT (Crypto/Giardia DuoStrip; Coris BioConcept). Overall, 121 samples were positive for G. intestinalis and the RDT suggested presence of cryptosporidiosis in 22 samples. After a storage period of 9-10 months in cohort 1 and 2-3 months in cohort 2, samples were subjected to multiplex PCR (BD Max™ Enteric Parasite Panel, Becton Dickinson). Ninety-three percent (112/121) of RDT-positive samples for G. intestinalis were confirmed by PCR, with a correlation between RDT test band intensity and quantitative pathogen load present in the sample. For Cryptosporidium spp., all positive RDTs had faintly visible lines and these were negative on PCR. The performance of the BD Max™ PCR was nearly identical in both cohorts, despite the prolonged storage at disrupted cold chain conditions in cohort 1. The Crypto/Giardia DuoStrip warrants further validation in communities with a high incidence of diarrhoea
    corecore