HBV infection among HIV-infected cohort and HIV-negative hospital attendees in south western Nigeria

Background: Prevalence, association and probable mode of acquisition of HBV and HIV dual infections have not been fully explored. Thus, HBV intervention plan and services are sometimes exclusively targeted towards HIV-infected population. We investigated HBV infection among HIV-infected cohort in comparison with HIV-negative hospital attendees to ascertain dual infectivity pattern; thereby encouraging appropriate allotment of intervention services.Materials and Methods: A total of 349 (M=141; F=208; Mean=33.98 years; Range= 0.33-80 years) plasma specimens from two virus diagnostic laboratories in south-western Nigeria were analysed. These include 182 HIV-positive and 167 HIV-negative specimens from ART and GDV laboratories respectively. The specimens were initially screened for detectable HIV antigen/antibody, and subsequently HBsAg by ELISA technique.Results: Overall, HBsAg was detected in 20.92% (95% CI: 16.65-25.19%) of the patients. Also, 24.82% (95% CI: 17.69-31.95%) and 18.27% (95% CI: 13.02-23.52%) HBsAg positivity was recorded for males and females respectively. CHI square analysis showed no association (P=0.14) between gender and prevalence of HBsAg. Similarly, comparison of prevalence of HBsAg by age groups shows no significant difference (P=0.24). Overall, no significant difference (P=0.59) was observed in the prevalence of HBsAg among the HIV-infected cohort and HIV-negative hospital attendees.Conclusions: Results of the study confirm endemicity and comparable rates of HBV infection independent of HIV-status.Key words: ART; HBV; HIV; Nigeria; Dual positivit

Prevalence and associated characteristics of cytomegalovirus (CMV) immunoglobulin antibodies among blood donors at a university teaching hospital in Nigeria

Background: The screening for cytomegalovirus (CMV) specific antibodies is not routine in our setting, thus the transfusion of blood portends high risk for susceptible individuals.Objective: To determine the prevalence of IgG and IgM specific antibodies and associated characteristics in blood donors seen at a referral teaching hospital in Nigeria.Design: Prospective, cross-sectional and descriptive study.Setting: Blood Bank and Serology Unit of the Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals’ Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.Subjects: One hundred and eighty four blood donors negative for human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and C viruses and syphilis were assessed for their levels of CMV specific IgG and IgM antibodies (AccuDiagTM ELISA, DIAGNOSTIC AUTOMATION INC, USA) using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay technique (ELISA).Results: Ninety six percent of the donors were males while those with secondary education and below (61.3%), unmarried (70%), artisans and unemployed including students (82.5%) were in the majority. The prevalence of CMV IgG and IgM antibodies were 97.4% and 52.6%, while CMV IgG antibody range from 94.7% to 100% in all types of donation. All female donors (3.8%) were positive for IgG and IgM antibodies. The level of education of the donors predicts IgM antibody positivity, those with secondary education or less are more likely than others to be positive (p < 0.05; X2 = 15.98). Linear logistic regression showed that male donors and those in the artisan group are more likely to be positive for IgM antibody (p < 0.05).Conclusion: The prevalence of CMV antibodies is very high (IgG = 97.4%; IgM = 52.6%) in our setting. Donors with low educational status and artisans are more likely to beIgM positive. Therefore, a more stringent donor selection, adoption of leukodepleted blood and blood products for uninfected patients especially the immuno-compromised and adoption of a national policy on CMV infected blood is advocated.

Evaluation of immunity against poliovirus serotypes among children in riverine areas of Delta State, Nigeria

Nigeria remains one of the major reservoirs for wild poliovirus transmission despite the reported success in National Immunization Days and acute flaccid paralysis surveillance. Two hundred children aged ≤ 10 years, were enrolled following parental consent from hard-to-reach riverine areas of Delta state of Nigeria to assess the level of protective immunity to poliovirus. Neutralizing antibodies to the three poliovirus serotypes in the serum samples of the children were determined by the beta method of neutralization.Eight (4%) of the children had no detectable antibody, 178 (89%), 180 (90%) and 181 (90.5%) were positive for antibodies to poliovirus types 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Overall, 162 (81%) of the children had antibodies to the three poliovirus serotypes at a titre of at least 1:8. The study shows the need for proper monitoring of vaccination coverage in such hard-to-reach riverine areas to achieve the objective of the global eradication of poliovirus.Keywords: Neutralizing, antibody, poliovirus, serotypes, riverine, Nigeri

Prevalence of measles neutralizing antibody in children under 15 years in Southwestern Nigeria

The immune status of children under 15 years in the Southwestern region of Nigeria against measles virus was determined using the neutralization test with a view to assessing the herd immunity to the virus in these communities. A total of 256 serum samples collected from children were tested by the beta method of neutralization. Forty (15.6%) of these samples were found to be positive at a titre of 1:256, 35 (13.7%) at 1:128, 36(14.1%) at 1:64, 37(14.5%) at 1:32, 38 (14.8%) at 1:16, 27 (10.5%) at 1:8 and 16 (6.3%) at 1:4. Twenty-seven (10.5%) of the 256 samples had no detectable antibody to the measles virus. There was no significant relationship between the antibody titre to measles virus and the gender of the children (p > 0.05). Also, there was no significant difference using Chi square analysis between the neutralizing antibody titres and the age of the children (p > 0.05). All the children whose samples were tested were vaccinated against measles as attested to by their parents. However, the vaccination does not seem to protect all the children, for some of them had no detectable neutralizing antibody while some had low neutralizing antibody titre. In Nigeria, where only a single dose of measles vaccine is given at 9 month, measles may remain a serious threat to the children population with its attendant high morbidity and mortality. Key Words: Prevalence, Neutralizing antibodies, Children < 15years Afr. J. Clin. Exper. Microbiol. Vol.6(1) 2005: 60-6

World Health Organization Polio Regional Reference Laboratory

Abstract: A previous study had shown that women farmers or those having farmer husbands attending Grimard Catholic Hospital, Anyigba were seronegative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) (0.0% prevalence for HBsAg). We therefore designed this study to test the hypothesis that HBsAg seroprevalence among farming and non-farming individuals attending the hospital is the same. Two hundred apparently healthy adults attending the hospital were consecutively selected and screened for HBsAg including 106 (53.0%) females and 94 (47.0%) males aged 20 to 51 years (mean age = 35 yrs). The sera of the participants were tested for the presence of HBsAg using Diaspot® HBsAg test kit. The patients were categorized into farming and nonfarming groups based on the demographic data obtained with questionnaire forms. This study showed an overall HBsAg seroprevalence of 11.0%; with seroprevalence of 17.4% (n = 46) and 9.1% (n = 154) respectively for the farming and non-farming groups. Variables (gender, age and occupation) examined were not statistically associated with prevalence rates of HBsAg. Broad categorization of the participants into farming and nonfarming with their respective spouses also revealed no association (p = 0.19) with HBsAg seropositivity. Moreover, some of the women farmers and those having farmer spouses were HBsAg seropositive. We therefore concluded that farmers and non-farmers enrolled in this study were not different in HBsAg seroprevalence; they appeared equally susceptible to HBV infection. Our findings represent the endemic HBV situation in many hospitals in Nigeria. This study could serve to direct any national effort aimed toward reducing the HBV burdens of our local hospitals. The study will be of immense value as a public health tool for planning, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of HBV interventions