CD4 and CD8 counts of Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccinated neonates in parts of Edo and Delta States, Nigeria

This study examines the cellular immune factors responsible for combating infections by assessing CD4 and CD8 counts of neonates (pre and post BCG vaccination). A total of 373 blood samples were collected from neonates that visited the immunization clinics at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Irrua and Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, Nigeria. CD4 and CD8 easy count kit (Partec, Germany) was used for the determination of CD4 and CD8  count respectively, while the samples were analysed using SL-blue Cyflow. At ISTH Irrua, 191 samples were analyzed (130:60; pre and post vaccination), while at Asaba, 182 samples were analysed (120:62; pre and post vaccination). The results showed that CD4 count was significantly higher for Pre vaccination than Post vaccination at both locations. At FMC Asaba, the CD4 count for females was significantly higher than in males (pre-BCG vaccination), while CD4 count was not significantly affected by gender at Irrua, ISTH. CD8 increases in both locations but was not significantly affected by gender. The findings of this study therefore suggests that there is a cell mediated immune response to BCG vaccine by both the male and female neonates and this is associated with a decrease in CD4 count (post vaccination).Keywords: Edo, Delta, Male, Female, Neonates, BCG, CD4, CD

Seroprevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) Among Blood Donors in Central Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria

The prevalence of Human Immoundeficiency Virus and Hepatitis B Surface Antigen among 104 male blood donors in Benin City between the months of August and December 2002 was studied. Serological screening for Anti-HIV antibodies was done using the Immunocomb ll HIV 1 & 2 Bispot test (Orgenics, Israel), while detection of HBsAg was based on the latex agglutination reaction using the Hepatitis B reagent kit manufactured by Quimica Clinica Aplicada, Spain. Four (3.9%) and 11 (10.6%) of the donors screened were positive for HIV and HBsAg respectively. The need for establishing and funding centrally-controlled and monitored blood banking facilities by government is advocated, while efforts should be made to exclude as donors, touts or commercial blood donors known to have high prevalence rates of blood infections. Key words: seroprevalence, HIV, HBsAg, blood donors Journal of Medical Laboratory Science Vol.12(2) 2003: 52 - 5

Prevalence of chlamydia in patients attending gynecological clinics in south eastern Nigeria

Background: Chlamydia infections have been reported to cause silent infections in communities which becomes endemic and could remain unnoticed for a very long time. In most parts of Nigeria these organisms are not screened for, and hence relative information about frequencies of the organisms are sparse. Method: Five hundred and sixty five blood samples and ten umbilical cord fluids were collected from various patients attending clinics in South Eastern Nigeria and were screened for Chlamydia Complement Fixing Antibody (CCFA). Endocervical swabs and urethral discharges or swabs were collected from patients whose serum was positive and were cultured into embryonic eggs which was later observed, harvested and stained using the Romanowsky – Giemsa staining techniques. The positive sera were further confirmed by distinguishing the species of Chlamydia using the monoclonal antibody spot test kit. Result: Of the five hundred and sixty five (565) samples collected only three hundred and forty were positive to CCFA, of which 141 were males and 204 females. From the cultured samples 230 were positive for Chlamydia trachomatis and 99 positive to Chlamydia pneumoniae. Statistical analysis using the student\'s t test at 95% confidence interval shows that there was no significant difference between the number of females and males that presented themselves for screening. Conclusion: Proper screening of patients to include Chlamydia should be encouraged at all levels of medical diagnosis in the country so as to proffer treatment. Otherwise the infection will remain a “silent epidemic”, as is the case currently. Keywords: Chlamydia, Complement fixation test, Chlamydia Complement Fixing Antibody African Health Sciences Vol. 7(1) 2007: pp. 18-2