Sero prevalance of Hepatisis B Virus in pregnant women attending a clinic in Zaria, Nigeria

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Epidemiological studies on rotavirus associated with diarrhoea among calves and children in Kaduna state, Nigeria

Rotaviruses are enteric pathogens causing acute, watery, dehydrating diarrhoea in various host species, including birds and mammals. A total of 716 diarrhoeic stool samples were collected comprising of 249 from calves and 467 from children within Kaduna State Nigeria. Rotavirus antigen was detected in the stools of calves by NSP3 Real-Time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction, while RV antigens were detected in children using Enzyme Linked Immunosobent Assay (ELISA). Rotavirus was detected in 34 of the 249 stool sample from calves (13.7%). The infection was higher in males (15.7%:16/102) compared to females calves (12.3%: 11/147). The highest number of cases was detected among calves 2-3 months of age (22.9%:8/35). Further analysis of the result showed no significant difference between rotavirus infection in calves with mode of feeding and presence of other animals in the farm (p>0.05). There was significant difference between rotavirus infection and sanitation on farm and source of water for calves (p<0.05). An overall RV prevalence of 31.0% (143/467) was obtained in children. The infection was higher in females (32.1%:79/246) compared to males (29.9%:66/221). The highest burden was detected in children 25-36 months of age (36.4%:22/77). There was no significant association between source of drinking water boiling of drinking water, attendance of day care and playing with toys and the prevalence of rotavirus (P>0.05). The study has revealed that rotavirus remains an important cause of acute diarrhoea among calves and children in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Hence the need for improvement in sanitation and the implemention of the vaccines into the childhood immunization programme.Key words: Rotaviruses, Stools, Calves, Children, Risk factors, Diarrhoea

Prevalence of rotavirus diarrhoea among children under five years in Kaduna state, Nigeria

Rotavirus (RV) is a major etiological agent of acute infantile gastroenteritis and is associated with 20%-25% of diarrhoea cases in infants. Nigeria continues to be among the first five countries with greatest number of RV disease associated deaths per year. From September 2013-August 2014, 467 stool samples were collected from children under 5 years of age in Kaduna State, Nigeria and analysed for RV antigen using ELISA. An overall RV prevalence of 31.0% (143/467) was obtained with the infection occurring throughout the study period. Children from Kachia LGA had the highest prevalence of 53.8% (28/52), while children from Kagarko LGA had the lowest prevalence of 21.0% (10/74). The difference was significant (P=0.019). Highest prevalence of RV was recorded in March (75.0%:3/4) and the least in July (11.5%:3/26) with significant difference (P=0.003). Female children had highest prevalence of 32.1% (79/246) compared to male children (29.9%:66/221) with a non-significance difference (P=0.530). Children within 25-36 months had the highest prevalence of 36.4% (28/77), while children 49-60 months had the lowest prevalence of 17.6% (6/34) with no significant difference (P=0.517). The difference observed was not significant (P=0.477). The result showed no significant difference between the presence of RV infection with vomiting, fever, dehydration (P>0.05). The study has revealed that rotavirus remains an important cause of acute diarrhoea in children under five years in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Hence the need for the implemention of the vaccines into the childhood immunization programme in the country.Key words: Prevalence, Rotavirus, Children, Kaduna State, Nigeri

Prevalence and antibiotics susceptibility profile of Enterococcus spp. Isolated from some hospitals in Abuja, Nigeria

This study investigated the prevalence and antibiotics susceptibility of Enterococcus spp. isolated from patients and some selected hospital environment in Abuja, Nigeria. The samples included clinical and environmental. The clinical samples included stool, urine and wound swabs while the environmental samples included swabs samples taken from the health care givers hands, floor, beds, door handle, BP cuff, stethoscope, sink, toilet seats. The samples were cultured on bile aesculinazide agar and the isolates were identified with microgen test kit. The enterococcal strains isolated include Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus mundtii, Enterococcus gallinarum, Enterococcus casseliflavus, Enterococcus dispar, Enterococcoushirae and Enterococcus avium. The susceptibility testing was done with vancomycin, teicoplanin, gentamicin, streptomycin, linezolid, ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, doxycycline, nitrofurantoin, erythromycin and rifampin. More than 50% of the isolates were resistant to erythromycin, rifampin and doxycycline. E-test M.I.C confirmed 12 out of 34 strains to be intermediately resistant to vancomycin. Enterococcus faeciumand Enterococcus mundtii exhibited more resistance than Enterococcus faecalis.Keyword: Enterococcus spp., samples, Isolates, Hospitals, susceptibility, resistance, vancomyci

Cultural practices and the use of icterogenic agents in glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficient neonates: Any effect?

Background: Cultural practices involving the use of certain agents known to cause haemolysis in Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficient individuals are common during perinatal and neonatal periods. This study was targeted at identifying some of these agents and their role in the development of hyperbilirubinaemia in G6PD deficient neonates in our environment with a view at raising public awareness for an acceptable neonatal outcome.Materials and methods: One hundred and fifty neonates admitted into the Special Care Baby Units (SCBUs) of the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Bingham University Teaching Hospital, and the Plateau State Specialist Hospital with neonatal jaundice were enrolled for this study. Information on age, sex, history of drugs, chemicals and herbs used during or after pregnancy were obtained using a questionnaire. Five millilitres of the blood sample was collected into anticoagulated and plain sample bottles for Full Blood Count (FBC), Reticulocyte Count, Serum Bilirubin (SB) and G6PD assay.Results: Mean age at presentation was 3.28 ± 3.11 days. Mean haemoglobin concentration of the neonates was 15.90 ± 2.23 g/dL while mean reticulocyte count, total leukocyte and platelet count were 2.42 ± 0.71%, 7.10 ± 2.76 (x 109/L) and 228.45 ± 85.57 respectively. Sixty-one (40.7 %) of the studied neonates were G6PD deficient with mean G6PD activity of 3.79 ± 1.37 IU/gHb. Mean total serum bilirubin was 205.01 ± 96.57μmol/L. Icterogenic agent use was identified in 70 (46.7%) of the study subjects with naphthalene balls used in 19 (12.7%) study subjects.Conclusion: Icterogenic agents are being used for neonatal care in our environment despite the consequences of hyperbilirubinaemia in those with G6PD deficiency. Keywords: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, Hyperbilirubinaemia, Icterogenic agents, Neonate

Determinants of severity of hyperbilirubinaemiaamong glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase deficient neonates in Jos north central Nigeria

Introduction: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is an inherited disorder capable of causing severe neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia, kernicterus and death. Identifying such neonates and other factors that could aggravate their clinical states have definite place in managing them for favourable outcomes.Materials and Methods: One hundred and fifty (150) icteric neonates admitted into the Special Care Baby Units of the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Plateau State Special Hospital and the Bingham University Teaching Hospital were recruited for this study. It was a cross sectional descriptive study conducted between March 2013 and February 2014. Parental consents were obtained and Clinical information was gathered using a questionnaire, weight were measured in grams while laboratory investigations that included FullBlood Count (FBC), Reticulocyte Count, Serum Bilirubin (SB) Assay and G6PD activity levels were carried out.Results: Mean age of the studied neonates at presentation was 3.28 ± 3.11 days while mean age of detection of jaundice was 2.86 ± 1.67. One hundred and five (70%) were delivered at full-term gestation (>37weeks) while 45 (30%) were delivered preterm (<37 weeks) with twenty-nine (19.3%) having history of jaundice in siblings. Fifty (35.7%) had birth weight of less than 2500g while the birth weight of 10 (6.7%) were unknown. Sixty-one of these neonates (40.7 %) were G6PD deficient with mean total serum bilirubin of 205.01 ±96.57µmol/L.Conclusion: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is a common enzyme disorder among neonates presenting with hyperbilirubinaemia which can be aggravated by other factors. Key words: Determinants, Hyperbilirubinaemia, Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, Neonate

Determination of interferon gamma associated with malaria parasitaemia among patients attending selected hospitals in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria

BackgroundMalaria has been recognized as a severe and life- threatening illness for thousands of years. It is still one of the most common diseases affecting humans worldwide. Results gathered in primates challenged by Plasmodium falciparum and, to some extent, in humans, point to interferon gamma as a possible immune mediator or at least a surrogate marker significantly associated with protection against Plasmodium falciparum and actually, the only surrogate available to-date.AimThis study was aimed at determining malaria parasitaemia and interferon gamma concentration among patients attending selected hospitals in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.MethodsFour hundred blood samples were collected from four hospitals in Zaria, Kaduna State.The samples were microscopically screened for malaria parasites. The concentrations of interferon gamma were determined using ELISA, and the results obtained were analysed using Chi square.ResultsOnly the ring trophozoites of Plasmodium falciparum were observed in the infected samples. In the whole study population, males had a higher parasitaemia than females.The individuals with Plasmodium falciparum infection had the highest mean concentrations of interferon gamma with 121.32pg/ml than those in the negative control group, that is, those without the infection (75.69pg/ml). There was no statistically significant difference (p=0.079).ConclusionThis study shows a higher Plasmodium falciparumparasitaemia in males than females, with a relatively higher concentration of interferon gamma in the group with parasitamia than the control group

The burden of Hepatitis B and C virus infections in patients with sickle cell anaemia in Jos – Nigeria

Background: Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) is an important public health problem in Nigeria associated with frequent blood transfusion. Patients with this disease are at increased risk of contracting hepatitis B and C virus through blood transfusions.Objective: The study aimed at determining the burden of hepatitis B and C virus infections in patients with sickle cell anaemia and the role of blood transfusion in these infections acquisition in Jos.Materials and methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study conducted on patients with SCA attending the Haematology Out-patient Clinic of Jos University Teaching Hospital,between November 2014 and August 2015.Consenting patients with SCA had their blood screened for anti- HBV and HCV antibodies using fourth generation Elisa techniques after completing a questionnaire.Results: One hundred and eleven patients with SCA participated. Antibodies to Hepatitis B virus (HBV) was detected in 21 (18.9%) while that to Hepatitis C virus (HCV) was found in 16 (14.7%). Seventy six (68.5%) of the participants had history of blood transfusion while 35 (31.5%) were never transfused. 22.4% and 15.8% of those transfused were positive for HBV and HCV antibodies respectively. There was no significant difference in the proportion of those positive for anti HBV or HCV with respect to their transfusion status (p=0.24 and 0.81 respectively).Conclusion: The proportion of our patients with SCA that were anti HBV and anti-HCV positive was high. Blood transfusion did not significantly influence their positive status. Strategies aimed at controlling these viral infections in these patients and the general population should be enforced after public awareness campaigns and advocacy are instituted.Keywords: Sickle Cell Anaemia, burden, Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis CVirus, infection, Blood Transfusio

Prevalence of rotavirus among children under five years of age with diarrhea in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Rotavirus (RV) is a major etiological agent of acute infantile gastroenteritis and is associated with 20%-25% of diarrhea cases in infants. Nigeria continues to be among the first five countries with greatest number of RV disease associated deaths per year. The objective was to determine some demographic factors that might be associated with rotavirus diarrhea among children in Kaduna State. From September 2013-August 2014, 401 diarrheic stool samples were collected from children under 5 years of age in Kaduna State, Nigeria and analyzed for RV antigen using ELISA. An overall RV prevalence of 32.2% (129/401) was obtained with the infection occurring throughout the study period. The infection was higher in males (33.0%:63/111) compared to females (31.4%:66/210). The highest burden was detected in children 25 -36 months of age (37.3%:22/59). Highest prevalence was detected in children whose parents had primary education (35.8%:19/53) and those whose parents were civil servants (35.6%:36/101). There was no statistically significant association between breast feeding and RV infection (P> 0.05). The study has revealed that rotavirus remains an important cause of acute diarrhea in children under five years in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Hence the need to introduce the vaccines into the childhood immunization program in the countryKeywords: Prevalence, Rotavirus, Children, Kaduna State, Nigeri