Serum ferritin and HCV infection on Nigerian patients with primary liver cell carcinoma

No Abstract. African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology Vol. 7(3) 2006: 149-15

Comparative study of stoolantigen testand serology for among Nigerian dyspeptic patients- a pilot studyHelicobacter pylori

No Abstract

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

Molluscum contagiosum virus infection amongst plwha in ibadan, Nigeria

Background: Molluscum contagiosum (MC) infection is caused by a pox virus and the virus is probably passed on by direct skinto- skin contact which may affect any part of the body. There is anecdotal evidence associating facial lesions with HIV-related immunodeficiency. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of Molluscum contagiosum infection among PLWHAs attending ART clinic at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional survey of 5,207 patients (3519 female and 1688 males) attending ART clinic between January 2006 and December 2007. Physicians performed complete physical and pelvic examinations. Diagnosis of Molluscum Contagiosum infection was based on the clinical findings of typical lesions on the external genitalia, perianal, trunk, abdominal and facial regions.Results: The mean age of the patients was 34.67 yrs. ± 9.16). About 10% (542) had various sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The male to female ratio was 1: 4.2. One hundred and twenty seven subjects (23.4%) had no formal or primary education with 247 (45.6 %) beingtreatment naïve while 295 (54.4 %) were treatment experienced. Of the 542 PLWHAs with STIs, 3.3 % had undetectable viral load (< 200 copies/ ml) while 272 (50.1 %) had low CD4 count (< 200 cells / mm3.) and The Mean log10 viral load was 5.02 + 0.94. Molluscum Contagiosum infection was diagnosed in 13 patients (0.024%; 8 females and 5 males). Vaginal Candidiasis was the commonest genital infection diagnosed in 223 (41.1%) of the patients with STIs. MC patients had higher viral load, lower CD4 count and more likely to be treatment experienced”.Conclusions: Molluscum Contagiosum infection is not uncommon among the HIV-infected patients, but underreported. Awareness of this cutaneous manifestation should be known to Physicians in AIDS care.Key Words: Molluscum contagiosum, HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infectio

Correlation of Serum Anti-Helicobacter pylori Immunoglobulin A (IGA) with Histological Parameters of Chronic Gastritis in Ibadan, Nigeria

Background: The seroprevalence of anti-H. pylori IgA antibodies has been reported to vary among populations and in relation to strains of Helicobacter pylori bacterium. However, there has been conflicting reports on the association between IgA serological status and the histological variables of chronic gastritis. This study was therefore conducted to clarify this relationship.Method : Using an ELISA based commercial kit, anti-H. pylori IgA antibodytests were performed on 65 dyspeptic patients and 65 age- and  ex-matched controls. The gastric biopsies of these patients were also examined histologically for the degrees of inflammation, activity, intestinal metaplasia and atrophy. The CagA status of the patients had been determined previously.Results: There was an anti-H. pylori IgA antibody prevalence of 67.7% in dyspeptics and 56.9% in non-dyspeptic individuals. No correlations were observed between serum H. pylori IgA antibody and the graded parameters of chronic gastritis in dyspeptic patients, although twice more patients withmild gastric inflammation were found among IgA positive than among IgA negative patients. However, a statistically significant relationship was established between serum IgA positivity and the CagA status of the patients (p = 0.028).Conclusion: The seroprevalence of anti-H. pylori IgA antibody is high inour environment. Serum IgA status may be associated with milder degreesof gastritis in our patients but a larger cohort of patients is needed to confirm this. There seems to be a good agreement between serum IgA and CagA statuses among dyspeptic patients

Pitfalls in diagnosis of Hepatitis B Virus infection among adults Nigerians

Objective: Hepatitis B virus infection is common in Nigerians and its diagnosis is necessary for effective treatment and eradication. This study is aimed at highlighting the serological factors jeopardizing the diagnosis and treatment of the infection among Nigerians adults. Patients and Methods: Three studies were carried out. The first study involved 56 Nigerian adults and it compared the assay ofHBsAg byHaemagulationMethod (HMA)with Enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA). The second study was a comparison of Glaxo Welcome HB rapid test(GWHB) with ELISA in sero-assay of HBsAg and HBeAg among 25 Nigerian subjects while the third study was on the assay of the sera of HBsAg positive patients forHBeAg and anti-HBe in forty twoNigerian patients byELISA. Results: The sero - prevalence rates of HBsAg were 41.8% and 61.8% by HM and ELISA respectively with false HBsAg sero-positives and sero-negatives by HM of 5.4% and 25.5% respectively. Similarly, there was sero-detection of HBsAg in 84% and 80% by ELISA and GWHB respectively in 25 Nigerian adults. In addition, 19% and 64% of the 42 patients with HBsAg sero-positivity were also positive for HBeAg and anti- HBe respectively,while 31%of the patientswere bothHBeAg and anti-HBe sero-negative. Conclusion: Sero-diagnosis of HBsAg and other serological markers of infectivity in patients with HBV should be carried out by ELISArather than HMAamong adult Nigerians. Furthermore, high infectivity of the virus abounds among Nigerians with HBV infection.  Keywords: Pitfalls, diagnosis, HBV, Adults Nigerians, ELISA.

Diverse genetic subtypes of HIV-1 among female sex workers in Ibadan, Nigeria

Genetic diversity is the hallmark of HIV-1 infection. It differs among geographical regions throughout the world. This study was undertaken to identify the predominant HIV-1 subtypes among infected female sex workers (FSWs) in Nigeria. Methods: Two hundred and fifty FSWs from brothels in Ibadan Nigeria were screened for HIV antibody using ELISA. All reactive samples were further tested by the Western Blot Techniques. Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) were separated from the blood samples of each subject. Fragments of HIV Proviral DNA was amplified and genetic subtypes of HIV-1 was determined by direct sequencing of the env and gag genes of the viral genome followed by phylogenetic analysis . Results: The age of the FSWs ranged from 15 to 55 years old (Mean = 25.8years, SD =3.74). Majority were Nigerians while others (1.6 %) were from neighboring West Africa countries. Four ( 1.6% ) of the FSWs were active for less than one year as sex workers, and the mean length of sex work was 2.80 years ( Range = 1.0 – 15.0 years ). Sixty-four (25.6%) of the 250 CSWs were positive for HIV-1 while 7 (2-8%) had dual infections to HIV-1 / HIV-2. Among the 34 HIV-1 strains  characterized by sequencing, 19 (55-9%) were subtype G, 9 (26.5%) CRF02_A/G, 3 (8.8%) CRF06_cpx while 1 (2.9%) each were identified as subtype C, CRF01_A/E and CRF09_cpx respectively. Nineteen (55.9%) of the FSWs with subtype G had been active in the sex work for between one to five years. The youngest of the HIV -1 infected FSWs with sexual activity of less than a year had subtype G strain. There is a significant probability that infection with this subtype occurred with a short incubation period (p< 0.05). Conclusion: This study showed a wide range of HIV- 1 subtypes among FSWs in Nigeria. The situation poses serious challenge for the design of HIV vaccine candidate for use in Nigeria.Keywords: Diverse, HIV, subtypes, Female Sex workers and Vaccin

ABO BLOOD GROUP AND SECRETOR STATUS IN HIV INFECTION IN OSOGBO, SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT The present study was carried out to determine whether there is any association between ABO blood group, secretion of ABO antigens and HIV-1 infection. A total of 240 individuals of age ≥16 years consisting of 117 HIV-1 positive individuals and 123 HIV negative individuals (controls) participated in this study. A sample of 5 mL of blood was withdrawn from each participant for HIV and ABO blood grouping tests. Antibodies to HIV were carried out using determine rapid HIV-1/HIV-2 test kit and Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and then confirmed with Western blot (WB). Secretors and non-secretors phenotypes were determined by haemagglutination inhibition technique using saliva. Of the 117 HIV-1 individuals, 101(88.9%) were secretors and 13(11.1%) were non-secretors while 92 (74.8%) and 31(25.2%) of the 123 HIV negative subjects were secretors and non-secretors respectively. Secretors were significantly more associated with HIV infection than non-secretors (ᵡ 2 = 7.953, df = 1, p = 0.005). ABO blood group was not significantly associated with HIV infection (ᵡ 2 = 1.66, df = 2, p = 0.558). There was a significant association between group O and secretor in controls (ᵡ 2 = 5.964, df= 1, p = 0.015) but not in HIV infection (ᵡ 2 = 0.004, df = 1, p = 0.949). These findings suggest that while there is no association between ABO blood groups and HIV infection, secretion of ABH antigens is associated with HIV infection

Prevalence and Predictors of Tuberculosis Coinfection among HIV-Seropositive Patients Attending the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Northern Nigeria

Background: The HIV/AIDS epidemic has been accompanied by a severe epidemic of tuberculosis (TB), although the prevalence of coinfection is largely unknown, especially in developing countries, including Nigeria. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of TB coinfection among HIV-seropositive Nigerians. Methods: The case files of HIV/AIDS patients attending Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Nigeria from January to December 2006 were reviewed. Results: A total of 1320 HIV/AIDS patients had complete records and were reviewed, among which 138 (10.5%) were coinfected with TB (95% CI, 8.9% to 12.2%). Pulmonary TB was diagnosed in 103 (74.6%) patients, among whom only 18 (17.5%) were sputum-positive. Fifty (36.2%) coinfected patients had some type of extrapulmonary TB (EPTB); 15 had both pulmonary TB and EPTB. Among the 35 patients with EPTB only, 20 (57.1%) had abdominal TB, 5 (14.3%) had TB adenitis, 5 (14.3%) had spinal TB, 3 (8.6%) were being monitored for tuberculous meningitis, and 1 (2.9%) each had renal TB and tuberculous adrenalitis. The highest prevalence of TB, 13.7% (n = 28), was seen among patients aged 41–50 years. TB coinfection was significantly associated with marital status, WHO clinical stage, and CD4 count. Marital status (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.28–3.59; P = 0.04), WHO clinical stage at presentation (4.81; 1.42–8.34; P = 0.001), and baseline CD4 count (2.71; 1.51–6.21; P = 0.02) remained significant predictors after adjustment for confounding. Conclusions: The moderately high prevalence of TB among HIV-seropositive patients underscores the urgent need for strategies that lead to rapid identification and treatment of coinfection with active or latent TB

Serum Hepatitis C virus and hepatitis B surface antigenaemia in Nigerian patients with acute Icteric hepatitis

Acute hepatitis is common in Nigeria and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been a major aetiological factor. However, the role of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is yet undetermined. Forty-five consecutive Nigerian patients with acute Icteric hepatitis (AIH) attending the Medical Clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria and 45 healthy adult Nigerians (controls) were studied for evidence of infection with both viruses. Questionnaire on risk procedures, which predispose to acquisition of both HBV and HCV infections were administered to the patients. Blood samples were collected from all the subjects and tested for antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) and Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HbsAg) using the second generation enzyme Linked Immunoassay (Monolisa -R, Sansofi, Pasteur; France). Anti-HCV was detected in 21(47%) and 17(38%) of the patients and controls respectively. The corresponding prevalence of HbsAg were 38(84%) and 11(24%), p<0.001. Hepatitis b virus infection was found to occur more than HCV infection in the patients with AIH but similar among the controls. Combined HBV and HCV infection occurred more frequently among the patients (42.1%) than in the control (11%); (<0.001). Although there was no significant difference in the HCV infection between the two groups, isolated HCV infection is commoner in the control than in the patients with AIH, (p<0.001). Similarly, single HCV infection is commoner than lone HBV infection among the control, p<0.05. In summary, this study shows that while both HBV and HCV infections are common in Nigeria, AIH may be more associated with HBV than HCV in the country