Usefulness of rapid diagnostic test in the diagnosis of asymptomatic malaria in HIV infected children on cotrimoxazole prophylaxis in Benin City, Nigeria

Background: Rapid diagnostic test (mRDT) is a useful tool in demonstrating parasitologically proven malaria. Its efficacy is however hampered when parasite density is low. Prophylactic use of cotrimoxazoleas in cases of HIV infected children can cause reduction in parasite count. It is doubtful if mRDT will retain its diagnostic usefulness among such individuals.Objectives: The study sought to evaluate the diagnostic value of mRDT in HIV infected children on cotrimoxazole prophylaxis in Benin City.Methods: In the prospective, cross sectional and descriptive study, we assessed malaria parasitaemia using standard methods in microscopy and parasite density and malaria antigenaemia using Care Start Pf (monoclonal antibodies specific to histidine rich protein ­ 2 antigen) in 221 each of HIV infected subjects on cotrimoxazole managed in a specialist clinic and HIV negative controls all seen at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital between April and June 2016.Results: Malaria antigenaemia rate MAr (20.8%) was lower than malaria parasitaemia rate MPr (24.4%) in subjects. MAr (20.8) and MPr (24.4%) in subjects were higher than MAr (18.10%) and MPr (17.7%) in controls. Mean (SEM) parasite count in subjects of was low (50.88 + 2.24 per µl). Using microscopy as gold standard the sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of mRDT in subjects were 77.8%, 97.6%, 91.3% and 93.1%. Corresponding values in controls were 100.0%, 99.5%, 97.5% and 100.0%. Youden indices for subjects and controls were 0.75 and 0.99. Conclusions/Recommendations: Sensitivity of mRDT in HIV infected children on cotrimoxazole prophylaxis for opportunistic infections (OI) is reduced. However, the indices of specificity, PPV and NPV are high enough to retain its value in the evaluation of HIV infected children for asymptomatic malaria and perhaps the clinical disease

Co-infection of Parvovirus B19 and Plasmodium falciparum among Sickle Cell Disease Patients in Benin City, Nigeria

Background: Infections by parasites, bacteria, viruses such as human parvovirus B19 amongst others, have been widely reported as contributing to high prevalence of anaemia in many populations. This study was conducted to determine the co-infection of Plasmodium falciparum and human parvovirus B19 among sickle cell disease (SCD) patients in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Methodology: A total of 400 participants consisting 300 SCD patients (134 males, 166 females) and 100 (38 males, 62 females) apparently healthy subjects with haemoglobin AA (which served as control) who were contacted in homes, schools and offices, were enrolled for the study. The age of the participants ranged from 1 to 54 years. Venous blood was collected for detection of P. falciparum using Giemsa stain while parvovirus B19 was detected with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Full blood count was estimated using Sysmex KX-21N haematology auto-analyzer. Results: An overall prevalence of parvovirus B19 and P. falciparum co-infection observed among SCD patients in this study was 3.0% while single infection was 14.0% for P. falciparum and 26.7% for parvovirus B19. Religion was associated with 0 to 22 fold increased risk of acquiring co-infection of P. falciparum and parvovirus B19. Gender was significantly associated with P. falciparum infection (p=0.0291) while tribal extraction, platelet index and seasonal variation were significantly associated with single parvovirus B19 or co-infection of P. falciparum and parvovirus B19 (p<0.05). Conclusion: The provision of strict regulatory policy concerning the screening of whole blood or pooled plasma before the use of blood products and transfusion of SCD patients is advocated

Effects of HIV-1 and HIV-1/2 coinfection on patients with asymptomatic urinary tract infection attending HIV clinics in Benin City, Nigeria

Conflicting reports exist on the effect of HIV types on disease progression and relation to opportunistic infections. This study aims to determine the effect of HIV types on the prevalence and aetiologic agents of urinary tract infection (UTI). A total of 485 subjects consisting of 335 HIV patients and 150 non-HIV subjects without symptoms of UTI were recruited for this study. The HIV patients comprised of 251 on HAART and 84 HAART-naive patients. Blood and urine specimens were collected from all subjects. The blood specimens were used to determine HIV type and CD4 count while significant microbial isolates were recovered from the urine specimens and identified using standard techniques. Only HIV patients on HAART had significantly higher prevalence of asymptomatic UTI compared with non-HIV subjects (p=0.0234). However, comparing the prevalence of asymptomatic UTI of the various HIV types with that of non-HIV subjects, the results showed only HIV-1 to be significantly associated with asymptomatic UTI (p<0.05). CD4 count <200 cells/?L was not associated with UTI. Generally, Staphylococcus aureus was the most common aetiologic agent of UTI. Among HIV patients (both HAART-naive and those on HAART) with HIV-1, Staphylococcus aureus was the most common cause of UTI, while among those with HIV-1/2 dual infection, Escherichia coli predominated. HIV types have an effect on the prevalence and aetiologic agents of asymptomatic UTI

Seroevidence of Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection in Infertile Male and its Association with Semen Quality in University of Benin Teaching Hospital; Benin City; Nigeria

Given the lack of information concerning the role of Chlamydia trachomatis in male infertility; it has become imperative to analyse the quality of semen of male with seroevidence of antibody to Chlamydia trachomatis infection. A total of 156 male patients attending the Human Reproduction Research Programme/ Invitro Fertililzation Centre of University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) Benin City; Edo state were enrolled into this study. Standard semen analysis and serological investigation of Chlamydia trachomatis were done for each male patient according to the laboratory diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases of WHO (1999). Chlamydia trachomatis antibody was found to be Seropositive in 37(24) male patients. Standard semen analysis showed abnormality in the various semen parameters of the seropositive male patients. The Seminal fluid analysis of the Seropositive male patients had total average mean sperm morphology of 11.0(normal); total sperm count (10.0x106) ml; motility (11.0) vitality (17.0) (live) and leucocyte count 1.5x106 ml lower than the averagevitality 63; total sperm count (30.5x106ml); motility (61.0) and leucocyte count (0.5x106ml) of the 28 age-matched male subject used as control (P0.05). This study indicates that Chlamydia trachomatis may be an independent risk factor affecting semen quality of male and consequently infertility