ABSTRACT
Dengue fever is becoming one of the major public health problems in the world and its distribution has been premised on the migration of people from infected regions. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of dengue virus IgG antibody among the patients with febrile conditions attending health facilities in Osogbo metropolis, Southwestern Nigeria. The blood samples collected between July and September, 2014 were tested for Plasmodium falciparum and the sera were subsequently subjected to Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) to detect the dengue virus IgG antibody. Of the hundred consented participants screened, 77% were sero-positive for dengue virus IgG antibody while 41% were positive for P. falciparum. Thirty-three (33%) of the participants were positive for both dengue virus IgG antibody and P. falciparum. No significant difference was found in the prevalence of dengue virus IgG antibody and malaria among the participants (P>0.05). The high prevalence of dengue virus IgG and malaria signifies the need by the government of Osun State to sensitize residents and institute urgent measures to mitigate the resultant effects of morbidity and mortality due to dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever which has hitherto appeared to be alien to the area.
ABSTRACT
Background & objective: Epidemiological studies were carried out to assess the prevalence and community microfilarial load (CMFL) of onchocerciasis after repeated annual treatment with ivermectin along Ogun river System, southwest Nigeria. Method: Skin snips were taken from consented participants in 11 selected communities along the River system. The microfilarial load of the community was estimated. Results: The prevalence and CMFL varied significantly in the communities (p <0.05). The prevalence of onchocerciasis ranged from 19.1 to 45.6%, while the CMFL ranged from 0.11 to 1.03 microfilariae per skin snip. The CMFL recorded was <5 microfilariae per skin snip, i.e. recognized by WHO as threshold value in certifying the communities to be free of onchocerciasis as public health problem, thus, signifying the possibility of onchocerciasis elimination in the study area. Conclusion: Efforts should therefore be intensified to achieve improved ivermectin coverage and compliance in annual ivermectin treatment in order to completely eliminate onchocerciasis as a public health problem in the studied communities.
ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: A longitudinal study was carried out to investigate the species composition, seasonal abundance, parity and feeding preference of indoor sampled mosquitoes in Abeokuta, south-western Nigeria. Methods: The mosquitoes were sampled weekly from five stratified locations using Center for Disease Control (CDC) light-traps between August 2005 and July 2006. The mosquitoes were examined for abdominal condition and dissected for age composition. Microscopic and precipitin techniques were also employed for the determination of host blood source. Results: A total of 2969 mosquitoes which belong to 10 species of mosquitoes were collected during the study period. Mansonia africana (35.65%) constituted the most abundant species followed by Culex quinquefasciatus (32.23%) and Anopheles gambiae complex (13.52%). Other species in decreasing order of abundance were Coquilletidia maculipennis (8.2%), Aedes albopictus (5.9%), Ae. aegypti (1.93%), M. uniformis (1.81%), Cx. duttoni (0.25%), Cx. tigripes (0.25%) and An. funestus (0.25%). Seasonal abundance revealed a significant difference (p <0.05) in the population of mosquito vectors collected during the wet season as compared to the dry season and their abundance was positively correlated with rainfall. The results showed that the majority of the vector species collected were unfed and nulliparous. Moreover, the blood meal test was positive for human blood. Conclusion: The preponderance of mosquitoes observed in the study is of public health concern since they serve as vectors of most tropical diseases including malaria.
ABSTRACT
Abstract: The larval habitats of mosquitoes were investigated in Abeokuta, Nigeria in order to determine the breeding sites of the existing mosquito fauna and its possible public health implications on the residents of the City. The habitats were sampled between August 2005 and July 2006 using plastic dippers and a pipette. The habitats were grouped as ground pools/ponds, gutters/open drains, tyres, domestic containers and treeholes/ leaf axils. Ten species of mosquitoes were encountered in the fi ve habitats namely Mansonia africana, M. uniformis, Culex quinquefasciatus, Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus, Ae. vittatus, Cx tigripes, Anopheles gambiae s.l., An. funestus and Eretmapodite clnysogaster. Ae. aegypti bred in all the habitats sampled while Cx quinquefasciatus bred in four habitats except tree holes/leaf axils. An. gambiae s.l and Ae. albopictus occurred in three habitats while other species bred only in one or two habitats. Ground pools and domestic containers recorded the highest number of species followed by gutters/open drains. Tree holes/leaf axils was the least preferred habitat with the lowest number of species occurrence. However, statistical analysis revealed non-signifi-cant difference in species occurrence in the fi ve habitats. The availability of the habitats to support the breeding of Aedes, Culex and Anopheles, which are known vectors of urban yellow fever, lymphatic fi lariasis and malaria suggest that the residents of Abeokuta City are at risk of mosquito-borne diseases. It is important that residents of the City are enlighten on the environmental factors that contribute to mosquito breeding and that the Government should institute proper sanitation measures to reduce mosquito breeding sites