Some risk factors associated with acid-alcohol-fast bacilli in patients with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis in Jos, Central Nigeria

Background: Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains a very serious public health problem due to its high tendency of person to person transmission; morbidity; and mortality. This study aimed at determining some risk factors associated with the prevalence of acid-alcohol-fast-bacilli (AAFB) within the study area. Materials and Methods: Sputum samples were collected from three hundred and three (303) patients with suspected cases of pulmonary tuberculosis in Jos. The samples were examined using Ziehl Neelson method. Structured questionnaires were administered to obtain some demographic data from patients that consented. Results were tested statistically for significance at p 0.05 using Chi-square test. Results: Out of the samples examined; 29 (9.60); were positive for AAFB. The study showed that the prevalence of smear-positive increased with increase in number of persons sharing the same room. Statistically the study reveals that some risk factors such as alcoholism; cigarette smoking and number of persons staying in a household had a significant effects on the prevalence (p 0.05);while HIV status had no significant effect on the prevalence (p 0.05). Conclusion: There was high prevalence of AAFB in the study area especially among people living in poor/congested housing facilities and people with HIV/AIDS. This calls for more collaborative efforts and political will by government and non-governmental agencies in order to eradicate the infection rate within the area; and the country at large

Phytochemical Analysis and Antiviral Potential of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Psidium guajava Against Newcastle Disease Virus in ovo.

Leaf extract of Psidium guajava were subjected to phytochemical screening and in ovo antiviral assay against Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV). Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of pharmacologically active and nutritionally relevant compounds. Nine-day-old embryonated chicken eggs were divided into ten groups of fives and received various treatments. Groups 1-6 received 100EID50/0.1ml NDV pre-treated with P. guajava leaf extracts at final concentrations of 250, 200, 100, 50, 25 and 10mg/ml in that order. Controls were included. Embryo survival was observed daily. Allantoic fluid from treated eggs and serum from hatched chicks were collected for spot hemagglutination (HA) and hemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests to detect NDV in the eggs and antibodies against NDV in the hatched chicks respectively. Results showed that embryo survival was higher with higher extract concentrations.. Just as increase in extract concentration was directly proportional to virus death and inversely proportional to production of antibody against NDV in hatched chicks. The current findings have clearly demonstrated that P. guajava leaf extract has nutritional value as well as great antiviral potential against NDV in ovo. In vivo trials are needed to validate the use of the tree in controlling Newcastle disease in chickens.