ABSTRACT
Aim: To determine the level of Salmonella agglutinin and its titre among apparently healthy students of Tertiary Institution in North-eastern Nigeria. Study Design: A cross-sectional study on Seroprevalence of Salmonella agglutinin; Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Biological Science Technology, Federal Polytechnic Mubi, Adamawa State, between September to December, 2016. Methodology: This study was a cross-sectional study in which 200 apparently healthy students of Federal Polytechnic Mubi were tested for Salmonella agglutinin using both slide and tube agglutination methods. Statistical Analysis: Non-parametric Mann-Whitney statistics and least significance difference (LSD) were used to test for significant difference in all the data obtained. Significance difference was taken when P?0.05. Results: The result showed that the number of male with positive Widal agglutinin was significantly higher than that of female (P=0.028). The number of positive titre was significantly higher in age group 21-25 years (P=0.002) when compared to other age brackets. However, there was no statistical difference between the age bracket 16-20 years and 31-35 years (P=0.747). The result of the agglutination titre showed that more male had Salmonella titre for Salmonella Typhi O (81.8%) and Salmonella Typhi H (72.7%) while more female had Salmonella agglutinin titre for Salmonella Typhi H (44.4%) and Salmonella Paratyphi B-H (33.3%). It was also observed that only agglutinin for Salmonella Paratyphi A-O, B-O, C-O, B-H and C-H were present in the sera of male subjects up to the titre of 160 and at frequencies ranging from 1.6-58.8%. Furthermore, among females, it was observed that only agglutinins for Salmonella Paratyphi A-O, Salmonella Typhi C-H and Salmonella Typhi O and H were present in the sera of the subjects up to the titre of 160 and at frequencies ranging from 2.5-25.0%. Conclusion: Detecting Salmonella agglutinin titre up to 160 among apparently healthy individuals is of public health significance. Thus, there is need to monitor this trend and create awareness on environmental and behavioural risk factors for Salmonella infections.
ABSTRACT
Fresh fruits are major sources of nutrients and vitamins which help to promote good health. However, fresh fruits may also harbour a wide range of microbial contaminants of public health significance. To assess the bacterial contaminants of fruits sold in Ugbowo campus of University of Benin, 200 samples of replica of five fruits were purchased from four locations within the campus. Samples were analyzed to study the distribution of organisms based on the type of fruits and the locations in which the fruits were sampled. The results showed that 62.5% of the fruit samples yield bacterial growth, while 37.5% of the fruit samples yield no bacterial growth. The highest number of organisms was isolated from banana and pawpaw at the same rate (13% each), while oranges recorded the least number of isolates. Using non-parametric Wilcoxon statistics the results further showed that the number of samples with bacterial growth was significantly higher than that without bacterial growth (p=0.042). Four bacteria belonging to three genera were identified. The identified organisms were Staphylococcus aureus, Coagulase negative Staphylococci (CoNS), Escherichia coli and Salmonella Enteritidis. The highest number of organisms was isolated from sale points in junior staff quarters closely followed by sale points in anatomy gate. S. aureus has the highest incidence in all the locations followed by E. coli. However, the distribution of organisms isolated from all the locations showed no significant difference (p=0.996). S. aureus (46.4%) was the most frequently isolated organisms from all the fruit samples followed by E. coli (28.8%), while Salmonella Enteritidis was the least frequently isolated (11.2%).The results of the statistical analysis using Duncan multiple range test revealed that the distribution of S. aureus in all the fruit samples was significantly higher than that of CoNS (p=0.000), E. coli (p=0.003) and Salmonella Enteritidis (p=0.000). Also, the occurrence of E. coli was significantly higher than that of CoNS (p=0.008) and Salmonella Enteritidis. (p=0.003). The results further showed that the frequency of Salmonella Enteritidis. in all the fruit samples was not significantly different from those of CoNS (p=0.628). Thus, bacteriologically safe fruits are essential to maximize the health and nutritional benefits inherent in adequate consumption of these products. Therefore, proper decontamination through washing of fruits, hands and containing vessels is essential.
ABSTRACT
Aims: This study was carried out to ascertain the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection and its relationship to gender and age among apparently healthy students of a tertiary institution in Northeastern Nigeria. Study Design: Sero-prevalence of HBsAg in relation to gender and age. Place and Duration of Study: Federal Polytechnic Mubi, North-eastern Nigeria, between August 2013 and September, 2014. Methodology: In this study, 200 apparently healthy students of a tertiary institution in North eastern Nigeria were screened randomly to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). To achieve this, 200 blood samples were screened in a step wise order using One Step Strip Style HBsAg test. The blood was allowed to retract and then centrifuged at 2500 rpm for 10 minutes. The test device was dipped into the serum sample for 3 sec and read after 10 min. Results: The result showed an overall HBsAg seroprevalence of 31.5%. The seroprevalence of HBsAg among males (43%) was higher than that of females (27%) but with no statistical significant difference (p=0.462). The age-specific distribution of HBsAg among subjects in this study showed higher HBsAg prevalence rate among the age group 35 & above (50%), closely followed by the age group 30-34 (48%) with no statistical significant difference between all the age groups (p=0.353). Conclusion: The result of this study confirmed the high endemicity of HBsAg among apparently healthy individuals in North-eastern Nigeria which is alarming. It is therefore recommended that as a matter of urgency Nigerian government should extend HBV vaccination programme to the adult folks and not just limited to the national childhood immunization programme.