ABSTRACT
This study is conducted to determine the population density of mosquitoes in three selected area (Kofar Taramniya, Mabera and Bello Way) in Sokoto metropolis. To identified and count the population of mosquito, different breeding sites were investigated for the preferences of mosquitoes. Mosquito larvae were collected using dipper, ladle spoon from drainages, stagnant water, gutters, open wells, local pots, water tanks and cattle sheds. A total population of 4,764 mosquito larvae were collected and identified From the three (3) selected areas larvae and pupae were encounters in abundance. In Mabera area, a total of 1799 (37.7%) larvae are collected in which 1199 (45.8%) belonging to Anophelesgenera and 600 (27.9%) belong to culexgenera. In kofar Taramniya a total of 1649 (34.6%) larvae are collected in which 1000 (38.2%) belong to Anopheles genera and 649 (30.2%) belong to culexgenera, in Bello Way, A total of 1317 (27.5%) larvae were collected,417 (15.9%) belong to Anophelesgenera and 900 (41.9%)belongto culexgenera. Statistical analysis conducted indicated a significant difference (p<0.05) between the three collections. Mosquitoes encountered belong to two genera of Anophelesand Culex. The predominant genus was Anopheleswith a total of 2,615 larvaewhile Culexhas a total of 2149 larvae in all the three study areas. Considering the medical importance of mosquitoes, the information provided from this study will serve as a basis for understanding the implication of mosquitoes nuisance and provide effective control strategies against the vector and to reduce mosquitoes born disease
ABSTRACT
Objectives: Behcet's disease [BD] is an immune-mediated small vessel systemic vasculitis. Human beta-defensins are antimicrobial peptides associated with many inflammatory diseases and are encoded by the beta-defensin family of multiple-copy genes. However, their role in BD necessitates further investigation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible association of BD in its various clinical forms with defensin beta-4 [DEFB4] genomic copy numbers
Methods: This case-control study was conducted from January to September 2011 and included 50 control subjects and 27 unrelated Iraqi BD patients registered at Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Bagdad, Iraq. Copy numbers of the DEFB4 gene were determined using the comparative cycle threshold method by duplex real-time polymerase chain reaction technology at the Department of Dermatology of Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
Results: DEFB4 genomic copy numbers were significantly higher in the BD group compared to the control group [P = 0.010]. However, no statistically significant association was found between copy numbers and clinical variables within the BD group
Conclusion: The DEFB4 copy number polymorphism may be associated with BD; however, it is not associated with different clinical manifestations of the disease