ABSTRACT
Aim: This study was undertaken to access the intestinal parasitic profile of food vendors in Minna Nigeria. Study Design: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in Minna the capital of Niger state, North central Nigeria. Sample sizes were determined at random from the food vendors selling ready to eat food. Place and Duration of Study: Samples were collected from the food vendors in Minna between June and December 2012. Methodology: Samples were assayed for intestinal parasites using direct wet mount and formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation techniques. Results: This study showed that 104 samples out of 116 (89.66%) were positive for intestinal parasites; 70 samples (67.31%) represented single infections and 34 (32.69%) mixed infections. Ascaris lumbricoides eggs were found in 11 (10.58%), Hookworm 10 (9.62%), Trichuris trichuira 4 (3.85%), Giardia duodenalis 15 (14.42%), Entamoeba histolytica 20 (19.23%), and Taenia saginata 10 (9.62%) respectively. A significant (p<0.05) prevalence was found in females 92 (88.46%) and in mean age of 31 – 40 years 34 (32.69%). Eggs and cysts of intestinal parasites were found more in the food samples such as Beans portage (15.50%), Stew (6.00%), Soup (15.50%), Rice (14.00%), Salad (20.00%), Spaghetti (12.50%) and Chinchin (20.00%) respectively. Conclusion: High prevalence of intestinal parasites in food vendors is a matter of great concern considering the effect which will lead to diseases outbreaks. The provision of food safety measures focusing on personal hygiene and periodical medical check-ups is highly advised.
ABSTRACT
Aims: This study determines the antibody levels of Malaria and Hepatitis B and associated risk factors among pregnant women attending anti-natal Clinic at General Hospital Minna. Study Design: The subjects were pregnant women who attended ante-natal clinic. Sample sizes were determined from the number of pregnant women that attended antenatal Clinic. Place and Duration of Study: Samples were collected from the ante-natal Clinic of General Hospital Minna between July to November 2011. Methodology: Samples were assayed for malaria and hepatitis B (HBsAg) by commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Time and age of pregnancy were noted. Results: Out of the 269 pregnant women screened 216(80.30%) were positive for malaria, 22(8.18%) for hepatitis B and 21(7.81%) were co-infection of malaria and hepatitis B and 10 were negative, while non-pregnant women had 51(51.00%), 8(8.00%) and 6(6.00%) for malaria, hepatitis B and co-infection of both out of 100 screened. There was a significant difference between pregnant and non-pregnant women both in malaria and hepatitis B at p<0.05. History of blood transfusion, Alcohol consumption and Use of contraceptives were significantly associated with hepatitis B and co-infection of both hepatitis B and malaria at p<0.05. Only history of blood transfusion was associated with malaria infection though not significant. Conclusion: High prevalence of antibodies to malaria and hepatitis B is a matter of great concern considering the effect of these diseases on the foetus. Adequate measures need to be taken to treat and provide prophylactic measures.
ABSTRACT
The study was designed to determine the true prevalence of congenital; cord; and placental malaria in General Hospital Minna; North Central Nigeria. Peripheral blood smears of near-term pregnant women; as well as the placental; cord; and peripheral blood smears of their newborn babies; were examined for malaria parasites; using the Giemsa staining technique. Out of 152 pregnant women screened; 21 (13.82) of them were infected with malaria parasites. Of the 152 new born babies; 4 (2.63) showed positive peripheral parasitaemia. Placental parasitaemia was 7/152 (4.61); while cord blood parasitaemia was 9/152 (5.92). There were strong associations between peripheral and cord malaria parasitaemia and congenital malaria (P 0.05). Plasmodium falciparum occurred in all; and none had mixed infection. The average birth weights of the babies delivered of nonmalarious pregnant women were higher than those delivered by malarious pregnant women; though not significant (P 0.05). Malaria parasitaemia occurred more frequently in primigravidae than multigravidae
Subject(s)
Malaria , Pregnancy , PrevalenceABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Microsporidial infections have been recognized as an increasingly important infection in immunocompromized patients, particularly those infected with HIV/AIDS. This study was designed to study immune responses associated with experimental Encephalitozoon intestinalis infection in immunecompetent rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-four rats in 3 groups, A (Control), B (Intraperitoneal) and C (Oral) were given injections of 0.5 ml of 2 x 10(6) of purified spores of Encephalitotozoon intestinalis spores and were observed for serum specific IgG for 21 days using both Direct and Indirect ELISA. RESULTS: In indirect ELISA, specific lgG were detected on days 7, 14 and 21 for the group B rats and on day 21 for group C and in direct ELISA method, specific lgG were detected in-group B rats on days 7 and 21, for group C rats on day 21 only, while in the control rats, specific lgG were not detected. There was no significant difference between the direct and indirect methods (df=1, X(2), P>0.05). E. intestinalis was observed in stool samples of rats in 1/12 (08.33%) on days 14 and 21 in group B and in 4/10 (33.33%), 3/10 (25.00%) and 2/10 (16.67%) on days 7, 14 and 21 respectively in group C. In-group, A which is the control rats, no microsporidia were observed on days 0, 7, 14 and 21. CONCLUSIONS: There were no changes in the T-lymphocyte counts of rats prior to and after inoculation with spores. Extensive lesions were observed along the intestinal walls especially on the middle and lower sections of group C rats only.