Current and Emerging Laboratory Techniques for Malaria Diagnosis

Effective diagnostic methods must continue to be developed due to the effects of malaria on world health. Malaria is an infectious disease spread by mosquitoes that affects both people and other animals. It isthe product of Plasmodiumparasites, which are transmitted through bites from infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Other sporozoan species responsible for malaria infections include the sporozoan parasites Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium malaria, and Plasmodium knowlesi. Routine diagnosis of malaria is impeded in areas where the disease is endemic by technical and infrastructure issues with laboratories. Prompt and accurate diagnosis is essential since good disease management is one of the primary actions of the Global Malaria Control Strategy. Accurate malaria detection is also crucial in order to inform malaria control efforts through epidemiologic screening and surveillance, for research reasons to evaluate the effectiveness of antimalarial medications and vaccines, and for blood bank screening. This study's main goal is to show some of the new and effective ways to diagnose malaria that go beyond the gold standard, light microscopy, which has some problems

Intestinal Parasites and Salmonella typhi Infection among Food-handlers in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Nigeria

Background: Intestinal parasites andSalmonellainfections are of main public health concerns in Nigeria and the world, especially in developing countries where access to safe water and hygienic food handling practices by food handlers is a challenge. Consequently, food-handlers play a major role in the transmission of these types of foodborne diseases.Objective: This study was to determine the preponderance of intestinal parasites and Salmonella typhiamong food-handlers in selected areas in Port Harcourt.Materials and Methods: A total of 480 food-handlers (195 males and 285 females) of various educational levels were sampled. Stool samples were collected and analyses were carried out using direct smear examination and formol-ether concentration technique -adopted for nvestigation of intestinal parasites and deoxycholate citrate agar and Salmonella-Shigella agar for the cultivation of Salmonella typhi.Results:Of 480 food-handlers examined, comprisesof 195(40.6%) males and 285(59.4%) females,-majority (85.4%) were young adults aged 20-40 years. 47.9% of them -had education above secondary educational level. The preponderance of intestinal parasites was 48(10.0%) and implicated were Ascaris lumbricoides(41.7%), hookworm (33.3%) and Trichuris trichiura(25.0%). No intestinal protozoa were identified. Prevalence of 30(6.3%) was recorded for Salmonella typhi.Conclusion:Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites and S.typhi infection is relatively low among food handlers in Port Harcourt, but indicates the important role food handlers play in the transmission of the infection. Therefore, awareness should be step-up forthe food handlers to avoid escalation of these infections