RESUMEN
Staphylococcus aureus is a well-known agent of zoonotic infections. Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus (LA-MRSA) had been receiving public health attention for over a decade. Recently, the genomes of some MRSA strains evolved further by enabling acquisition of vanA gene from enterococcus which drives the emergence of vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA), thus signaling a higher threat to antimicrobial chemotherapy and diagnostic microbiology. This study was designed to examine slaughtered chicken carcasses in Omu-Aran, North-Central Nigeria for the presence of VRSA using vancomycin agar screen (VAS) as recommended by the Clinical and Laboratories Standards Institute (CLSI). To provide independent witness to further support the evidences from VAS, a 235 bp marker for vanA gene was simultaneously detected by PCR. From April 2013 through May 2014, chicken carcasses (n=784) were collected and studied. Among 155 (19.8%) samples which yielded S. aureus, VAS and vanA PCR methods unequivocally identified VRSA in 22 (14.2%). Compared with 46.2% VRSA report from Zaria, North-Western Nigeria, the incidence of VRSA is much less in Omu-Aran chicken carcasses than those of Zaria. Further investigation in other parts of Nigeria is recommended in order to generate nation-wide data on VRSA in this country.
RESUMEN
Background: The prevalence and intensity of Schistosoma haematobium infection were studied in Ukwelo-Obudu; and Abini communities of Cross River State; Nigeria. Aim: To screen for the presence of ova of S. haematobium in the urine of school children in the two communities. Method: Six hundred urine specimens (400 in Abini and 200 in Ukwelo-Obudu community) were collected by random sampling from school children aged 5-17 years from the two communities and screened for ova of Schistosoma haematobium by filtration of urine and counting of filtered carbol fuchsin-stained eggs of Schistosoma haematobium. Retrospective study of Schistosoma haematobium infection was also carried out in Ukwelo-Obudu community. Results: Infection with S. haematobium was not found in Ukwelo-Obudu whereas in Abini community; a prevalence of 4.5was found. The highest prevalence of infection (7.7) occurred in the age group of 11-13 years. There was a strong positive correlation between the presence of infection (ova of S. haematobium) and existence of haematuria (r = 0.81) and proteinuria (r = 0.71) in Abini community. There was a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of proteinuria between male and female subjects examined (P=0.0008). A retrospective study of Schistosoma haematobium infection in Ukwelo-Obudu community showed 2006 as the year with the highest record of infection [11(35.5)] whereas the year 2004 recorded the lowest number of infection. Conclusion: This study has revealed a low prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium infection in Abini and the absence of infection in Ukwelo-Obudu communities respectively