RESUMEN
Objectives: The present study aimed at measuring the length and width of the head and face of children under the age of six years in Anambra state, a South Eastern state of Nigeria. Data obtained was used to calculate their respective craniofacial indices. Methods: Four hundred and fifty four children (226 males and 228 females) below the age of six were randomly sampled from pre-nursery and nursery schools. Subjects with signs of deformities or history of head and facial injuries and mental retardations were excluded from the study. Measuring tape and spreading callipers were used to measure the length and width of the head and face. Results: Results indicated that the mean head length and breadth, face length and breadth, cephalic index and facial index did not indicate significant gender differences. Mesocephalic head type was the predominant, accounting for 39.9% of the study population; brachycephalic, dolicocephalic, hyperbrachycephalic heads accounted for 35.9%, 12.1% and 7.7% respectively, while ultrabrachycephalic was the least prevalent (4.4%). The dominant type of face was found to be hypereuryprosopic accounting for about 44.5% of the study population. Euryprosopic, mesoprosopic, and leptoprosopic types of face accounted for 39.2%, 11.2%, and 4% of the sampled population respectively, while the rare type was found to be hyperleptoprosopic with 1.1%. Conclusion: This study indicates no significant gender differences in the craniofacial variables in a cross-section of Nigerian children under 6 years of age. The most prevalent type of head was the mesocephalic type while the most dominant type of face shape was hypereuryprosopic in both male and female subjects.
RESUMEN
Background & objective: Bancroftian filariasis is a major public health and socioeconomic problems in the humid tropical and subtropical regions of the world. A study was undertaken to investigate the status of the disease in some rural communities of Cross River State, Nigeria, with a view to enriching the epidemiological baseline data of the disease in Nigeria. Methods: A total of 897 Mbembe people living in six major villages of Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria were examined between December 2008 and June 2009 for lymphatic filariasis due to Wuchereria bancrofti. Results: Out of the 897 persons examined, 139 (15.5%) were positive for microfilariae in their blood smear. Infection varied significantly among villages (p <0.05) but was not sex-specific (p >0.05). The overall mean microfilarial density among the total population was 9.9 mf/50 μl. The occurrence of microfilaria in the peripheral blood of the infected persons was neither age nor sex specific (p >0.05). The most important clinical manifestations were hydrocele (9.7%) and lymphoedema (2.3%). Overall disease prevalence was (6.8%). Conclusion: Government effort on the Community Directed Treatment with Ivermectin (CDTI) project should be complimented with albendazole distribution to the endemic communities. Environmental sanitation should also be intensified to eliminate the breeding sites of the mosquito vectors.
RESUMEN
Background & objectives: The study examined the mosquito-repellent and mosquitocidal activities of the volatile oil of Ocimum gratissimum at three different locations (World Bank Estate, Ihitte and Umuekunne) in Imo State, eastern Nigeria, with the purpose of sourcing for mosquito repellent that is cheap, abundant, environment and user-friendly. Methods: Four different lotions; 20% (v/v) and 30% (v/v) concentrations each of the extracted volatile oil in two natural oil bases (olive and palm kernel) were made and six volunteered human baits were used to evaluate the mosquito repellent and mosquitocidal activities of the stock materials at the three different centres from September to November 2008. Results: Topical application of each of the four different lotions significantly (p <0.05) reduced the biting rate of mosquitoes in all the three locations tested. The 30% (v/v) concentration in olive oil base exhibiting highest average percentage repellencies of 97.2, 95.7 and 96.3% at World Bank Estate, Ihitte and Umuekunne centres respectively while the 20% (v/v) concentration in palm kernel oil base had the least repellency of 36.3, 41.6 and 36.3%, respectively. The other two formulations had values ranging from 67.8 to 80% in the three locations. The 30% (v/v) concentration in both olive and palm kernel oil bases afforded all night protection against mosquito bites in all the centres, and demonstrated fast knockdown and paralyzing effect on few mosquitoes at the urban centre (World Bank Estate). Interpretation & conclusion: The study confirms that O. gratissimum grown in eastern Nigeria has mosquito-repellent and mosquitocidal potentials and the formulations could be used to reduce human-mosquito contacts and hence mosquito-borne diseases and irritations caused by their bites.