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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.
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Aims: To determine the prevalence of HBV co-infection in HIV-infected children and compare the baseline laboratory profile of mono-infected and co-infected patients. Study Design: This was a retrospective cohort study. Place and Duration of Study: AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria (APIN)-supported HIV clinic of Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria between January 2008 and December 2012. Methodology: We reviewed the clinical records of 452 treatment-naïve children aged 2 months to 15 years confirmed to be HIV positive with Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for children <18 months or Western blot for children ≥18 months. The baseline laboratory tests included: HBsAg, plasma viral load and alanine transaminase (ALT), CD4+T cell count for children ≥5years or CD4+T cell % for children <5years. Results: Three hundred and ninety-four (87.2%) were mono-infected with HIV while 58 (12.8%) were co-infected with HIV and HBV (HIV/HBV). At baseline, the median viral load was 4.6 log copies/mL for mono-infected compared to 4.7 log copies/mL for HIV/HBV (P=.48). The median CD4+T cell count was 366 cells/µL for mono-infected compared to 332 cells/µL for HIV/HBV (P=.64). The median CD4+T cell % was 19% for mono-infected compared to 17% for HIV/HBV (P =.29). The median ALT level for the whole cohort was 23 IU/L for mono-infected compared to 26 IU/L for HIV/HBV (P=.15). However the median ALT level for mono-infected children aged 11-15 years was 28IU/L compared to 43 IU/L for co-infected children of same age (P =.008). Conclusion: A high rate of hepatitis B co-infection was observed in HIV-infected children at our centre; however more severe HIV disease was not observed. Older children co-infected with HBV had significantly higher ALT levels compared to their mono-infected counterparts. Early detection is therefore necessary in order to develop an appropriate treatment plan for children co-infected with HIV and HBV.
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Background: To achieve early diagnosis and effective treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis; simple and sensitive methods that enhance the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) from clinical specimens are needed. This study compared the effectiveness and suitability of an insertion sequence (IS 6110) based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay with conventional methods for the detection of M. tuberculosis from clinical specimens in a resource-limited setting. Methods: Sputa from 101 HIV-positive patients and 40 clinical specimens (sputa; gastic wash out; ascitic fluid; pleural fluid and cerebrospinal fluid) collected from children (HIV status unknown); all suspected for pulmonary tuberculosis at the Jos University Teaching Hospital; Jos; (JUTH) Nigeria; were examined by Ziehl Neelsen (ZN) smear microscopy; Lowenstein Jensen's (LJ) egg-based culture; and PCR methods for the detection of M. tuberculosis Results: Mycobacteria was detected in 45/101 (44.6) of the specimens from the HIV-positive patients and comprised of 6ZN+culture+PCR+; 4ZN-culture+ PCR-; 16ZN-culture+ PCR+ and 19ZN-culture-PCR+. Twenty-two of forty (55) children were positive with 0smear microscopy; 4/40 (10) culture+PCR+; and 18/40 (45) culture- PCR+. The sensitivity and specificity of the PCR for the HIV-positive patients were 85and 74respectively against 23and 100for ZN smear microscopy. Conclusion: The IS6110 PCR is a rapid and sensitive method that is specific for the M. tuberculosis complex group. It is simple in our experience and increased the detection of M. tuberculosis from the specimens examined. We suggest its use for the detection of M. tuberculosis in high TB and HIV burden areas
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DNA , Infecções por HIV , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , TuberculoseRESUMO
Background: The clinical characteristics and consequences of HIV-1 infection observed in studies from developed countries cannot be generalized across the multiple virus subtypes that circulate in sub-Saharan Africa in general and Nigeria in particular. This study was therefore conducted to determine the commonest symptoms and signs at presentation in HIV-infected individuals at the Jos University Teaching Hospital.Method: This descriptive study was conducted at the antiretroviral clinic of the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, between May and October 2004. Two hundred (200) newly diagnosed and laboratory confirmed adult cases of HIV infection without prior antiretroviral drug use were recruited after obtaining informed consent. Each qualified patient had a comprehensive history taken with emphasis on the clinical symptoms and detailed physical examination performed by the researchers. The data collected were analyzed using a multipurpose computer programme, Epi-info 2000 version 1.1.3 (Atlanta GA, USA). Results: There were 86(43.0%) males and 114(57.0%) females whose mean ages were 39.0±7.8 and 32.0±8.1 years, respectively. The major symptoms in the study population were: weight loss (65.5%), fever (41.5%), chronic cough (38.5%), diarrhea (32.0%), pruritus (13.0%) and body rash (12.5%). The major signs were pallor (25.0%), oral thrush (20.5%), wasting (20.0%), lymphadenopathy (18.0%), dermatitis (16.0%), hyperpigmented nails (13.5%) and finger clubbing (8.5%).Conclusion: The symptoms and signs of HIV/AIDS obtained were similar to those obtained by other workers from different parts of the world; however, the findings of hyperpigmented nails and finger clubbing have not been frequently reported for other populations