RESUMO
Aims: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of intestinal parasitic helminth eggs in the fingernails of “Almajiris” in Birnin Kudu Local Government Area in Jigawa State, Nigeria and to determine the source of the infection as an indicator of the overall hygienic standard of “Almajiris” from such areas. Study Design: Cross-sectional Survey. Place and Duration of Study: The study area was Birnin Kudu Local Government Area in Jigawa State, Nigeria. However, the research was conducted in the Faculty of Science and Science Education, Department of Biology, Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Nigeria between January 2014 and April 2014. Methodology: The study was conducted among Qur’anic school pupils (Almajiris) attending three different Qur’anic schools in Birnin Kudu, Jigawa state. Simple random sampling technique was employed in selecting the 383 “Almajiris” (age ranges from 7 years to 30 years) recruited for this study. Swab samples from the fingernails were subjected to Salt Floatation Technique and the nail clippings were analyzed using concentration method and eggs of parasites were identified by characteristic egg morphology using standard procedures. Results: The prevalence of intestinal parasitic helminthes among the overall population studied was 54.8% (210 of 383). The parasites isolated from the fingernails of the Almajiris are: 29.5% Ascaris lumbricoides, 24.3% Hookworm, 19.0% Enterobius vermicularis, 8.1% Trichuris trichuria as well as mixed infections involving Ascaris lumbricoides and Hookworm, 6.7%; Hookwom and T. trichuira, 5.7%; Ascaris lumbricoides and Enterobius vermicularis, 4.2% and that between Ascaris lumbricoides, Enterobius vermicularis and Trichuris trichuria, 2.3%. The difference between the intestinal helminths was not significant (P-value = 1.00). There were significant variation in relation to the infection among the three qur’anic schools (P-value=.001). Age group between 11-15 years had the highest infection of 60.2% but this was not significant (P-value = 1.00). Conclusion: The study revealed high prevalence of intestinal helminth parasites in the fingernails of “Almajiris” and if not controlled, it may cause colossal health challenges to the community. This underscores the importance of teaching hand washing and personal hygiene to “Almajiris” and their teachers, otherwise known as “Malams” as well as inculcating the habit of periodic deworming exercise.
RESUMO
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