Cross-sectional epidemiological investigations of Giardia lamblia in children in Pakistan

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The prevalence of Giardia lamblia in Pakistani children is currently unknown. The aim here was to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of Giardia lamblia in children exhibiting diarrhea. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study at different district healthcare hospitals in Pakistan. METHODS: A total of 800 samples were collected from children aged 0-10 years. Information regarding personal data, demographic data and supposed risk factors was collected through a structured questionnaire. Giardia lamblia was detected through direct microscopy and antigens through the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The prevalence of Giardia lamblia was 2.75% through direct microscopy and inflated to 9.5% through ELISA. The demographic factors positively associated with occurrences of giardiasis were age (P = 0.035; odds ratio, OR = 1.96; 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.094-3.533), mother's educational level (P = 0.031; OR = 2.67; 95% CI = 1.186-6.045) and father's educational level (P = 0.004; OR = 3.56; 95% CI = 1.612-7.899). Similarly, among the supposed risk factors, rural residency (P = 0.032; OR = 1.76; 95% CI = 1.098- 2.851), absence of proper sewerage system (P = 0.000; OR = 6.60; 95% CI = 4.029-10.841) and unavailability of safe drinking water (P = 0.000; OR = 4.08; 95% CI = 2.207-7.547) were the factors strongly connected with giardiasis. Abdominal discomfort was a prominent clinical sign with 46% frequency. CONCLUSION: Various risk factors were associated with occurrences of Giardia, thus emphasizing the importance of parents' education, safe drinking water and proper sewerage systems for Pakistani children's health.

In vivo amelioration of aflatoxin B1 in broiler chicks by magnetic carbon nanocomposite

In this study an Iron oxide/carbon nanocomposite from maize straw was prepared and was characterized by XRD, SEM, EDX, FTIR, TG/DTA and Surface area analyzer. The adsorbent was fed to different groups of poultry birds along with aflatoxin B1. Different physiological and blood parameters were monitored in order to study the efficacy of the prepared adsorbent for binding of aflatoxin B1 in the gastrointestinal tract of chickens. It was found that adsorbent at dose of 0.3%/ kg feed was highly effective in detoxifying aflatoxin B1 in gastrointestinal tract of poultry birdswith no harmful effects. The high doses given to groups E and F; 0.4% and 0.5% respectively showed slight variation in tested parameters from group A. No negative symptoms associated with the use of activated carbon as previously reported were observed for the adsorbent under study.(AU)