Genetic Diversity and Molecular Surveillance of Antimalarial Drug Resistance of Plasmodium falciparum among Hospitals Patients in Benue State Nigeria

Introduction: Malaria is a febrile illness caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium and transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes. The genetic diversity and antimalarial drug resistance of Plasmodium falciparum are some of the major challenges of malaria control programme in Nigeria. Aim: This study was aimed at determining the genetic diversity, and molecular surveillance of antimalarial drug resistance among patients attending Government hospitals in Benue State, Nigeria. Methodology: Plasmodium falciparum deoxyribonucleic acid was extracted from dried blood spots of 60 positive malariacases among the patients. The diversity of Plasmodium falciparum was done by genotyping 3D7 and FC27 families of merozoite surface protein- 2 alleles. The Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistance 1 and Plasmodium falciparum kelch13 genes of Plasmodium falciparum were also amplified and assessed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) to survey molecular resistance to antimalarial drugs. Results: The results showed that the frequency of 3D7 allele 37(61.7%) was higher than FC27 allele 18(30.0%). The frequency of merozoite surface protein- 2 infections with both allelic types was 5(8.3%). There was a significant difference in the distribution of the merozoite surface protein two alleles (?2=25.9,df=2 P<.0.001). Both the Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistance 1 Asparagine 86Tyrosine (N86Y) and Aspartic acid 1246Tyrosine (D1246Y), had 100 % mutant while the 100% while the Plasmodium falciparum kelch13 G449A had 100% wild type allele. Conclusion: The current study underscores the need for frequent monitoring of indicators of antimalaria drug resistance in Nigeria.

Discriminant function models for determination of sex using anthropometric foot dimensions in an adult nigerian population

Background: Sex, age, race and stature are evaluated to determine the identity in forensic investigations. Themost important stages in identity determination are stature and sex estimations which are easily done withprimary anatomic structures in intact corpses. determination of sex from skeletal or dismembered body remainsis one of the most critical aspects of forensic analysis which is crucial to medico-legal investigations.Aim: This study is aimed at testing the validity of sex classification using anthropometric foot dimensions anddiscriminant function test in an adult Nigerian population.Methods: 222 subjects (115 males and 107 females) of Nigerian parentage, aged 18–65 years who volunteeredand satisfied the inclusion criteria were involved. Following institutional approval, anthropometric measurementsof Foot Length (FL), Foot width (FW), Bimalleolar width (BB), Navicular height (NH), Medial malleolar height(MMH), Lateral malleolar height (LMH), Heel Width (HB) were measured. The data was analyzed for descriptiveand inferential statistics using the SPSS statistical package version 25 and Microsoft excel 2016.Results: Independent t test exhibited statistically significant sex differences (P < 0.05) for all the parameters,with the males having consistently higher values than the females. Linear discriminant functions were createdfor predicting sex.Conclusion: The prediction models established from this study will be useful in disaster victim identificationfrom mutilated or dismembered human remains to aid medico-legal practice in Nigeria. The normative datadeveloped from this study will be referenced and be used as baseline data for comparing the variations of footstructure of this population and that of other populations.

In vitro surveillance of drug resistant falciparum malaria in north central Nigeria

Background: drug resistant malaria is spreading inexorably to areas with drug sensitive malaria parasites. This study compared the in vitro sensitivities of Plasmodium falciparum fresh parasite isolates; to some standard antimalarial drugs; in Makurdi and Masaka located over 300 km apart; in north central Nigeria. Methods: The in vitro responses of P. falciparum isolates; 43 and 39 in Makurdi and Masaka were evaluated by the standard schizonts growth inhibition assay in children aged 2-14 years. Results: The geometric mean effective concentration-EC50; EC90 and EC99 of quinine between Makurdi and Masaka differed significantly (P 0.05). A similar difference (P 0.05); was observed with the artesunate antimalarial at EC90 and EC99 levels; but not at EC50. No significant difference (P 0.05) was observed in the EC values of amodiaquine between the two locations. 5.13(2/39) of parasites at Masaka were in vitro resistant to amodiaquine with EC50 80 nM. The rest of the isolates were sensitive to the three antimalarial drugs at both locations. Conclusion: The results demonstrated low in vitro resistance of P. falciparum to amodiaquine in the region. Constant monitoring and intervention is needed to curtail the spread of resistance to antimalarials in Nigeria