Patterns of Plasmodium falciparum among Settled Fulani Pastoralists in Rivers State, Nigeria.

Aims: To establish the current status and control management of malaria infection among Fulani Pastoralists in their various bush encampments in Rivers State, Nigeria. Study Design: Cross –sectional, descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: Six bush encampments in Rivers State, Nigeria, between November 2009 and January 2011. Methodology: Thick and thin blood films were made and stained using parasitological standard procedures to identify malaria parasites. Packed cell volume estimation was determined with the use of hematocrit centrifuge and microhematocrit reader. Malaria control measures and personal data were collected through questionnaires. Data was analyzed statistically using ANOVA to test for significance and a P- value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Plasmodium falciparum was the only species of malaria parasite identified in the sampled group. Overall prevalence showed that 464 (78.2%) of the sampled Fulani Pastoralists were infected with malaria infection. Male herdsmen were more infected 79.9% than females 75.4% (p<0.05). prevalence rates of 79.2%, 80.2%, 81.8% and 79.8% were observed among the age group 1-10,11-20, 21-30 and 31-40 respectively (P>0.05). A total of 216 (46.6%) of the infected pastoralists had moderate parasite density and was higher among males. Low Packed cell volume (PCV) in the population was 18.4% and was higher among the age group 21-30 years. Data revealed that 10.5% of the examined used insecticide treated nets however, the use of mosquito coil and burning of medicinal leaves were the major preventive measures in the sampled population. Conclusion: Educating the herdsmen on malaria infection, prevention and control through environmental management as well as ensuring access to basic health care such as free anti-malaria drugs and long lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (IITN) which is the goal of malaria control programme will help to alleviate malaria infection among this group.

Birth Weight and Placental Weight Correlation of Fulani Ethnic Group Parturients in Nigeria.

Aims: We aim to establish the relationship of birth weight to the placental weight of Fulani ethnic community which is an important population politically and economically not only in Nigeria but to West Africa in general. Study Design: This was a prospective study on Fulani ethnic group parturients living in Kano State of Nigeria. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital Kano, Nigeria, from November 2007 to September 2008. Methodology: The study involved 390 healthy placentas (delivered at term) of Fulani ethnic group parturient in Nigeria. Each placenta was cleansed of blood clots and trimmed of umbilical cord near its attachment and its weight determined using the triple beam balance. The weight of new born was determined using Birth weight weighing Balance. The data were recorded and analyzed using Minitab 16 software and Pearson’ Correlation Coefficient was used to determine the relationship between the weights. Regression equation was also developed. Results: The mean birth weight was 2867.4 g (SD: 447.7 g), and for the placental weight, the mean found to be 477.6 g (SD: 74.8 g). The results showed a statistically significant correlation between the placenta and the birth weight using the Pearson correlation (r = 0.963, P < 0.001). Birth weight-Placenta ratio was 6.0 (SD: 0.3). The scatterplot (birth weight vs. placenta) shows the linear relationship of birth weight to placental weight (Fig. 1). Conclusion: The birth weight of Fulani ethnic group parturients correlates positively with the placental weight (P < 0.001) and this is in keeping with what was reported in the literature.

A comparison of Fulani and Nadar HLA.

Here recent studies of Nadar and Fulani HLA-A and HLA-B were compared to determine if these populations were related. The analysis revealed that the Nadar and Fulani populations share a number of unique alleles including A*101, A*0211, A*03011, A*3303, B*3501, B*3701, and B*51011. The study suggests a former residence of these diverse populations in same geographical area.

Lipid Profiles and trans Fatty Acids in Serum Phospholipids of Semi-nomadic Fulani in Northern Nigeria.

The Fulani are semi-nomadic pastoralists of West Africa whose diet, culture, and economy are centred on cattle. Previous studies have shown that the Fulani of northern Nigeria derive 50% of their total calories from fat and 30% of their calories from milk, cheese, yogurt, and butter oil that contain significant amounts of trans fatty acids (TFAs), primarily vaccenic acid, which raise total serum cholesterol and low-density lipoproteincholesterol (LDL-C), and lower high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C). The study was conducted to know how the consumption of relatively large amounts of dairy products by adult Fulani affected the TFA content of their serum phospholipids. Blood samples were collected from 22 male and 29 female Fulani, aged 35-60 years, who were living in rural areas of Gombe state in northeastern Nigeria. The total serum phospholipid fraction was isolated, and its fatty acid composition was determined. Surprisingly, vaccenic acid was not detected, and three other TFAs—18:1-t6, 18:1-t9, and 18:2-t9,t12—together accounted for only 0.16% of the total fatty acid. The mean serum total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglyceride concentrations of the subjects were within the normal range for populations in developed countries; however, at 32 mg/dL, the mean serum HDL-C concentration of the Fulani males was slightly below the lower limit of the reference range. No correlations were observed between the total TFA percentage or that of the three individual TFAs and any of the parameters of the serum lipid profile. These findings indicate that, with respect to TFAs at least, the fatty acid pattern of the serum phospholipids of Fulani pastoralists does not reflect the high TFA content of their traditional diet. Despite the consumption of rumenic acid-rich dairy products, for unknown reasons, the semi-nomadic Fulani manage to maintain a low level of TFAs in their blood and a relatively healthful serum lipid profile. While the mechanism that accounts for this disconnect between the consumption of TFAs by Fulani pastoralists and the proportion of TFAs in their serum phospholipids is obscure, possibilities include discrimination against rumenic acid during the process of triglyceride synthesis and chylomicron synthesis in the intestine and the preferential oxidation of TFAs by Fulani the people compared to other ethnic groups.

Morphometric differentiation and asessment of function of the fulani and yoruba ecotype indigenous chickens of Nigeria

Data on bodyweight and 11 body measurements were taken on 51 Fulani and 101 Yoruba ecotype chicken from two central poultry markets: Ilorin in the middle belt and Ibadan in the southwest region of Nigeria, respectively. The aim was to provide baseline information on size characteristics of Fulani and Yoruba ecotype chickens, differentiate between the types and use the morphometrical variables for a preliminary assessment of type and function. Results showed that least square means of live weight, wing and shank length, body, thigh and toe length, beak length and breast breadth of the Fulani ecotype were generally higher (P < 0.01) than those of the Yoruba ecotype. The males were also superior (P < 0.01) to the females for comb, wing, shank length and breast breadth while live weight, toe and thigh length also differ (P< 0.05) within each ecotype. The comb of males was more prominent than those of the females. Coefficients of variation were very small signifying a monotypic condition and an almost equal opportunity of selection for type based on body parameters of the two ecotype chickens. The Fulani ecotype was bigger than the Yoruba ecotype chicken. The significantly longer (p<0.05) bodies of the Fulani suggests a departure in function between the genotypes. The Fulani chickens appear more closely suited for egg production than the Yoruba type. Their potential for developing a more adapted commercial stock and genetic improvement of the chickens for the region and other implications of type on function are discussed.

Los datos sobre peso corporal y 11 mediciones corporales se hicieron en 51 pollos ecotipo Fulani y 101 pollos ecotipo Yoruba de dos mercados centrales de aves de corral: de Llorin en el Centro y de Ibadan en la región Sudoeste de Nigeria, respectivamente. El objetivo fue proporcionar información básica sobre las características de tamaño de los pollos ecotipos Fulani y Yoruba, diferenciar entre los tipos y el uso de variables morfométricas para una evaluación preliminar del tipo y función. Los resultados mostraron que las medias de peso vivo, longitud de ala y patas, cuerpo, muslos y pies, largo del pico y ancho del pecho del ecotipo Fulani fueron en general mayores (P <0,01) que las del ecotipo Yoruba. Los machos también fueron mayores (P <0,01) a las hembras en la longitud de la cresta y ala, largo de la pata y ancho de pecho, mientras que el peso vivo, longitud del dedo del pie y el muslo también fueron diferentes (P <0,05) dentro de cada ecotipo. La cresta de los machos fue más prominente que las de hembras. Los coeficientes de variación fueron muy pequeños, lo que significa una condición monotípica y una similitud de oportunidades de selección para el tipo, basada en parámetros corporales. El ecotipo Fulani fue más grande que Yoruba. El significativo mayor cuerpo (P <0,05) del Fulani sugiere una salida en función entre los genotipos. El pollo Fulani parece más adecuado para la producción de huevos que el tipo Yoruba. Su potencial para el desarrollo de un stock comercial más adaptado y la mejora genética de los pollos de la región y otras implicancias del tipo función se discuten.