Serological evidence of HIV, Hepatitis B, C, and E viruses among liver disease patients attending tertiary hospitals in Osun State, Nigeria.

Hepatitis infection in HIV positive individuals with liver diseases causes high mortality worldwide. HIV worsens the pathological effect of hepatitis viruses and potentiates reactivation of latent hepatitis infections due to reduced immunity. This research therefore aimed to study the occurrence of HIV and hepatitis viruses among liver diseases patients (LVDP) attending tertiary hospitals in Osun State, southwestern Nigeria. A total of 121 LVDP blood samples collected were tested for HIV and Hepatitis B, C, and E using and enzyme linked Immunossorbent assay (ELISA). Data were analyzed using packages within SPSS and P ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Prevalence of 32.2%, 0.8%, 10.7%, and 18.2% for HBsAg, Anti-HCV, HEV-IgM, and HIV were found respectively. Marital status showed a significant association with HEV-IgM infection (χ2 = 9.869, P = .020). The prevalence of HBsAg, HEV, and HIV among LVDP in Osun State is alarming and health education among the patients and general populace is hereby advocated. High HEV-IgM seroprevalence implies that HEV routine screening should be incorporated into blood screening. Since HEV is associated with unhygienic practice, people should be enlightened on how to improve their living conditions.

High seroprevalence of viral hepatitis among animal handlers in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Viral hepatitis is a deadly disease which can manifest as acute, chronic, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver failure. Information about hepatitis is scarce among animal handlers. Due to Federal Government of Nigeria diversification programmes, many people are now involved in animal farming which can make them susceptible to viral hepatitis. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of Hepatitis B, C, and E viruses among animal handlers in Abeokuta, southwestern Nigerian. A total of 156 subjects were recruited for the study. Sociodemographic and risks factors data were fetched from subjects using interviewer-administered questionnaire. Blood samples were collected via venepuncture and tested for HCV, HBV, and HEV using ELISA technique. Results were analyzed using SPSS software version 21.0 and P value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. The prevalence of HCV, HBV, and HEV were 46 (29.5%), 20 (12.8%), and 4 (2.6%) respectively while 6 (3.8%), 1 (0.6%), and 1 (0.6%) had co-infection of HBV-HCV, HBV-HEV, and HCV- HEV respectively. This study concludes that there is high prevalence of hepatitis C and B viruses among animal handlers in Abeokuta, Ogun state which is of significant public health problem, warranting further attention and research.

High Viral Hepatitis Infection among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital Ibadan (AMTHI) Oyo State, Nigeria.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) are highly endemic in several African countries including Nigeria with adverse effects on pregnancy outcomes resulting in fatality. This study aimed to determine the viral hepatitis in pregnant women attending antenatal clinic, AMTHI. Informed consent questionnaire was administered before blood collection via venipuncture. a total of 904 pregnant women plasma samples were tested for HBV, HCV, and HEV using ELISA kit. Data was analyzed using packages within SPSS software and P ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Out of 904 samples analyzed, the overall prevalence of hepatitis infections among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in AMTHI was 66(7.3%). High prevalence of the hepatitis infections was found among young women within the age group 21-30 which might be associated with active sex, intravenous drug use, sharing of sharp objects and alcoholism. Blood group O Positive had the highest prevalence of hepatitis. There was statistical significance between blood group and HBsAg infection (P < .05). Genotype AA women had highest prevalence of hepatitis. This study showed significant association between HBsAg, HCV, and HEV positive status with blood group O positive and Genotype AA pregnant women.

Knowledge and willingness of young adult to participate in early HIV vaccine trial in Nigeria

Nigeria has the second largest HIV epidemic (3.4 million) in the world with 3.2% of her young adults infected. Knowledge and willingness of young adults to participate in early HIV vaccine trial (EHVT) are essential for future interventions. This study aimed to investigate factors influencing willingness to participate (WTP) in EHVT. A cross-sectional study was employed to fetch data from 750 young adults (18-40years) recruited by systematic random sampling between June to December 2016. An informed consent questionnaire addressing socio-demographic factors, contraceptive practices, risky behaviours, knowledge and perception of EHVT study was completed by the participants. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 software and p ≤ 0.05 considered significant. Up to 240 (32.0%) of 750 expressed WTP in a vaccine study. There was a significant association between the WTP with; education levels (P=0.001), knowledge about HIV vaccine trial (HVT) studies (P=0.003); a positive insight toward the study (P=0.001); and age group 18-20years (P=0.001). Unwillingness to participate was associated with concerns about fear of reverting back, side effect, fear of spouse, use of parenteral route for its administration. Up to 684 (91.2%) of 750 knew contraceptive was for childbirth control, 241 (32.1%) has never used contraceptive while 172 (23%) used it during last coitus. Refusal to use contraceptive was associated with: religion, its side effect, not married, spouse un-approval, and ignorance. There was a significant association between the WTP with: education level, knowledge about HIV vaccine trial (HVT); a positive insight toward the study; and age group 14-20 years

The presence of intestinal parasites in selected vegetables from open markets in south western Nigeria.

Intestinal parasitic infections are among the most common infection worldwide. In recent years there has been an increase in the number of reported cases of food-borne illness linked to fresh vegetables which is a major way in the transmission of intestinal parasites. The study was carried out to determine the level of parasitological contamination of vegetables sold at selected markets in south western Nigeria. A total of 120 samples from different vegetables were randomly sampled from major selected open markets in 3 cities. The vegetables were analysed using macroscopic, sedimentation and magnesium sulphate floatation techniques. Eighty-two (68.3%) of the vegetables were positive for intestinal parasites from which water leaf (Talinium triangulare) and 'soko' (Celosis) recorded the highest (100%) parasitic contamination. Parasites detected were Ascaris lumbricoides (16.7%), hookworm (18.3%), Taenia spp (4.2%), Strongyloides stercoralis (45.8%), Balantidium coli (0.8%). Vegetables in each of these cities had almost the same high rate of parasitic contamination; Ibadan (70%), Ilorin (70%) and Lagos (65%). This study further emphasised the role of vegetables in the transmission of intestinal parasites in developing countries. Therefore, vegetable farmers should therefore be enlightened on the modern use of night soil as fertilizer and the treatment of irrigation water or municipal waste water before use. There is also dire need for the improvement of sanitary facilities in our markets and vegetable vendors should also be included in the screening of food handlers.

Development of infection model for studying intracellular gene expression of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex owe their ability to cause infection because of their intracellular survival ability in professional phagocytic cells of human and the ability to enter into stage ofdormancy. The aim of this study was to develop an infection model that could be used to study M. tuberculosis and macrophage interactions at molecular level. Four infection models were examined namely opsonised M. bovis BCG / J774.2 macrophage cell line, non-opsonised M. bovis BCG / J774.2 macrophage cell line, opsonised M. tuberculosis / J774.2 macrophage cell line, and non-opsonised M. tuberculosis / J774.2 macrophage cell line infection models. A J774.2 macrophage cell line was synchronously infected with M. bovis (BCG strain) and M. tuberculosis (H37Rv), respectively at different multiplicity of infections (M.O.I). For opsonisation, the organisms were pre-incubated with human serum prior to infection. The infected cell lines were examined by light microscopy and electron microscopy with viable bacterial counts. Macrophage viability was assessed by trypan blue exclusion staining. The results showed higher significant level of infection of J774.2 macrophage cell line by opsonised M. bovis BCG (30 - 40%) compared to non-opsonised M. bovis BCG (< 0.1%) at an M.O.I of 50 (p < 0.05) with high macrophage viability. In contrast, there was no significant statistical difference (p > 0.05) in high infectivity (30 - 42%) with high macrophage viability achieved with using non-opsonised M. tuberculosis and opsonised M. tuberculosis, respectively, at an M.O.I of 10. In conclusion, opsonisation is not required for M. tuberculosis / J774.2 infection model in contrast to M. bovis BCG / J774.2 infection model where opsonisation is necessary to achieve high level of infection.

The Use of Rap-Pcr in Studying Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Intracellular Gene During Macrophage Infection

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the second leading cause of death from infectious agent. This study sought to detect M. tuberculosis genes; which were specifically expressed; or upregulated during intracellular infection of J774 murine macrophages; as such genes may be potential targets for novel drug action. J774 murine macrophage cell line was infected with M. tuberculosis (H37Rv strain) at 10:1 multiplicity of infection (MOI). RNA was differentially extracted from M. tuberculosis infecting J774 macrophage cell line. The control in this case was RNA from extracellular broth grown bacteria. Approximately 50 ng of RNA from intracellular derived bacteria and extracellular derived bacteria (control) were subjected to random arbitrarily primed PCR (RAP-PCR) using 50 primer combinations. Eleven differential RAP-PCR products were observed. All RAP-PCR products were cloned into pCRr2.1 and sequenced in order to determine the identity of the products. Four of the eleven products were derived from macrophage genes and another 4 products were derived from the M. tuberculosis rRNA genes (three 23S and one 16S rRNA). The 3 remaining RAP-PCR products were found to be mycobacterial genes other than ribosomal genes. The three products were genes encoding enzyme involving in a shikimate pathway; a putative carboxyphosphonoenolpyruvate phosphonomutase and a serine protease with homology to HtrA. Of the 3 mycobacterial genes other than ribosomal genes detected; none were specifically expressed during intracellular infection but bacilli