The prevalence of IGM antibodies to Zika virus in pregnant women in Northern Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy can result in severe outcomes for both the pregnant woman and the developing fetus. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Zika virus infection among pregnant women who sought healthcare services at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum samples were collected and analyzed using Enzyme Linked Immunoassay and RT-qPCR methods, while a structured questionnaire was used to gather relevant information about the participants. RESULTS: The results showed that 53 out of the 180 pregnant women tested positive for Anti-Zika IgM antibodies, which represents a 29.4% prevalence rate. Subsequent RT-qPCR analysis found that only 6 out of the 53 positive samples contained Zika virus RNA. Fever and headache were the most commonly reported symptoms related to the infection. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate a potential outbreak of Zika fever in Northern Nigeria emphasizing the importance for pregnant women to take precautions to avoid getting infected.

Polyparasitism with Malaria and Intestinal Parasite Infections among Infants and Preschool-Aged Children in Egbedore, Osun State, Nigeria.

Polyparasitism is widespread in many communities in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, there is paucity of data on polyparasitism in infants and preschool-aged children (IPSAC), to inform policy developments. Therefore, a survey of 1110 consented IPSAC was undertaken in Egbedore Local Government Area (LGA), Osun State, Nigeria, to determine the prevalence of polyparasitism in IPSAC in ten randomly selected rural communities. Fresh stool and blood samples were collected and processed for intestinal parasites and malaria infection. Mothers/caregivers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire to obtain demographic data of their IPSAC and to document knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) on parasitic infections. Data obtained through the questionnaire were analyzed using EpiData version 3.1, while parasitological data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (version 20.0). Descriptive statistics were computed for demographic data and association which were tested using bivariate analysis at a 95% confidence level while significance was set at p < 0.05. The results showed that 349 (46.29%) were infected with a single parasite. Infants and preschool-aged children infected with double, triple, and quadruple parasites are 268 (35.54%), 122 (16.18%), and 15 (1.99%), respectively. The prevalence of polyparasitism is 405 (53.71%). Although females (54.07%) were more infected than males (45.93%), there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) observed. Significantly (p < 0.05) more preschool children (65.93%) harbour more infections than the infants do (34.07%). Ara community (14.81%) had the highest cases of polyparasitized IPSAC, but no significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed across the communities. Double parasitic infection of Plasmodium falciparum and Ascaris lumbricoides (30.12%) and triple parasitic infection of P. falciparum, A. lumbricoides, and T. trichiura (14.81%) were the most common forms of polyparasitism encountered in the study. This study showed that polyparasitism is a burden in IPSAC and needs further investigation.

Diagnostic Value of Procalcitonin in Neonatal Sepsis

Introduction: Neonatal sepsis is a major cause of mortality in developing countries. Accurate and quick diagnosis are difficult because clinical presentation are non-specific; bacterial cultures are time-consuming and other laboratory tests lack sensitivity and specificity. Serum procalcitonin (PCT) has been proposed as an early marker of infections in neonates. Objectives: This study investigated the value of PCT in the diagnosis of Neonatal Sepsis.Methods: Neonates undergoing sepsis evaluation at the Special Baby Care Unit; Federal Medical Centre; Abeokuta; Nigeria between January and April 2013 were included. Blood samples were obtained for white cell count; blood cultures; serum CRP and PCT analysis. Neonates were categorised into Proven Sepsis; Suspected Sepsis and Clinical Sepsis groups on the basis of laboratory findings and risk factors. A control group with no clinical and biological data of infection was also included. Predictive values and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of PCT were evaluated.Result: Of the 85 neonates; 19 (22.4%) had positive blood culture. PCT level was significantly higher in neonates in all sepsis groups in comparison with those in the control group (P 0.05). At a cut-off of 0.5 ng/ml; the negative predictive value (NPV) of PCT was 80% and the positive predictive value (PPV) 39%. There were no significant statistical difference between the AUC values of PCT in Early onset and Late onset sepsis; as well between AUC in Preterm and term cases. A higher percentage of neonates who died (96%) had elevated PCT levels compared to those who survived (46%).Conclusion: These findings support the usefulness of the PCT in diagnosis of Neonatal sepsis

Astrosvirus infection children in Lagos, Nigeria

A preliminary investigation was conducted to screen for astrovirus in Lagos. Two hundred and fifteen (215) faecal samples collected from children under 5 years old with diarrhoea (161) and without diarrhoea (54) admitted at paediatric clinics in Lagos State were studied. The stool specimens were examined for the presence of human astrovirus antigen using a monoclonal antibody-based ELISA (Astrovirus RIDASCREEN® r-Biopharm, Germany) technique. Astrovirus was detected in 40.4 percent(65/161) of the diarrhoeal stools compared to 11.1 percent (6/54) of the control specimens. Astrovirus was found to infect younger children and about three quarter of the children infected was under 12 months of age. The prevalence of infection decreases with age group and was statistically significant (P = 0.0470). Although, prevalence of infection is more in males than females but this is not significant. This study shows that astrovirus is an important agent of acute gastroenteritis among children in Lagos state

Prevalence of dermatophytosis in junior secondary schoolchildren in Ogun State, Nigeria.

A total of 2772 randomly selected junior secondary school pupils (aged 8-14) from 60 schools were examined for dermatophytic infections by direct microscopy and culture-based laboratory diagnostic methods. Of these, 641 (23.21%) had dermatophytosis. Out of these, 376 (13.56%) were male while 265 (9.56%) were female. Aetiological agents identified with infection were Microsporum canis (30.19%), Microsporum audouinii (32.92%), Trichophyton interdigitale (14.37%), Trichophyton soudanense (9.73%) and Trichophyton tonsurans (12.05%). Most of the dermatophytes encountered were anthropophilic species. Microsporum canis was the only zoophilic dermatophyte. Differences were not observed in infection pattern for all the different geo-political zones that make up the state. The head and the skin of the students were more frequently infected than the nails and toes. Infection frequency increased steadily up to age 11 after which it drastically decreased.

Reversal of aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) inhibition and reduction of erythrocyte protoporphyrin levels by Vitamin C in occupational lead exposure in Abeokuta, Nigeria.

In order to investigate the toxic effects of lead during occupational exposure to this metal, the activity of aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) and the concentrations of erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EPP) were determined in blood of various artisans in Abeokuta, Nigeria and these were related to blood lead levels. ALAD activity in the artisans was inhibited to varying extents. ALAD activity was inhibited to the tune of 77% in petrol station attendants while the lowest inhibition of 36% was obtained in the welders. EPP was also significantly increased in the artisans (p<0.001). The highest EPP level of 241.57±89.27µg/100ml of red blood cell was observed in upholsterers. A significant (p<0.001) negative correlation was observed between ALAD activity and blood lead levels on one hand (r=-0.631) and between ALAD activity and EPP on the other hand (r=-0.461). Administration of a daily dose of 500mg ascorbic acid for 2 weeks reversed the lead-induced inhibition of ALAD. Increased EPP levels observed in the artisans also responded positively to the ascorbic acid supplementation. A significant reduction (p<0.001) in blood lead was also observed in the artisans at the end of the 2-week ascorbic acid therapy. Our findings indicate that ascorbic acid may offer more advantages over the conventional agents for the treatment of lead poisoning, especially in cases where the subjects cannot be removed from the source of lead exposure.

Urinary schistosomiasis in preschool children in settlements around Oyan Reservoir in Ogun State, Nigeria: implications for control.

We determined the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis in preschool children below the age of 5 years in three settlements around Oyan Reservoir in Ogun State, Nigeria. Of 209 children screened, 150 (71.8%) had an infection, with no significant difference between males and females; 42.9% of infants were infected. Both prevalence and intensity of infection increased significantly with age (P < 0.005). Most (62.7%) infections were light (<50 eggs/10 ml urine). A 17.7 percentage of the children had visible haematuria, which increased with age (P < 0.005). Focus group discussions (FGDs) with adult men and women revealed that infection in preschool children was primarily because of exposure occasioned by the mothers' domestic (washing and bathing) and occupational (fishing) activities, while older children could go swimming on their own. Although the participants claimed that using a different water supply may not be effective in combating the disease, as their entire existence was tied to the reservoir, we propose that health education geared towards changing behaviour and attitudes is necessary. As preschool children are a source of both contamination and transmission, control programmes must take them into account.