Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) investigations of prepatent Schistosoma haematobium cercariae incidence in five water bodies, South West, Nigeria.

UNLABELLED: This study investigated the levels of prepatent S. haematobium infection in water samples collected from Schistosomiasis haematobium transmission namely: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) river and Eleyele river in Oyo state, Oyan dam and Shokori river in Ogun state, Badagry Lagoon and Lagoon (University of Lagos, Lagos state). METHODOLOGY: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay amplifying the Dra I repeated sequence of S. haematobium cercariae from the water samples was used. Samples of cercariae obtained from a laboratory population of Bulinus globosus and Bulinus rohlfsi snails were assayed following DNA extraction as control. Physico-chemical parameters of the water bodies were determined. RESULTS: Physico-chemical parameters showed that salinity, conductivity and total dissolved solids were relatively high in the Lagoon front samples (41.91 ppt, 62400.87 micros/cm, 31000.14 mg/L and 7.79), and low in the river samples (13.27 ppt, 1325.67 micros/cm, 11470 mg/L and 8.36 respectively) while pH were similar. PCR showed that 3 out of the 6 water bodies sampled namely IITA river, Eleyele river and Oyan Dam are S. haematobium endemic sites as they gave positive signals. CONCLUSION: Three surveyed sites with relatively low salinity namely IITA river, Eleyele river and Oyan dam are high S. haematobium endemic areas and schistosomes survive perhaps best in low salinity environment. PCR could be a more valuable tool in the study of incidence and prevalence of S. haematobium infection compared with conventional cercariae shedding method. On the known strength of focal effects of environmental conditions, implications of these results in the epidemiology and design of control activities are encouraging.

Protective role of the methanolic extract of Icacina trichantha on sodium arsenite induced genotoxicity and hepatotoxicity.

BACKGROUND: Arsenic is a toxic metalloid, whose toxicity has raised a lot of concern. Humans are exposed to this metalloid through contaminated water, air and even foods. As a sulfhydryl reactive metal, arsenic has been found to cause extensive damage to organs such as the liver. It has also been found to be a potent clastogen, causing DNA damage leading to both benign and malignant tumors. OBJECTIVES: The anti-hepatotoxic and anti-genotoxic effects of methanolic leaf extract of Icacina trichantha on sodium arsenite induced toxicity in rats were determined. METHODS: Oral gavage of sodium arsenite was used to induced genotoxicity in rats and micronucleus assay was used to measure the number of micronucleated polychromatophilic erythrocytes. The determination of activities of serum alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) activities were used for the hepatotoxicity assay.. RESULTS: The mean number of micronucleated polychromatophilic erythrocytes (MPCE) per 1000 cells +/- SEM from the bone marrow smear was 57.50 +/- 9.71 in rats treated with both arsenite and extract compared to 129.00 +/- 16.34 in rats treated with arsenite alone. The serum ALT, AST and GGT activities +/- SEM were 67.04 + 3.71, 39.12 +/- 3.45 and 11.54 +/- 0.42 lu respectively for the rats treated with arsenite alone. Combined treatment of arsenite and the extract significantly decrease (p<0.05) in the activity of the enzymes, 29.75 +/- 3.43, 15.8 +/- 4.42, 6.87 +/- 0.433 lu for serum ALT, AST and GGT respectively. CONCLUSION: The methanolic leaf extract of I. trichantha modulated both the hepatotoxic and genotoxic effect induced by sodium arsenite in rats, which suggest that Icacina trichantha may serve as a hepatoprotective and anti-tumor agent.

Effects of herbal remedies (Agyanom mixture, Bolex bitters and Remedia mixture) on hepatic and renal functions in male rats.

BACKGROUND: Many people use herbal remedies for the treatment of a wide range of diseases due to the claims of their efficacies by the manufacturers. However, there is little insight as to the mode of action and possible toxic effects of these popular herbal formulations on organs such as, liver and kidney. OBJECTIVE: Hepatological, histological and renal function tests of Sprague-Dawley albino rats were investigated in order to determine the possible effects on rat kidney and liver following exposure of the physiological system to the processed herbal remedies through oral administration. METHODS: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats (120-170g) and divided into 7 groups were employed for this study. Six groups of 4 rats each were orally administered high dose (1.0 ml) and low dose (0.5 ml) of 'Agyanom mixture', 'Bolex bitters' and 'Remedia mixture' respectively for 15 days. The control group consisted of 6 rats given water only after acclimatization for 28 days, with food and water freely available to both groups. The rats were sacrificed, the blood samples were collected through the orbital sinus and cardiac puncture. The liver and kidney tissues for each group were also harvested. Liver and renal function test parameters were analysed. The liver and kidney from the rats were fixed in 10% formol saline and after 72 hours, dehydrated in graded alcohol, cleaned in xylene, and embedded in paraffin. The resulting blocks were sectioned. The sections were randomized and selected sections were stained in haemotoxylin and eosin. The slides were then examined at magnification of x400. RESULTS: There were significant (p < 0.05) differences in the concentrations of serum electrolytes in all the experimental groups compared with control. Na+, K+, HCO3(2-) urea and creatinin levels increased significantly in the experimental groups. Serum alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase activities and bilirubin level were not significantly different (p > or = 0.05) in all the experimental groups compared with control. Histological features of mild to severe tubular necrosis were evident in the kidney tissues of all the experimental groups compared to the control, unlike in the liver tissues. CONCLUSION: Data of the present study indicate that herbal remedies such as 'agyanom mixture', 'bolex bitters' and 'remedia mixture' have adverse effects on the kidney and they might not be safe for human consumption.