Serotype variation in vibrio cholerae el tor diarrhoea in northern Nigeria.

Serotyping of Vibrio cholerae organisms causing epidemics in Zaria and environs since 1975 to 1986 shows that Hikojima serotype was prevalent from 1976-1978, but Ogawa became prevalent from 1984 till 1986. The internal and external pressures responsible for these selections are unclear.

Shigellosis in Zaria, northern Nigeria.

368 strains of Shigella were recovered from stool specimens in the Department of Medical Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, during the period January 1980 to December 1984. S. flexneri was found to be the most common (60%) followed by S. boydii (20.7%), S. dysenteriae (14.1%) and S. sonnei (5.2%). Males were more frequently infected (61.4%) than females (38.6%). Maximum cases were seen in the 21-to 40-year age group (48.9%). Almost two-thirds of the cases of shigellosis (64.4%) were recorded during the rainy season. Antimicrobial resistance to four or more drugs was recorded in (38%) of the isolates.

Tropical pyomyositis: is it an immunodeficiency disease?

Serum immunoglobulin (IgG, IgM, IgA) and complement (C3, C4) levels were measured by radial immunodiffusion technique in a group of 16 Nigerian patients with tropical pyomyositis (TP). Sixteen healthy Nigerians, age- and sex-matched with the patients, were also included in the study as control subjects (CS). A significantly low level of circulating IgM (P less than 0.01) and elevation of the serum levels of IgG (P less than 0.01) and IgA (P less than 0.01) were observed in TP compared to CS. Mean serum complement (C3, C4) levels were found to be similar in patients and controls. Microbiological culture tests showed that 14 pus specimens (88%) and 3 blood specimens (19%) from the patients were positive for Staphylococcus aureus. It was therefore proposed that IgM antibody deficiency (primary or acquired) against S. aureus may be the cause of tropical pyomyositis in Nigerians.

RAST-specific IgE in Nigerian asthmatic patients.

This first study of the pattern of allergen-specific IgE in Nigerian asthmatic patients in Zaria shows a significant percentage with specific IgE to Dermatophagoides pteronnyssinus, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass). Total serum IgE varied in both urban and rural asthmatics with a pattern of low and high levels in all groups.

Sensitivity pattern and beta-lactamase screening of Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains isolated in Zaria, Northern Nigeria.

One hundred and sixty strains of N. gonorrhoeae were studied for their in-vitro sensitivity to six different antimicrobial agents and tested for beta-lactamase production in Zaria, Northern Nigeria. While 82% of strains were sensitive to erythromycin, 70% to tetracycline and 61% to chloramphenicol, only 35%, 33% and 24% were sensitive to ampicillin, penicillin and streptomycin respectively. Penicillin is no more the drug of choice in the treatment of gonorrhoea in this environment since two thirds of strains are either partially resistant or completely resistant to penicillin and 44% of strains are beta-lactamase producers. Erythromycin/tetracycline are recommended as the drugs of choice.

Recovery of potential pathogens from feeding bottle contents and teats in Zaria, Nigeria.

Pathogens were recovered from the contents of 41 out of 50 feeding bottles and from 32 teats in a survey in Zaria, Nigeria. 39 bottle contents and 30 teats yielded enteric pathogens. Traditional weaning gruels were more contaminated than were commercial feeds. Koko bottles yielded more pathogens than Akamu bottles. Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli was the most common pathogen recovered, seen more in bottle contents than teats. Bottle hygiene was poor and cleaning methods and feeding practices were not satisfactory. Lack of facilities in the home prevented better hygiene. Prolonged pre-cooking preparation, storage of gruels in bulk for the whole day in thermos flasks or enamel bowls, and inadequate hygiene in the preparation of commercial feeds resulted in the large recovery of pathogens. Alternate feeding methods were suggested and the need for the practice of good hygiene by all who are involved in the preparation of infant feeds was emphasized.

A case of blastomycosis from Zaria, Nigeria.

A case of blastomycosis from Zaria, Nigeria is reported. The clinical features were indistinguishable from those of tuberculosis which is very common in this environment. Lack of response to anti-tuberculosis therapy within eight weeks prompted the search for other organisms which resulted in the isolation of Blastomyces dermatitidis. Compatible histological evidence was obtained. Subsequent favourable response to amphotericin B was evident. Infection with this organism should be included in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary and pleural lesions simulating tuberculosis in West Africa.

Airborne fungi during harmattan in Zaria, Nigeria.

Nasal and other respiratory allergies are common in Zaria, Nigeria, during the dusty harmattan period. A survey of airborne fungi was therefore carried out during four months of the harmattan period by the culture plate exposure method. Fungi belonging to 13 genera were recovered during the survey. The highest colony count was during the months of December and January.

Listeria monocytogenes in Northern Nigeria.

During a one-year prospective study, the clinical conditions in which Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from nineteen patients (six females, thirteen males) included meningitis, meningoencephalitis, spontaneous peritonitis, septicaemia, arthritis, pelvic infection and urethritis. All isolates were type 4 serotype. Both apparently well persons and patients with already compromised immune systems were observed. Subtyping of ascitic fluid lymphocytes in one patient with peritonitis showed predominantly T cell subpopulation and no B cells. Most isolates were sensitive to ampicillin, crystalline penicillin and erythromycin. A mortality of 27 per cent was recorded.

Recovery of soil amoebae from the air during the harmattan in Zaria, Nigeria.

An attempt was made to recover soil amoebae from the air during the harmattan in Zaria, Nigeria. Non-nutrient agar plates seeded with Escherichia coli were used as settle plates and exposed to the air for 30 minutes to four hours, after which they were incubated at 27 degrees C or at 37 degrees C. A total of 38 strains of amoebae were cultured: 21 of the genus Hartmannella, eight Naegleria, four Schizopyrenus, three Didascalus and two Tetramitus. Three pathogenic species, H. culbertsoni, N. fowleri and H. rhysodes, were also recovered and all killed mice. These results suggest the possibility of airborne primary amoebic meningoencephalitis infections in Nigeria.

Chancroid in Nigeria.

The present paper records the incidence of chancroid in northern Nigeria. Out of 776 new patients registered at the Special Treatment Clinic (STC) of the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) Zaria during February to August 1982, 34 cases (4.38%) were diagnosed as chancroid. Direct smear examination for Haemophilus ducreyi was positive in 33 cases and bacterial bodies devoid of cell wall (probably L-forms of H. ducreyi) were demonstrated in one. Culture for H. ducreyi was positive in only three cases. All the patients responded to co-trimoxazole and tetracyclines.

Incidence of free-living amoebae in the nasal passages of local population in Zaria, Nigeria.

Following the observation of cases of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAME) during the dusty harmattan period in Zaria, a survey was carried out in randomly selected local populations of Zaria, to find out the incidence of free-living amoebae in the nasal passages. The times of sampling were spaced so as to cover both the rainy (non-harmattan) abd dry (harmattan) seasons. In all 1250 individuals were sampled, and were grouped in the three age groups of above 18 years, between 4 and 18 years and below 4 years. The overall incidence was 4.2% (52 out of 1250). There was no marked difference in the three age groups studied. The incidence rate in males was 4.8% (30 of 630) and that in females was 3.5% (22 of 620). Nine different species of free-living amoebae were isolated. Six belonged to the Genus Hartmannella, two to the genus Naegleria, and one to the genus Schizopyrenus. Three species were found to be pathogenic for mice: H. culbertsoni, H. rhysodes and N. fowleri. It was observed from this study that a significant percentage of the Zaria population carry free-living amoebae in the nasal passages. The monthly incidence rate in population ranged from 1.8 to 3.1% during the rainy (non-harmattan) season whereas in the dry (harmattan) season it ranged from 4.2 to 7.9%. The highest incidence rate coincided with the peak of the dry (harmattan) season. The possible role of harmattan winds on the nasal carriage as well as the necessity to investigate fully the disease PAME in this environment is discussed.

Listeriosis in a neonate and the mother.

Listeria meningitis developed in a two-day-old child whose mother harboured Listeria monocytogenes of the same serotype 4 in her vagina. Child and mother were both effectively treated with ampicillin. This is the first report of confirmed neonatal listeriosis from Nigeria.