Consumption of Gongronema latifolium Aqueous Leaf Extract During Lactation May Improve Metabolic Homeostasis in Young Adult Offspring.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Medicinal plants constitute a fundamental component of the traditional healthcare system in rural communities throughout Africa and Gongronema latifolium (GL), is widely trusted in Nigeria to have strong nutritional and medicinal values. This study was done to determine the effect of maternal consumption of GL during lactation in young adult offspring. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty four female albino Wistar rats were used for this study and were randomly assigned to four (4) groups. Group I: Control, Group II, 100 mg kg-1, III, 200 mg kg-1 and IV: 400 mg kg-1 at delivery. The extract was administered orally and daily throughout lactation. RESULTS: At postnatal day 42, offspring of extract-treated groups showed a dose-related significant decrease (p<0.05) in body weight, food intake, glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and a significant increase in liver weight index, pancreatic weight index, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and insulin concentrations of the offspring when compared with control in both sexes. Histological examination showed that GL extract caused histological alterations of the liver structures with various changes in the size of the sinusoids, with mild inflammatory cells without hepatotoxicity and cellular multiplication when compared with control. CONCLUSION: This study suggested that consumption of GL extract by lactating dams may improve metabolic homeostasis in young adult offspring.

Prevalence of human myiasis infestation among primary school pupils in Ayamelum Local Government Area, Anambra State South- Eastern Nigeria

Infestation of live human or other vertebrate host with true fly larvae belonging to the class Hexapod, order Dipterans is called Myiasis. A prospective prevalence study of human myiasis among primary school pupils in Ayamelum Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra State was carried out from October 2015 to September 2016. The mean age of the subject was 7.3±1.9. Of the 3,250 pupils who participated in the study from eight towns that constitute the LGA 287 (8.8%) pupils were positive to myiasis. Cordylobia anthropophaga (tumbu fly) was found to be the predominating fly species involved in the myiasis infestation implicated in furuncular myiasis with 92.6% of the pupils. Other species such as Cochliomyia hominivorax /Phaenicia sericata (blow fly) and Musca domestica (house fly) were also found infesting the wounds with 3.3% and 4.1% pupils respectively. The prevalence pattern also varies considerably in 8 towns that constituted the LGA with location 2 with highest: 6.1% locations 5&7 lowest with 3.2% and 1.9% respectively. Age showed significant association with pupils ≤6years most susceptible p <0.01. The highest infestation rate was recorded between April to July usually the rainy season. The most frequently infested body regions were the scalp of the head, buttocks and thigh. Ignorance, filthy environment, unkempt little children, and dirty hygienic practices are major predisposing factors of myiasis infestation among primary school pupils in the area under study