African Journals Online
African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology

MOLECULAR STUDY OF NUCLEPROTEIN GENE OF RABIES VIRUS ISOLATES FROM DOG BRAINS.
Page 48 -54

Rabies is an endemic disease in Nigeria and it produces disease in warm-blooded animal species. In this report, molecular techniques have been used to study seven rabies isolates from the brain of Dogs in Lagos. Analysis of the 1400-b.p RT-PCR products of the N gene and the views by sequencing and restriction endonuclease analysis enabled division of isolates into 3 types. The conclusion from the study is that RT-PCR and restriction endonuclease analysis of the amplified products of the N gene would allow identification and differentiation of rabies virus strains in a location and in different parts of Nigeria.

Though of global importance, the developing world bears the highest burden of tuberculosis (TB) worldwide and Nigeria has been rated amongst 222 countries where TB prevalence is highest worldwide. In Nigeria, diagnosis is largely by direct smear microscopy using the Ziehl-Neelson method. Studies have shown that the sensitivity of smear microscopy varies between 30 70% depending on whether direct or connected smears are examined. It is thus likely that up to half or more of TB sufferers in Nigeria are not diagnosed, automated culture and molecular methods exist but the requirement for especially dedicated, very expensive instrumentation and reagents prohibit their use in developing countries including Nigeria. The World Health Organization recognizes the need for new, affordable, rapid and highly sensitive diagnostics for use in developing countries. Phage amplification technology employs a specific mycobacteriophage which infects a live TB bacillus if represent in a sample. These replicate and lyse the cells to release progeny phage. The presence of progeny phage is detected visually as plagues on a lawn of a raid-growing, non-pathogenic Mycobacterium. Phage Amplification Technology has been evaluated and found to detect most cases missed by smear microscopy and to give results with good correlation with culture (which though highly sensitive requires 6 8 weeks incubation to give results), within 24 hours of

sample preparation. It is thus faster than culture and cheaper that the new rapid automated methods, as it requires no especially dedicated instrumentation.

Electrolyte and haematological parameters in rabbits infected with pathogenic isolates of Escherichia coli from rural water supplies in Rivers State, Nigeria, where monitored. Rabbits were orally infected with suspension containing 3x107 cfu /ml of Escherichia coli to induce diarrhoea, and the electrolyte (sodium, potassium and chloride ions) levels as well as the haemoglobin (hb) packed cells volume (PVC), and total white blood cell count (WBC) were determined after 48, 72, 96 hours and post infection following standard procedures. Subsequently blood samples were collected every week for 6 weeks for further estimation of WBC and HB and PVC. Results of the electrolyte (sodium, potassium and chloride ions) levels obtained revealed that significant amount of electrolytes were lost after 96 hours post-infection. Potassium ions concentration decreased by 57.2%, sodium ions by 64.6% and chloride ion concentration decreased by 59.9% as compared to the normal control rabbits not infected with E. coli.

Haematological changes were observed with an increase in haemoglobin concentration, total white blood cells count and packed cell volume from those of normal control up to day four and then decreased steadily during the monitoring period.

An increasing number of babies with conjunctivitis in our center what require an urgent evaluation was observed. To evaluate Chlamydial aetiology of Neonatal conjunctivitis in our environment all babies born in the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital over a six months period were prospectively screened for Neonatal conjunctivitis using the Center for Disease Control/World Health Organization case definition for Neonatal conjunctivitis. All patients diagnosed to have Neonatal conjunctivitis had laboratory evaluation done to identify the causes. However only those from whom the inclusion bodies of chlamydia were seen got included in this study. An empirical treatment with 10% sodium sulphacetamide eye drops was given to all patients while other additional illnesses identified were managed in a standard way. Clinical re-evaluation was done by 72 hours and 7 days of treatment for clinical cure.

A total number of 112 babies developed neonatal conjunctivitis within the study period among the 852 babies screened and chlamydia was seen in 36 (32%). The hospital based incidence for Chlamydial neonatal conjunctivitis was 42 per thousand live births. There was a male preponderance. Gestational Age ranged between 27 weeks and 44 weeks though there were more term babies. Majority were delivered by spontaneous vertex. The Mean Age of on-set of disease was 5 days with a standard deviation of 3.8 days. Premature rupture of fetal membrane occurred in 1 (3%) case. Fifteen (42%) of 36 mothers had antenatal vaginal discharge. All mothers were married. Purulent eye discharge was the commonest clinical presentation and was sometimes unilateral. All babies responded well to treatment. No complication was observed in any baby. It was concluded that chlamydia trachomatis was the leading cause of neonatal conjunctivitis in our environment and the disease is of a remarkable magnitude requiring attention in our sub region. It has similar outlook with those reported from other regions of the World.

Our main objectives was to determine the prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis among commercial sex workers (CSW's) in Ibadan, Nigeria. One hundred and sixty nine CSW's randomly selected from 18 brothels and 136 female patients without symptoms were investigated for Trichomonas vaginalis using both direct microscopy and culture methods. Thirty-seven (21.9%) of the 169 CSW's investigated had Trichomonas whilst 26(19.1%) of the 136 control subjects were positive for Trichomonas vaginalis. There was no significant difference between the CSW's with Trichomonas and the control group (p>0.001). We found no association between T. vaginalis and HIV diagnosed in the CSW's investigated. The age range of peak incidence among the CSWs and the control subjects investigated was 20-29 years. While only 6(3.6%) of the CSWs investigated were married, 88(52.1%) were single, 37 (21.8%) separated, 28 (16.6%) divorced and 10(5.9%) widowed. There was no significant difference between the CSW's with vaginal Candidiasis, Gonorrhoea and the control group but genital ulcers and HIV positively were significantly higher (p=0.000) in CSW's than the control subjects. These findings suggest that women who exchange sexual services for money can no longer be ignored. They should be involved in the control and prevention of STDs.

The sexually Transmitted Diseases constitute major public health problems in Nigeria. There is early sexual maturity and considerable sexual activity between 9 and 15 years of age. Although there is a high awareness of the condom, people are unwilling to use them despite evidence of multiple sexual exposures.

The STDs, including HIV infections, are on the increase. Tuberculosis is also on the increase because of a HIV/AIDS epidemic. Both categorical and integrated approach to the management of STDs and AIDS are being recommended. There is a need to step up basic research into the biology of HIV and subsidize the treatment of AIDS. Efforts at vaccine development should be initiated to stem the worsening HIV epidemic.

Malaria fever is a very common and often severe disease in the tropical countries like Nigeria. Measurement of serum proteins is simple and widespread in developing countries. Thus this study aimed at evaluating the relationship (if any) between plasmodium infection and serum protein. A total of 80 subjects were used for this study, 40 people with confirmed plasmodium infection, and 40 clinically healthy adults as control subjects. Their height, weight, age and sex were recorded. Their serum total protein and albumin were assayed while the serum globulin was obtained from the difference.

We obtained a mean BMI of 20.okg/m2 for the control subjects and 21.63kg/m2 for patients with plasmodium infection. The serum total protein was 71.25g/L and 60.43g/L for the control and malaria patients respectively. With (P<0.05) and T-value of 6.4. the serum albumin value was 44.24g/L and 36.66g/L for the control and the patients respectively with (P<0.05) and T-value of 6.5. the value for the serum globulin was 27.03g/L and 23.77g/L for the control and the patients respectively with (P<0.005) and T-value of 3.1. these results show that the serum total protein, albumin and globulin are all significantly higher in control subjects.

We conclude therefore that haven't established the existence of these significant differences, we suggest that further studies be done

Abdulraheem I.S., Akanbi A.A. 

This is a descriptive cross-sectional study, carried on childbearing women in Okelele community of Ilorin West Local Government of Kwara State, Nigeria. The aim was to assess the knowledge and attitude of childbearing women towards antimalaria chemoprophylactics and highlight socio-cultural factors influencing their knowledge and attitude. Three hundred and eighty childbearing women were interviewed but only 375 (98.7%) responded. A systematic sampling method was used to determine the houses where respondents were interviewed after obtaining informed consent; highly structured close-ended questionnaires were administered by trained interviewers. The respondents age range between 15 and 47years. More than half (52.8%) of the respondents were literates. Knowledge of antimalaria chemoprophylactics among the respondents was good 0f375 respondents, 353(94.1%) had knowledge and 317(84.5%) had ever used antimalaria chemoprophylactic drugs. The study revealed that respondents with higher educational level had significantly better knowledge of antimalaria chemoprophylactics and higher level of usage p <O. OS). Positive attitude towards malaria chemoprophylaxis was very high (84.5%) in this study and level of education was found to be an important influencing factor of the positive attitude. Conviction of the benefits of antimalaria chemoprophylactics was the main reasons advanced by the respondents for their positive attitude towards malaria chemoprophylaxis. Despite good knowledge and high level of positive attitude towards malaria chemoprophylaxis, a number of misconceptions and ignorance were still expressed towards malaria chemoprophylaxis by the childbearing women. There is need for regular health education programme especially for childbearing women so as to remove this misconception and ignorance. Health workers should also intensify effort in disseminating information on the benefits of antimalaria chemoprophylactics.

THE PATHOLOGY OF INFECTIOUS BURSAL DISEASE  IN CROSSBREEDS OF HARCO COCKS AND INDIGENOUS NIGERIAN HENS.
Page 95 - 97

An outbreak of infectious bursal disease (IBD) occurred in a flock of 11-week old crossbreeds of Harco cocks and indigenous Nigerian hens (referred to as exotic and locals respectively in the text). Clinical signs observed include depression, anorexia, ruffled feathers and diarrhoea. Haemorrhages were present in the bursa of Fabricius, muscles and proventriculus-gizzard junction, while the bursae and kidneys were enlarged. Oedema, lymphocytic depletion and presence of remnants of dead lymphocytes were observed in histopathological sections of the bursae and spleen. IBD viral antigen was detected by the agar gel preciptin test (AGPT) in suspensions of the bursae of dead birds. Sera obtained from survivors were also positive for IBD virus precipitins in the AGPT. These observations appear to be the first description of IBD in crossbreed chickens in Nigeria and confirm that they are susceptible to clinical IBD.

Four groups of ten-day-old broilers each were vaccinated at 7 and 14 days post hatch (PH) against infectious bursal disease IBD, using the local IBD vaccine (VOM & Nigeria). The vaccine was administered using different routes; intramuscular, subcutaneous and oral. 10- day old broiler was randomly sampled from a group of 40 for the presence of IBD antibodies using qualitative and quantitative agar gel precipitation test (AGPT). The maternal antibodies in the chicks were variable, low and waned completely 12 days post hatch {PH). The group that received subcutaneous route of vaccination (sc/sc) gave consistently higher antibody titers than the oral and intramuscular route in post vaccination days. All the groups including the unvaccinated control were challenged 16 days post vaccination with a field strain. All the routes were appreciably protective (90%) against the field strain with the unvaccinated control group recording 30% mortality. However, subcutaneous route had a complete protection (100%). The gross and microscopic lesions seen in the study were consistent with IBDV. This study has shown that the maternal antibodies in the broiler chicks were low, variable and waned completely by 12 days post hatch. The subcutaneous route of vaccination achieved better response and protection when given at day 7 and day 14-post hatch.

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENTS OF CYCLOPOID COPEPOD,  VECTOR OF DRACUNCULIASIS: LABORATORY EXPERIENCE.
Page 91 - 94

A parasitological survey was conducted among 1080 dry season farmers and controls spread over nine farming locations in the Jos and Barkin-Ladi areas of Plateau State, Nigeria, to provide data or parasitic infections in the area due to waste utilization. Standard laboratory procedures were adopted in the collection, processing and parasite identification in the stool samples. The rates of parasites infections in the farmers were 91.6% for helminthes and 86.4% for protozoa. Helminth infection rates but not those of protozoa, varied significantly between farmers and controls. Average infection rates were. Ancylostoma duodenale 91.9%. Ascaris lumbricoides 84.7%, Trichuris trichiura 74.2%, Strongyloides stercoralis 50.3%, Giardia lamblia 13.3%, Entamoeba coli 28.4%, Chilomastix mesnili 15.4%, Endolimax nana 17.3%, Isospora belli 6.3% and Lodoamoeba butshkii 11.5%.

More males than females were infected. The rates of infection varied among farmers in the different locations, but younger farmers had higher prevalences. Significant correlations between infections and their symptoms were observed with diarrhoea and abdominal pains being most common.