African Journals Online
African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology

Volume 5 Number 1 January, 2004
ABSTRACTS

SEROEPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF PREVALENCE OF MALARIA IN VILLAGE SOLANA, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

¹Mya, M. M., ¹Saxena, R. K., ²Roy A.

¹Centre for Biomedical Engineering, India Institute of Technology, New Delhi – 110016, India

² Malaria Research Centre, 22, Shamnath Marg, Delhi– 110054, India

Correspondence to: Dr. R. K. Saxena (E-mail: [email protected] : [email protected]

The roles of causative factors responsible for prevalence of malaria in the village of Solana, India, were studied. Mosquitoes and larvae density in and around the area were measured by process of random sampling and counting their numbers under microscopy. Malaria in population of the village was diagnosed by standard ELISA method and malaria antibody capturing level were measured against three Plasmodium falciparum antigens. The effect of insecticides for the control of malaria was also evaluated. Results of study showed that more than two third of village human populations (75%) were suffering from malaria, with 67.14% being children below 14 years of age. Similarly vectors identification study showed Anopheles culicifacies and Anopheles stephensi as the main source for infection transmission. Sporozoite positive rate estimated in Anopheles culicifacies was found to be 1.26%. Both vectors were resistant to DDT and Malathion insecticides. Antibody capturing by three different Plasmodium falciparum antigens study showed that glycophospholipid antigen (GPL) was able to capture and detect highest amount of malarial antibody followed by sonicated Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) antigen and ring infected erythrocyte surface antigen (RESA) i.e. 0.69±0.22, 0.60±0.22 and 0.59±0.23 respectively. Age specific antibody levels was found to gradually increase from lowest to highest age groups i.e. 0.29– 1.18 for GPL, 0.25-0.94 for RESA and 0.25-0.97 for Pf. The study showed that infants and children are highly prone to malaria attacks than the adult population, which may be as a result of low level of Plasmodium antibody in their circulation.

Key words: Solana village, endemicity, malaria incidence, antibodies, ELISA, insecticides. 

African Journal Of Clinical And Experimental Microbiology Jan 2004 Vol.5 No.1 2-14

ORAL PROTOZOA IN A NIGERIA POPULATION

¹Ozumba, U.C., ²Ozumba, N., ³Ndiokwelu, E.M.

¹Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria

²Arbovirus Laboratory, Federal Ministry of Health, Enugu

³Department of Dentistry, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu

Correspondence to: Dr U. C. Ozumba

A study aimed at establishing the occurrence of oral protozoa in a Nigeria population was carried out over a 6-month period, January 1998 to June 1998. A total of 203 dental patients attending the dental clinics of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu were involved. Scrapings of plaque were taken from the buccal surfaces of T16 and T36 (near the gingival margins) and placed on individual glass microscope slides. To each was added a drop of saline, which was mixed with the plaque and covered with a coverslip and then examined immediately. Thirty-three (16.30%) of the patients harboured protozoa in their mouths. Of these, 10 (4.9%) had Trichomonas tenax, while the majority 23 (11.3%) had Entamoeba gingivalis. No patient had both species of protozoa in their mouths. The associations of age, sex, teeth cleaning and other dental parameters with prevalence of protozoa were recorded. Our findings suggest that poor oral hygiene, calculus, old age and loss of attachment of periodontal fibers, are factors, which favour the proliferation of Entamoeba gingivalis.

African Journal Of Clinical And Experimental Microbiology Jan 2004 Vol.5 No.1 15-19

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF URINARY SCHISTOSOMIASIS AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS IN EKITI STATE, NIGERIA

^1aAriyo, O., ²Olofintoye, L.K., ³Adeleke, R. A., ¹Famurewa, O.

¹Departments of Microbiology, ²Zoology and ³Mathematical Sciences,

University of Ado-Ekiti, P. M. B. 5363, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

^aPresent address: Disease Control Unit, Ekiti State Ministry of Health, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

Correspondence to: O. Famurewa

The prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium infection was investigated among primary school pupils in Ekiti State by questionnaire survey in 601 schools between 1997 and 1998. A total of 9,551 (24.4%) were positive by the survey. 3483 (22.4%) of the girls and 6,069 (25.7%) of the boys were infected. The prevalence of this infection between girls and boys shows a significant difference (x²_{15 =} 59.5; p<0.05). Ekiti South West local government had the highest prevalence of S. haematobium infection of 69.0% while Ikole local government had the lowest prevalence of infection of 2.0%. Out of 1,049 pupils with clinical and laboratory examination, 280 (50.9%) of the 550 boys and 184 (36.9%) of the 499 girls were infected. Chi-square analysis shows a significant difference of S. haematobium infection between the girls and boys (X² ₁₁ = 86.2; p<0.05). Chi square analysis also showed that questionnaire survey could be used to predict the laboratory epidemiological data (X² ₁= 3.84; p<0.05).

Key words: Schistosomiasis, Epidemiology, Infection, Bulinus globosus

African Journal Of Clinical And Experimental Microbiology Jan 2004 Vol.5 No.1 20-29

STUDIES ON THE BEHAVIOUR OF SOME IONS IN THE HEART OF RATS INFECTED WITH TRYPANOSOMA BRUCEI BRUCEI

¹Adedosu,O. T., ²Olowe,O. A., ¹Adekunle,A. S., ¹Olaiya,C.O.

¹ Department of Biochemistry, College of Health Sciences, P.M.B. 4000, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso

²Department of MedicalMicrobiology and Parasitology College of Health Sciences P.M.B. 4400, LAUTECH, Osogbo

Correspondence to: O. T. Adedosu

Behaviour of Sodium [Na⁺], Potassium [K⁺] and Phosphorous [PO4^3-] ions was studied in the heart of albino rats infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei and the parasitaemia level monitored. Post infection shows a significant rise [p < 0.05] in Na⁺, K⁺, and Ca²⁺ ions concentration with a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the phosphorous ions concentration as the disease progresses. At high parasitaemia level, there is a slight increase in Na⁺ and PO4^3- ions while K⁺ concentration remains constant and Ca²⁺ ions concentration was significantly reduced (p < 0.05). The reasons and mechanism responsible for these are unknown although their increased concentrations in tissues generally have been shown to be as a result of damage to cells and tissues during infection.

Key words: Trypanosoma brucei brucei, Parasitaemia level, Concentration of ions.

African Journal Of Clinical And Experimental Microbiology Jan 2004 Vol.5 No.1 30-39

KALA-AZAR IN A NIGERIAN: REPORT OF A CASE WITH A  FATAL OUTCOME

¹Salami, A. K., ¹Oluboyo, P. O., ²Onile, B. A., ²Odedina, E. A.

Departments of ¹Medicine and ²Medical Microbiology

University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital P.M.B. 1459, Ilorin

Correspondence to: Dr. A. K. Salami