Background: Geophagy is wide spread among pregnant women in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess intestinal nematode infections among geophagous pregnant women in Southern Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Methods: Pregnant women were aged 17-45 years at gestational ages of ≥ 14 to 24 weeks on hospital enrolment were sampled. Data on geophagy was collected using structured questionnaire. Gastrointestinal nematode status of the participants was determined by stool analyses. Soil types ingested were examined for intestinal nematode ova / larvae. Results: The prevalence of geophagy (46.4%) was associated with socio-demographic characteristics. Ascaris lumbricoides and hookworm were associated with geophagy while Trichuris trichiura and Strongyloides stercoralis had no association. Prevalence of A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura and S. stercoralis differed significantly (p<0.05) between geophagous and non-geophagous women. The soil types consumed had eggs / larvae of A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura. Geophagy is a risk behaviour directly associated with A. lumbricoides, hookworm, T. trichiura, and to a lesser extent S. stercoralis infection among pregnant women. Conclusion: Sensitization and mass education of pregnant women on the dangers of geophagy is needed. Furthermore, deworming of pregnant women should be integrated into the healthcare delivery system of the State.

The leaf, stem and bark of Eucalyptus citriodora are combined for use in the treatment of malaria in Anyigba, North Central, Nigeria. However, no scientific investigations have been carried out to know the effect of this plant on biochemical parameters of experimental mice. Thus, this study evaluated the biochemical parameters of mice infected with Plasmodium berghei after the administration of ethanolic leaf extract of E citriodora. Twenty-four (24) mice of body weights between 18-25 g were grouped into six groups. Group 1, infected but not treated (negative control), group 2, infected and administered with 0.2 mg/kg of chloroquine (positive control), group 3, not infected, but administered with 0.2 ml of normal saline (normal control), while the remaining three (3) groups were infected and treated with 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight of the extract respectfully. The pack cell volume (PCV) was assessed before and after infection and treatment using standard procedure. The mice were sacrificed on the sixth day and blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis using standard methods. The PCV in mice of all groups decrease significantly (p<0.05), except group 3 (normal control) that increased. The alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total bilirubin level was higher in negative control (group 1) than in all other groups studied, but it was higher in the group treated with 200 mg/kg bd wt of the extract than in the positive control and the groups treated with 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight of the extract. A similar trend was observed in the levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipolipid (HDL) and low density lipolipid (LDL). The level of creatinine, blood urea and nitrogen were observed to be low in groups 1 and 2, compared to other groups. This study revealed that E. citriodora ethanolic leaf extract does not exact toxic effect on the internal organs like liver, kidney and heart.

A study was carried out to determine the status of malaria in four (4) selected hospitals in Anyigba, Dekina Local Government Area, Kogi State. A total of 300 pregnant women attending antenatal were tested for malaria parasite using rapid diagnostic test kits. Blood samples were obtained from finger by pricking and tested for malaria parasites. Structured questionnaires were administered to the pregnant women to obtain relevant information on the clinical and social aspects of malaria. A prevalence of 13.0% (39 women) was observed among pregnant women in Anyigba. Grimard Hospital and Egume General Hospital had the highest prevalence of 14.7% each; Maria Goretti Hospital had a prevalence of 13.3%, while KSUTH had the least prevalence of 9.3%. Age prevalence revealed that women with age < 20 years had the highest prevalence of 29.4% which was significant (p > 0.05) from the other age categories. Unemployed and women in their second trimester had the highest prevalence of 17.1% and 16.0% respectively. On the gravidity of the pregnant women, primigravidae (21.9%) was higher than multigravidae (10.6%) significantly (p < 0.05). Women from a polygamous family had a prevalence of 15.2% higher than those from monogamous family with a prevalence of 12.4%. The findings of this study revealed that malaria continues to exert significant public health and economic burden among pregnant women in parts of Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State. Continuous efforts at providing necessary information by relevant health organizations are needed to control and reduce incidence of malaria in this area.

Fasciola hepatica is a parasite of clinical and veterinary importance which causes fascioliasis that leads to reduction in milk and meat production. Bile samples were centrifuged at 1500 rpm for ten (10) minutes in a centrifuge machine and viewed microscopically to check for F. hepatica eggs. A total of 300 bile samples of cattle which included 155 males and 145 females were collected from the abattoir. Results were analyzed using chi-square (p > 0.05).The prevalence of F. gigantica and Dicrocoelium dentriticum is 33.0% (99) and 39.0% (117) respectively. Age prevalence of F. hepatica revealed that 0 -2 years (33.7%, 29 cattle) were more infected than 2 -4 years (32.7%, 70 cattle) while for D. dentriticum age 2 -4 years were more infected than 0 -2 years with prevalence of 40.2% (86) and 36.0% (31) respectively. No significant difference (P > 0.05) existed in prevalence in ages of the cattle. Out of the 300 bile samples examined, 22.3% (67 cattle) were co-infected with F. hepatica and D. dendriticum. Males were more co-infected than females having a prevalence of 24.5% (38 cattle) and 20.0% (29 cattle) respectively. Based on the age, samples of age 0 -2 years were more co-infected than those of age 2 -4 years with a prevalence of 23.3% (20 cattle) and 22.0% (47 cattle) respectively. The findings of this present study revealed that efforts to alleviate problems of animal health and productivity are yet to make any significant impact as this poses threat on human health. Investigation on the pattern of infections in cattle slaughtered should be strengthened.

Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of the interactions of two environmental parameters, pH and salinity on the survival of juvenile Clarias gariepinus (4 -12 g) under laboratory conditions. The pH values used were 3, 3.5, 4, 7 and 10 while salinity values varied thus: 0, 5 10 15 and 20 ppt in each o the pH values Three and 3 5 pH had lethal effects in all salinities. The corresponding Lt , , f . . i i i i 50 values obtained at 5 and 10 ppt were higher than those obtained at 0, 15 and 20 ppt. At 4 and 7 pH, mortalities occurred only in the higher salinities, 15 and 20 ppt. At 10 pH, Lt 50 values at salinit es 10, 15 and 20 ppt were considerably low. The lower LT 50 values recorded at 3, 3.5 and 10 pH with the higher sal nity values ndicated the lethal effects of the interactions of both parameters on fish.

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