Livestock and their products are the major source of animal protein. They also play a crucial role in the economy of most nations including Nigeria. However, parasitism presents a major constraint limiting livestock production in most developing countries. Therefore, this study is aimed at determining the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of commercial sheep and goats in Minna Abattoir, Niger Sate, Nigeria. A total of one hundred and sixty-eight (168) faecal samples were collected and analyzed for the presence of gastrointestinal parasites using saturated sodium chloride floatation techniques. An overall prevalence rate of 117 (69.64%) was recorded. Among the selected ruminants used, a prevalence rate of 48 (63.16%) and 69 (75.0%) was obtained for sheep and goats respectively. Seven (7) gastrointestinal parasites were detected; these were Strongyloides spp, Trichuris spp, Haemonchus spp., Eimeria spp., Taenia spp., Moniezia spp. and Fasciola spp. Among the parasite detected, Haemonchus spp. had the highest rate of infection 30 (25.6%) followed by Strongyloides spp. 23 (19.65%) while the least prevalence rate was recorded in Moniezia spp. 8 (6.8%). Overall, male ruminants were also more infected (Sheep: 64.44% and goats:77.78% than their females counterparts (sheep: 61.29% and goats: 71.05%). The older ruminants were more infected (sheep: 69.49% and goats: 73.91%). Chi-square analysis showed that there was no significant difference (p>0.05) on the infection rate in relation to gender and age. The results of this study suggest high prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic infection among ruminants; therefore, effective control measures should be put in place to combat the despicable effects of gastrointestinal parasites on ruminants.

The study was designed to determine the true prevalence of congenital, cord, and placental malaria in General Hospital Minna, North Central Nigeria. Peripheral blood smears of near-term pregnant women, as well as the placental, cord, and peripheral blood smears of their newborn babies, were examined for malaria parasites, using the Giemsa staining technique. Out of 152 pregnant women screened, 21 (13.82%) of them were infected with malaria parasites. Of the 152 new born babies, 4 (2.63%) showed positive peripheral parasitaemia. Placental parasitaemia was 7/152 (4.61%), while cord blood parasitaemia was 9/152 (5.92%). There were strong associations between peripheral and cord malaria parasitaemia and congenital malaria (P < 0.05). Plasmodium falciparum occurred in all, and none had mixed infection. The average birth weights of the babies delivered of nonmalarious pregnant women were higher than those delivered by malarious pregnant women, though not significant (P > 0.05). Malaria parasitaemia occurred more frequently in primigravidae than multigravidae.

Background: This study aims at determining the effects of rearing water temperature on immature development, adult vectorial attributes and teneral accumulation in Culex quinquefasciatus (Cx. quinquefasciatus) mosquitoes. Immature life stages of the species were reared (to adulthood) in water media with temperature regimens of 28, 30, 32 and 34°C generated and maintained by digital electrical thermostats. Immature and adult vectorial attributes (i.e. duration of development, growth rates, immature and adult survivorship, emergence rates and adult longevity), and rates of accumulation, distribution and utilisation (for pupation and eclosion) of teneral reserve (lipid, glucose, glycogen and protein) by life stages of the species were determined. Result: Results revealed significant negative effects of temperature increase on all parameters measured. Among these, only rate of larval growth (range = 0.0589 ± 0.0017 to 0.0930 ± 0.0003 mg/day) increased with temperature rise; others reduced with rise in temperature. Total immature duration (9.75 ± 0.09 to 6.43 ± 0.11 days), immature survivorship (94.01 ± 0.18 to 73.26 ± 3.72%), total emergent adults (72.00 ± 2.14 to 14.50 ± 2.67 adults/100 larvae), percentage of emergence, adult daily survivorship (76.86 ± 1.87 to 63.66 ± 0.18%) and post-emergence longevity (23.91 ± 2.97 to 16.90 ± 1.97 days) reduced with increase in temperature. Accumulation of teneral components increased across larval instars, but decreased with temperature rise and at metamorphosis (pupation and eclosion). Immature composition for lipid, glucose, glycogen and protein ranged, respectively, from 9.79 ± 1.05 to 20. 07 ± 0.33, 8.49 ± 0.44 to 14.33 ± 0.44, 28.19 ± 2.34 to 42.87 ± 0.12 and 24.11 ± 0.71 to 35.55 ± 0.15 μg/mosquito. While, adult values for these ranged from 7.53 ± 0.40 to 20.66 ± 0.61, 7.45 ± 0.87 to 13.86 ± 0.83, 22.63 ± 0.85 to 33.64 ± 0.79, and 17.81 ± 1.02 to 31. 45 ± 1.40 μg/mosquito, respectively. Glycogen and protein had the highest rates of accumulation, while metabolic reserves utilised for pupation and eclosion varied significantly with temperature change.

Malaria is one of the most widespread parasitic infections globally and is a major cause of mortality, particularly in regions of high malaria endemicity. This study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of malaria infection and parasitaemia among patients attending General Hospital, Minna, North Central Nigeria. A total of one thousand and seventy-one (1,071) individuals within the study area were enrolled for the study from the month of June, 2016 to May, 2017. Malaria parasitaemia was carried out using thick and thin blood films. Parasites counts were reported per 800 white blood cells. The ages of the individuals recruited for the study ranged from 0 to 51years of age. Out of the 1,071 (100%) blood samples collected, 741 (69.19%) were positive for malaria parasitaemia of which 74 (9.99%), 134 (18.08%), 176 (23.75%) and 357 (48.18%) individuals scored malaria parasite densities of +++, ++, + and scanty had parasites in their blood stream respectively. Statistically, there was a significant difference (P<0.05) between malaria parasitaemia and age. On the other hand, of the 1071 (100%) blood samples collected and screened, there were 607 (56.68%) males and 464 (43.32%) females recruited for the study of which 404 (54.52%) of the total males sampled were infected while 337 (45.48%) of the total females sampled were infected. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) between the degree of malaria parasitaemia in relation to gender (sex). The high prevalence of malaria parasitaemia among patients attending General Hospital, Minna, North Central Nigeria highlights the need for more efforts to be targeted at controlling malaria among individuals as this will ultimately lead to a reduction in the incidence of malaria in Minna and Nigeria at large.

Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasite that infect both vertebrate and invertebrate. In human, infection mostly focus on immunodeficiency and immunosuppressive individual. This study describes the prevalence, association of microsporidia infection with CD4 T Cell and risk factors associated with microsporidiosis among apparently health subject and immunocompromised individual in Minna, Niger state, Nigeria. Six hundred and Ninety-four (694) stools samples were collected and examined for microsporidia using Giemsa staining. Cytometer flow was used to determine CD4 T cell count. Pretest questionnaire was used to determine demographic, environmental hygiene, living condition and characteristics of the participants. Results showed 42 (6.06%) of the participant with and without diarrhoeawere positive for microsporidia infection. Histogram were used to describe distribution of microsporidia infection across diseases state. With cytometer flow, 6 (33.3%) among HIV/AIDS with ≤ 50 cell/µl. Highest prevalence were recorded among age ≥ 15 when compare with < 15 with 32 (10.8%) and 10 (7.47%), respectively. This study is first report of microsporidia in Niger state. Diagnose of microsporidia should be included in management of HIV/AIDS infection in Niger state.