Between January 2005 and December 2005, including the wet and dry seasons, 1,358 filth flies (Musca domestica, 737 [54.3%]; M. domestica vicina 556 [41%]; and Drosophilia melanogaster 65 [5%]) were caught by quadrant samplings using nets twice each month (early and later) in each of the various sites with varying sanitary conditions in Ekpoma, Nigeria. These sites were markets, hospitals, houses/human habitations, pit latrines, stalls of local food vendors, abattoirs/slaughterhouses, and dairy farms. These filth flies were studied for their potential to carry bacterial species. The identified filth flies were found to carry bacterial pathogens, with each harboring 2-10 bacteria. Seven bacterial species and their load namely, Escherichia coli (189 x 10(10) organisms per milliliter), Proteus species (210 x 10(10) organisms per milliliter), Streptococcus species (192 x 10(10) organisms per milliliter), Klebsiella species (213 x 10(10) organisms per milliliter), Salmonella species (386 x 10(10) organisms per milliliter), Staphylococcus species (163 x 10(10) organisms per milliliter), and Serratia macenscens (5.0 x 10(10) organisms per milliliter) were isolated. The highest mean bacterial load for all bacteria isolated from pooled flies was 200 x 10(10) organisms per milliliter. The mean bacterial loads of 150, 90, and 10 x 10(10) organisms per milliliter were recorded for M. domestica, M. domestica vicina, and D. melanogaster, respectively. Approximately 15(4)-23(6) bacterial colonies per fly were recorded. The total number of bacteria isolated from flies caught in the dairy farms were higher than those isolated from flies caught in any other studied sites. Lower prevalence of associated bacterial pathogens was established from flies caught in areas where hygienic conditions prevailed. Salmonella species was the most prevalent bacterial pathogen isolated amongst the flies that perched on dairy products sampled. Bacterial load was most prevalent during the wet season. Resistances of some bacterial pathogens to common available antibiotic drugs shown by zone of inhibition (

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Well-structured questionnaire on the perception, impression and response to genitourinary bilharziasis (Genitourinary schistosomiasis) was administered and explained in local languages: 'Igbo' 'Esan' 'Ezon' Itshekiri and Bini to 33815 inhabitants of selected endemic areas in south-eastern Nigeria from January, 1999 to December, 2001. Out of this number, 3815 (11.3%) were properly filled and returned. About 42.0% of the inhabitants admitted knowledge of the disease, while 14 (0.4%) knew about the aetiologic agent. About 181 (5.0%) who responded, admitted procuring treatment, while 100 (5.0%) declined to seek treatment of any sort. The relationships between water-bodies and human activities, and infection were well discussed. Amongst those who admitted knowledge of the disease but no knowledge of its etiologic agent, declined seeking treatment of any kind, but believe the disease is a natural phenomenon in ones developmental stage and therefore of no morbidity and mortality. Laboratory analysis of urine, faeces, semen and HVS was employed to assess questionnaire responses, and in some cases, physical examination was utilized to augment laboratory analysis in confirming urinal diagnosis. Haematuria was only directly related to egg count in the early part of life. Females were significantly haematuric and excreted more ova than males (p < 0.05). Headache (43.0%) and fever (31.0%) were major clinical signs while sexual pains (22.0%) were the least.

Background Malaria is one of the tropical diseases of universal concern particularly with continuous appearance of resistant strains of P.falciparum. This calls for continous screening of traditional plants such that new and effective antimalarial agents will be developed. This study therefore explored the oral acute toxicity and antimalarial potentials of aqueous and methanolic extracts of roots, leaves and stem of Dictyandra arborescens on Plasmodium berghei infected mice. Results No mortality was recorded in any of the experimental animal groups even at the highest tested dose (5000 mg/kg b.wt) of the extract after monitoring them for 4hrs and subsequently for 7 days. Out of the six extracts, methanolic extracts of the roots and leaves exhibited more antimalarial activity than others. A significant difference (P < 0.05) was statistically observed in the parasite count of groups that received methanol extracts of roots and leaves of D. arborescens. This observation was made when these two extracts were compared with other groups as well as the negative control. However, activity of the standard antimalarial drug (artesunate) was higher (p˂0.05) than those of the extracts. Phytochemicals such as tannins, alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, flavonoids etc. were present in the extracts in varying quantities. GC–MS analysis of methanol extract of the root of this plant showed different chemical compounds. Conclusion Administration of aqueous and methanol extracts of roots, leaves and stem of D. arborescens in mice is not harmful at any dose less than or equal to 5000 mg/kg. Methanol extracts exhibited more antimalarial activity than aqueous extracts suggesting that antimalarial activity of the plant parts could be affected by the solvent used for extraction and antimalarial activity may be more in a particular part of a plant. The presence of different bioactive compounds identified in phytochemical and GC–MS analysis could be the fundamental scientific evidence for the antimalarial activity exhibited by this plant especially in the root.

This study analyzed physical, chemical and selected heavy metals concentration of oil-polluted soil and water samples from Bonny, South-South, Nigeria. Unpolluted soil and water samples were used as controls. The pH of the test soil sample was acidic (4.24±0.03) when compared with control (7.6±0.05). Chloride, Phosphorus, Magnesium and Potassium concentrations of the test soil samples were 1151.614±0.37 mg/g, 1.23±0.02 mg/g, 11.27±0.34 mg/g and 11.52±0.5 mg/g respectively. Selected heavy metals such as Iron (Fe), Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg), Arsenic (As), Lead (Pb) and Copper (Cu) showed that Hg and As were below detectable limits in test and control samples while Cd and Pb were below detectable limit in the control sample while test sample had 0.015±0.01 mg/g and 1.73±0.04 mg/g respectively. Fe and Cu contents were high at 38.7±0.13 mg/g and 5.49±0.05 mg/g when compared with the control at 3.52±0.02 mg/g and 1.08±0.03 mg/g. Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH), Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and Total Organic Matter (TOM) were at 5.93±0.13 mg/g, 3.64±0.1 mg/g and 4.23±0.1 mg/g respectively. Water pH, Temperature, Conductance, Dissolved Oxygen, Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD5) and Turbidity were 5.21±0.03, 25.1±0.01ºC, 610±0.04 µS/cm, 5.0±0.03 mg/l, 1.8±0.02 mg/l, and 53.50±0.06 NTU respectively. Chloride, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Potassium, Calcium and Bicarbonate concentrations of the water were 609.82±0.37 mg/ml, 1.03±0.02 mg/ml, 13.41±0.42 mg/ml, 7.68±0.3 mg/ml, 21.22±0.12 mg/ml and 4.3±0.07 mg/ml in that order. Arsenic and Mercury were below detectable limit in both test and control samples while Fe, Cd, Pb, and Cu were 42.2±0.6 mg/ml, 0.016±0.001 mg/ml, 1.9±0.04 mg/ml and 5.2±0.03 mg/ml respectively. Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon, Total Suspended Solids, Total Dissolved Solids, and Total Solids were 3.87±0.11 mg/ml, 23036±0.51 mg/ml, 396.5±0.3 mg/ml and 23433±0.4 respectively. The levels of detected heavy metals were higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limits and Nigerian standard set by Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA). This indicates a moderate level of pollution in both soil and water samples, as a result, poses a serious threat to ecological and species survivability as well as growth and reproduction of aquatic and plant life.

This study used the leucocyte migration index to assess cellular immune function in children with urinary schistosomiasis. Migration inhibitory factor was produced (with other lymphokines) by sensitizing mitogens. The production of antigen-induced migration inhibitory factor in vitro correlated with the in vivo state of cellular hypersensitivity of the lymphocyte donor. The percentage positive leucocyte migration rate using three mitogens was least with inactivated measles haemagglutinin virus (IMV) and highest with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) in the control group, while highest with tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) and least with IMV in the test group. The measurement of the migration index of leucocytes comparing the control with lightly- and heavily-infected children on activation using three mitogens was significantly reduced, except in the case of the control versus lightly-infected children using IMV. Using IMV, the leucocyte migration index for control versus lightly-infected children and heavily-infected children was significant (p > 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively). Using BCG the difference between controls and lightly- and heavily-infected children were significant (p < 0.02). PPD showed no significant difference in leucocyte migration between control and the lightly- or heavily-infected children. In all leucocyte migration index decreased with intensity of infection except in the case of PPD (p < 0.002 for BCG; p < 0.001 for the IMV). There was a significant correlation between egg count and leucocyte migration index; for BCG (r = -0.20, p < 0.005); for IMV (r = -0.3, p < 0.001); for PPD (r = -0.38,p < 0.001). Patients with schistosomiasis infection can express normal and effective cellular immune responses to non-schistosomal antigens and also have equal immunological ability to combat pathogens as S. haematobium-free controls.

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Background: Schistosomiasis is estimated to affect more than 200 million people especially in rural and agricultural areas. Schistosoma haematobium causes significant urinary tract diseases and is mediated by T cell dependent granulomatous responses to the schistosome eggs. Since tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) is elicited by Th 1 responses and implicated in granulomatous responses to the ova trapped in the bladder wall of Schistosoma haematobium infected persons, it is important to ascertain the relationship between intensity of infection and urinary tract pathology in our locality. Methodology: The urine samples from volunteers were subjected to parasitological investigations to ascertain the presence of S. haematobium ova in their urine. The TNF profile was ascertained using standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The ultrasonographical investigation was carried out on the S. haematobium infected participants using transabdominal ultrasonography. Results: Nineteen out of 40 rural Nigerians infected with S. haematobium showed severe infection while the remaining 21 individuals had light infection. Males (26) were more severely infected than females (14). Children (30) were more infected than adults (10). The serum TNF concentration correlated positively with the intensity of infection (r 2 = 0.97). Serum TNF was negatively correlated with the age of the volunteers (r 2 =-0.36). The mean TNF concentration among subjects with heavy infection (535.7.4 415.5 pg/ml) was significantly higher than that among those with light infection (93.8 40.9pg/ml) at (χ 2 = 341.0, p<0.05). Also the concentration of TNF in the sera of children (448.2 140.2pg/ml) was significantly higher than that in adults (180.0 152.1 pg/ml) at (χ 2 = 114.6, p<0.05). The ultrasonographic investigation revealed eight types of urinary tract pathology, namely, abnormal wall thickness (70%), irregular bladder wall (55%), echogenic particles (75%), calcification (60%), pseudopolyp (12.5%), masses (10%), residual volume (30%) and hydroureter (7.5%) among 28 subjects. These participants with urinary tract pathology had relatively high serum TNF ranging from 190.6 15.6 pg/ml in abnormal wall thickness to 630.6 15.6 pg/ml among individuals with masses. Conclusion: The bladder and kidney pathology revealed in this investigation as well as the intensity of infection correlated with the levels of serum TNF among S. haematobium infected participants in Ihieve-Ogben, Nigeria. We observed an association between high level TNF with heavy infection and urinary tract pathology.