The abundance of Anopheline mosquito species is the most common entomological measurement to determine the relationship between vectors and malaria incidence. We conducted an entomological survey to determine mosquito species diversity and abundance in relation to rainfall in Omi reservoir irrigation area, Nigeria. We collected adult mosquitoes from 10 randomly selected residential houses using Pyrethrum spray sheet and Human Landing Catch methods. We grouped the samples into irrigated (intervention) and non-irrigated (control) communities. During the 12-month sampling period, we collected a total of 4 285 mosquitoes belonging to 10 species in one family. The three most common species during this study were Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles funestus and Culex quinquefasciatus. Irrigated community has higher numbers of mosquitoes (69,4%) compared to those collected in non-irrigated community (32,0%). Comparing the two collection methods used, Pyrethrum spray sheet has a greater number 2 225(75,4%) of mosquitoes than those with Human Landing Catch method 724(24,6%). During dry season, we collected fewer mosquitoes. The lowest number was collected in February (114) and the highest occurring during the wet season in July (445).

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The present study aimed at evaluating the prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium among school children of ages 5 to 16 years in Afikpo North L.G.A. of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The study was carried out between February 2016 and January 2017. Urine samples were analyzed in the laboratory using the sedimentation and centrifugation technique. Of 504 persons (250 males and 254 females) that were randomly selected and screened for S. haematobium infection, 20 (3.97 %) were found to be infected. The intensity of infection was greater in males (n=12; 2.38 %) than in the females (n =8; 1.59 %). The sex of an individual was not statistically associated with the prevalence of S. haematobium. The highest prevalence rate of S. haematobium was recorded in the age bracket of 14-16 yrs. 7 (1.39 %) while the least prevalent was recorded among the 5-7 yrs. 2 (0.40 %). There is no significant relationship between the age and the prevalence of S. haematobium (p> 0.05). No case of infection was found in the pupils using boreholes and rain water. The highest prevalence with respect to the source of water was in pupils using the stream 15(2.98%). There was a significant relationship between the source of water and the prevalence of S. haematobium. Additionally, there was no significant relationship between occupation of the parents and the prevalence of S. haematobium (p> 0.05). The results reveal that the prevalence of S. haematobium is not location specific, but there is a need to integrate the control of snails to reduce the prevalence of S. haematobium in Afikpo North L.G.A. Ebonyi State.

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Malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Nigeria, the country accounting for the highest devastation worldwide. This study aimed at evaluating the performance of microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for diagnosis of malaria. A total of 443 suspected Plasmodium falciparum infected patients in hospitals in selected communities of Ezinihitte Local Government Area south eastern Nigeria between January and June 2014 were examined by using microscopy and RDTs. Thick and thin blood smears made on clean slides from venipuncture blood collected from febrile subjects have been examined for the presence of malarial parasites. Serological diagnosis was performed using Carestart, SD Bioline and Antec kits. The overall prevalence of the three RDTs were Carestart pf (41.8%), SD Bioline pf (52.8%), and Antec pf/pv (25.3%) as against microscopy the standard (44.9%). The varied prevalence observed from the three kits did not differ statistically (p>0.05).The females appeared to have more infected (42.4%) than the males (39.6%) with no significant difference between the diagnostic methods. The overall sensitivities of Carestart pf, SD Bioline pf and Antec pf/pv were 71.9%, 86.9% and 50.8% respectively while their corresponding specificities were 82.8%, 75.0%, and 95.5% respectively. SD Bioline HRP2 based test demonstrated a superior sensitivity compared to microscopy. Some RDTS can be useful alternatives to microscopy in the diagnosis of P. falciparum especially in resource limited communities.