Cassava mosaic disease (CMD), caused by cassava mosaic begomoviruses (CMBs), is a major threat to cassava production in Nigeria. The predominant CMBs in Nigeria are African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV), East African cassava mosaic virus (EACMV) and East African cassava mosaic Cameroon virus (EACMCV), which are transmitted through infected stem cuttings and whitefly vectors. This study was conducted in 2015 and 2017 to assess the epidemiology of CMD and the current distribution of CMBs in cassava farms in South West (SW) and North Central (NC) Nigeria. A survey of cassava farms was undertaken, and samples representative of disease symptoms were collected and assessed using molecular techniques. A total of 184 and 328 cas-

Background: The World Health Organisation recently launched a campaign to reduce Hepatitis B Viral Infections by 80% globally. Achieving this goal is partly predicated on proper awareness of persons in regions of high transmission. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection knowledge status of persons across three states in Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study among 758 persons selected by convenience sampling was conducted from March to July 2016. Structured questionnaires were administered to consenting participants and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods in SPSS V20. Findings: Respondents showed average knowledge with a mean knowledge score of 4.85 ± 2.69 out of a max score of 9.00. Respondents belonging to the working class had significantly better knowledge (5.59 ± 2.34 p < 0.001) than respondents in other categories. High-risk behaviour such as having multiple partners was predominant among respondents belonging to a public institution. A total of 242 (31.96%) of study respondents were aware of the existence of a vaccine for HBV, whereas only 161 (21.2%) had received at least one dose of vaccination against HBV. Previous knowledge of HBV infection, previous HBV testing, and knowing someone who had HBV infection were predictors of HBV infection knowledge as well as vaccination. Conclusion: This study has shown the urgent need for intervention targeted at raising awareness about HBV infection and the existence of a vaccine.

The aim of this study was to assess the levels of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and vaccination awareness among members of the general population across three Nigerian States. A descriptive cross-sectional study among 758 persons selected by convenience sampling was conducted from March to July 2016. Structured questionnaires were administered to consenting participants and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods in SPSS V20. Awareness to HPV infection and vaccination was very low at 1.40 ± 1.803 out of 6 points. Only 31.97% of respondents had heard about HPV while 17.5% were aware of the existence of a vaccine. The most prevalent sources of information amongst respondents who had heard about HPV were Doctors (13.08%) and the Media (9.91%). Bivariate analysis showed that respondents who consulted with gynaecologists, knew someone who had cervical cancer or had received HPV vaccination were more likely to be aware of HPV infection and vaccination. Gynaecologists (p < 0.0001) and previous vaccination (p < 0.0001) were the most important contributors to HPV awareness in a multivariate analysis. This study underpins the need for urgent intervention to raise awareness for HPV.

Antibiotic resistance is a major public health issue globally fuelled largely by its misuse. Controlling this problem would require an understanding of the levels of awareness of the population towards antibiotics. The data presented here was obtained from undergraduate students attending a Nigerian University in the first three months of the year 2016. The data is stratified by such demographic variables as age, sex and level of study. It contains information about the knowledge, and predispositions of participants to antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. Preliminary descriptive statistics are presented in the tables and figures herewith. Data was analysed using SPSS-20 and is available for reuse in the native SPSS format. In concluding, this data can be used to model the determinants of antibiotic knowledge among students.

Staphylococcus aureus, one of the most frequently occurring community and hospital-associated pathogens, causes infectious diseases including mild skin infection to systemic infections [1].Approximately 20 -30% of the global population is persistently colonized with S. aureus in the anterior nares [2] and approximately 10 to 40% of people tested as outpatients or on admission are nasal carriers of S. aureus [3]. Nasal carriage (colonization) of S. aureus has been identified as a major risk factor for subsequent infections as carriers act as reservoirs for the pathogen assisting its spread in the community. Certain risk factors have been associated with nasal carriage of S. aureus and they include sex, occupation, age groups, ethnicity, hospitalization, nasal abnormalities, genetic makeup, immunological status, repeated needle injections, hormonal status in women, recent hospitalization, insulin dependent and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, haemodialysis, HIV status, S. aureus skin infections, nose picking and administration of multiple antibiotics [4,5]. The spread of colonization occurs especially in close contact areas like schools probably by contaminated hands and surfaces [6]. An understanding of the risk factors for carriage of S. aureus is crucial to understanding the potential for invasive infections and transmission of diseases cause by this pathogen. This is of importance because the increasing resistance of S. aureus to various antibiotics has been known to complicate the treatment of diseases caused by it [7]. In addition, the emergence and spread of methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) has aggravated the situation [8]. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of nasal carriage of S. aureus among University students, risk factors for nasal carriage and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of the S. aureus isolates to selected antimicrobial agents Two-hundred and seventy-seven nasal samples were obtained from male and female undergraduate students who were not showing symptoms of any infection. After informed consent was obtained, a self-administered questionnaire [9] was given to each participant to collect information pertaining to demographics, contact with or exposure to potential S. aureus carriers, medication history, intravenous drug use and involvement in sporting activities. This was followed by a single screening nose swab for each volunteer using sterile, moistened cotton swabs. Materials and MethodsThe disk diffusion method was used to test the susceptibility of S. aureus isolates as recommended by the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines (CLSI, 2011) to the following antibiotics: ceftazidime, cloxacillin, gentamicin, ceftriaxone, erythromycin, Sample and Data CollectionNasal swabs were inoculated directly onto on mannitol salt agar (MSA), a selective medium for the isolation of S. aureus and the MSA plates were incubated at 37°C for 48 hours. Mannitolfermenting colonies that were yellow were selected from the MSA plates and subcultured on blood ...