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BackgroundThe transmission of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is parenteral, sexual and perinatal. Prevention of vertical transmission of HBV is extremely important because HBV infection in early life usually results in a chronic carrier State.MethodsA descriptive seroepidemiological study of hepatitis B virus and its effects on hematological parameters was investigated in pregnant women attending antenatal clinic of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria. 200 venous samples were subjected to full blood count and its sera were subjected to enzyme–linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of surface antigen of hepatitis B virus.ResultsPrevalence rate of 16.5% was obtained for hepatitis B surface antigen in pregnant women. The highest HBsAg prevalence rate recorded was 23.3% for pregnant women between aged 30–34 years while the lowest recorded was zero percent for those aged greater than 40 years. RBC, WBC, neutrophil, hemoglobin lymphocyte and platelet counts have no significant effects on HBsAg positivity of pregnant women (p = 0.801). There was no significant difference in HBsAg positivity in relation to maternal age, gravidity, gestational age, family type, level of education and occupation (p = 0.073). Among the potential risk factors, there was significant difference in HBsAg positivity in the pregnant women in relation to their history of HBV vaccination (p = 0.039).ConclusionsWe advocate universal free screening of pregnant women as the endemicity of HBV infections is thus being propagated.

Water is a valued natural resource for the existence of all living organisms. Management of the quality of this precious resource is, therefore, of special importance. In this study river water samples were collected and analysed for physicochemical and bacteriological evaluation of pollution in the Unity Road stream segment of Asa River in Ilorin, Nigeria. Juvenile samples of Clarias gariepinus fish were also collected from the experimental Asa River and from the control Asa Dam water and were analysed for comparative histological investigations and bacterial density in the liver and intestine in order to evaluate the impact of pollution on the aquatic biota. The water pH was found to range from 6.32 to 6.43 with a mean temperature range of 24.3 to 25.8 °C. Other physicochemical parameters monitored including total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand values exceeded the recommended level for surface water quality. Results of bacteriological analyses including total heterotrophic count, total coliform and thermotolerant coliform counts revealed a high level of faecal pollution of the river. Histological investigations revealed no significant alterations in tissue structure, but a notable comparative distinction of higher bacterial density in the intestine and liver tissues of Clarias gariepinus from Asa River than in those collected from the control. It was inferred that the downstream Asa River is polluted and its aquatic biota is bacteriologically contaminated and unsafe for human and animal consumption.

Rubella virus is a teratogen that may induce foetal death or Congenital Rubella Syndrome in the newborn. Studies carried out in Nigeria, have recorded 68.5% prevalence in pregnant women in the southwest and 54.1% in the Northwest. There has been a dearth of information in the North central. Sentinel studies have placed the incidence of rubella on a seasonal distribution, with an average of 5-9-year variable epidemic pattern. A descriptive study was carried out on pregnant women between July and September 2009, to establish baseline data on the sero-prevalence of antenatal rubella in pregnant women in Ilorin. A total of 92 pregnant women in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy were recruited from the antenatal clinics of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. A 3ml blood sample was collected from each consenting subject and serum assayed for Rubella IgG/ IgM antibodies by indirect ELISA test. Anti-rubella virus antibodies were reported in the sera of 14 pregnant women that participated in the study. A prevalence of 16.3% was recorded. The primigravidae had a higher prevalence (27.0%) than the multigravidae (12.0%). There was a gradual rise in seroprevalence from first trimester pregnancies (13.0%) to second trimester pregnancies (19.1%). High seroprevalence of rubella infections during organogenesis poses high risk to foetus. Since 85% of the subjects were susceptible to rubella virus infection, it is advisable for health planners to prevent further occurrence of antenatal rubella that may result to congenital rubella anomalies by the immunisation of women of child bearing age.

Dengue is a mosquito‐borne disease of public health importance. It is caused by four serotypes of Dengue virus (i.e, DENV‐1, ‐2, ‐3, and ‐4). As a result of practices that are conducive for mosquito breading, its vector is widespread in Nigeria and this could result to possible DENV outbreaks in Nigeria and beyond. This study aimed to assess the recency of DENV infection as well as occurrence of DENV and Malaria co‐infections within Ilorin, Nigeria. Blood samples were obtained from 176 febrile subjects and analyzed using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for the presence of DENV antibodies. Malaria infection was detected using a rapid diagnostic test kit for malaria parasites. Malaria and DENV (IgM positive) co‐infected samples were further subjected to RT‐qPCR analysis. A seroprevalence of 46.0% was recorded for anti‐DENV IgM antibodies and 2.84% for concurrent Dengue and malaria infections. Out of 95 IgM negative samples, 48 were found to be positive for DENV IgG antibodies. Eleven (6.25%) samples were confirmed DENV positive following RT‐qPCR. The CT values of the amplicons were between 19.0 and 20.0. DENV serotype 2 dominated the study, while serotype 3 and 4 were equally distributed. Based on the high seroprevalence of DENV obtained in this study, there is a high possibility of experiencing Dengue virus outbreak in Ilorin, Nigeria, not neglecting the fast geographical spread of the vector. Therefore, surveillance and intensive vector control program should be instituted.

The efficacy of Bridelia ferruginea Benth bark extract in wastewater treatment was investigated. Chemical analysis found the bark to contain potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, iron and copper. Phytochemical tests revealed the bark to contain tannins, phlobatannins, saponins, alkaloids, and steroids. Comparative studies using varying concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 2.5 and 5.0% w/v) with alum and ferric chloride showed that the bark extract was effective in the clarification and sedimentation of total solids in the waste water sample. The optimum dose achieved was 2.5% w/v with a minimum of 24 hours contact time. The total bacteria counts were reduced by 46% after 24 hours when the extract was used whereas ferric chloride achieved 50% reduction and alum achieved 55% reduction under similar conditions. The feasibility of using the bark extract as an additional coagulant is therefore discussed.

The antimalarial potential of the ethanolic extract of Clerodendrum violaceum leaves (13 mg/kg body weight) was investigated in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. Haematological indices including the red blood cell indices, the white blood cell indices and platelet count were also evaluated on days 3, 8 and 14 after infection. Phytochemical screening revealed a predominance of alkaloids (3.68 %), and phenolics (2.78 %) in the extract. The extract suppressed parasitaemia following administration to infected mice by 92.3% on day 14 post-infection. The infected extracttreated animals had significantly higher (P<0.05) red blood cell count (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration (Hb), white blood cell count (WBC), and platelet count than the infected untreated animals. The results suggest that the extract possesses considerable antimalarial activity and may induce synthesis of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. These results support further studies on Clerodendrum violaceum leaf as a source of antimalarial remedy.

BackgroundHerpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is normally associated with orofacial (orolabial) infections and encephalitis, whereas HSV-2 usually causes genital infections and can be transmitted from infected mothers to neonates. The evidence suggesting that HSV is facilitating the spread of the global human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic and the risk posed by these synergies to neonates in developing countries informed this study.ObjectivesTo determine the seroprevalence and co-infection of HIV and HSV, as well as their associated risk factors, in Lokoja, Nigeria.MethodsThis was a hospital-based cross-sectional, prospective study, which was carried out among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at the federal medical centre in Lokoja, Nigeria. sociodemographic characteristics and HIV-HSV status were determined by the use of a structured questionnaire and immunoassay kits, respectively. All data were analyzed using Stata statistical software (version 12), and the level of significance was determined to be P < 0.05 using the chi-square test.ResultsOf the 250 pregnant women screened for HIV and HSV, 154 (61.6%) were in the 2nd trimester of gestation, and all of the co-infected respondents were in their 2nd trimester. Only six (2.4%) of the respondents tested positive for HIV, with all six (100%) showing positivity for HSV so the co-infection rate was six (2.4%). Co-infection was found to occur between the ages of 15 and 35 years, while higher age groups did not show any co-infection. Parity, level of education, and history of painful genital ulcers had no significant association with co-infection.ConclusionsAdvocacy and publicity to raise awareness of the potential public health impact of HSV and HIV co-infection in Nigeria, where anti-HSV testing is not generally performed in all populations, is therefore recommended.