SUMMARYBackground: Humans can get infected through direct or indirect contact with infective stages of zoonotic parasites shed to the environment through dog faeces. Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the presence of gastrointestinal parasites present in dog faeces shed on the street of Ibadan metropolis, one of the largest cities in Africa. Methods: Twenty-three locations were randomly selected using grid-sampling method. A total of 203 faecal samples collected from the streets of selected areas were processed for detection of helminth eggs and protozoan oocysts using flotation technique. Eggs/oocysts per gram of faeces was counted using modified McMaster technique. Results: The prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was 43.3% (88/203). Single and multiple infections were 69 (78.4%) and 19 (21.6%) respectively. The parasites detected were Ancylostoma sp. 24.6% (50/88) Isospora sp. 14.2% (29/88), Toxocara sp. 9.8% (20/88), Uncinaria sp. 2.5% (5/88) and Strongyloides sp, 3.9% (8/88). Ancylostoma sp. (320 x 10 2 epg) and Uncinaria sp. (5 x 10 2 epg) had the highest and least intensity respectively. Streets within residential areas having markets had the highest number of positive samples. All the genera of parasites detected in this study have zoonotic potential. Conclusion:The high prevalence of zoonotic parasites detected in dog faeces from Ibadan metropolis showed that infected stray dogs roam the streets and constitute potential risk to human health. This study suggests the need for enforcement of laws restraining roaming or straying dogs and proper veterinary care of dogs.

Background In recent years, the prevalence of schistosomiasis , a neglected tropical infection, has increased in underprivileged rural communities characterized by poverty. Objective This cross-sectional community-based study was carried out to determine the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis in a neglected community of Apojola community, South-Western Nigeria at two points in time, spaced three years apart Method and results A total of 145 participants were screened and 44.1% were diagnosed to have urinary Schistosoma haematobium infection after sedimentation and microscopy. The prevalence of schistosomiasis among females was higher (45.3%) than that among males (42.4%) but not significantly different (0.723). The prevalence of participants with light infection (26%) was significantly higher than those with heavy infection (11.0%). The predisposing factors with statistically significant association with Schistosoma haematobium infection were age (0.000), level of education (0.002), eating/selling of snails (0.037), occupation (0.000), drinking water (0.001), swimming (0.008), and washing in a river (0.019). Conclusion These findings indicate that the study area is still endemic to urinary schistosomiasis after three years of research and school-age children and teenagers are the populations at risk of urinary schistosomiasis . Community health education on the cause, mode of transmission, prevention, and prompt treatment of schistosomiasis is recommended.

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Cryptosporidiosis is one of the leading causes of diarrhea in humans and several vertebrates species. Because surveys of Cryptosporidium genotypes from animals and humans living in the same region are rare, our understanding of the importance of zoonotic transmission in the epidemiology of cryptosporidiosis remains superficial. PCR was used to amplify a portion of the Cryptosporidium 18S small subunit ribosomal RNA gene from fecal DNA from humans and livestock living in Ekiti and Oyo state, Nigeria. PCR-positive samples were further analyzed using PCR targeting the heat-shock protein HSP-70, the actin and the sporozoite glycoprotein gene gp60. A questionnaire was used to collect demographic information. Sixteen of 187 samples collected were Cryptosporidium 18S PCR positive. Of these, 5 samples originating from HIV-positive patients, 5 from otherwise healthy children, 2 from chickens, 3 from goats and 1 from a dog were positive for at least one marker. Sequencing of the 18S rRNA amplicons revealed the presence of Cryptosporidium parvum in two HIV positive patients and in a child; the actin sequence confirmed the presence of this species. Two samples of HIV-positive patients amplified C. hominis 18S rRNA, one of them confirmed by the HSP-70, actin and gp60 sequences. C. meleagridis was found in another HIV patient, while C. hominis was detected in three children (of which two were confirmed by gp60). C. muris was found in one child. In birds, we found C. meleagridis and, significantly, C. parvum, whereas we detected C. parvum and C. muris in one goat each. The only dog sampled was positive for Cryptosporidium canis. We conclude that, in the environment we surveyed, humans and animals are potential part of the same transmission cycle. Measures to prevent zoonotic transmission should therefore be considered to reduce the prevalence of cryptosporidiosis.

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Background: Pregnant women in malaria-endemic areas are at high risk of Plasmodium falciparum infection and its complications. This study investigated the impact of asymptomatic P. falciparum on haematological parameters of pregnant women at first antenatal visit in south-western Nigeria.Methods: Hospital-based cross-sectional evaluation of 130 asymptomatic pregnant women was conducted. Plasmodium infection was diagnosed using Giemsa-stained blood smear microscopy and rapid diagnostic test, while haemoglobin levels (Hb), Packed Cell Volume (PCV), white blood cells (WBC) count, red blood cell (RBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were determined using semi-automated haematology analyser.Results: Multigravid pregnant women presented more during their second trimester. Overall malaria prevalence in the sampled population was 14.6%. Prevalence of malaria parasitaemia was highest (68.4%) in the second trimester. P. falciparum infected pregnant women had significantly lower mean values of packed cell volume (PCV), haematocrit (Hb), and total white blood cell (WBC) compared to non-infected  individuals  (t = -4.07, p= 0.001; t = 3.30, p = <0.001; t = -2.77, p <0.001).Conclusion: There is asymptomatic P. falciparum infection in the study area and this may form a reservoir for transmission. Pregnant women infected with malaria parasites exhibited important changes in haematocrit level, haemoglobin concentration, and total white blood cells. Use of anti-malaria therapy and insecticide-treated bed net would result in greater haematological benefits.

Several seroprevalence studies have been conducted on the natural infections of Toxoplasma gondii in domestic chickens around the world but only a few have published data on turkeys. The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of exposure of farmed Nigerian turkeys to T. gondii infection. Sera obtained from 320 turkeys reared intensively in 3 states of southwest Nigeria were screened for T. gondii antibodies using a modified agglutination test. Antibodies were detected in 4.1 % (13/320) of the turkeys with titres of 1 : 20 in 7 turkeys, 1 : 40 in 5 and 1 : 80 in 1, while none was seropositive at 1 : 160 or 1 : 320. The seroprevalence of T. gondii was comparable among turkeys regardless of their breed, age, location and management system (P > 0.05). None of the variables were significantly associated with T. gondii antibodies by multivariate logistic regression. This first report of T. gondii infections in Nigerian turkeys recommends that turkey meat and its products be adequately processed before consumption.