Lassa virus (LASV) has increasingly been recognised as a significant public-health pathogen transmitted by rodents. LASV infection leads to life-threatening Lassa fever, which has high potential for severe morbidity and mortality. There have been several scientific efforts to understand the genomics and ecological epidemiology of Lassa. However, very limited studies have focused on the short- and long-term impacts of environmental factors, human behaviours and rodent activities on LASV transmission dynamics and control. Recently, a very plausible and ideal way to address the Lassa epidemic has been considered through the One Health approach. The One Health system of intervention is capable of providing better and comprehensive information necessary to address the complex interplay between human, ecological, and environmental determinants of LASV transmission, persistence and re-emergence. Thus, the aim of this article was to review critically the impacts of various environmental factors on rodent infestations, LASV transmission and how human activities contribute to the persistence of Lassa with regard to exploring how they could be harnessed for better understanding of Lassa prevention and control through a concerted One Health approach.

As the incidence of Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) continues to rise, many countries have been seeking for medical assistance such as donation or procurement of laboratory test kits and strips. These consumables are largely intended for use in the laboratory investigations of COVID-19 cases, suspected contacts, asymptomatic persons and in discharging cured persons. Thus, this article was instigated to update and remind healthcare providers and policymakers (especially those in developing countries) on the principles of sample collections, storage, transportation, laboratory protocols and networks needed for appropriate public health response against COVID-19 pandemic in Africa and other developing countries. In addition, this article presents challenges that hinder adequate COVID-19 laboratory response and discuss some possible solutions that could ameliorate these constrains.

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Background: There are no robust national prevalence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes in Nigerian women despite the high burden of cervical cancer morbidity and mortality. The objective of study: This study aims to determine the pooled prevalence and risk factors of genital HPV infection in Nigeria through a systemic review protocol. Methods: Databases including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and AJOL were searched between 10 April to 28 July 2020. HPV studies on Nigerian females and published from April 1999 to March 2019 were included. GRADE was used to assess the quality of evidence. Results: The pooled prevalence of cervical HPV was 20.65% (95%CI: 19.7-21.7). Genotypes 31 (70.8%), 35 (69.9%) and 16 (52.9%) were the most predominant HPV in circulation. Of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria, northeast had the highest pooled prevalence of HPV infection (48.1%), while the least was in the north-west (6.8%). After multivariate logistic regression, duration (years) of sexual exposure (OR ¼ 3.24, 95%CI: 1.78-9.23]), history of other malignancies (OR ¼ 1.93, 95%CI: 1.03-2.97]), history of sexually transmitted infection (OR ¼ 2.45, 95% CI: 1.31-3.55]), coital frequency per week (OR ¼ 5.11, 95%CI: 3.86-14.29), the status of circumcision of the sexual partner (OR ¼ 2.71, 95%CI: 1.62-9.05), and marital status (OR ¼ 1.72, 95%CI: 1.16-4.72), were significant risk factors of HPV infection (p < 0.05). Irregular menstruation, postcoital bleeding and abdominal vaginal discharge were significantly associated with HPV infection (p < 0.05). Conclusion: HPV prevalence is high in Nigeria and was significantly associated with several associated risk factors. Rapid screening for high-risk HPV genotypes is recommended and multivalent HPV vaccines should be considered for women.

West Nile virus (WNV) is a re-emerging mosquito-borne and zoonotic viral infection which is largely underestimated in Nigeria. This study sought to determine the pooled prevalence pattern and risk factors of WNV infection among humans and animals in Nigeria. Methods: A systematic review of eligible articles was conducted from "PubMed", "Scopus", "Google Scholar" and "Web of Science", from 1 st January 1950 to 30 th August 2020. Peer-reviewed articles describing WNV infection of humans and animals in cross-sectional studies were systematically reviewed and analyzed. Cochrane Q was used to determine the heterogeneity of studies reports. Results: About 61.5% human studies had low risk of bias. Howewer, all had high heterogeneity. Southwestern Nigeria had the highest pooled prevalence of anti-WNV IgM, 7.8% in humans. The pooled WNV IgM and IgG seroprevalence were 7.1% (95% CI: 5.9-8.3) and 76.5% (95% CI: 74.0-78.8), respectively. The WNV RNA prevalence was 1.9% (95% CI: 1.4-2.9), while 14.3% (95% CI: 12.9-15.8) had WNV neutralizing antibodies. In animals, the pooled WNV IgM and IgG seroprevalence were 90.3% (95% CI: 84.3-94.6) and 3.5% (95% CI: 1.9-5.8), respectively while 20.0% (95% CI: 12.9-21.4) had WNV neutralizing antibodies. Age (OR=3.73, 95% CI: 1.87-7.45; p=0.0002) and level of education [no formal education (OR=4.31, CI: 1.08-17.2; E p u b a h e a d o f p r i n t 2 p=0.0386), primary (OR=7.29, 95% CI: 1.80-29.6; p=0.0054)], were significant risk factors of WNV IgM seropositivity in humans. Conclusion: Findings from this study highlighted the endemicity of WNV infection in animals and humans in Nigeria and underscored the need for "One health" prevention and control approach against WNV infection.

Backgroundand study aim: Inadequately treated water supply and unhygienic food consumption are the major sources of contracting feco-orally transmitted viral pathogens, including Rotavirus. This prospective study aimed to assess the presence of Rotavirus in sewage, underground and surface waters collected from different locations within Maiduguri Metropolis, Nigeria. Materials and Methods:A total of 170 sewage and water samples (underground and surface waters) were collected from various sources in high-density and lowdensity areas of the Maiduguri metropolis. A modified adsorption-elution method for concentration of enteric viruses in sewage and water samples and detection of the presence of rotavirus (if present) was done using Enzyme linked immunesorbent assay (ELISA). The viruses in water were concentrated by negatively charged membrane filtration, eluted with 0.05M Glycine at pH 11.5, and reconcentrated by centrifugation at 12,000rpm for one hour.Results: Out of the 60 domestic sewage samples collected from high-density areas, 8.3% were positive for rotavirus antigen, whereas none of the samples from low-density areas were positive. In addition, rotavirus antigen was not detected in underground and surface water samples. The temperature range of the 5 rotavirus positive samples was 23-30 o C. All the 5 positive samples had alkaline pH that ranged between 8 and 9. Conclusion:This study has demonstrated the persistence of rotavirus in sewage and its possible transmission through contaminated food and poor treated water especially in unvaccinated children.

The incidence and case-fatality rates (CFRs) of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, the etiological agent for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), have been rising unabated. Even though the entire world has been implementing infection prevention and control measures, the pandemic continues to spread. It has been widely accepted that preventive vaccination strategies are the public health measures for countering this pandemic. This study critically reviews the latest scientific advancement in genomics, replication pattern, pathogenesis, and immunopathology of SARS-CoV-2 infection and how these concepts could be used in the development of vaccines. We also offer a detailed discussion on the anticipated potency, efficacy, safety, and pharmaco-economic issues that are and will be associated with candidate COVID-19 vaccines.

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to rise and second waves are reported in some countries, serological test kits and strips are being considered to scale up an adequate laboratory response. This study provides an update on the kinetics of humoral immune response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and performance characteristics of serological protocols (lateral flow assay [LFA], chemiluminescence immunoassay [CLIA] and ELISA) used for evaluations of recent and past SARS-CoV-2 infection. A thorough and comprehensive review of suitable and eligible full-text articles was performed on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Wordometer and medRxiv from 10 January to 16 July 2020. These articles were searched using the Medical Subject Headings terms ‘COVID-19’, ‘Serological assay’, ‘Laboratory Diagnosis’, ‘Performance characteristics’, ‘POCT’, ‘LFA’, ‘CLIA’, ‘ELISA’ and ‘SARS-CoV-2’. Data from original research articles on SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection ≥second day postinfection were included in this study. In total, there were 7938 published articles on humoral immune response and laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19. Of these, 74 were included in this study. The detection, peak and decline period of blood anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM, IgG and total antibodies for point-of-care testing (POCT), ELISA and CLIA vary widely. The most promising of these assays for POCT detected anti-SARS-CoV-2 at day 3 postinfection and peaked on the 15th day; ELISA products detected anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG at days 2 and 6 then peaked on the eighth day; and the most promising CLIA product detected anti-SARS-CoV-2 at day 1 and peaked on the 30th day. The most promising LFA, ELISA and CLIA that had the best performance characteristics were those targeting total SARS-CoV-2 antibodies followed by those targeting anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG then IgM. Essentially, the CLIA-based SARS-CoV-2 tests had the best performance characteristics, followed by ELISA then POCT. Given the varied performance characteristics of all the serological assays, there is a need to continuously improve their detection thresholds, as well as to monitor and re-evaluate their performances to assure their significance and applicability for COVID-19 clinical and epidemiological purposes.