Background: Intestinal helminth infections in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive individuals have been widely reported to play an important role in HIV progression. Aim: The study provides data on the prevalence of intestinal helminths among HIV-positive individuals. Methods: A total of 169 consenting HIV-positive individuals were recruited for the study. Stool specimens from the HIV-positive individuals were analyzed for the presence of intestinal helminths using wet mount and formalin-ether concentration methods. Results: The overall prevalence of infection was 21.9% with 5 types of parasites detected. The Intestinal helminth that occurred with the highest prevalence was Ascaris lumbricoides (37.8%), followed by Hookworm (16.2%), Taenia spp. (16.2%) and Strongyloides stercoralis (13.5%) with Trichuris trichiura (8.1%) being the least prevalent. However, there was more single (91.9%) than mixed infections (8.1 %). Concerning socio-demographic factors, there was no significant association (p > 0.05) between intestinal helminths and gender (X 2 (1, N = 169) = 1.239, p = 0.266), although, the parasites were found to be more prevalent among males than females. Infection was reported in 16.1% of those on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and 53.8% of those that were HAART-naïve indicating that there was a significant association (X 2 (1, N = 169) = 18.346, p = 0.001**) between intestinal helminth and HAART status. Conclusions: This study reported a low burden of intestinal helminths among HIV-infected individuals on HAART while a higher burden was recorded in the HAART naïve patients. Regular check-up for intestinal parasites, good personal hygiene, and effective therapy for HIV/AIDS positive persons is hereby advocated.

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Background:The prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) has increased greatly and continues to be impacted by co-infection with HIV/AIDS. Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of TB and rifampicin-resistant M. tuberculosis among inmates. Methods: A total of 90 male and female inmates of age 18 years and above from the Nigerian Correctional Services Centre attending Faith Alive Foundation Hospital Jos, Nigeria were randomly recruited for the study. Sputum samples were collected in a large mouth transparent close cap container. Samples were analyzed using the Zheil-Neelsen staining technique and then confirmed using the Gene-Xpert technology. Data obtained were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 21 software. Results: The overall prevalence of rifampicinresistant M. tuberculosis was 0(0.0%) while that of M. tuberculosis was 11(12.2%), with a male and female prevalence of 8(11.4%) and 3(3.3%) respectively. The prevalence of M. tuberculosis was highest amongst participants between ages 51-60 years, 3(75%), who have tertiary education, 3(27.3%), with a positive HIV status, 6(30%), and who were non-smokers, 8(17.4%). There was a statistically significant relationship between the presence of M. tuberculosis and participants' age group (p = 0.016), and HIV status (p = 0.023). Conclusion: Although there was no positive case of RIF/MTB, the findings indicate the presence of TB therefore, there is a need for continued advocacy on proper treatment and management of TB among inmates to forestall the emergence of rifampicin-resistant TB.

The conventional methods of identification of Salmonella involving microbiological enrichment and successive identification mostly are tedious, time consuming and not specific. Therefore, the aim of this study was to utilize molecular techniques to characterize Salmonella species isolates from some Hospitals in Jos, Nigeria. The 10 isolates collected from some Hospitals in Jos, Nigeria were screened for Salmonella using conventional biochemical methods. The positive isolates were identified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for discernment of invasion A (invA) gene at explicit molecular size (284 bp) utilizing explicit primers (forward and reverse). Sequencing of the invA gene was performed and the similarities and differences between our invA gene and published sequences on GenBank were assessed. Seven out of ten confirmed Salmonella species isolates were positive to the invA gene while the remaining three were negative. The homology level of nucleotide sequence (97.746%) demonstrated high similitude between the local isolates and the other sequences on GenBank. Molecular characterization of the Salmonella isolates provides data about the virulence of the pathogen just as its relatedness to different organisms which offer data about the genome of the organisms and are helpful for epidemiological examinations. Therefore, Molecular methods which enable the detection of virulent genes are extremely important surveillance tools that are required to assist in curbing the escalation of infections caused by Salmonella.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary infections (Pls) cause mortality in elderly patients that have comorbidities. These infections are life-threatening in the younger population, especially in infants and children. Co-infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Streptococcus pneumoniae occurring concurrently may lead to undiagnosed Streptococcus pneumoniae leading to inadequate treatment. Aim: The study investigates the co-infection and antimicrobial resistance profile of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Streptococcus pneumoniae in Makurdi, Nigeria. Materials and methods: A total of 273 sputum samples were collected from patients with pulmonary infection attending chest clinics in tertiary health institutions in Makurdi and analysed. Genexpert was used for Mycobacterium tuberculosis while Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates were identified using Gram-staining reaction, optochin and bile solubility tests. The susceptibility test for Streptococcus pneumoniae was performed using Kirby-Bauer method. Results: Out of the 273 sputum samples, the percentage occurrence of mono-infections with Mycobacterium tuberculosis was 14(5.13%) while that with rifampicin resistance was 1(0.37%). The occurrence of mono-infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae was 11(4.03%). The resistance profile showed trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole (septrin) with the highest resistance 6(54.55%) and vancomycin 5(45.45%) while amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and ceftriaxone had zero resistance (0.0%). There was the occurrence of co-infections in 3(1.10%) out of the 273 patients sampled. There was no significant association (p > 0.05) between Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, their co-infections and the variables analyzed. Conclusion: The occurrence rate of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis co-infections is low among suspected pulmonary infection cases with an occurrence rate of 1.10%. Early detection and proper management of co-infections are recommended.