{"title":"Parasitological And Immunopathological Responses Balb/C Mice With Concomitant Schistosoma Mansoni And Plasmodium Berghei Infections","authors":"M. Kanyugo, H. Ozwara, W. T. Mutahi, D. Yole","doi":"10.5580/1f37","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5580/1f37","url":null,"abstract":"Schistosomiasis and malaria often occur in the same area. This study investigated the effect in BALB/c mice harbouring a schistosomiasis-malaria co-infection. Mice infected with S. mansoni were divided into three groups, which were super-infected at weeks 4, 5, and 6 post-infection with P. berghei. There were uninfected and single-infected controls. Sampling was at day 4 and 7 post-super-infection. The following assays were carried out: parasitaemia, perfusion for worm recovery, IgG ELISA, gross and histopathology. Co-infected mice had: higher malaria parasitemia, higher IgG responses, lower worm counts, smaller granulomas compared to the single-infected mice. This study showed that co-infections with schistosome and malaria parasites aggravated malaria severity, as shown by increased parasitemia and severe gross pathology of liver and spleen in the coinfected mice. In contrast, malaria conferred protection to S. mansoni infection, as demonstrated by reduced worm counts and granuloma sizes and high schistosme-specific IgG levels in the co-infected mice.","PeriodicalId":331725,"journal":{"name":"The Internet Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"49 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114886223","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Deforestation and Malaria in sub-Saharan Africa: an overview","authors":"C. Uneke","doi":"10.5580/2204","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5580/2204","url":null,"abstract":"Malaria remains the most complex and overwhelming health problem in sub-Saharan Africa. The disease is compounded by the generally poor social, environmental and economic conditions in the region. Most sub-Saharan African countries are experiencing unprecedented rate of population growth which has led to uncontrolled and unsustainable exploitation of natural resources, especially the forests resources. Through the process of forest clearing, deforestation alters every element of local ecosystems such as microclimate, soil, and aquatic conditions, and most significantly, the ecology of local flora and fauna, including malaria vectors. Mosquitoes are highly sensitive to environmental changes because of deforestation: their survival, density, and distribution are dramatically influenced by small changes in environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, and the availability of suitable breeding sites. Changes in mosquito ecology and human behaviour patterns in deforested regions influence the transmission of malaria and deforestation has therefore been shown to increase the risk of malaria transmission in sub-Saharan. Because deforestation is a process that cannot be readily controlled for a variety of political and economic reasons, investigations and assessments of possible impacts of future deforestation will be crucial to minimize the ecological degradation caused by human activities and to control epidemics of malaria.","PeriodicalId":331725,"journal":{"name":"The Internet Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"24 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122971654","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
N. Ozumba, A. Onyido, E. Nwosu, C. Ekwunife, E. S. Amadi
{"title":"Field Trial Tests On The Efficacy And Residual Effects Of Bistar® 10wp On Mosquitoes And Other Household Arthropod Pests","authors":"N. Ozumba, A. Onyido, E. Nwosu, C. Ekwunife, E. S. Amadi","doi":"10.5580/9e7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5580/9e7","url":null,"abstract":"A field test on the efficacy and residual effect of Bistar® 10WP on mosquitoes and other household arthropod pests was conducted at Agu-Owa and Ugbo-Oghe communities in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. Eighteen four-bedroom apartments noncontiguous with each other and infested with bedbugs and other homestead arthropod pests were selected for the studies from the two communities. In each area, Bistar® 10WP was sprayed in the inside wall surfaces of 3 four-bedroom apartments, lamba cyhalothrin (ICON), was sprayed in another set of 3 four-bedroom apartments and the last 3 houses were used as controls. Pre-and post insecticide application vector monitoring were carried out in the two areas to determine the homestead vector abundance. Insecticide bioassay was carried out to determine the residuality of Bistar® 10WP. Pre-insecticide application vector studies revealed 532 homestead arthropod pests with cockroaches 293(55.08%) and bedbugs 201(37.78%) constituting the bulk of the collections. Post-spray vector evaluation revealed no homestead arthropod in the sprayed areas except in the controls. Bioassay studies showed that Bistar® 10WP compared well with ICON in its efficacy and residuality. Bistar® 10WP was highly accepted by the people as it was odourless and non-irritating to the body and sense organs. More studies were recommended on its efficacy in controlling aquatic and field pests like Glossina species.","PeriodicalId":331725,"journal":{"name":"The Internet Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"62 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129879724","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bipin Vasava, Rajesh K. Chudasama, Naresh R Godara, R. Srivastava
{"title":"Prevalence of sickle cell disease in tribal adolescents of the South Gujarat region, India","authors":"Bipin Vasava, Rajesh K. Chudasama, Naresh R Godara, R. Srivastava","doi":"10.5580/56f","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5580/56f","url":null,"abstract":"Objectives: to create awareness, to screen samples of school adolescents and then to reach their community through them by doing surveillance for sickle cell diseaseSettings & Design: School adolescents studying in St Xavier`s high school and Vanraj high school of Umarpada taluka of Surat district were included in the field based cross-sectional studyMethod: After taking permission from school authority, pre-test (n=881) and post-test (n=743) evaluation was done to asses their knowledge regarding SCD. Blood samples of 948 school adolescents were taken for DTT test and then for electrophoresis. Blood samples of motivated parents and friends of those adolescents found positive for DTT was taken in subsequent visit and results were communicated to them.Results: Out of 1081 adolescents, various aspects of sickle cell disease were assessed among 881 during pre-test and among 743 during post-test evaluation. Blood samples of 948 school adolescents were tested for DTT test. Prevalence of sickle cell disease was found 25.5%. Electrophoresis was done in 242 adolescents who found positive for DTT test, of which 92% found having sickle cell trait and 8% having sickle cell disease. Then electrophoresis done among 64 parents and friends and 24 (37.5%) found positive of which 14 (58%) having sickle cell trait and 10 (42%) having sickle cell disease.","PeriodicalId":331725,"journal":{"name":"The Internet Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"6 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130921347","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shabir A Dhar, M. F. Butt, Mohammed Ibrahim Makayee
{"title":"‘Waiting Room Syndrome’ Observations from a sub district hospital in Kashmir","authors":"Shabir A Dhar, M. F. Butt, Mohammed Ibrahim Makayee","doi":"10.5580/1bca","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5580/1bca","url":null,"abstract":"The Sub district hospital in the area of Kangan in the state of Jammu and Kashmir treats a lot of orthopaedic morbidity related to the low back pain stemming from stemming from the degenerative spine disorders. This hospital has only one orthopaedic specialist to cater to around a daily outdoor of 100-125 patients. Patients have to wait in a queue for up to 6 hours to get an orthopaedic consultation.","PeriodicalId":331725,"journal":{"name":"The Internet Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"60 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123118066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Urine colour as a rapid assessment indicator in evaluating the prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium infection in two endemic areas of Benue State-Nigeria.","authors":"R. Houmsou, S. Kela, M. Suleiman, J. Ogidi","doi":"10.5580/1ccf","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5580/1ccf","url":null,"abstract":"Schistosomiasis is a formidable public health problem, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where the majority of cases reside. In the context of having interest upon chemotherapy control, rapid, cheap and fast diagnostic tools and assay play an important role in assessing where treatment methods should be concentrated. We examined whether urine colour observation was correlated with intensity of infection in urinary schistosomiasis as measured by the gold-standard parasitological diagnosis. Using this tool and other proven field diagnostic (reagent strips), we examined 750 urine samples collected from school children and communities in two endemic areas of Benue State-Nigeria. Our findings demonstrate that urine colour observation was significantly associated with infection intensity (r = 0.72, p<.01). Given that parasitological examination is laborious, we showed that urine colour observation was significantly correlated with the indirect diagnosis method, Proteinuria (r = 0.75, p<.01) and Haematuria (0.52, p<.01) widely used at the present time. We suggest that urine colour observation may be useful for diagnostic purposes, and for monitoring and evaluating treatment programs over time. Furthermore, we recommend that additional research should be done to further elucidate the relationship between this technique and other diagnostic methods.","PeriodicalId":331725,"journal":{"name":"The Internet Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"16 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128043722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Umbilical Cord Care Practices In Konduga Local Government Area Of Borno State North - Eastern Nigeria","authors":"J. Ambe, M. Bello, S. Yahaya, B. Omotara","doi":"10.5580/2287","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5580/2287","url":null,"abstract":"Good cord care practices reduce the incidence of neonatal morbidity and mortality from neonatal infections and tetanus. While cord care practices vary from place to place, some of can be harmful to the new born. The objective of this study was to identify the practices of cord care in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State, North-Eastern Nigeria. With the help of medical students during their rural posting, a structured questionnaire was administered to 400 mothers with particular reference to their last delivery.The traditional practices of cord care in this area include application of hot fermentation (31.5%), use of rag and lantern (19.5%), use of Vaseline (9.5%), ash / charcoal (9.3%), groundnut / palm, mangrove oil (8.3%) use of powder (6.5%) and red sand (3.5%). These practices are often harmful, because these substances are often contaminated with bacteria and spores, thus increasing the risk of infection. Very few mothers/care givers use saline water (2.0%), use spirit or disinfectant (8.5%) while in a few the cord is left alone to dry on its own (1.5%), which is a more hygienic way of cord care. Mothers need to know about these harmful practices, what they may cause and the problems associated with the use of these substances. The health care provider should be able to educate the mothers about the harmful practices of cord care. This will go a long way in reducing the morbidity and mortality in the newborns.","PeriodicalId":331725,"journal":{"name":"The Internet Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"34 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127416044","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
O. Wellington, Okangba Chika, Ojuromi Teslim, Oladipo Olarinre Oladosu, Fa Adetayo, I. Godswill
{"title":"Cryptosporidium and other Intestinal Protozoans in Children with Diarrhoea in Lagos, Nigeria","authors":"O. Wellington, Okangba Chika, Ojuromi Teslim, Oladipo Olarinre Oladosu, Fa Adetayo, I. Godswill","doi":"10.5580/4c4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5580/4c4","url":null,"abstract":"As reports of protozoan intestinal parasites in a mega city such as Lagos, Nigeria are scanty and not updated, this study reports the prevalence of intestinal parasites, especially Cryptosporidium species in One hundred and five (105) children less than five years that presented with gastroenteritis in a major tertiary hospital. Standard parasitologic techniques for stool examination and special stains showed cysts and oocysts of protozoan parasites. The overall prevalence rate of intestinal parasites was 27.6%. E.histolytica/dispar and Cryptosporidium oocyst were the most prevalent (9.5% and 17.1% respectively). The age with the highest infectivity was the 4 -5 year-old children from whom the following parasites were detected: Cryptosporidium oocysts (27.6%), Giardia lamblia (4.8%) and E. histolytica/dispar (9.5%). The infectivity of protozoan intestinal parasite was significantly higher in the 4 -5 age-groups (P< 0.001). The findings of this study (especially the detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts) underscores the need to broaden the laboratory work-up in children that presents with gastroenteritis to include special staining technique so as to properly manage the condition. No intestinal helminth was detected among these children.","PeriodicalId":331725,"journal":{"name":"The Internet Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"50 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131090116","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Michael G. Lee, H. Emery, D. Whittle, D. Jackson, E. Donaldson
{"title":"Helicobacter pylori Infection in Patients with Functional Dyspepsia in Jamaica","authors":"Michael G. Lee, H. Emery, D. Whittle, D. Jackson, E. Donaldson","doi":"10.5580/3ad","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5580/3ad","url":null,"abstract":"Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common clinical problem associated with substantial health care cost. H. pylori infection may be an etiological factor in some patients. This study determined the prevalence of H. pylori infection in Jamaican patients with FD. Thirty patients with FD seen between 2005–2007 were studied. All patients had dyspepsia and normal endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 33%. The mean age was 47 years. 70% were female and resided mainly in urban areas. The most frequent presenting symptom was epigastric pain. All patients had access to piped water and refrigeration. Forty percent of infected patients had a history of alcohol consumption compared to 15% in non-infected patients. In H. pylori positive patients, 20% were cigarette smokers, compared to 5% in negative patients.","PeriodicalId":331725,"journal":{"name":"The Internet Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"70 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123036574","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Potential Human Pathogens (Bacteria) and their Antibiogram in Ready–to–eat Salads sold in Calabar, South-South, Nigeria","authors":"S. Udo, I. Andy, A. Umo, M. Ekpo","doi":"10.5580/763","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5580/763","url":null,"abstract":"A total of 150 readyto-eat salad samples were collected from various sources in Calabar and analyzed bacteriologically using standard cultural methods. The samples included 50 from fast food centers, 50 from wedding reception parties and 50 from birthday reception parties all within Calabar metropolis between October 2006 and January 2007. All the bacterial isolates were characterized using the API system and subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility test using the Agar diffusion method. The probable human pathogens isolated were Staphylococcus aureus 35 (41.18%), Escherichia coli 21(24.71%), Klebsiella aerogenes 11(12.94%), Salmonella Enterica var Typhimurium 3(3.53%)., and Bacillus species15(17.65%). Rates of contamination in relation to the various sources were: samples from fast food centers 40.0%, birthday party samples 52.0% and 78.0% for samples from wedding reception parties. Antimicrobial susceptibilities ranged from 63.64% to 84.85%. These findings show that ready to eat salads are commonly contaminated with potential human pathogens that carry multiple atntimicrobial resistant genes. High standards of personal hygiene, pre-processing disinfection and proper storage temperatures should always be observed during preparation and distribution of fresh vegetable and fruit salads.","PeriodicalId":331725,"journal":{"name":"The Internet Journal of Tropical Medicine","volume":"34 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128852596","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}