African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases

Full Length Research Paper

A study of the attitude of people in Nigerian urban areas towards the prevention, treatment and management of malaria

Oyewole, Isaac O.¹ and Ibidapo, Adejoke C.^2*

¹Department of Basic and Applied Sciences, Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo, Nigeria.

²Department of Zoology, Lagos State University, P.M.B. 1087, Apapa, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 11 October, 2016

Abstract

This study investigates the basic factors responsible for human-mosquito interaction, attitudinal consequences of malaria treatment pattern and management strategies in an urban center. Questionnaires were issued to the volunteers whose age range between 15 and 40 years which constitute 44.5% males and 55.5% females. These include questions about knowledge of mosquito, prevention practices, treatment methods and illness management strategies. Focus group discussion was also used to interview the participants. Preventive measures adopted against mosquito bite include sleeping under net (treated and untreated) 17 (4.2%), door and window screening 37 (9.2%), cover cloth 55 (13.8%), mosquito repellant/insecticides spray 39 (9.8%), environmental hygiene 26 (6.5%), herbal decoction 26 (6.5%), and chemoprophylaxis 45 (11.3%). There was a significant difference between those that prevent malaria with chemoprophylaxis and other methods. Self treatment (medication) accounted for 267 (66.8%) as against hospital treatment 93 (23.3%). Most of the patients 55 (13.8%) demanded for injections as against 42 (10.5%) those who showed preference for oral medication. The hospitalized patients accounted for 40 (10.0%) while outpatients were 93 (23.3%). Late diagnosis, wrong medications, incomplete doses, lack of knowledge about malaria episode and anopheles mosquitoes as malaria vector are some of the factors militating against prevention and proper management of the illness.

Keywords: Attitudes, malaria, prevention, treatment, management, urban.

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 4123-0981 Vol. 5 (9), pp. 358-362, September, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of the effect of parasitemia on in vitro susceptibility of plasmodium falciparum isolates

Bla Kouakou Brice¹, Yavo William², Ouattara Lacinan¹, Basco Leonardo³ and Djaman Allico Joseph^{1, 4}*

¹Laboratoire de Pharmacodynamie-biochimique, Université de Cocody, 22 BP 582 Abidjan 22, Côte d’Ivoire.

²Laboratoire de microbiologie de l’Institut National de Santé Publique (INSP), BP V47 Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

³Unité de Recherche Paludologie Afro-tropicale, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD) – Organisation de Coordination pour la lutte Contre les Endémies en Afrique Centrale (OCEAC), BP 288 Yaoundé, Cameroun.

⁴Département de Biochimie, Institut Pasteur de Côte d’Ivoire, 01 BP 490 Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

 *Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. Tél : +225 22 48 10 00 poste 6807.

Accepted 15 May, 2017

Abstract

The in vitro activities of artemisinin, dihydroartemisinin (the biologically active metabolite of artemisinin derivatives), chloroquine and pyronaridine were assessed in 32 isolates of Plasmodium falciparum from Abobo in the northern of Abidjan district (Côte d’Ivoire) using a test based on the standard microtechnique recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The parasites densities were ranged between 8,000 and 540,000 rings/µl of blood. The geometric means 50% inhibitory concentration (GMIC₅₀) values for chloroquine, pyronaridine and artemisinin were 145.5 nM (95% confidence interval (CI) =65-226 nM), 17.69 nM (95% CI=9.1-26.3 nM) and 5.72 nM (95% CI=2.3-9.1 nM), respectively. Dihydroartemisinin was the most potent drug against chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquine-resistant isolates with a geometric mean of 2.72 nM. There was no correlation between the parasite densities and the responses to chloroquine (r²=0.01, p<0.5), pyronaridine (r²=0.13, p<0.05), artemisinin (r²=0.13, p<0.05) and dihydroartemisinin (r²=0.07, p<0.1).

Key words: Artemisinin, chloroquine, dihydroartemisinin, in vitro test, parasite biomass, pyronaridine.

Review

A study of malaria resistance and the urgent need to discover new antimalarials

S. Ravichandran¹*, K. Kathiresan¹ and Hemalatha Balaram²

¹Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology (Annamalai University),Parangipettai – 608 502, India.

²Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bangalore- 560 064, India.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected], Tel: + 914144 243223, 243533. Fax: + 91 4144 243555.

Accepted 22 March, 2015

Abstract

Malaria, which is caused by multiplication of the protozoan parasite Plasmodium falciparum in erythrocytes, is a major health problem in many southern countries. There is an urgent need to discover new antimalarials, due to the spread of chloroquinine resistance and the limited number of available drugs. Among marine invertebrates, Porifera (sponges) are potential source of novel bioactive compounds to provide future drugs against malaria, cancer and a range of viral diseases. A number of sponge-derived antimalarials have been discovered during the last decade. The compounds are mostly nitrogen containing ones (proteins, pyridines, tyrosine-based metabolites, alkaloids, indoles and amides) and also non-nitrogenous compounds (terpenes, polyketides and polysaccharides).

Keywords: Malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, porifera, marine sponges, bioactive compounds, antimalarial compounds.

¹Department of Food Technology, University of Ibadan. Ibadan. Nigeria.

²Nigeria Stored Product Research Institute, Ibadan. Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 22 July, 2015

Abstract

Kunu-zaki, a non-alcoholic beverage, was produced using modified traditional method incorporating Daniellin^TM. Treated samples kept for 5 days at ambient condition (26⁺-2 C) while untreated samples kept for only 1 day. Protein contents and calorific values of kunu-zaki treated with Daniellin^TM (0.5 to 5.0%, w/v) were between 5.76 to 5.93% and 1606.47 to 1626.8 KJ/100g while values for untreated samples were 5.72% and 1547 KJ/100g respectively. Ochratoxin A (OTA) in raw materials used for kunu-zaki production was reduced from 50 mg/kg to <1.5 mg/kg with the incorporation of Daniellin^TM at 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5%.

Key words: Ochratoxin A, kunu-zaki beverage, Daniellin^TM, food safety.

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 4123-0981 Vol. 5 (11), pp. 368-370, November, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Short Communication

A study of plasmodium species in blood donors and their demographic parameters to malaria susceptibility 

T.T. Epidi^1*, C.D. Nwani² and N.P. Ugorji²

¹Department of Crop Production Technology, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

²Department of Applied Biology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 04 August, 2017

Abstract

In view of the problem of transfusional malaria, the prevalence of Plasmodium in transfused blood was assessed. Blood film examination for malaria parasites in donor blood transfused to patients in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State of Nigeria was carried out over a 5-month period. Blood group O was the dominant blood type (74%). A high malaria parasite prevalence rate of 51.5% was noted in transfused donor blood. All blood groups and Rhesus factor types were infected with malaria parasites and there was no significant increase in malaria infection rate in any particular blood group type. Method of blood procurement was observed as a major risk factor of transmission, with commercial blood donor having the highest proportion of parasitic contamination.

Keyword: Donor blood, plasmodium, prevalence, transfusional malaria.