African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 4123-0981 Vol. 3 (8), pp. 200-203, August, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

An assessment of immune complexes (CIC) in order to identify the burden of exposure to certain infectious agents

*¹Beluchi F. Emeka, ²Ifeatu M. Onyemauchechi, Halim C. David¹

¹Department of Immunology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria.

²Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria.

Accepted 17 July, 2015

Abstract

The present study used dissociated circulating immune complexes (CIC) to identity the burden of exposure to certain infectious agents. The participants were divided into HIV seropositive group (n=100) and HIV seronegative group (n=100). Polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 and phosphate buffer techniques were used for precipitation and dissociation of CIC in sera. The dissociated CIC were tested for Salmonella typhi antibody, Plasmodium falciparum histidine rich protein (Pf-hrp)- 2 antigen and HCV antibody using commercially available kits. Result showed that Salmonella typhi antibody was detected in 76 (76%) of the HIV seropositive participants; Plasmodium falciparum histidine rich protein-2 (Pf-hrp-2) antigen was detected in 48 (48%) of HIV seropositive participants while Hepatitis C viral antibodies was detected in 20 (20%) of the HIV seropositive participants. Similarly, Salmonella typhi antibody was detected in 24(24%) of the HIV seronegative participants, Pf- hrp-2 antigen was detected in 47(47%) of the participants while Hepatitis C viral antibody was detected in 5(5%) of the HIV seronegative participants. There were significant differences between the number of HIV seropositive and seronegative participants with positive Salmonella typhi (P<0.05) and HCV antibody (P<0.05). The rates of homogeniuty and heterogeniuty of CIC in HIV seropositive participants was; 26 (34%) and 50 (66%) for Salmonella typhi antibody, 3 (6%) and 45 (94%) for Pf-hrp- 2 antigen and 0 (0%) and 20 (100%) for HCV antibody, respectively. While the rates of homogeniuty and heterogeniuty of CIC in HIV seronegative participants was 1 (4.2%) and 23 (95.8%) for Salmonella typhi antibody; 25 (53%) and 22 (47%) for Pf-hrp-2 antigen and 3 (60%) and 2 (40%) for HCV antibody respectively in all cases. The finding of the present study suggest that HIV infection may enhance susceptibilty to both salmonella typhi and HCV infection but not Plasmodium falciparum. The study thus revealed that Salmonella and HCV infections may constitute the major secondary infection in HIV infected patients and could be a cause for concern as HIV progressed to AIDS.

Key words: Antigen, antibody, complexes, HIV, malaria HCV and participants.

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 4123-0981 Vol. 2 (7), pp. 063-065, July, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research paper

A comparative study of the effects of malaria on serum micronutrients and antioxidants in pregnant women in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

*¹Micheal F. Akungba, Ganiya U. Bola¹ and Paul A. Adekunle²

¹Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Federal University Oye Ekiti, Nigeria.

²Department of Biochemistry, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Nigeria.

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

Accepted 13 June, 2014

Abstract

The comparative effects of malaria on serum micronutrients and antioxidants were studied in two hundred and ninety five (295) pregnant women aged 20–43 years. The malaria cases were 195 while 100 served as controls. Serum levels of copper, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, vitamin A, folic acid, cobalamine and antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, carotenes, glutathione and superoxide dismutase were measured. Results indicate that malaria was associated with lower levels of both micronutrients and antioxidants in pregnant women. It may be concluded that malaria has a severe damageable effect on the micronutrients and antioxidants of pregnant Nigerian women with malaria.

Key words:  Micronutrients, antioxidants, pregnant, superoxide dismutase, malaria.

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 4123-0981 Vol. 2 (8), pp. 066-073, August, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of the use of targeted indoor residual spraying (IRS) as a single malaria intervention in the western highlands, Kenya

*¹Jomo T. William, Moi Musyoka¹, Mwai I. Uhuru² and Josephat E. Musalia²

¹Egerton University of Science and Technology, Department of Biological Sciences, Njoro, Kenya.

²Daystar University, Department of Biological Sciences, Nairobi, Kenya.

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

Accepted 17 July, 2014

Abstract

The study investigated the use of targeted indoor residual spraying (IRS) as a single malaria intervention in the western highlands, Kenya. Houses were randomly selected in study sites and IRS targeted 30% of houses at focal sites ‘hotspots’ at valley bottoms. Indoor resting densities of adult Anopheles gambiae s.s were monitored biweekly by pyrethrum spray capture in sprayed and control houses. Microscopic examination of blood smears were used to confirm malaria infection and records on malaria cases from health centers were analyzed and used to determine changes in malaria prevalence. The indoor A. gambiae s.s declined after IRS. Low vector densities were also recorded in the control houses with no malaria cases. Malaria cases reported at health centers dramatically declined after the targeted IRS. Low coverage targeted IRS was effective as a single intervention strategy as it led to decline in annual disease prevalence from 12 to 1% in the study sites. The effectiveness of targeted IRS appeared to be dependent on anthropophily of the local vector, its susceptibility to the insecticide and seasonal nature of malaria transmission.

Key words: Malaria prevalence, IRS, malaria vector.

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 4123-0981 Vol. 2 (9), pp. 074-077, September, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

An evaluation of the risk of acquiring malaria from a single unit of blood in North of Pakistan

Khan W. Bhutto¹, Talat O. Zaheer²*, Miah A. Wasim¹, Malala F. Malik¹ and Faisal P. Dani¹

¹Department of Zoology, University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.

²Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, King Edward Medical College (KEMU), Punjab, Pakistan.

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

Accepted 18 August, 2014

Abstract

Malaria is one of the most important transfusion associated infections in many parts of the world, particularly the developing countries where it is endemic. This study estimates the risk of acquiring malaria from a single unit of blood in North of Pakistan. A prospective study was conducted to investigate transfusion transmitted malaria in three major blood banks of Peshawar, Pakistan. A total of 1558 (1534 males and 24 females) healthy volunteer blood donors were screened for the presence of malarial parasites in thick and thin smears using microscopy. Nine donors (0.577%) were found positive for malarial parasite, with trophozoites and gametocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum (1) and Plasmodium vivax (8). Majority of the donors (82.09%) belonged to age group 15 - 30 years. Donors who suffered from malaria in recent years were 28 in number and 3 of them were found positive for malaria in the present study. The results of the present study indicated that transfusion transmitted malaria is a risk in malaria endemic regions like Pakistan. Further research on this aspect using more sophisticated and advanced diagnostic techniques like enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are required for proper assessment of actual situation and control of transfusion transmitted malaria in Pakistan.

Key words: Transfusion, malaria, blood-borne infections, screening, microscopy, blood banks.

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 4123-0981 Vol. 2 (10), pp. 082-085, October, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of the prevalence and distribution of malaria in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria

*¹Abdullahi R. Yemi, Amadu O. Mooroe² and Yakubu D. Nata’ala¹

¹Department of Biological Sciences, ²Department of Biochemistry, ³Department of Parasitology, School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Nigeria.

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

Accepted 24 September, 2014

Abstract

Malaria remains a major cause of mortality among children under the age of five years; it is endemic throughout Nigeria with seasonal variation in different geographic zones of the country. Malaria prevalence studies had been undertaken in many parts of Nigeria but there is probably no data available from the far North Western region. This research study was undertaken to determine the prevalence, monthly distribution of malaria in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria in order to generate base-line information. A total of 1,297 blood samples were collected by simple random sampling, from patients attending the two health centres over the twelve calendar months. Thick and thin blood films were Giemsa stained and observed for the presence of malaria parasites. A total of 354 (27.29%) were positive for malaria parasites with the highest prevalence rate being recorded in the month of August with 72 (59.5%) positive cases and the month of March having the least infection rate of 9 (9.18%). The infection rate according to gender showed that males had the higher infection rate of 192 (n = 635) or 30.24% than the females who had a total 162 infection (n = 662) or 24.47%. The age group 0 - 5 years had the highest infection rate of 123 (43.77%) while the age group 36 - 40 years had the least infection rate of 10 (9.8%). The study has revealed the presence of malaria transmission throughout the year in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria and the infection rate can be considered as moderately high.

Key words: Malaria, prevalence, Plasmodium falciparum.

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 4123-0981 Vol. 2 (2), pp. 037-041, February, 2014. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper 

An evaluation of human lymphatic filariasis and associated parasitoses in Oguta, South-Eastern, Nigeria

*Odili A. Dora, Sullivan F. Kingsley and Akunyili C. Peter

Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria.

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

Accepted 26 January, 2014

Abstract

Possible organ infections associated with human filariasis, helminthiasis and malaria in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State, South-Eastern Nigeria were investigated. Blood, urine and stool samples were collected in appropriate containers from 200 male and female respondents aged 31 – 85 years. Parasitological studies were carried out on blood samples for malaria and/or microfilariae parasites while stool samples were tested for the presence of some intestinal parasites. The study showed a prevalence of intestinal protozoa (Entamoeba histolytica), Wuchereria bancrofti, the intestinal helminthes Ascaris lumbricoides and Hookworms. Biochemical parameters of liver integrity were also studied across the various infection cohorts among the respondents. Results obtained show that these parasitic infections depressed the hematological parameters relative to ‘normal’ respondents. Comparative biochemical analyses showed significant (p < 0.05) differences in some liver function parameters obtained for infected respondents relative to those not infected. There was also a positive correlation between age brackets with highest filarial infection (with no malarial co infection) and age groups with elevated markers of liver dysfunction. This study can be of immense diagnostic value in the clinical management of the filariases especially in malaria-endemic and resource-poor areas.

Key words: Filariasis, co-parasitoses, Nigeria, prevalence patterns, liver dysfunction.