ISSN 2756-3391
Research Article
African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2756-3391 Vol. 11 (5), pp. 001-005, May, 2023. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Patients in a Nigerian tertiary hospital with and without hepatitis B surface antigenemia diagnosed with hepatocellular cancer
B. B. Ajayi1, H. A. Nggada2 and A. E. Moses3*
1Department of Immunology, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital P. M. B.1414 Maiduguri, Nigeria.
2Department of Histopathology, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital P. M. B.1414 Maiduguri, Nigeria.
3Department of Immunology, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital P. M. B.1414 Maiduguri, Nigeria.
Accepted 28 November, 2022
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been reported as one of the aetiological factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCCA). This study reports the prevalence of HCCA in patients with and without HBV in Northeast Nigeria over a period of five years. A total of 114 patients consecutively diagnosed with HCCA and tested for Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg) at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), between January 1996 and December 2000, were studied. There were 81 males and 33 females, ranging in age between 9 months and above 60 years. Of the 114 patients with HCCA, 86.8% were positive for HBsAg of which males accounted for a higher prevalence of 63.1%, while females accounted for 23.7% (2.7:1). HCCA patients from the fouth decade of life and above were observed with a higher prevalence of HBV infection. Among the HBsAg-negative patients with HCCA, no significant gender difference was observed (p > 0.05). However, 13.2% of patients with HCCA were negative for HBsAg. Viral and non-viral aetiologic factors may play a role in developing HCCA in Maiduguri.
Key words: Hepatocellular carcinoma, Hepatitis B virus.
H. A. Nggada and A. E. Moses*, B. B. Ajayi
Page: 1 - 5
Research Article
African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2756-3391 Vol. 11 (5), pp. 001-004, May, 2l023. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Trichosporon cutaneum resistance to hazardous substances as measured by dielectric
Filadia P. Tileva1, Lyubov K. Yotova1 and Gerard H. Markx2*
1Department of Biotechnology, University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, BU-1756 Sofia, Bulgaria.
2School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, UK.
Accepted 28 November, 2022
Abstract
Conditioning of cultures involves growing cells in the presence of increasing amounts of a toxic chemical. In order to investigate how conditioning affects a culture’s ability to resist new challenges, the resistance of Trichosporon cutaneum to various toxic chemicals, before and after conditioning to growth on phenol, was investigated by measuring the capacitance of cell suspensions at 0.4 MHz following a toxic challenge. The results show that cells grown on phenol are more resistant to the influence of polar aromatic toxic chemicals such as phenol (log Pow = 1.48) and benzylalcohol (log Pow = 1.1), but less resistant against less polar non-aromatic compounds such as n-octanol (log Pow = 2.9). In reverse, cells grown on glucose were found to be more resistant against n-octanol, but less so against phenol and benzylalcohol. The results indicate that cells, adapted to be more resistant to one type of substance, may become more susceptible to other compounds.
Key words: conditioning, adaptation, membrane, Trichosporon cutaneum, capacitance.
Filadia P. Tileva, Lyubov K. Yotova and Gerard H. Markx*
Page: 1 - 4
Research Article
African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2756-3391 Vol. 11 (4), pp. 001-004, April, 2l023. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Schistosoma haematobium infection-related immunoglobulin profiles in some Nigerians
O. P. G. Nmorsi1*, N. C. D. Ukwandu2, C. Isaac1, A. O. Egwunyenga3 and N. H. Olague1
1Tropical Diseases Research Unit, Department of Zoology, Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.
2Department of Medical Microbiology, Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.
3Department of Zoology, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.
Accepted 13 December, 2022
Abstract
The preliminary investigation revealed the prevalence of 138(46.9%) out of 294 volunteers screened for the ova of Schistosoma haematobium in their urine samples. Of these, 84(28.6%) had light infection (50 ova/10 ml urine), while 54(18.4%) had heavy infection (> 50 ova/10 ml urine). This difference was statistically significant at ( 2 = 6.52, p > 0.05) . The mean immunoglobulin status were as follow: IgE (2141.6 ± 143.7 ng/dL), IgG (13.6 ± 3.53 mg/dL), IgA (3.72 ± 0.149 mg/dL), IgM (2.82 ± 0.48 mg/dL) and IgD (0.12 ± 0.04 mg/dL) . The relationship between the IgM, IgE and the intensities of infection were positively correlated (r = 0.27 and r = 0.65, respectively) . IgG, IgA and IgD showed negative correlation with the intensities of infection (r = -0.65, r = -0.39 and r = - 0.18, respectively). IgG and IgA can be used as markers of light infection, while IgM and IgE can be used as markers for heavy infection. We deduced that the levels of IgG, IgA and IgM, which were depleted in the infected volunteers, compared to the control subjects, which lacked significant protective effects in these infected volunteers. These low levels of IgA, IgG and IgM and high level of IgE may be involved in maintenance of S. haematobium infection in our study area.
Key words: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, IgM, Schistosoma haematobium, Nigerians.
O. P. G. Nmorsi*, A. O. Egwunyenga and N. H. Olague, N. C. D. Ukwandu, C. Isaac
Page: 1 - 4
Review
African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2756-3391 Vol. 11 (4), pp. 001-009, April, 2l023. © International Scholars Journals
Review
Similarities and variances in the antigenic diversity of pathogenic microorganisms
Dietmar Steverding
BioMedical Research Centre, School of Medicine, Health Policy and Practice, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK. E-mail: [email protected].
Accepted 13 December, 2022
Abstract
Antigenic variation is a process by which pathogenic micro-organisms escape the immune response of their mammalian hosts. By convergent evolution, protozoal, fungal and bacterial pathogens have developed similar genetic mechanisms for true antigenic variation. In this review article, the biology, the surface antigens and their encoding genes, and the molecular mechanisms of antigenic variation of the protozoa Trypanosoma brucei, Plasmodium falciparum, Babesia bovis, Giardia lamblia, the fungus Pneumocystis carinii, and the bacteria Borrelia hermsii, Anaplasma marginale, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma bovis and Campylobacter fetus are compared.
Key words: Antigenic variation, pathogens, micro-organisms, molecular mechanisms, immune evasion.
Dietmar Steverding
Page: 1 - 9
Research Article
African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN: 2756-3391 Vol. 11 (3), pp. 001-011, March, 2023. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Artemether-Lumefantrine and Artesunate-Amodiaquine in routine use for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Senegal: Open randomized efficacy trial
Khadime Sylla*, Cheikh Binetou Fall, Souleye Lelo, Isaac Akhenaton Manga, Doudou Sow, Magatte Ndiaye, Kuaku Folly, Roger C.K Tine and Babacar Faye
Department of Parasitology-Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontology, University Cheikh Anta DIOP of Dakar (UCAD).
Received 30 November, 2022; Accepted 20 March, 2023
Abstract
Background: Prompt treatment of malaria attacks with artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) is an essential tool for malaria control. Several ACTs are currently being used in Senegal. A surveillance system aimed at monitoring antimalarial drug efficacy is established. This study was conducted to assess the efficacy of Artemether-Lumefantrine (AL) and Artesunate-Amodiaquine (ASAQ) under routine conditions. Methods: An open randomized trial was carried out during three malaria transmission seasons (2014 to 2016) in five malaria sentinel sites. The 2009 WHO protocol for antimalarial drug efficacy was used. The study end points included (i) PCR corrected adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR) at day 28, (ii) parasites and fever clearance time. Intention to treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analysis were done. Results: Overall, 1118 patients with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria were randomized to receive either AL (n=553) or ASAQ (n=565). In ITT analysis, PCR corrected ACPR at day 28 was at 96.1% [95%CI (88 – 99.9)] in the AL arm and 95.6% [95% CI (87.7 - 99.9)] in the ASAQ arm (p=0.7). PP analysis at day 28 showed 99.4% efficacy for both groups. Parasite clearance time and fever clearance time remained constant over the three transmission seasons and were obtained at 72 hours in both arms of the trial. Conclusion: Under operational conditions in Senegal, AL and ASAQ are still highly effective for the treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria. However, it’s crucial to continue monitoring the efficacy of the drugs to further guide malaria treatment policy.
Keywords: Artemether–Lumefantrine, Artesunate–Amodiaquine, Efficacy, Plasmodium falciparum, Malaria, Senegal.
Khadime Sylla*, Isaac Akhenaton Manga, Kuaku Folly, Magatte Ndiaye, Souleye Lelo, Doudou Sow, Roger C.K Tine and Babacar Faye, Cheikh Binetou Fall
Page: 1 - 11
Research Article
African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2756-3391 Vol. 11 (2), pp. 001-003, February, 2023. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
A study of upshot of blood group with handedness
Muhammad Imran Qadir and Sidra Zafar*
Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
Accepted 30 December, 2022
Abstract
Blood is the main element of our body. There are a lot of researches which have been done on the blood. In the ABO blood group system there are four types of blood groups A,B,AB,O. Karl Landsteiner found out the blood group system. The handedness is the natural phenomena occurring in the homo sapiens only. It is defined as the ability of the person to do most of the tasks like writing, waving, playing games, eating either with the left or the right hand. To check the type of blood group the blood samples were taken from the different subjects. The process of checking the blood group involved taking the blood sample by pricking the needle in the finger tip of the subject. The real goal of the research was to harmonize the blood group with the marvel of handedness. The subjects were students of the University named in Bahuddin Zakirya University Multan, Pakistan. The researches based on this topic have been done in the Nigeria. It was concluded from the present study that O+ female has the maximum right handedness.
Keywords: Blood type, Handedness, Project analysis
Sidra Zafar*, Muhammad Imran Qadir
Page: 1 - 3