African Journal of Parasitology Research

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2756-3391 Vol. 12 (7), pp. 001-004, July, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessment of Antioxidant Levels in Nigerian Children Affected by Plasmodium falciparum Malaria

Nmorsi O.P.G.¹*, Ukwandu N.C.D.² and Egwunyenga A.O.³

¹Tropical Disease Research Unit, Department of Zoology, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.
²Department of Medical Microbiology, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.
³Department of Zoology, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.

Accepted 17 May, 2024

Abstract

We evaluated the antioxidant status of 148 Nigerian children with Plasmodium falciparum malaria. The mean malarial parasitaemia was 4701.05 ± 2160.53/µL. The mean antioxidant concentrations of the infected children were determined for vitamin A (12.16 ± 1 - 16 µg/dL), vitamin C (0.43 ± 0.03 mg/dL), 5 carotenes (40.96 ± 5.38 µg/dL), and vitamin E (0.45 ± 0.03 mg/dL) . The control subjects had higher mean concentrations of vitamin A (72.12 ± 3.12 µg/dL), and of the 5 carotenes (132.63 ± 22.45 µg/dL), and these differences were statistically significant (X2 = 42.86, P > 0.05 and X2 = 50.64, P > 0.05, respectively). The mean concentrations of vitamin C (1.22 ± 0.31 mg/dL) and vitamin E (1.03 ± 0.48 mg/dL) in the control children were not statistically significant when compared with their infected children (X2 = 0.34, P < 0.05) and (X2 = 0.66, P < 0.05), respectively. The relationship between malarial parasitaemia and the concentrations of vitamin E and the 5 carotenes were positively correlated (r = 0.83 and r = 0.99, respectively) . The levels of plasma vitamin A and vitamin C were negatively correlated with the malarial parasitaemia (r = -0.98, and r = -0.96, respectively). Children within their first 5 years of age had higher malarial parasitaemia (7628.42 ± 3151.42/µL) than those > 6 years (1176.58 ± 956/µL). The children between 1 - 5 years old had lower concentrations of vitamin A (8.89 ± 3.74 µg/dL) and vitamin C (0.28 ± 0.21 µg/dL), while the concentration of the 5 carotenes (44.54 µg/dL) and of vitamin E (0.50 ± 0.16 µg/dL) was higher in these children. In conclusion, the depressed levels of plasma antioxidants in the P. falciparum-infected children suggested lowered immunity of the children, which may contribute to the morbidity and mortality of malaria in our locality.

Key words: Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, antioxidants, Children, Plasmodium falciparum, Nigeria.
 

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2756-3391 Vol. 12 (6), pp. 001-006, June, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Review

Reassessing Human Bocavirus: An Established Pathogen of the Respiratory Tract

Zhenqiang Bi*, Pierre B. H. Formenty and Cathy E. Roth.

Biorisk Reduction for Dangerous Pathogens, Department of Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

Accepted 26 April, 2024

Abstract

A new virus was discovered by molecular techniques in respiratory samples collected from young children with respiratory diseases in Sweden in 2005. The virus, named human bocavirus, is genetically related to the bovine parvovirus and the canine minute virus, both of which belong to the bocavirus genus of the parvoviridae family. Recent studies conducted in different countries have shown that HBoV is found in 1.5 - 19% of children with respiratory diseases. HBoV has been observed to be associated with a broad spectrum of both upper and lower respiratory tract diseases, more frequently related to lower respiratory diseases, one third of which is pneumonia. HBoV infection is of worldwide distribution, and a seasonal distribution with a peak in winter and spring is suspected. There is increasing evidence that HBoV is pathogenic for the human respiratory tract, especially in infants and young children, and HBoV has been detected from patients with gastroenteritis. However, given the frequent co-infection with bacterial or viral pathogens, the exact role played by this virus in human diseases still remains disputable. Further investigations, including population- based studies with controlled subjects, are needed to prove its pathogenic potential and epidemiologic patterns.

Key words: Respiratory virus, human bocavirus, parvovirus; HBoV; respiratory infection, children.
 

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2756-3391 Vol. 12 (6), pp. 001-004, June, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessment of the Prevalence and Antibiotic Resistance Profiles of Staphylococcus aureus from Clinical Isolates Cultured at 37°C and 44°C in Irrua, Nigeria

Obiazi H. A. K.¹, Nmorsi, O. P. G.², Ekundayo A.O.³ and Ukwandu N.C.D.⁴

¹Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.
²Tropical Diseases Research Unit, Department of Zoology, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.
³Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.
⁴Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.

Accepted 8 April, 2024

Abstract

A survey of the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Staphylococcus aureus strains from clinical and skin isolates grown at 37 and 44oC respectively were carried out in Irrua Nigeria. Of the 240 different specimens, 50(20.8%) S. aureus isolates were reported. The highest carrier rate of S. aureus (48%) occurred in wound swab while the least (8.0%) was reported on the healthy skin of the volunteers. The susceptibility of the clinical isolates (10.4%) was lower than the isolates from the skin (36.7%) of the volunteers. This difference is statistically not significant (t = 2.087, P <0.075). The isolates were sus-ceptible to gentamycin (50.0%) erythromycin (40.0%) and streptomycin (30.0%) . The S. aureus isolated was resistant to cloxacillin, penicillin, ampicillin and tetracycline. In our studied area S. aureus could be effectively treated by gentamycin, erythromycin and streptomycin. The implication of resistance of the isolates to penicillin, ampicillin and the common antibiotics such as ampicillin are also highlighted.

Key words: Prevalence, Antibiotic susceptibility, Staphylococcus aureus, Clinical isolates, skin isolates, Nigeria.

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2756-3391 Vol. 12 (5), pp. 001-004, May, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Antioxidant profile evaluation in nigerian pediatric patients with Plasmodium falciparum malaria

Nmorsi O.P.G.¹*, Ukwandu N.C.D.² and Egwunyenga A.O.³

¹Tropical Disease Research Unit, Department of Zoology, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.
²Department of Medical Microbiology, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.
³Department of Zoology, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.

Accepted 17 September, 2023

Abstract

We evaluated the antioxidant status of 148 Nigerian children with Plasmodium falciparum malaria. The mean malarial parasitaemia was 4701.05 ± 2160.53/µL. The mean antioxidant concentrations of the infected children were determined for vitamin A (12.16 ± 1 - 16 µg/dL), vitamin C (0.43 ± 0.03 mg/dL), 5 carotenes (40.96 ± 5.38 µg/dL), and vitamin E (0.45 ± 0.03 mg/dL) . The control subjects had higher mean concentrations of vitamin A (72.12 ± 3.12 µg/dL), and of the 5 carotenes (132.63 ± 22.45 µg/dL), and these differences were statistically significant (X2 = 42.86, P > 0.05 and X2 = 50.64, P > 0.05, respectively). The mean concentrations of vitamin C (1.22 ± 0.31 mg/dL) and vitamin E (1.03 ± 0.48 mg/dL) in the control children were not statistically significant when compared with their infected children (X2 = 0.34, P < 0.05) and (X2 = 0.66, P < 0.05), respectively. The relationship between malarial parasitaemia and the concentrations of vitamin E and the 5 carotenes were positively correlated (r = 0.83 and r = 0.99, respectively) . The levels of plasma vitamin A and vitamin C were negatively correlated with the malarial parasitaemia (r = -0.98, and r = -0.96, respectively). Children within their first 5 years of age had higher malarial parasitaemia (7628.42 ± 3151.42/µL) than those > 6 years (1176.58 ± 956/µL). The children between 1 - 5 years old had lower concentrations of vitamin A (8.89 ± 3.74 µg/dL) and vitamin C (0.28 ± 0.21 µg/dL), while the concentration of the 5 carotenes (44.54 µg/dL) and of vitamin E (0.50 ± 0.16 µg/dL) was higher in these children. In conclusion, the depressed levels of plasma antioxidants in the P. falciparum-infected children suggested lowered immunity of the children, which may contribute to the morbidity and mortality of malaria in our locality.

Key words: Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, antioxidants, Children, Plasmodium falciparum, Nigeria.

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2756-3391 Vol. 12 (4), pp. 001-006, April, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Review

Human Bocavirus: Understanding its role as a respiratory pathogen 

Zhenqiang Bi*, Pierre B. H. Formenty and Cathy E. Roth.

Biorisk Reduction for Dangerous Pathogens, Department of Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

Accepted 26 September, 2023

Abstract

A new virus was discovered by molecular techniques in respiratory samples collected from young children with respiratory diseases in Sweden in 2005. The virus, named human bocavirus, is genetically related to the bovine parvovirus and the canine minute virus, both of which belong to the bocavirus genus of the parvoviridae family. Recent studies conducted in different countries have shown that HBoV is found in 1.5 - 19% of children with respiratory diseases. HBoV has been observed to be associated with a broad spectrum of both upper and lower respiratory tract diseases, more frequently related to lower respiratory diseases, one third of which is pneumonia. HBoV infection is of worldwide distribution, and a seasonal distribution with a peak in winter and spring is suspected. There is increasing evidence that HBoV is pathogenic for the human respiratory tract, especially in infants and young children, and HBoV has been detected from patients with gastroenteritis. However, given the frequent co-infection with bacterial or viral pathogens, the exact role played by this virus in human diseases still remains disputable. Further investigations, including population- based studies with controlled subjects, are needed to prove its pathogenic potential and epidemiologic patterns.

Key words: Respiratory virus, human bocavirus, parvovirus; HBoV; respiratory infection, children.
 

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2756-3391 Vol. 12 (3), pp. 001-004, March, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Comparative analysis of staphylococcus aureus prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility at different incubation temperatures in Irrua, Nigeria

Obiazi H. A. K.¹, Nmorsi, O. P. G.², Ekundayo A.O.³ and Ukwandu N.C.D.⁴

¹Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.
²Tropical Diseases Research Unit, Department of Zoology, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.
³Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.
⁴Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.

Accepted 8 October, 2023

Abstract

A survey of the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Staphylococcus aureus strains from clinical and skin isolates grown at 37 and 44oC respectively were carried out in Irrua Nigeria. Of the 240 different specimens, 50(20.8%) S. aureus isolates were reported. The highest carrier rate of S. aureus (48%) occurred in wound swab while the least (8.0%) was reported on the healthy skin of the volunteers. The susceptibility of the clinical isolates (10.4%) was lower than the isolates from the skin (36.7%) of the volunteers. This difference is statistically not significant (t = 2.087, P <0.075). The isolates were sus-ceptible to gentamycin (50.0%) erythromycin (40.0%) and streptomycin (30.0%) . The S. aureus isolated was resistant to cloxacillin, penicillin, ampicillin and tetracycline. In our studied area S. aureus could be effectively treated by gentamycin, erythromycin and streptomycin. The implication of resistance of the isolates to penicillin, ampicillin and the common antibiotics such as ampicillin are also highlighted.

Key words: Prevalence, Antibiotic susceptibility, Staphylococcus aureus, Clinical isolates, skin isolates, Nigeria.