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Background: In pregnancy, the body undergoes modulation of pro-inflammation responses to ensure fetal survival, and these adjustments may decrease maternal immune defenses and promote infections. Objectives: This study was conducted to determine interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-10, and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) among pregnant women co-infected with HIV and Plasmodium falciparum in Edo State, Nigeria. Methods: This study was conducted at the Central Hospital, Benin City, Edo State. A total of 200 participants were enrolled, consisting of 150 pregnant women co-infected with HIV and P. falciparum and 50 non-pregnant women (as controls) who were neither infected with HIV nor P. falciparum. Venous blood specimen was collected for P. falciparum detection, CD4 T-lymphocyte estimation, and IL-2, IL-10, and IFN-assays using standard methods. Results: Among HIV-infected pregnant women, IL-2 (P = 0.0070), IL-10 (P = 0.0179) and IFN-γ (P = 0.1564) values were lower in primiparous women compared with multiparous women. HIV-infected pregnant women who were married had significantly higher IL-2 (P = 0.0085) and IFN-γ levels (P = 0.0332) compared with single women, while marital status did not affect the IL-10 level of pregnant women infected with HIV. Only the IL-2 levels of the HIV-infected pregnant women increased significantly (P = 0.0012) with increasing trimester. The tested cytokine levels were lower in those with malaria compared with those withoutmalariaamongHIV-infected pregnant women. Conclusions: The HIV status and not malaria infection affects the cytokine levels of pregnant women co-infected with HIV and malaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Swine production in Nigeria is encountering several constraints among which are diseases. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of swine with respect to sex, age, location and hygiene practices in the breeding sites in three piggery farms; University of Benin Animal Farm; Osasio Farm Uselu in Egor Local Government Area (LGA), and Ojemai Farm Ekehuanwa Road, Oredo LGA, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Methods: A total of 150 pigs were sampled from the 3 piggery farms. Faecal sample (10g each) was aseptically collected from the rectum of each selected pig and processed by concentration method to microscopically identify parasites in both saline and iodine preparations. A designed pre-tested structured questionnaire was intervieweradministered to each piggery owner to collect information on husbandry practices, animal health care issues and potential risk factors associated with parasitosis. Data was analysed using SPPSS version 20 software, while odd ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated on each potential risk factors. Results: Of the 150 pigs examined, 130 (86.6%) were infected with five gastrointestinal parasitic agents. Strongyloides ransomi 81 (54%) was the most frequently identified parasite, followed by Ascaris suum 68 (45.3%), Giardia lamblia 31 (20.6%), Entamoeba polecki 10 (6.6%) and Trichuris suis 10 (6.6%). Single and mixed infections were not significantly associated with the observed prevalence (p>0.05). Similarly, the sex of pig was not significantly associated with the prevalence of parasites (p=0.8824). The prevalence of parasitosis among the grower (87.8%) was not significantly different from the adult swine (87.5%) (p>0.05). Osasio had the highest infection rate (90.0%) but this rate was not significantly different from the two other farms (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study confirms high prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic infections in pigs bred in Edo State, Nigeria. It is therefore recommended that farmers improve on their biosecurity and adhere to routine de-worming regimen of pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]