Search

Background and Objective: Nigeria still remains a major endemic area despite concerted efforts by the World Health Organization to reduce the burden of Schistosomiasis. This study aimed to determine the current prevalence of the infection and its associated risk factors among elementary school children in Osun State. Materials and Methods: The study purposively recruited 504 elementary students from eight schools across three senatorial districts of Osun State, Nigeria. A parasitological assessment of urine samples was done for the detection of S. haematobium eggs. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to elicit information on the risk factors associated with urinary schistosomiasis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the likelihood of infection among the various factors associated with urinary schistosomiasis. All statistics were performed at p< 0.05. Results: The mean (SD) age of respondents was 11±1.93 years with a preponderance of age range between 11 and 16 years (54.0%). The overall prevalence of schistosomiasis was 4.4%. The highest prevalence (12.1%) was recorded in a school located in Osun West while the lowest (1.5%) was recorded in a school located in Osun East. The regression model showed that environmental activities such as fishing (aOR 7.0, 95% CI 1.59-31.14), fetching water from river bodies (aOR 23.3, 95% CI 1.59-42.22) and open defecation (aOR 8.4, 95% CI 2.10-23.82) were independently associated with urinary schistosomiasis. Conclusion: This study revealed a low prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis and this is an indication of ongoing transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Studies on biting behaviours and infectivity status of insect vectors are pre-requisites in understanding the epidemiology of the vector- borne diseases and planning effective control measures. A longitudinal study was carried out to investigate the transmission index of Simulium damnosum complex species along Osun River, South Western Nigeria. Adult flies were collected on human attractants from 07:00 to 18:00 hours for two consecutive days from February 2008 to June 2009 at three communities: Osun Eleja, Osun Ogbere and Osun Budepo. The infectivity rate was determined by dissection and Polymerase Chain Reaction amplification (PCR) of 0-150 genes of Onchocerca parasite using the pool screening technique. Results The results indicated that the majority of the flies collected at the three sampling points were nulliparous as they accounted for 53.90%, 57.86% and 59.58% of the flies dissected at Osun Budepo, Osun Ogbere and Osun Eleja, respectively. The parous rate was higher during the dry season than the wet season but the difference was not statistically significant (p < 0.05). The biting activity of the parous flies showed two peaks at Osun Budepo and three peaks at Osun Eleja and Osun Ogbere. Of the 1,472 flies dissected and 1,235 flies screened by molecular method, none was infected with Onchocerca parasite at the three sampling points however the annual biting rates at the three communities were higher than 1,000 considered as tolerable value for a person living in an onchocerciasis zone by Word Health Organization. Conclusion The study has provided the baseline data for further study on onchocerciasis transmission dynamics and the need to intercept man- simuliid vector contact at the study area.

Indiscriminate solid waste disposal poses serious health challenge to humans and animals in developing countries where the practice appears unabated. In order to guarantee clean and safe environment, there is need for assessment of distribution of indiscriminate dumping sites and associated public health risks. The objective of the present study was to determine the distribution and pathogenic organisms associated with the dumping sites in Osogbo metropolis, Southwestern Nigeria. The major streets in the metropolis were surveyed and the coordinates of the solid dumping sites encountered were taken with Geographic Position System (GPS). The bacteriological and parasitological assessments were carried out on soil samples from five selected sites. A total of thirteen major solid waste dumping sites were encountered. Six bacteria, namely Pseudomonas aureginosa, P. Putida, Klebsiella pneumonia, Bacillius species, Aerobacter aeogenes and Proteus vulgaris were isolated from the soil samples. The cysts of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and Enterobius vermicularis were also recovered. The results showed that indiscriminate solid waste dumping sites exist in Osogbo metropolis and may be of serious public health problem if it is not curtailed. Therefore, government should embark on public health enlightenment and enforcement of all policies and laws on environmental sanitation to curb indiscriminate waste disposal in the metropolis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mosquito borne diseases constitute serious public health problems in the world. Source reduction (larviciding) has been known as one of the efficient measures to control the menace pose by the mosquitoes. The present study was therefore carried out to assess the ovicidal and larvicidal effects of some organic pollutants (cement, petrol, engine oil and detergent) against Aedes aegypti. A batch of 20 eggs and 20 mosquito larvae were tested in each pollutant along with the respective control of distill water free from pollutants. The experiments were thereafter replicated twice. Zero percent (0%) hatchability was observed in all the eggs placed in the detergent, petrol and cement. Though, 25% of eggs hatched in engine oil, none developed to adult stage. Larvae were found to be highly susceptible to the petrol, detergent and cement test concentrations as 100% mortality was observed within 24 hours of introduction into the pollutants. Engine oil only resulted in 100% mortality at day six. From the results of this study, it can be concluded that these organic pollutants are lethal and could be useful in source reduction (larviciding of breeding sites). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]