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Aims: To study the prevalence and identification of non-dermatophytic molds associated with cattle in Abia and Imo States, Nigeria. Study Design: The systematic random sampling method was adopted. Place and Duration of Study: A total of 2255 cattle was encountered, out of which 451 skin samples from both infected and asymptomatic animals were sampled from six cattle markets in Abia and Imo States, Nigeria between January and August, 2018. Methodology: The 451 samples were analysed for their colonial and microscopic morphology and molecular analysis. Polymerase chain reaction of the 16SrRNA internal transcriber spacer (ITS) sequence techniques were carried out on the isolates. Pathogenicity of the isolates were determined. Results: A total of 16 non-dermatophytic molds were obtained from 451samples analysed at different frequency of occurrences from the cattle skins in both states and these include Aspergillusfumigatus (3.6%), Aspergillus terreus (2.7%), Aspergillus wewitschiae (13.5%), Aspergillus flavus (10.0%), Aspergillus aculeatus (9.0%), Aspergillus sydowii (5.0%), Fusarium solani (3.2%), Fusarium lichenicola (17.9%), Fusarium succisae (12.0%), Fusarium oxysporum (2.0%), Penicillium citrinum (3.0%), Curvularia kusanol (0.6%), Cladosporium tenuissimum (4.9%), Pestalotiopsis microspora (0.1%), Talaromyces kendrickii (0.1%) and Absidia specie (12.9%). Conclusion: The study revealed that non-dermatophytic molds were highly prevalent and are possible causative agent of cutaneous mycoses in cattle. Pathogenicity evaluation carried out in this study revealed that Aspergillus welwitschiae, Cladosporium tenuissimum and Absidia sp. were highly virulent.

Background: The link between cervical lesions and human Papillomavirus (HPV) 16 and 18 is well established, but the magnitude of the risk of association and the importance of other high-risk hpv types is uncertain in Bayelsa state. Aims: The study was aimed at detecting and typing of cervical hpv among selected subjects, establish the relationship between cervical dysplasia and hpv and also asses the level of knowledge of hpv, perception and attitude of women in Bayelsa State. Materials and Methods: Questionnaires were used to assess the level of knowledge of hpv and cervical cancer. Papanicolaou stain for cervical cytology and Haematoxylin and Eosin stain used to study general tissue structure. Nested PCR was used to detect and multiplex PCR for typing. Results: The prevalence of hpv spectrum among participants was 52% while high risk hpv was 24%. Five (5) subtypes were identified. The subtypes identified were hpv 52(40.4%) most predominant, followed by 51(1.9%), 45(1.9%), 31(1.9%) and hpv 30 (9.6%). The age-specific prevalence showed a peak prevalence of 44.2% in the ages of 25-34 years and lowest in the age group (15-24years). Sequence alignment showed a single point mutation for hpv 45 and several points' mutation for hpv 52 at certain points of the sequenced nucleotides with Sequence no: 53CN12 and SeqH2011055303 and accession no: MG195999 and MG196000. HPV 52 was highest compared to previous studies, national and international. The level of knowledge on hpv infection and cancer of the cervix was low among subjects with a percentage score of 38.9%. Among other variables studied, life time sexual partners showed a statistically significant relationship in the prevalence of hpv (OR=0.02, P˂0.01). Perceived seriousness on hpv infection was high among hpv positive subjects compared with hpv negative participants ( =16.39, p ˂0.01). Conclusion: The emergence of hpv 52 in the study area requires public health attention and thus urgent need for local hpv vaccines production.

The relative balance between Th1 and Th2 cytokines appears crucial in the outcome of infections. We assayed the levels of some proinflammatory Th1 cytokines, interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and anti-inflammatory Th2 cytokines, IL-4 and IL-10 in homozygous haemoglobin (Hb) AA, heterozygous HbAS-genotyped and sickle cell (HbSS) individuals with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria.Levels of Th1 and Th2 cytokines of 111 children aged 1-5 years with uncomplicated malaria and 89 healthy controls were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and haematological parameters were estimated using the automated Swelab counter (Boule Medical, Stockholm, Sweden).Th1 and Th2 cytokine levels were significantly higher in HbAA and HbAS-genotyped patients compared to their respective healthy controls (P0·05). IFN-gamma, IL-2, and IL-10 were significantly elevated in HbAA compared to HbAS and HbSS subjects (P0·05). The mean haematological parameters (total white cell count and monocytes) of HbSS-infected children were significantly higher compared to those of HbAA and HbAS subjects (P0·05); however, their mean packed cell volume was significantly lower compared to others (P0·05).Our results showed a stronger Th1 cytokine response in HbAA than HbAS and HbSS individuals; this may suggest an immunocompetence of the HbAA individuals in early infection.

High mortality and morbidity in sickle-cell disease has been associated with malaria infection especially in countries where chloroquine is used. Chloroquine resistance has been associated with the emergence of Pfcrt mutant genes. This study aimed at comparing the prevalence rate of Pfcrt T76 mutation in Plasmodium falciparum isolates from infected individuals with sickle-cell disease and sickle-cell trait. This study was carried out in Benin City between the months of April and June 2006. This period is marked with high transmission rate of malaria.The genotype of the subjects was screened using haemoglobin electrophoresis system and the P. falciparum. Pfcrt genotyping was carried out using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).Four hundred and twenty-four subjects comprising of 207 haemoglobin AA, 136 haemoglobin AS and 81 haemoglobin SS typed individuals were enrolled for this study. No significant difference existed in the prevalence rate of malaria in the three groups (p0.05). However, the prevalence rate of Pfcrt K76T mutant gene was higher in the haemoglobin SS genotyped individuals than the haemoglobin AA and AS subjects (p0.05).An uncontrolled use of chloroquine has been incriminated as the major cause of chloroquine resistance in Nigeria. Therefore, rapid intervention measures are needed as a matter of urgency to curb the up rise in the prevalence of the chloroquine resistant genes in our environment.

A prospective study on 72 HIV infected and 33 HIV negative individuals undergoing malaria treatment with dihydroartemisinin (Cotecxin) was undertaken to compare CD4 cells count, viral load and parasite density at two time-points, a baseline visit and a 9-day post-treatment visit.CD4 count and viral load of the subjects were estimated using Dynabeads T4-T8 Quantification Protocol (Dyneal Biotech, Norway) and Amplicor HIV-1 Monitor Test respectively (Roche, United Kingdom).There was a significant decrease in CD4 count at 9-day post-treatment when compared with baseline value (p0.05) in HIV infected individuals with CD4or =200 cells/microl. Also, the 9-day post-treatment viral load value was statistically higher than the baseline value (p0.05). In HIV positive patients with CD4200 cells/microl, a marked significant increase was obtained when the mean viral load at baseline was compared to the 9-day post-treatment visit value (p0.05). The mean parasite density in HIV positive subjects was statistically higher when compared to that of HIV negative individuals at baseline and 9-day post-treatment (p0.05).The study as such may not confirm the impact of malaria infection on progression to AIDS, incorporating effective malaria control in HIV management programmes may improve tremendously the quality of life of HIV infected individuals.

Cockroaches (Diploptera punctata) are basically tropical insects and will do their best to find a home that is both warm and moist. Their involvement in the transmission of tropical diseases is poorly investigated in Africa.A study on the bacterial, fungal and parasitic profile of cockroaches trapped in and around houses in Ekpoma was carried out using standard microbiological techniques.Of a total of 234 cockroaches trapped from different sites (toilets, parlours, kitchens and bedrooms) in houses with pit latrines and water system, the bacterial, fungal and parasitic isolates were identical irrespective of the site, these included: E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris, Proteus mirabilis, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter cloacae, Salmonella sp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serretia marcescens, S. aureus, S. feacalis, S. epidermidis, Aeromonas sp, Candida sp, Rhizopus sp, Aspergillus sp, Mucor sp, cysts of E. hystolitica, oocysts of C. parvum, C. cayetenensis and Isospora belli, cysts of Balantidium coli, ova of Ascaris lumbricoides, Anchylostoma deodunalae, Enterobius vermicularis, ova Trichuris trichura, larva of Strongyloides stercoralis. Cockroaches trapped in the toilets of houses with pit latrines had a mean bacterial and parasites count of 12.3 x 10(10) org/ml and 98 parasites/ml respectively, while those trapped in the houses with water system had a mean bacterial and parasitic count of 89.5 x 10(7) org/ml and 31 parasites/ml respectively. A bacterial count of 78.9 x 10(7) org/ml was recorded from cockroaches trapped from the kitchens of houses with pit latrines. On the other hand a mean bacterial and parasitic count of 23.7 x 10(6) org/ml and 19 parasites/ml were recorded from kitchens of houses with water system.Cockroaches represent an important reservoir for infectious pathogens, therefore, control of cockroaches will substantially minimise the spread of infectious diseases in our environment.

Trypanosomiasis has remained a major set-back in the development of livestock farming in tropical Africa. Thus the need for ascertaining the trypanotolerant levels of domestic animal breeds and possible improvement on them cannot be over-emphasised.Level of trypanotolerance in animals was compared between sexes using albino mice infected with a Nigerian strain of Trypanosoma brucei brucei at a 50% mouse lethal dose (MLD50).The male mice showed unrestrained parasite growth with a prepatent period (PP) of two days and a mean survival period (MSP) of six days corresponding to a gradual decrease in packed cell volume (PCV), body weight, diet response and white blood cells (WBC) count to the time of death. Their female counterparts showed a PP of three days and MSP often days with a similar PCV gradient but a refractory WBC count. There was no significant difference in the differential leucocytes count in both sexes. However, the eosinophils count was significantly higher in the infected animals. It was found that female albino mice exercised more parasite restraint than their male counterparts.The result suggests that the female animals may be more trypanotolerant hence may be more useful in protein production in trypanosomiasis endemic areas. However, further research using large domestic breeds like goats and sheep may be required to confirm the hypothesis.

O relativo equilíbrio entre as citocinas Th1 e Th2 parece crucial para o resultado das infecções. Foram avaliados osníveis de citocinas pró-inflamatórias Th1, interleucina 2 (IL2) e interferon gama (IFNγ) e as citocinas antiinflamatóriasTh2, IL4 e IL10 em indivíduos homizigotos para hemoglobina (Hb) AA, SS e heterozigotos AS com malária nãocomplicada por P. falciparum, na cidade de Benin, na Nigéria. Os níveis de citocinas Th1 e Th2 de 111 crianças commalária não complicada e 89 controles saudáveis foram determinados por método imunoenzimático. Células CD4 eCD8 foram contadas utilizando o protocolo T4T8 Dynabeads Quantification, enquanto os parâmetros hematológicosforam estimados através de técnicas hematológicas. Níveis de citocinas Th1 e Th2 foram significativamente maioresem pacientes HbAA, HBAs e HbSS do que os respectivos controles (P elevadas em indivíduos HbAA (IFNγ: 57,31 ± 77.79pg/ml, IL2: 108,75 ± 63.53pg/ml, IL10: 18,39 ± 15.08pg/ml) do queem HbAS (IFNγ: 32,48 ± 24,83 pg / ml, IL2: 64,16 ± 56,0 pg / ml, IL10: pg / ml) e HbSS (IFNγ: 23,36 ± 14,73 pg/ml, IL2:76,74 ± 39,99 pg / ml, IL10: 7,19 ± 4,50 pg/ml) (P leucócitos, monócitos) HbSS de crianças infectadas foram significativamente maiores do que HbAA e indivíduos HbAS(P é importante reconhecer que o papel das citocinas na resposta imune ainda está para ser totalmente compreendido.