High seroprevalence of viral hepatitis among animal handlers in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Viral hepatitis is a deadly disease which can manifest as acute, chronic, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver failure. Information about hepatitis is scarce among animal handlers. Due to Federal Government of Nigeria diversification programmes, many people are now involved in animal farming which can make them susceptible to viral hepatitis. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of Hepatitis B, C, and E viruses among animal handlers in Abeokuta, southwestern Nigerian. A total of 156 subjects were recruited for the study. Sociodemographic and risks factors data were fetched from subjects using interviewer-administered questionnaire. Blood samples were collected via venepuncture and tested for HCV, HBV, and HEV using ELISA technique. Results were analyzed using SPSS software version 21.0 and P value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. The prevalence of HCV, HBV, and HEV were 46 (29.5%), 20 (12.8%), and 4 (2.6%) respectively while 6 (3.8%), 1 (0.6%), and 1 (0.6%) had co-infection of HBV-HCV, HBV-HEV, and HCV- HEV respectively. This study concludes that there is high prevalence of hepatitis C and B viruses among animal handlers in Abeokuta, Ogun state which is of significant public health problem, warranting further attention and research.

PARAPARESIS IN A PATIENT WITH ADVANCED HIV DISEASE WITHOUT MANIFESTATIONS OF OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTION.

HIV infection had been associated with many symptoms and signs but the least expected is paraparesis in the absence of constitutional clinical features. This case presentation is to highlight the unusual presentation of a 43 year old who presented with difficulty in walking due to gradual weakness in his lower limbs (more on right than left) and difficulty in passing urine of 8 months duration. All the common symptoms and signs associated with advanced HIV infection were absent. Urethroscopy and prostate biopsy were done and showed normal findings. Cranial computerised tomography (CT) scan finding was normal, but lumbo-sacral Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) showed degenerative disease suggestive of immunosuppression. HIV screening (Unigold and ELISA) and HIV confirmatory tests were done that showed reactivity to HIV-1 antibody and CD4 count and plasma viral load results were 226 cells/ mm3 and 126,000 copies/ml respectively. The patient was commenced on antiretroviral therapy and paraparesis started resolving.