Potentials of single nucleotide polymorphisms and genetic diversity studies at HSP90AB1 gene in Nigerian White Fulani, Muturu, and N'Dama cattle breeds.

The study was aimed at genetic characterization of Nigerian breeds of Muturu, N'Dama, and White Fulani cattle breeds at heat shock protein 90AB1 locus. Also, the goal of the study was to detect the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at HSP90AB1 locus and consequently recommend them as bio-markers for thermo-tolerance potentials in Nigerian cattle breeds when exposed to assaults of thermal conditions/heat shock of tropical environment. Based on the previously published potentials of this candidate gene to lower assaults of thermal conditions/heat shock such as heat stress, the detected SNPs of HSP90AB1 within the population of the Nigerian cattle in this study will be recommended for population-based screening with a view to genetically improving those zebu cattle breeds that are more vulnerable to heat shock and assaults of thermal conditions. Total number of 200 blood samples were randomly collected from White Fulani (84 samples), Muturu (73 samples), and N'Dama (43 samples) breeds of cattle. Out of these, 20 DNA samples were randomly selected from each of the three cattle breeds and were used for DNA extraction and downstream analyses to further confirm findings of previous study, hence the goal of our study. DNA was extracted from the blood samples using the Zymo-bead DNA extraction kit and DNA sequencing of our samples was performed. A total number of 9 SNPs (within exons 5-6 coding regions) and 11 SNPs (within exons 12-13 coding regions) were detected at HSP90AB1 locus using the codon code aligner software. ARLEQUIN 2.0001 software was used to estimate the basic population genetic statistics while the DnaSP version 5.10.01 was used to estimate the genetic diversity indices. This study detected new SNPs (polymorphic sites) at HSP90AB1 locus within the DNAs of Nigerian White Fulani (WF), Muturu (MU), and N'Dama (ND) breeds of cattle. Within exons 5-6 coding regions, the N'Dama (ND) cattle breed had the highest for number of SNPs (5) and genetic diversity indices while White Fulani (WF) and Muturu (MU) had the least (2) number of SNPs each. Within exons 12-13 coding regions, WF had the highest numbers of SNPs (7) and genetic diversity indices while MU had the least number of SNPs (1) and genetic diversity indices. Some of the detected SNPs at HSP90AB1 locus were shared among the three breeds, suggesting that these three Nigerian cattle breeds showed shared ancestral alleles and lineage. Our study further revealed that HSP90AB1 is highly polymorphic/variable and diverse among the three Nigerian cattle breeds examined. Based on the previously documented thermo-tolerance potentials of members of HSP90 sub-family including the findings of our study, we hypothesize therefore that the presence of SNPs of HSP90AB1 within the DNAs of these three breeds of Nigerian cattle (WF, ND, and MU) may confer them thermo-tolerance potentials for thermal assault conditions and heat shock of the tropics at HSP90AB1 locus. Therefore, the detected SNPs can be recommended as bio-markers to improve the thermo-tolerance potentials of Nigerian breeds of zebu cattle raised under the challenges of heat shock for better adaptation and survival.

Knowledge, risk perception and adherence to COVID-19 prevention advisory among police officers in Makurdi Metropolis Benue State, 2020.

INTRODUCTION: the current pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by a novel strain (SARS-CoV-2) is enormous and continues to pose a threat to the lives of people. In Nigeria, as of 21st April 2020, 668 confirmed cases, 22 deaths and 188 recoveries have been reported. Police officers are at the forefront of enforcing advisories to ensure public compliance. However, there is a paucity of data on knowledge, risk perception, and adherence to COVID-19 advisories issued by the Health authorities particularly among the police officers. We, therefore, assessed the knowledge, risk perceptions and adherence to NCDC recommended advisory on COVID-19. METHODS: we conducted a two-stage sampling cross-sectional study among different cadres of police officers in Benue State, Nigeria using a pretested, semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire. The results of the study were presented in frequencies and proportions. Chi-square test was used for an association between variables at p-value < 0.05. RESULTS: the mean age of the 305 participants was 39.1 ± 8.4 years and most, 124 (40.7%) of the participants were within age-group 30-39 years, 19 (64.3%.8) were male, 250 (82.0%) were married and 160 (52.5%) had secondary education as the highest qualification. Majority of the participants, 301 (98.7%) have heard about COVID-19 and the commonest source of information was via television/radio, 230 (76.4%). Most participants demonstrate a good knowledge of COVID-19 infection, 302 (99.0%) and positive risk perception of COVID-19, 303 (99.3%) but few demonstrated good adherences on COVID-19 prevention practices, 133 (43.6%). Participants' academic qualification (X2 = 10.98, p = 0.001) and cadre (X2 = 112.5, p = 0.001) were found to be associated with good adherence. CONCLUSION: while most participants had a good knowledge of COVID-19 transmission dynamics, and positive risk perception about COVID-19, good adherence to public health advisories were low. We recommended periodic training, provision of adequate PPE and personal hand-sanitizers as a strategy to improve adherence.

Awareness and use of folic acid among women of childbearing age in Benue State, Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: every year in Nigeria 12,695 babies are born with neural tube defects. Folic acid reduces the risk of neural tube defect by about 50% among peri-conceptional users. We conducted this study to determine the awareness and use of folic acid among women of childbearing age in Benue State, Nigeria. METHODS: we conducted a cross-sectional study among women attending selected among six secondary health facilities in Benue State using a multi-stage sampling technique. We interviewed 586 women aged 15-49 years using structured questionnaires to obtain information on awareness and use of folic acid. We performed univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis at 5% significance. RESULTS: interviewed 586 women with the mean age 27 ± 6.9 years; 281(48%) were aware of folic acid as a supplement, 178 (30.4%) knew the dietary source of folic acid while 152 (26%) knew the benefit of folic acid. The commonest source of information was health professionals [195 (51%)]. Only 221 (37.7%) used folic acid, 14 (1.7%) of them using it within the first trimester. The commonest reason why women did not take folic acid as supplement was unpleasant smell [124 (21%)]. Awareness of folic acid benefit (OR: 6, 95%CI = 3.9-8.8), level of education (OR: 2.0, 95%CI = 1.2-3.3) and employment status (OR: 1.6, 95%CI= 1.1-22) were significantly associated with folic acid use. Awareness of folic acid use was an independent predictor of folic acid use (AOR: 7.9 95%Cl: 5.3-11.7). CONCLUSION: awareness and use of folic acid among women of childbearing age was low. Awareness is a predictor of folic acid use. We recommend the promotion of awareness and use of folic acid in pregnant women.

The role of supportive supervision using mobile technology in monitoring and guiding program performance: a case study in Nigeria, 2015-2016.

BACKGROUND: Supportive supervision is one of the interventions that fosters program improvement by way of imparting knowledge and skills to health workers. The basic challenge in supportive supervision is the availability of data in real time for timely and effective feedback. Thus, the main objective of this study was to determine the contribution of real-time data collection during supportive supervision for timely feedback and generation of evidence for health intervention planning. METHODS: We analyzed supportive supervision records collected through handheld devices employing the open data kit (ODK) platform from July 2015 to June 2016. Supervision was conducted across the country by 592 World Health Organization (WHO) officers. The availability of real-time data and the distance of health facilities to the community were analyzed. RESULTS: During the study period, 90,396 health facilities were supervised. The average time spent during supervision varied from 1.53 to 3.78 h across the six geopolitical zones of the country. The average interval between completion of the supervisory checklist and synchronization with the server varied from 3.9 h to 7.5 h. The average distance between the health facility and a ward varied from 5 to 24 km. CONCLUSION: The use of handheld devices for supportive supervision provided real-time data from health facilities to state and zonal levels for analysis and feedback. Program officers used the findings to rectify process indicators in time for a better outcome.