Prevalence of Rotavirus antigen in children with gastroenteritis in Auchi Etsako West Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria.

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of rotavirus infection among children in Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria, and its association with selected demographic factors. Rotavirus infections are a major cause of viral gastroenteritis in children globally, and despite the availability of vaccines, they continue to pose a significant health burden. Methods: The study population consisted of 200 children aged 2-15 years, with data collected through a questionnaire and stool samples analysed using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kits (Abbexa, UK) following the manufacturer's instructions. Results: The overall prevalence of rotavirus infection was found to be 6%, which was relatively low compared to previous studies in Nigeria and other countries. The study revealed that children in the age group of 6-10 years had the highest prevalence of rotavirus infection, while the prevalence was lower among nursery and secondary school children. There was no significant association between any of the participant's demographic factors and rotavirus infection. However, living in rural areas was associated with a higher risk of rotavirus infection compared to semi-urban and urban areas. Conclusions: The study emphasizes the importance of rotavirus vaccination, promoting good hygiene practices, and raising awareness among parents, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. Further investigation is needed to explore additional risk factors and improve understanding of rotavirus infection in this population.

Seroprevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and associated risk factors among HIV positive women in North Central Nigeria.

Introduction: Chlamydia trachomatis infection is among the STDs that are known to increase the risk of HIV infection. The present study aims to determine the seroprevalence of C. trachomatis among HIV positive women in Ilorin and Offa, Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. Methods: Serum samples from 400 HIV positive women attending the HAART Clinic in Offa and the Ilorin General Hospital in Kwara State, Nigeria, were screened using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), utilizing the immunocomb Chlamydia IgG test kit (Calbiotech, El Cajon, CA, USA) to check for the existence of anti-C. trachomatis antibodies. Result: Anti-C. trachomatis antibodies were present in 92 (23.0%) of the 400 HIV positive women samples. There was a higher prevalence among the age group 36-40 years. Hence, age groupings were statistically and significantly associated (p=0.001) with the seroprevalence of C. trachomatis among HIV positive women. Married HIV positive women (60.9%) had the highest prevalence of C. trachomatis, with a statistically significant association (p=0.001). There was a statistically significant association between the number of sexual partner(s) (p=0.001) and the seroprevalence of C. trachomatis among HIV positive women. Conclusions: The high frequency confirms the necessity for comprehensive sexual education among young adults and routine testing for anti-C. trachomatis. It reflects the endemicity of the infection in Ilorin and Offa Kwara State, Nigeria.

Low-cost biofuel-powered autoclaving machine for use in rural health care centres.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) in developing countries have been linked to inadequate availability of sterilising equipment. Existing autoclaves are mostly unaffordable by rural healthcare practitioners, and when they managed to procure them, the electricity supply to power the autoclaves is epileptic. The solar-powered autoclave alternatives are too bulky with a very high initial cost. Hence, low-cost biofuel-powered autoclave becomes an attractive option, and this study sought to present the design, development and clinical evaluation of the device performance. With the global drive for the adoption of green energy, biofuel will not only reduce greenhouse gas emission but also provide revenue for local producers and reduce biomass associated health complications. The theoretical energy requirement for the sterilisation process was calculated. The standard pressure and temperature needed for sterilisation were tested to be 121 °C and 15 psi. The device was also clinically tested with Staphylococcus aureus bacteria obtained from the Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital using Brain heart Infusion Broth, MacConkey and Blood agar as cultured media. No bacteria growth was observed when the samples containing the bacteria colony were autoclaved by the designed autoclave and incubated at 37 °C for 2 d. Hence, the device met the mechanical and biological validation standards for effective sterilisation.