Prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis amongst primary school children in Ikwo and Ohaukwu Communities of Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Urinary schistosomiasis is a serious public health challenge in some communities of Ebonyi State, south-east Nigeria, partly resulting from a lack of adequate epidemiological data for the institution of effective control strategies. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the prevalence and risk factors of urinary schistosomiasis in rural communities of Ebonyi State, south-east Nigeria. METHODS: A total of 300 students, comprising 185 boys and 115 girls, were randomly selected for the study between July and December 2016. A questionnaire was administered to all participants to determine the risk factors for the disease in the area. Urine specimens collected from the participants were processed by sedimentation and examined microscopically for the eggs of Schistosoma haematobium. RESULTS: The overall prevalence rate for urinary schistosomiasis was 8.0%. Students aged 6-10 years had the highest prevalence of infection (10.3%). The prevalence was significantly higher amongst male students (10.3%; p = 0.038) compared with female students (4.4%). Logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between schistosomiasis infection and freshwater contact activities (p = 0.007; odds ratio = 1.89; 95% confidence interval: 4.33-16.17). Contact with stream, pond, river and well water were associated with infection rates of 25%, 14%, 5.3%, and 4.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: A relatively low prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis was found in the area. Participants' socio-economic status and dependence on contaminated water sources were core modifiable risk factors. Health education and development of potable water infrastructure, amongst other interventions, would likely reduce the burden and transmission of urinary schistosomiasis in this locality.

Uric acid levels in patients on antituberculosis drugs in the southwest Region of Cameroon.

Background: Antituberculosis drugs (ATDs) efficiently combat Mycobacterium tuberculosis either through direct molecular interactions or those of its metabolites. However, a variety of adverse effects have been reported, leading to frequent interruptions of treatment. To investigate the possible metabolic disturbances resulting from antituberculosis (TB) treatment, the uric acid (UA) level of patients on ATDs was measured in the southwest region of Cameroon. Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study involved 96 TB patients on ATDs and 32 controls who were neither on ATDs nor any other treatment that could increase UA levels. The hospital records of consenting participants were reviewed for medical history and questionnaires were issued. About 2 ml venous blood was collected and analyzed using spectrophotometers to determine UA levels. Results: Hyperuricemia was observed in 56/96 (58.3%) of the studied group as compared with 4/32 (12.5%) in the control group (P < 0.001). Our results indicated that treatment duration was significantly associated with hyperuricemia (P = 0.0016) while gender (P = 0.1275) was not. Conclusion: Hyperuricemia is associated with ATDs, with treatment duration being a significant factor. The disorder should be closely monitored, especially during the intensive phase of treatment.

A Novel Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus t11469 and a Poultry Endemic Strain t002 (ST5) Are Present in Chicken in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: The changing epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from a hospital-associated pathogen to an organism commonly found in the community and in livestock reflects an organism well-equipped to survive in diverse environments and adjust to different environmental conditions including antimicrobial use. METHODS: We investigated the molecular epidemiology of S. aureus and MRSA in poultry in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Samples were collected from 1800 birds on 9 different farms within the state. Positive isolates were tested for antibiotic susceptibility and molecular typing. RESULTS: Prevalence in birds was 13.7% (247/1800). MRSA prevalence in poultry was 0.8%. The prevalence of MRSA in broilers and layers was 1.2% and 0.4%, respectively. All tested isolates were susceptible to vancomycin. Molecular analysis of the isolates revealed 3 spa types: t002, t084, and a novel spa type, t11469. The novel spa type t11469 belonged to sequence type ST5. CONCLUSION: The detection of t002 in chicken suggests the presence of livestock-associated MRSA in poultry in Ebonyi State. The detection of the new spa type t11469 in poultry that has not been characterised to ascertain its pathogenic potential remains a cause for concern, especially as some were found to carry PVL genes, a putative virulence factor in staphylococcal infection.

Uric acid levels in patients on antituberculosis drugs in the Southwest region of Cameroon.

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: Antituberculosis drugs (ATDs) efficiently combat Mycobacterium tuberculosis either through direct molecular interactions or its metabolites. However, a variety of adverse effects have been reported, leading to frequent interruptions of treatment. In order to investigate possible metabolic disturbances resulting from antituberculosis treatment, the uric acid level of patients on ATDs was measured in the Southwest region of Cameroon. METHODS: This hospital-based cross-sectional study involved 96 tuberculosis patients on ATDs and 32 controls who were neither on ATDs nor any other treatment that could increase uric acid levels. The hospital records of consenting participants were reviewed for medical history and questionnaires were issued. About 2-mL venous blood was collected and analyzed using spectrophotometer to determine uric acid levels. RESULTS: Hyperuricemia was observed in 56/96 (58.3%) of the studied group as compared with four of 32 (12.5%) in the control group (p<0.001). Our results indicated that treatment duration was significantly associated with hyperuricemia (p=0.0016), while gender (p=0.1275) was not. CONCLUSION: Hyperuricemia is associated with ATDs, with treatment duration being a significant factor. The disorder should be closely monitored, especially during the intensive phase of treatment.

Multidrug resistance and demography of newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients in Cross River State, Nigeria.

SETTING: Nigeria has the world's fourth largest tuberculosis burden, and multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) represents a serious public health problem. OBJECTIVES: To describe the demography of TB patients and determine the susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates to the major TB drugs. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-seven newly diagnosed TB patients (26 (19%) being HIV positive) from all age groups were recruited into the study. Each specimen was cultured using BACTEC MGIT960, followed by inoculation and growth on Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) medium. Primary identification was carried out using an immunochromatographic technique (Capilia TB-Neo), and further confirmed by genotyping. Drug susceptibility testing (DST) was carried out by the agar proportion method. RESULTS: Of the 97 pure mycobacterial cultures on LJ medium, 81 (83.5%) isolates were identified as M. tuberculosis complex, while 16 (16.5%) were Capilia negative. DST was carried out on 58 isolates. The drug susceptibility pattern showed that resistance occurred in 16 (27.6%) for streptomycin, 11 (19%) for isoniazid, 9 (16%) for rifampicin, and 10 (17.2%) for ethambutol. Rifampicin monoresistance occurred in 2 (3.4%) cases. MDR (combined resistance to isoniazid and rifampicin), also involving resistance to streptomycin and ethambutol, occurred in 6/58 (10.3%) isolates; although laboratory cross-contamination could not be excluded in 4/6 MDR strains with identical MIRU patterns characterized by consecutive strain numbers. Considering that first out of these 4 isolates was not due to laboratory carryover, the results of this study still report a minimal MDR-TB rate of 3/58 (5.2%) among newly diagnosed TB patients in Cross River State, Nigeria. CONCLUSIONS: An increase in drug resistance was observed in this study as compared with previous studies in the country. Hence, introduction of culture in routine diagnostic mycobacteriology laboratories will prevent the emergence and dissemination of MDR-TB, while improved quality control strategies would in parallel prevent laboratory cross-contamination, thereby reducing mislabeling, unnecessary treatment, and drug toxicity for patients.