Does Neospora caninum cause reproductive problems in pigs?

Neospora caninum is known to cause reproductive disturbances in several animal species, such as cattle, sheep, and goats. However, research on the effects of N. caninum on reproduction in pigs is limited. The objective of this study was to verify the transplacental transmission of N. caninum in pigs during several gestational stages. Twelve healthy Toxoplasma gondii and N. caninum seronegative female pigs were selected and separated into four groups of three animals each. Group A was maintained as a control group. Groups B, C, and D were inoculated intravenously with 2.9 × 107 tachyzoites of the N. caninum strain Nc1, 30 days before conception and at 45 and 90 days of gestation, respectively. Blood samples were collected from females periodically through IFAT for IgG and IgM screening to confirm the infection. At birth, after blood samples were collected from the piglets, they were then euthanized for the collection of the brain, heart, lung, liver, and diaphragm, which were then subjected to PCR. All inoculated gilts seroconverted (IgG) from the seventh day after inoculation. Nine of the 12 females expelled 24 mummified fetuses at the time of delivery, two in group A (eight), two in group B (four), three in group C (nine), and two in group D (three). Of the 24 mummified fetuses, nine were positive for N. caninum (one (25%) fetus of group B, seven (77.8%) of group C, and one (33.3%) of group D). A total of 126 live piglets were born. When the organs of the piglets from the inoculated females were analyzed by PCR for N. caninum, 88 (93.61%) were positive. All gilts inoculated produced at least one positive piglet. This demonstrates that there is transplacental transmission of N. caninum in all phases of gestation, regardless of the time of infection.

Anemia and its association with coffee consumption and hookworm infection among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Debre Markos Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Anemia in pregnancy is a major public health concern worldwide, especially in developing countries. Thus, there is a need of having current information and local data on the prevalence of anemia and associated factors during pregnancy to help inform preventive programmes. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of anemia and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Debre Markos Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted at Debre Markos Referral Hospital in July and August 2016. A total of 234 randomly-selected pregnant women took part in the study. Data on sociodemographic factors, environmental and sanitation factors, reproductive factors, and nutrition related characteristics were collected using a structured questionnaire. Hemoglobin level was determined using hematological analyzer (Cell Dyn 1800) machine. The stool sample was collected to identify intestinal parasitic infections. Statistical analysis was done using logistic regression. The p value of less than 0.05 at 95% confidence interval was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of anemia among pregnant women was 11.5% (95% CI: 8.2%- 14.9%). The result of multivariable analysis revealed that, coffee consumption [AOR = 2.91; 95% CI (1.63, 8.78)], and hookworm infection [AOR = 2.65; 95% CI (1.48, 4.72)] were factors significantly associated with anemia among pregnant women. CONCLUSION: Anemia is of public health concern among pregnant women in the study area. All pregnant women coming to antenatal clinics should be screened and treated routinely for intestinal parasitic infection. Pregnant women should limit coffee consumption, and avoid drinking coffee with meals.

HIV as an additional risk factors for anaemia in pregnancy: evidence from primary care level in Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria.

Anaemia in pregnancy has serious consequences including maternal morbidity and impairment of infant cognitive development. Several authors have however reported inconsistent findings on risk factors for anaemia in pregnancy. This study was carried out to determine risk factors for anaemia in pregnancy among women at primary care level and document the contribution of HIV/AIDS to anaemia in pregnancy in low risk pregnant women at primary care level. A prospective study carried out among pregnant women attending the booking clinics of primary health care centres in Ibadan, Nigeria. HIV positive and HIV negative mothers were followed throughout pregnancy till delivery of their babies. History of use of iron, folate, Vitamin B complex and daraprim were obtained. Haemoglobin, malaria parasitaemia, and HIV serostatus were determined. Use of iron (P < 0.006), folate (P = 0.032), vitamin B complex (P = 0.001) and treatment for malaria (P = 0.05) significantly reduced the risk for anaemia in pregnancy. Malaria parasitaemia (P = 0.0001) significantly increased the risk of anaemia. However, use of daraprim and HIV seropositivity increased the risk of anaemia in pregnancy but not significantly. In a logistic regression analysis, iron (P = 0.001) and folate supplementation (P = 0.015) significantly protected against anaemia in pregnancy while malaria parasitaemia (P = 0.006) and HIV seropositivity (P = 0.015) were significant adverse risk factors. HIV is an additional risk factor for anaemia in pregnancy. Voluntary counseling and testing of pregnant women for HIV is therefore also indicated at primary care level to detect asymptomatic anaemia in pregnancy that may be due to HIV.

Knowledge and misconceptions about malaria among secondary school students and teachers in Kassala, eastern Sudan.

This study reports the responses of high secondary school students and teachers to a questionnaire on their knowledge and misconceptions about malaria. Knowledge about symptoms and cause of malaria seems to be adequate. However, there were deficiencies regarding knowledge of the seriousness of malaria in primigravidas and children. There was an exaggerated belief that chloroquine may cause abortion. There were also important misconceptions regarding the causation of malaria by the plant Unkoleeb (sorghum saccharatum), the belief that the local beverage Aradaib (Tramindus indica) cures malaria, as well as beliefs that chloroquine injections are more effective than tablets, that intravenous fluids are essential for treatment of every attack, and that multi-vitamins may prevent the disease. The study throws light on areas where health education should be focused.

PIP: A cross-sectional study conducted in Kassala, Sudan, investigated knowledge about malaria among 333 students and 38 teachers at 5 secondary schools in this malaria-endemic town. The overall malaria knowledge score was 13.9 (+or- 1.7) out of a possible maximum of 18. There were no significant differences in scores between students and teachers or males and females. Of concern, however, was the high frequency of incorrect responses for the following items: malaria is caused by eating unripe sweet sorghum (33.7%); one is predisposed to malaria by attacks of common cold (56.6%); chloroquine injections are more effective for treatment than are tablets (28.6%); malaria can be treated with the beverage Aradaib (22.6%); iv fluids are essential for treatment of a malaria attack (36.7%); and malaria can be prevented by taking multivitamins (48.0%). In addition, 28.3% of respondents believed that chloroquine can cause abortion, and only 47.4% of students and teachers were aware that malaria is more serious in primigravidas than multigravidas. These findings indicate an urgent need for health education campaigns in the schools and community to modify misconceptions about malaria.