Intestinal Parasites Associated with American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana) in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.

American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) has been implicated as mechanical vector of parasites of humans and animals. Therefore, this study aimed to identify and determine the prevalence of human intestinal parasites associated with the body surface and gut of P. americana. A total of 221 cockroaches which include 104 males and 117 females were collected from household kitchen, toilet area and canteen after which they were brought to laboratory for study. The body surface of the cockroach was washed with 5 ml normal saline solution to remove external parasites on the body surface for examination and later rinsed with 70% alcohol and dried before dissecting. The cockroach was dissected to examine internal parasites. Eleven parasites were recovered and identified, these include Ascaris lumbricoides (51.58%), Strongyloides stercoralis (48.42%) Trichuris trichiura (52.49%), Enterobius vermicularis (37.10%), Taenia spp (14.93%), Toxocara (31.67%), Ancylostoma spp (34.84%), Necator americanus (53.39%), and Diphylidium spp (66.23%) Balantidium coli (66.52%). The parasites were recorded both on the body surface and gut of the cockroach. There is no significant difference (p > 0.05) between parasites infection rate comparing both sexes; though, female cockroach having a higher infection rate (91.45%) than male (81.5%). Cockroach collected from toilets carried more parasites (96.34%) as compared to those from restaurants/canteen (89.71%) and household kitchens (81.69%). All parasites encountered were pathogenic to human and animals. This study has revealed that P. americana can act as mechanical vector by transporting and transmitting these parasites easily to man and animal. Good sanitary practices, reinforcement of worms' eradication programs, and the fight against these insects remain a necessity to contain the menace of parasites burden and cockroach control.

Immunological insights into COVID-19 in Southern Nigeria.

Introduction: One of the unexpected outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic was the relatively low levels of morbidity and mortality in Africa compared to the rest of the world. Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, accounted for less than 0.01% of the global COVID-19 fatalities. The factors responsible for Nigeria's relatively low loss of life due to COVID-19 are unknown. Also, the correlates of protective immunity to SARS-CoV-2 and the impact of pre-existing immunity on the outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa are yet to be elucidated. Here, we evaluated the natural and vaccine-induced immune responses from vaccinated, non-vaccinated and convalescent individuals in Southern Nigeria throughout the three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. We also examined the pre-existing immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 from samples collected prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We used spike RBD and N- IgG antibody ELISA to measure binding antibody responses, SARS-CoV-2 pseudotype assay protocol expressing the spike protein of different variants (D614G, Delta, Beta, Omicron BA1) to measure neutralizing antibody responses and nucleoprotein (N) and spike (S1, S2) direct ex vivo interferon gamma (IFNγ) T cell ELISpot to measure T cell responses. Result: Our study demonstrated a similar magnitude of both binding (N-IgG (74% and 62%), S-RBD IgG (70% and 53%) and neutralizing (D614G (49% and 29%), Delta (56% and 47%), Beta (48% and 24%), Omicron BA1 (41% and 21%)) antibody responses from symptomatic and asymptomatic survivors in Nigeria. A similar magnitude was also seen among vaccinated participants. Interestingly, we revealed the presence of preexisting binding antibodies (N-IgG (60%) and S-RBD IgG (44%)) but no neutralizing antibodies from samples collected prior to the pandemic. Discussion: These findings revealed that both vaccinated, non-vaccinated and convalescent individuals in Southern Nigeria make similar magnitude of both binding and cross-reactive neutralizing antibody responses. It supported the presence of preexisting binding antibody responses among some Nigerians prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lastly, hybrid immunity and heterologous vaccine boosting induced the strongest binding and broadly neutralizing antibody responses compared to vaccine or infection-acquired immunity alone.

GC-MS analysis of aqueous extract of Nymphaea lotus and ameliorative potential of its biosynthesized gold nanoparticles against cadmium-induced kidney damage in rats.

Plants possess compounds serving as reducing agents for green synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), which is currently considered for biomedical application. Exposure to cadmium (Cd) can affect the functional integrity of the several organs such as kidney and liver. Nymphaea lotus (NL) is known for its several medicinal properties, including its protective role against tissue damages. This study investigated the bioactive compounds in NL using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) and ameliorative potential of its biosynthesized AuNPs (NL-AuNPs) against Cd-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. The presence of bioactive compounds in N. lotus was investigated by GC-MS in aqueous extract of NL. Gold nanoparticles were synthesized using aqueous extract of NL. Thirty rats were grouped into six (n = 5). Group 1 served as control, while group 2, 3, 4 and 5 received CdCl2 (10 mg/kg) orally for five days. Thereafter, groups 3, 4, and 5, respectively, received silymarin (75 mg/kg), 5 and 10 mg/kg NL-AuNPs, orally for 14 days, while group 6 received 10 mg/kg NL-AuNPs only. Rats were sacrificed after treatment, and biochemical parameters and kidney histopathology were evaluated. Bioactive compounds of pharmacological importance identified include pyrogallol, oxacyclohexadecan-2-one, 22-Desoxycarpesterol, 7,22-Ergostadienol, ß-sitosterol and Dihydro-ß-agarofuran. Cadmium caused nephrotoxicity in rats, as evidenced by significant (p < 0.05) increase in the levels of kidney function markers (serum urea and creatinine) and inflammatory markers (Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Nuclear Factor-κB (NF-κB)) when compared with control. These changes were significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorated by the spherically-synthesized NL-AuNPs (25-30 nm) with the 5 mg/kg NL-AuNPs more potent against kidney damage induced by Cd in rats but high doses of NL-AuNPs (≥10 mg/kg) could be suggested toxic. NL possess phytochemicals capable of reducing gold salts to nanoparticle form, and doses up to 5 mg/kg could be considered safe for the treatment of renal damage occasioned by cadmium.

Molecular identification and wing variations among malaria vectors in Akure North Local Government Area, Nigeria.

Members of the Anopheles gambiae complex and Anopheles funestus group are significant vectors of the malaria parasite Plasmodium species in the Afro-tropical region of the world. Molecular identification and variation in the wing were studied among female An. Gambiae complex and An. funestus group, to investigate morphological variations in the wing of local vectors populations of adult female mosquitoes found in five different locations in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State (Oba-Ile, Igoba, Isinigbo, Ita-Ogbolu and Iju). The variations in the wing character were found in the 3rd main dark spot area (Pre-apical dark spot-character 8) on the coastal region (Vein region I) of Anopheles gambiae complex wing; with two types (A and B) of wings identified with An. gambiae complex in the study area. Molecular study shows that all the wing type A are Anopheles gambiae s.s., they represent 53.39% of the total An. gambiae complex in the study area. Some of the Anopheles gambiae s.s. (28.30%) and all An. arabiensis (18.30%) were found with wing type B. Among 750 individual Anopheles mosquito species identified using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR method), 433 samples representing 57.73% were An. gambiae s.s. while 97 (12.93%) samples were An. arabiensis. Anopheles leesoni was the only member of the An. funestus group identified in the study area. Anopheles leesoni mosquitoes identified in the study location were 182, representing 24.27% of the total Anopheles mosquito species identified using the molecular method. Anopheles gambiae s.s., An. arabiensis, and An. leesoni are only Anopheles mosquito species responsible for malaria transmission in the study area. Anopheles leesoni was the only member of the An. funestus group identified in the study area.

Spectrum of diseases and diagnostic values of ultrasound in adult patients with nontraumatic acute abdomen in a nigerian tertiary health facility.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the spectrum of disease on abdominal ultrasound (US) and the diagnostic efficacy of US in adult patients with nontraumatic acute abdomen at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population included consecutive 150 adult patients aged 15 years and above presenting with nontraumatic acute abdomen via the adult emergency unit or as inpatients referred to the Radiology Department of OAUTHC, Ile-Ife for abdominal US. MINDRAY D.C-6 real-time US scanner with 3.5, 5.0, and 7.5 MHz probes and Doppler facilities were used to assess the intra-abdominal organs and the findings were compared with the clinical and surgical findings in those cases that were operated. RESULTS: The common spectrum of diseases encountered on US in this study included appendicitis (66 [44%]), ectopic pregnancy (34 [22%]), intestinal obstruction (13 [8.7%]) while the least finding was renal abscess 1 (0.7%). The correlation of US findings with surgical findings in this study showed sensitivity, specificity, and kappa agreement for appendicitis of 83.3%, 100.0%, and 0.808; ectopic pregnancy of 100.0%, 97.8%, and 0.958; acute cholecystitis of 100.0%, 100.0%, and 1.0. However, perforated viscus showed the least sensitivity (60.0%), specificity (99.2%), and kappa agreement 0.654. All the disease entities showed good kappa agreement beyond chance, and they were all statistically significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study has shown a relatively high sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of US in cases of nontraumatic acute abdomen in a careful hand. We, therefore, recommended that these advantages of US should be capitalized upon in settings where other advanced diagnostic modalities are not available.