From Ebola to COVID-19: emergency preparedness and response plans and actions in Lagos, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Lagos state is the industrial nerve centre of Nigeria and was the epicentre of the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Nigeria as it is now for the current Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) outbreak. This paper describes how the lessons learned from the Ebola outbreak in 2014 informed the emergency preparedness of the State ahead of the COVID-19 outbreak and guided response. DISCUSSION: Following the Ebola outbreak in 2014, the Lagos State government provided governance by developing a policy on emergency preparedness and biosecurity and provided oversight and coordination of emergency preparedness strategies. Capacities for emergency response were strengthened by training key staff, developing a robust surveillance system, and setting up a Biosafety Level 3 laboratory and biobank. Resource provision, in terms of finances and trained personnel for emergencies was prioritized by the government. With the onset of COVID-19, Lagos state was able to respond promptly to the outbreak using the centralized Incident Command Structure and the key activities of the Emergency Operations Centre. Contributory to effective response were partnerships with the private sectors, community engagement and political commitment. CONCLUSION: Using the lessons learned from the 2014 Ebola outbreak, Lagos State had gradually prepared its healthcare system for a pandemic such as COVID-19. The State needs to continue to expand its preparedness to be more resilient and future proof to respond to disease outbreaks. Looking beyond intra-state gains, lessons and identified best practices from the past and present should be shared with other states and countries.

Comparative performance of SARS-CoV-2 real-time PCR diagnostic assays on samples from Lagos, Nigeria.

A key element in containing the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 infection is quality diagnostics which is affected by several factors. We now report the comparative performance of five real-time diagnostic assays. Nasopharyngeal swab samples were obtained from persons seeking a diagnosis for SARS-CoV-2 infection in Lagos, Nigeria. The comparison was performed on the same negative, low, and high-positive sample set, with viral RNA extracted using the Qiagen Viral RNA Kit. All five assays are one-step reverse transcriptase real-time PCR assays. Testing was done according to each assay's manufacturer instructions for use using real-time PCR platforms. 63 samples were tested using the five qPCR assays, comprising of 15 negative samples, 15 positive samples (Ct = 16-30; one Ct = 35), and 33 samples with Tib MolBiol E-gene Ct value ranging from 36-41. All assays detected all high positive samples correctly. Three assays correctly identified all negative samples while two assays each failed to correctly identify one different negative sample. The consistent detection of positive samples at different Ct/Cq values gives an indication of when to repeat testing and/or establish more stringent in-house cut-off value. The varied performance of different diagnostic assays, mostly with emergency use approvals, for a novel virus is expected. Comparative assays' performance reported may guide laboratories to determine both their repeat testing Ct/Cq range and/or cut-off value.

Synergistic antimicrobial activities of phytoestrogens in crude extracts of two sesame species against some common pathogenic microorganisms.

Intensive studies on extracts and biologically active compounds isolated from medicinal plants have doubled in the last decade worldwide. However, as a result of paucity of knowledge and folkloric claim on the effectiveness of sesame leaves in infectious disease treatments, we aimed to determine the synergistic antimicrobial activity of essential oils and lignans present in the crude leaves extracts of Sesame radiatum and Sesame indicum. Ethanolic, methanolic and aqueous extracts of both leaves were studied for their in-vitro synergistic antimicrobial activity against both gram positive and gram negative micro-organisms, and Yeast using Agar diffusion method. The GC-MS phytochemical screening of methanolic extract showed that the major compounds in essential oils are of carboxylic acids and phenolic groups especially, the most potent antioxidants known to man like sesamol, sesamolin and sesamin among others. Methanolic and ethanolic extracts have broad spectrum antimicrobial effect against all the tested pathogenic micro-organisms except Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus respectively, while the aqueous extract exhibited inhibitory activity on Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Candida albicans. The result confirmed the folkloric claims of the antimicrobial effectiveness of locally consumed sesame leaves extracts especially against bacterial and common skin infection in many areas of Nigeria.

Sesame radiatum phytoestrogens stimulate spermatogenic activity and improve sperm quality in adult male Sprague Dawley rat testis / Fitoestrógenos sesame radiatum estimulan la actividad espermatogénica y mejoran la calidad del esperma en el testículo de ratas Sprague Dawley adulto de sexo masculino

Increasing concern has been expressed about the declining sperm count of humans and the potential environmental effects of both synthetic and natural estrogenic endocrine disruptors (EEDs) on human reproductive health in the last few decades. However, due to paucity of knowledge, we evaluate the chronic reproductive toxicity of sesame phytoestrogenic lignans on the male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats' testis. Thirty adult male SD rats weighing 150-200g were divided into three groups. Two treated groups received a daily dose of aqueous leaves extract of Sesamum radiatum at 14.0 mg/kg bw and 28.0mg /kg bw respectively via gastric gavage, while equal volume of normal saline was administered to the control group for six weeks. Seminal analysis and hormonal assay study were analyzed using SPSS software and P< 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The results showed significant (P< 0.05) body weight gains observed in all the animals with significant (P< 0.05) weight increase in their raw testicular weights compared to control. The relative testicular weight per 100g bw was significantly (P< 0.05) higher in control than treated. However, the weight gain was dose related with a reversal in their relative testicular weight. The cauda sperm count including the motility and morphology of the treated were significantly (P< 0.05) higher than control in a dose related manner. In addition, significant (P > 0.05) increases in testosterone and a significant decrease in FSH in the high dose (treated) compared to control. Sesame phytoestrogenic lignans improves spermatozoa quality in a dose related manner.

Una mayor preocupación se ha expresado en las últimas décadas por la disminución en la cantidad de espermatozoides de los seres humanos y los posibles efectos ambientales de disruptores endocrinos estrogénicos (DES) sintéticos y naturales sobre la salud reproductiva humana. Sin embargo, debido a la escasez de conocimientos, evaluamos la toxicidad crónica para la reproducción de fitoestrógenos lignanos del sésamo en el testículo de ratas Sprague Dawley (SD) macho. Treinta ratas macho adultas, de un peso de 150-200g se dividieron en tres grupos. Dos grupos de tratamiento recibieron una dosis diaria de extracto acuoso de las hojas Sesamum radiatum de 14,0 mg/kg de peso corporal y 28,0mg / kg de peso corporal, respectivamente, a través de una sonda gástrica, mientras que igual volumen de solución salina normal se administró al grupo control durante seis semanas. El análisis seminal y estudio de ensayo hormonal fueron analizados mediante el software SPSS y P <0,05 fue considerado estadísticamente significativo. Los resultados mostraron significativas (P <0,05) ganancias de peso corporal observados en todos los animales con un peso significativo (P <0.05), aumento de peso en su peso testicular bruto en comparación con el control. El relativo peso testicular por 100 g de peso corporal fue significativamente mayor (P <0,05) en control que en tratamiento. Sin embargo, el aumento de peso dosis se ha relacionado con un retroceso en su peso relativo testicular. La cantidad de espermatozoides, incluyendo la motilidad y morfología de los que recibieron tratamiento fue significativamente más alto que el control (P <0,05) en una dosis relacionados. Además, significativo aumento en los niveles de testosterona (P> 0,05) y una disminución significativa de FSH en la dosis alta (tratados), en comparación con el control. Fitoestrógenos lignanos del sésamo mejoran la calidad de los espermatozoides en una dosis adecuada.