Urogenital schistosomiasis in Nigeria post receipt of the largest single praziquantel donation in Africa.

Schistosomiasis control efforts in Nigeria received a boost in 2016 when Merck Group made the largest single donation of praziquantel to an African country. We examined urine samples from 2,023 school age children from 15 locations in 10 states and an Internally Displaced Person's (IDP) camp in Nigeria. We recorded an overall Schistosoma haematobium prevalence of 10.4% in the 10 states that ranged between 6 - 37%, while prevalence in the IDP camp was 2.9%. The highest infection prevalence (37%) recorded was from the population in Wasai Dam area in Minjibir (Kano State), while five locations had no positive urine samples. We observed heavy intensity of infection (≥ 50 eggs/10 ml urine) in 87.9% of infected samples and co-occurrence of the eggs of S. haematobium and S. mansoni in urine for two participants. The overall prevalence we recorded is slightly above the national average (9.5%) reported in 2015. Our findings indicate that despite the ongoing administration of praziquantel in Nigeria, urogenital schistosomiasis is still prevalent with heavy intensity of infection. Large-scale epidemiological monitoring is required to monitor the efficacy of schistosomiasis control in Nigeria.

Association between tongue rolling and tongue folding in Osogbo, Southwestern Nigeria / Asociación entre la lengua enrollada y la lengua plegada en Osogbo, Suroeste de Nigeria

This study was carried out among 144 individuals (18 years) from the Yoruba tribe of Southwestern Nigeria in order to determine the association between tongue rolling and folding. Participants were examined for the ability to roll and/or fold their tongues. The incidence of tongue rollers and folders were 59.7 % and 79.2 % respectively. Tongue rolling was higher in females than male but the difference was not significant (X2= 1.039, df = 1, p= 0.308). Tongue folding was significantly higher in females than males (X2= 4.211, df= 1, p= 0.04). Of the 144 participants, 76 (52.8 %) were tongue rollers and folders, 10 (6.9 %) were rollers and non-folders, 38 (26.4 %) were non-rollers and folders and 20 (13.9 %) were non-rollers and non-folders. These classes did not vary significantly with sex (X2= 5.895, df= 3, p= 0.117) but there was a significant association between the ability to roll the tongue and the ability to fold the tongue (X2= 10.97, df= 1, p <0.001). This study shows that tongue rollers are associated with tongue folders.

Este estudio se realizó en 144 individuos (18 años) de la tribu Yoruba del suroeste de Nigeria con el fin de determinar la asociación entre la lengua enrollada y plegada. Los participantes fueron examinados por la capacidad de enrollar y/o doblar sus lenguas. La incidencia de enrollar y/o doblar las lenguas fueron de 59,7 % y 79,2 %, respectivamente. La capacidad de enrollar la lengua fue mayor en mujeres que en los hombres, pero la diferencia no fue significativa (X2= 1,039, df= 1, p= 0,308). El plegado o doblado de la lengua fue significativamente mayor en mujeres que hombres (X2= 4,211, df= 1, p= 0,04). De los 144 participantes, 76 (52,8 %) enrollaron y doblaron la lengua, 10 (6,9 %) enrollaron y no doblaron la lengua, 38 (26,4 %) no enrollaron y doblaron la lengua, y 20 (13,9 %) no enrollaron y ni doblaron la lengua. Estas clasificaciones no variaron significativamente con el sexo (X2= 5,895, df= 3, p= 0,117), sin embargo hubo una asociación significativa entre la capacidad de enrollar la lengua y la capacidad de doblar la lengua (X2= 10,97, df= 1, p<0,001). Este estudio muestra que la capacidad de enrollar la lengua está asociada con la capacidad de doblar la lengua.

Impact of asymptomatic malaria on some hematological parameters in the Iwo community in Southwestern Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria among prospective blood donors and its effect on some hematological parameters. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Six hundred sixty-eight seemingly healthy individuals (501 men and 167 women) ≥16 years of age and without clinical symptoms in Iwo, Southwestern Nigeria, were screened for this study. A sample of 5 ml of blood was drawn from each participant for examination of malaria parasites and a full blood count. Thick and thin Giemsa-stained blood smears were prepared for malaria parasite identification and quantification. Estimations of hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, and platelet and leukocyte counts were made using an automated Coulter counter (STKS model). RESULTS: Out of the 668 participants examined, 141 (21.1%) were positive for malarial parasitemia. The parasite rate was significantly higher in men (25.5%) than in women (7.8%) (χ(2) = 23.29, p < 0.001) and it was significantly associated with age (χ(2) = 33.69, p < 0.001). Parasitemic participants had significantly lower mean values of hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, and total leukocyte and platelet counts compared to aparasitemic individuals (t = 3.5, p < 0.001; t = 2.0, p = 0.04; t = 4.4, p < 0.001, and t = 5.3, p < 0.001, respectively). A low platelet count (<150 × 10(9)/l) was significantly associated with malarial infection (OR 4.0; 95% CI 2.6-6.1). A person with a platelet count <150 × 10(9)/l was 4 times more likely to have asymptomatic malarial infection than one with a count ≥150 × 10(9)/l. CONCLUSION: Asymptomatic malaria is prevalent among blood donors in the study area and is associated with thrombocytopenia.

Consumption of soymilk lowers atherogenic lipid fraction in healthy individuals.

The effect of soy-based products on lipid profile has not been well established. Whereas some investigators have reported that soy is hypocholesterolemic, others could only demonstrate this in hypercholesterolemic subjects, while a few have not found any marked association between soy and cholesterol levels. This study was therefore aimed at investigating the effect of soymilk on lipid and lipoprotein profile of normocholesterolemic, apparently healthy Nigerian Africans. Five hundred milliliters of soymilk preparation was consumed daily by 42 apparently healthy young to middle-aged subjects for a period of 21 days. Forty-two other volunteers with similar characteristics, who did not drink the soymilk over this time frame, were randomly selected as controls. Plasma total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglyceride (TG) concentrations were determined twice by standard spectrophotometric methods (at the initial visit and after 3 weeks). Low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) was calculated from the TC, TG, and HDL-C concentrations. After 21 days, regulated soymilk consumption significantly reduced mean plasma TC by 11% and LDL-C by 25% (P < .001 and P < .001, respectively) and increased mean plasma HDL-C by 20% (P < .05) in the test population. Plasma TG was not significantly altered. In control subjects, no significant differences were observed in mean TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, and TG. Daily consumption of soymilk significantly decreased atherogenic plasma cholesterol concentration. This suggests that soy drink could be an important non-pharmacological cholesterol-reducing agent.