Anxiety among Residents Living near Poultry Farms during Avian Influenza H5NI -Outbreak in Nigeria

Avian influenza (AI) H5NI arrived Nigeria in the year 2006 with apathy towards poultry and poultry products. Our study was conducted among residents living near poultry farms (RLNPF); who were daily exposed to emissions from poultry farms; during the AI H5NI outbreak in the year 2006 and a year later. The physical and mental health statuses were assessed via structured questionnaire. The RLNPF experienced similar physical ill-health symptoms during the study period; 2006 and 2007; but were significantly higher than those reported by the control populace. Depression indices were similar in the two years running with no significant difference in all the groups studied. Anxiety symptoms were significantly higher in 2006 during outbreak of AI than in the year 2007 among RLNPF; as well as than control. There was no significant difference in anxiety symptoms between the RLNPF in 2007 and the control populace. The result indicated that there was anxiety among the RLNPF in the year 2006 when there was outbreak of AI H5NI in Nigeria

Anti-typhoid agglutinins in school aged African children.

OBJECTIVES: To determine baseline antibody responses to H and O antigens of Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi (A, B and C) in school aged Nigerian children. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study involving 175 children. Using both rapid slide and tube agglutination techniques in dilutions of sera (1:20 to 1:320), agglutination reactions with various antigens were determined. SETTING: Community based study involving primary school pupils in Benin City. SUBJECTS: Apparently healthy school children (5-16 years) selected systematically, using multistage sampling technique. RESULTS: No subject demonstrated agglutination to any of antigens at 1:320 dilution. Two (1.1%), 26 (14.9%), 85 (33.1%) and 51 (29.1%) pupils respectively had reactions to either antigens of Salmonella typhi at dilutions of 1:160, 1:80, 1:40 and 1:20. At 1:40 dilution 1 (0.6%) and 3 (2.3%) each had reactions to HB, OB and HC respectively. Sixteen per cent had reactions at higher dilutions of > or = 1:80 and this occurred more significantly in older children (chi2(y) = 15.50; p < 0.001), those with low maternal socio-economic status (chi2(y) = 22.06, p < 0.001), those from poor apartments (chi2 = 4.49; p < 0.05) and those who used predominantly none pipe-borne water (chi2 = 5.40; p < 0.02). Against OD and HD, about 50.0% seroconverted at 1:40 dilution with antibodies against H being more prevalent. CONCLUSION: Interpretation of single widal reaction in endemic areas must take into cognisance age, clinical and socio-cultural characteristics of the child.

Changes in the disintegration properties of some brands of paracetamol tablets inoculated with four bacterial species.

Four most common brands of paracetamol (4-aceta-midophenol) tablets were examined for the changes in their disintegration properties after inoculation with Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Klebsiella aerogenes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and incubating for 5 weeks. The disintegration times varied from one brand to the other, reaching maximum values of 72 min., 82 min., 110 min. and 120 min. for S. aureus, B. cereus, P. aeruginosa and Klebsiella aerogenes, respectively. All brands of paracetamol tablets revealed the presence of cotton wool-like fibrils which were seen to be interwoven within the tablets' matrices and these were believed to have caused the higher disintegration times.

Evaluation of the pathogenicity and virulence of Yersinia species isolated in Edo and Delta States of Nigeria.

Sixteen isolates of four species of Yersinia comprising five of Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia fredricksenii, four of Yersinia intermedia and two of Yersinia kristensenii isolated from domestic and wild animals in villages in Edo and Delta States, Nigeria, were evaluated for their pathogenicity using laboratory animal models and virulence characteristics tests which included autoagglutinability, calcium dependency for growth, heat-stable enterotoxin production and conjunctivities in guinea pig eye. Results obtained revealed that Yersinia enterocolitica isolates were enteropathogenic as demonstrated by the production of diarrhoea and eventual recovery from faeces, spleen and liver of the infected animals. Three (60%) (2 serotypes 0:3 and 1 serotype 0:8) of the five Yersinia enterocolitica isolates were lethal to the animals. Other Yersinia isolates (Yersinia kristensenii, Yersinia fredricksenii and Yersinia intermedia) were uniformly non pathogenic to the animals. However, a strain of Yersinia intermedia isolate produced diarrhoea in the inoculated animals and caused lethality in guinea pigs and mice, but was negative for autoagglutination test, calcium dependency, conjunctivities, and positive for heat-stable enterotoxin production. We are of the view that this strain may be another Yersinia intermedia--like bacterium, previously isolated in Nigeria. Results therefore, suggest an emergence of a pathogenic Yersinia intermedia species in this environment.

Serum immunoglobulin levels in the course of normal gestation in Nigerian women.

The three major immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA and IgM) concentrations were measured in 118 Nigerian women during normal pregnancy. IgG was found to decline progressively throughout gestation with a very highly significant decrease between the first and second trimester (0.01 greater than P greater than 0.005) and between the second and third trimesters (P = 0.01). The mean concentrations of IgM were significantly lower in sera from first-trimester pregnant women than those of age-matched non-pregnant control subjects (P less than 0.001), and there was a further significant decrease between second and third trimester groups (0.005 greater than P greater than 0.001). No statistical difference was observed for IgA levels throughout normal pregnancy. The significance of these results is discussed in relation to other observations elsewhere.

ABO blood group incompatibility and infertility in Nigerian couples.

ABO blood group substances were determined in either the seminal plasma (male patients) or saliva of 100 infertile couples and 100 control subjects. Comprehensive infertility evaluation was performed in all patients. Results were analysed in groups of couples with respect to their ABO blood group and compared with fertile control subjects. Over 70% of fertile marriages were compatible. Comparison of infertile and fertile couples for either ABO compatibility or incompatibility did not reveal any statistically significant difference (P greater than 0.05). This suggests some measure of low zone tolerance to ABO antigens on spermatozoa, for only a small minority of sperm introduced during coitus gains access to the oviduct and ultimately to the peritoneal cavity.

Antigens of the human syncytiotrophoblast microvillus plasma membrane.

Further data are presented on the isolation and biochemical analysis of syncytiotrophoblast microvillus plasma membrane preparations from normal full-term human placentas. No evidence has been obtained that IgG associated with these membranes is maternal antibody to trophoblast antigen. An oncotrophoblast plasma membrane antigen was previously identified by immunofluorescence, and an indirect radioisotopic antibody assay has now been used to confirm the detection of a cell surface antigen common to breast carcinoma cells and normal trophoblast. The relation of trophoblast plasma membrane antigens to possible maternal immunization in pregnancy is discussed.

A cell membrane antigen expressed by both human breast carcinoma cells and normal human trophoblast.

Immunohistological studies on frozen sections of human placentae and breast carcinoma tissue using heteroantisera raised against both trophoblast microvillous plasma membrane preparations isolated from normal placentae and irradiated MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells have demonstrated a cell membrane antigen expressed by both normal human trophoblast and human breast carcinoma cells. The heteroantisera used in this study had all been previously adsorbed with immobilized human term pregnancy serum, placental alkaline phosphatase and placental ferritin preparations, as well as with human peripheral blood leucocytes. The oncoplacental membrane antigen would appear not to be represented in other normal tissues, but is represented on Jar choriocarcinoma cells and to a lesser degree on AV3 amniotic cells. Adsorption experiments have demonstrated that this antigen may not be dominant within the range of antigenic specificities of heteroantisera raised against MCF-7 cells or isolated trophoblast microvillous plasma membrane preparations.

Placental proteins and steroid hormones in the soluble fraction of human syncytiotrophoblast plasma membrane.

Placental protein 5 (PP5), pregnancy-specific glycoprotein (SP1), pregnancy-associated alpha 2-glycoprotein (SP3) and chorionic gonadotrophin could not be demonstrated in appreciable molar quantities in the soluble fraction from microvillous plasma membrane preparations isolated from the syncytiotrophoblast of full-term human placentae. However, progesterone, total oestriol and placental lactogen may have some association with this membrane.

Characterization and localization of human placental ferritin.

Ferritin has been purified from normal full-term human placentae and its antigenic and molecular characteristics compared with adult liver ferritin. Placental ferritin is composed predominantly of a single subunit type, co-migrating with a liver ferritin standard on sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Comparison of dose-response curves in an immunoradiometric assay indicated some tissue-specific antigenicity for placental ferritin. This was supported by immunofluorescence studies on cryostat sections of human placentae by using antibodies to placental and spleen ferritin. Specific staining for placental ferritin was demonstrated within placental syncytiotrophoblast, particularly localized towards the microvillus plasma membrane. Ferritin has also been shown by electrophoretic and antigenic analysis to be present in protein fractions solubilized from isolated human syncytiotrophoblast microvillus plasma-membrane preparations, suggesting that ferritin may play an active role in the transfer of iron from maternal transferrin across the syncytiotrophoblast plasma membrane.

Characterisation of the soluble fraction of human syncytiotrophoblast microvillous plasma membrane-associated proteins.

Syncytiotrophoblast microvillous plasma membrane (StMPM) preparations were obtained from human full-term placentae by previously published methods of cold saline extraction and phase centrifugation. Purity of these preparations was assessed by electron microscopy, enzyme analysis and hydroxyproline content. IgG, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, transferrin, ferritin and alpha 2-macroglobulin were consistently detected in the aqueous soluble fraction from sodium deoxycholate-solubilised StMPM preparations by antigenic or electrophoretic analysis, beta 2-Microglobulin was not detected in these preparations. Up to 21 discrete protein bands could be demonstrated by SDS--PAGE, and their molecular weights determined. Many of these components need to be further identified, including a glycoprotein of molecular weight 36 500 which was particularly prominent. The soluble fraction from StMPM preparations gave a single strong precipitin reaction in immunodiffusion against wheat germ agglutinin, but not against other lectins studied.