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Human enteroviruses and human parechoviruses are associated with a broad range of diseases and even severe and fatal conditions. For human cosaviruses, the etiological role is yet unknown. Little is known about the circulation of non-polio enteroviruses, human parechoviruses, and human cosaviruses in Nigeria. A total of 113 stool samples were collected from healthy individuals in Osun State between February 2016 and May 2017. RT-PCR assays targeting the 5′ non-coding region (5′ -NCR) were used to screen for human enteroviruses, human parechoviruses, and human cosaviruses. For human enteroviruses, species-specific RT-PCR assays targeting the VP1 regions were used for molecular typing. Inoculation was carried out on RD-A, CaCo-2, HEp-2C, and L20B cell lines to compare molecular and virological assays. Ten samples tested positive for enterovirus RNA with 11 strains detected, including CV-A13 (n = 3), E-18 (n = 2), CV-A20 (n = 1), CV-A24 (n = 1), EV-C99 (n = 1), and EV-C116 (n = 2). Three samples tested positive for human parechovirus RNA, and full genome sequencing on two samples allowed assignment to a new Parechovirus A type (HPeV-19). Thirty-three samples tested positive for cosavirus with assignment to species Cosavirus D and Cosavirus A based on the 5′-NCR region. Screening of stool samples collected from healthy individuals in Nigeria in 2016 and 2017 revealed a high diversity of circulating human enteroviruses, human parechoviruses, and human cosaviruses. Molecular assays for genotyping showed substantial benefits compared with those of cell-culture assays. Full article

The study of the prevalence of asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum in humans infected with immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was carried out in Ile-Ife, Osun State Nigeria. The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic infection P. falciparum in HIV positive individuals and correlate it to age Parasitaemia and CD4 T cell count. Out of ninety three (93) HIV positive patients that participated in the study, 53 (58.8%) were females while 40 (41.4%) were males; 48 (52.4%) females and 35 (33.8%) males were positive for asymptomatic P. falciparum given a total number of 83 (86.6%). Twenty non-HIV patients were used as control samples: 9 (45%) were males and 11 (55%) were females. With 3.0 (33.3%) males and 5 (45.45%) females were positive with insignificant value of mean Parasitaemia of 125.0 µl of blood. Age group 31-40 had the highest positive rate of 26 (32.2%) and age group 11-20 and above 60 had the least of positive rate. The correlation between age and both CD4 T cell count and Parasitaemia showed levels of significance less than 0.01 (P < 0.01) while the correlation between CD4 T cell and count and Parasitaemia showed no significant correlation, having P-value of P > 0.05. Comparing the males mean age, CD4 T cell count and Parasitaemia with that of females there was no level of significance P-value being greater than 0.05 (P > 0.05) each. In conclusion, the study showed that in asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum, almost all the tested samples were positive which could be as a result of depletion in the immune level, hence there is need to always screen for Plasmodium falciparum whether in asymptomatic or symptomatic patients. The CD4 T cells count from the study can not be used for the detection or determination of the presence of malaria infection in HIV positive patients. The best method for malaria identification so far is still the staining method. There should not be discrimination when sampling the patient when investigations on HIV and malaria are to be carried out when both are infected. Full article