Introduction: Cryptosporidiosis is a common disease of children and immune-compromised persons. This study evaluated the diversity and distribution of Cryptosporidium species in diarrheal children and HIV-infected persons on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and those not on HAART. Methodology: A total of 394 fecal specimens were collected from patients attending clinics in Nsukka and Ebonyi, Nigeria. Detection and identification of Cryptosporidium species were conducted by PCR-RFLP of the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene, whereas subtyping was done by sequence analysis of the 60 kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene. Results: Twenty-five (6.3%) specimens yielded four Cryptosporidium species, including C. hominis, C. parvum, C. felis, and C. viatorum. C. hominis was the most dominant species with 48.0% occurrence and three identified subtype families: Ia (six specimens), Ib (three specimens), Ie (two specimens), and one un-subtyped species. C. parvum had 44.0% occurrence and two subtype families: IIc (eight specimens) and IIe (three specimens), while C. felis and C. viatorum each had 4.0% occurrence. There were significant differences in Cryptosporidium species distribution between age groups in children and HIV-infected persons, between suburban and urban areas, and between low and high CD4+ cell counts in HIV-infected patients. There were no significant differences in infection rate and species distribution between HIV-infected patients on HAART and those not on HAART. Conclusions: The results from this study show that there is a high diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. in humans in Ebonyi and Nsukka, Nigeria, and that all the C. parvum subtypes identified are most likely anthroponotic in origin.

Background:Urinary schistosomiasis is a serious public health challenge in some communities of Ebonyi State, south-east Nigeria, partly resulting from a lack of adequate epidemiological data for the institution of effective control strategies.Objective: This study evaluated the prevalence and risk factors of urinary schistosomiasis in rural communities of Ebonyi State, south-east Nigeria.Methods: A total of 300 students, comprising 185 boys and 115 girls, were randomly selected for the study between July and December 2016. A questionnaire was administered to all participants to determine the risk factors for the disease in the area. Urine specimens collected from the participants were processed by sedimentation and examined microscopically for the eggs of Schistosoma haematobium.Results: The overall prevalence rate for urinary schistosomiasis was 8.0%. Students aged 6–10 years had the highest prevalence of infection (10.3%). The prevalence was significantly higher amongst male students (10.3%; p = 0.038) compared with female students (4.4%). Logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between schistosomiasis infection and freshwater contact activities (p = 0.007; odds ratio = 1.89; 95% confidence interval: 4.33–16.17). Contact with stream, pond, river and well water were associated with infection rates of 25%, 14%, 5.3%, and 4.4%, respectively.Conclusion: A relatively low prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis was found in the area. Participants’ socio-economic status and dependence on contaminated water sources were core modifiable risk factors. Health education and development of potable water infrastructure, amongst other interventions, would likely reduce the burden and transmission of urinary schistosomiasis in this locality.

Background. The changing epidemiology of methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) from a hospital-associated pathogen to an organism commonly found in the community and in livestock reflects an organism well-equipped to survive in diverse environments and adjust to different environmental conditions including antimicrobial use.Methods. We investigated the molecular epidemiology ofS. aureusand MRSA in poultry in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Samples were collected from 1800 birds on 9 different farms within the state. Positive isolates were tested for antibiotic susceptibility and molecular typing.Results. Prevalence in birds was 13.7% (247/1800). MRSA prevalence in poultry was 0.8%. The prevalence of MRSA in broilers and layers was 1.2% and 0.4%, respectively. All tested isolates were susceptible to vancomycin. Molecular analysis of the isolates revealed 3spatypes: t002, t084, and a novelspatype, t11469. The novelspatype t11469 belonged to sequence type ST5.Conclusion. The detection of t002 in chicken suggests the presence of livestock-associated MRSA in poultry in Ebonyi State. The detection of the newspatype t11469 in poultry that has not been characterised to ascertain its pathogenic potential remains a cause for concern, especially as some were found to carry PVL genes, a putative virulence factor in staphylococcal infection.

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic Gram-negative bacterium in the Enterobacteriaceae family associated with a wide range of diseases, such as pneumonia, bloodstream infections, meningitis and urinary tract infections. Infections caused by drug-resistant strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae pose a significant threat to the effectiveness of conventional antibiotics. Hence, this has led to the need to explore alternative antimicrobial therapies, especially natural products derived from plant sources. This study assessed the phytochemical composition and antibacterial properties and performed a molecular docking analysis of Henna leaves (Lawsonia inermis L.) extracts on strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Crude ethanol and methanol extracts of L. inermis L. were prepared at different concentrations (25, 50, 75 and 100 mg/mL) and tested on extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs)-producing strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Phytocompounds were identified using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and further subjected to virtual ligands screening with DataWarrior (v05.02.01) and a molecular docking analysis using AutoDock4.2 (v4.2.6). The active compounds of L. inermis L. were determined by the docking analysis, including phytochemical, physicochemical, pharmacokinetics and docking score. The GC-MS analysis identified 27 phytoconstituents, including ethyl acetate, sclareol, 2-[1,2-dihydroxyethyl]-9-[β-d-ribofuranosyl] hypoxanthine, α-bisabolol and 2-Isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexyl 3-(1-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-oxobutyl)-coumarin-4-yl carbonate. The 27 compounds were then screened for their physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties. The results revealed that the methanol extracts at 100 mg/mL showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) zones of inhibition (13.7 ± 1.2 mm), while the ethanol extracts at 50 mg/mL were significantly lower (6.3 ± 0.6 mm) compared to all the other treatments. The docking analysis revealed that out of the 27 compounds identified, only twelve (12) compounds have a drug-likeness activity. The 12 compounds were further subjected to docking analysis to determine the binding energies with the CTX-M protein of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Only one compound [CID_440869; (2-[1,2-dihydroxyethyl]-9-[β-d-ribofuranosyl] hypoxanthine)] had the best binding energy of −9.76 kcal/mol; hence, it can be considered a potentially suitable treatment for infections caused by ESBLs-producing strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae. This study has demonstrated that L. inermis L. extracts have antibacterial effects. Further research could explore the potential antimicrobial applications of L. inermis L. extracts to many bacterial strains.

In vivo studies on the prebiotic effects of Vernonia amygdalina leaf extracts

Background: Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein‐1 (PfEMP‐1) is important in malaria pathogenicity as it mediates Pf‐infected erythrocytes cytoadherence to host endothelial microvasculature receptors. Naturally acquired antibodies against specific PfEMP‐1 antigens may be beneficial in clinical malaria protection. This study determined antibodies to DBLα2, CIDRα1, DBLβ12, and DBLγ6 domains of PfEMP‐1 in children with P. falciparum malaria in Tamale, Ghana.Methods: Sixty P. falciparum‐infected children, and 30 controls, aged 1–12 years were recruited for this case‐control study from April to July 2023 in Northern Ghana. Participants with uncomplicated malaria had asexual P. falciparum in peripheral blood and Hb ≥ 5.0 g/dL, and severe malaria was diagnosed when participants had Hb < 5.0 g/dL in addition to asexual P. falciparum in peripheral blood. Blood cell indices were measured using hematology analyzer, and IgG antibodies to DBLα2, CIDRα1, DBLβ12, and DBLγ6 domains of PfEMP‐1 and pro‐inflammatory cytokines were detected using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0.Results: The prevalence of PfEMP‐1 IgG antibodies among P. falciparum‐infected children and the uninfected group was 65.0% and 6.7%, respectively. PfEMP‐1 IgG antibodies were present in 83.3% of uncomplicated malaria cases, and 46.7% in severe malaria subjects. Plasma levels of PfEMP‐1 IgG antibodies were elevated in participants with uncomplicated malaria compared to those with severe malaria (p < 0.001). Hemoglobin, RBC, HCT, and platelet were significantly lower among P. falciparum‐infected children without PfEMP‐1 IgG antibodies than among those with the antibodies. Prevalence of anemia among children with PfEMP‐1 IgG antibodies and those without the antibodies were 74.4% and 100%, respectively.Conclusion: The high prevalence of PfEMP‐1 IgG antibodies to DBLα2, CIDRα1, DBLβ12, and DBLγ6 domains observed in participants with uncomplicated malaria, and the relationship between PfEMP‐1 IgG antibodies and blood cell parameters could indicate that the antibodies may be related to effective erythropoietic response in P. falciparum malaria. Immune antibodies against DBLα2, CIDRα1, DBLβ12, and DBLγ6 domains of PfEMP‐1 may suppress the deteriorating effects of PfEMP‐1 antigens and provide immune protection against severe malarial anemia in children.