Publications by authors named "Chika Ejikeugwu"

Article Synopsis
  • Researchers hybridized a human parasitic fluke with a livestock parasite in a lab setting, but the ecological extent of this hybridization is still uncertain in the wild.
  • Analysis of 34.6 million genetic variations from 162 samples across 18 African countries showed a significant genetic divide between northern and southern populations, with no recent hybridization evidence but signs of past admixture events.
  • The study found that while gene flow barriers exist, 15 introgressed genes are becoming fixed in northern populations, and certain genomic regions, especially on sex chromosomes, resist hybridization, highlighting the importance of interspecific hybridization in shaping the genetics of these medically and agriculturally significant parasites.
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Background And Aims: This study retrospectively assessed the prevalence of TB and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS coinfection among patients that attended the Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) centers in Anambra State, Southeast, Nigeria, between 2013 and 2017.

Methods: The study adopted a descriptive and retrospective epidemiological survey design. A total of 1443 case files of patients aged 15-60 who were treated in DOTS centers selected from Anambra State's 21 Local Government Areas between 2013 and 2017 were investigated.

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Background And Objectives: This study investigated the incidence and antibiotic susceptibility profile of extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing uropathogenic recovered from HIV/AIDS patients in Awka metropolis, Nigeria.

Materials And Methods: A total of 363 urine samples were bacteriologically analyzed for the isolation of isolates which were further characterized using standard microbiology techniques. The isolated uropathogenic was tested for susceptibility to a range of clinically important antibiotics using the modified disk diffusion technique.

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Background: Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae represent the most relevant reservoir of resistance genes such as metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) and AmpC genes that give them the undue advantage to resist antimicrobial onslaught. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of MBL (bla, bla, bla, bla) and AmpC (bla, bla, bla, bla) resistance genes in aforementioned GNB collected from abattoir and poultry sources in Nigeria.

Results: In total, 370 isolates were collected from abattoir tables (n = 130), anal region of cows (n = 120), and the cloacae of poultry birds (n = 120).

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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.

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Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing organisms have become a serious challenge in healthcare delivery globally. The prevalence of ESBL carriage in healthy and sick children in Enugu, Nigeria, was bacteriologically investigated in this study. Four hundred and twenty-two biological samples (mid-stream urine and feces) were bacteriologically analyzed.

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Objectives: Gram-negative bacteria represent the most relevant reservoir of resistance to antibiotics in the environment. The natural selection of resistant clones of bacteria in the environment by antimicrobial selective pressure is a relevant mechanism for spreading antibiotic resistance traits in both the community and hospital environment. This is in scenarios where antimicrobials are used irrationally, and even in the propagation of livestock, poultry birds, and for other veterinary purposes.

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Objectives: This study evaluated the prevalence, antibiogram and molecular features of CA-MRSA in Awka, Nigeria.

Methods: Confirmation of MRSA was done by testing resistance to oxacillin (1µg), cloxacillin (5µg) and cefoxitin 30µg) on sterile Mueller Hinton agar supplemented with 4% sodium chloride. The MRSA strains were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method.

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In this study, the presence of extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) producing organisms in abattoirs, a non-hospital community was investigated. The presence of ESBL-producing phenotypes was confirmed by the Double Disc Synergy Test (DDST). Out of the 99 isolates screened for ESBL, 28 (28.

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