Drug Development.

Background: Studies suggest a potential link between stroke and Alzheimer's disease wherein stroke may serve as a trigger for the onset or acceleration of Alzheimer's pathogenesis as damage to the brain's blood vessels may lead to the accumulation of amyloid beta protein which is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Recent research has shown that stroke treatment may hold the key to treating Alzheimer's disease. The anti-inflammatory potentials of Cholinergic signaling are a novel therapeutic target in memory decline associated with Alzheimer's.

Prevalence, intensity and risk factors of soil-transmitted helminthiasis after five effective rounds of preventive chemotherapy across three implementation units in Ondo State, Nigeria.

Background: Routine epidemiological data are essential for monitoring the effectiveness of preventive chemotherapy (PC), optimizing resource allocation, and addressing the evolving needs in the elimination of soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH). This study assesses the prevalence, intensity, and associated risk factors of STH following five rounds of albendazole-based PC in three implementation units (IUs) in Ondo State, Nigeria.

Methodology: Fresh stool samples were collected from 2,093 children aged 5-14 years across 45 systematically selected schools in three IUs: Ese-Odo, Irele, and Ile-Oluji.

Evaluating the performance of a virtual platform 'T-BOM' for mentorship in tropical diseases research among early career scientists: Insights from a pilot in Nigeria and other resource-limited settings.

Background: Research mentorship plays a crucial role in advancing science. However, there are limited virtual platforms for cultivating mentorship among early career infectious diseases researchers in resource challenged settings. This study reports the findings from the utilization of a recently developed virtual mentorship platform, including its achievements, challenges and needs.

Improved species assignments across the entire genus using targeted sequencing.

Accurate species identification of the mosquitoes in the genus is of crucial importance to implement malaria control measures and monitor their effectiveness. We use a previously developed amplicon panel (ANOSPP) that retrieves sequence data from multiple short nuclear loci for any species in the genus. Species assignment is based on comparison of samples to a reference index using -mer distance.

Can Clean Delivery Kits Prevent Infections? Lessons from Traditional Birth Attendants in Nigeria.

Background: In resource-poor settings, perinatal infections contribute significantly to maternal and neonatal deaths, and the use of clean delivery kits (CDKs) has been proposed as a tool to reduce the risk of infection-related deaths. This study aims to assess the acceptability and effectiveness of CDKs in preventing infections in deliveries attended by traditional birth attendants (TBAs) in Abeokuta, Nigeria.

Methods: The study was a cluster-randomized trial with 67 birth centres/clusters, 453 births/mothers, and 457 babies randomized to intervention or control arms; intervention involved supplementation of delivery with JANMA CDKs.

Understanding the relationship between WASH and malnutrition: Analysis of anthropometric data of children attending WASH-supported schools in Ogun State, Nigeria.

Background: There has been a growing interest in better understanding the association between water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and malnutrition.

Aim: We analysed anthropometric data of children attending WASH intervention schools and those from non-intervention schools in Ogun State, Nigeria.

Methods: A total of 353 children across six schools (three interventions and three non-interventions) participated in this study.

Mixed-methods evaluation of integrating female genital schistosomiasis management within primary healthcare: a pilot intervention in Ogun State, Nigeria.

Background: Detection and management of female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) within primary healthcare is crucial for achieving schistosomiasis elimination, however, current technical strategies are not feasible in many settings. In Nigeria, there are currently no established standard operating procedures to support front-line health workers. This article presents an evaluation of piloting an FGS care package in two LGAs of Ogun State, Nigeria.

A quality improvement approach in co-developing a primary healthcare package for raising awareness and managing female genital schistosomiasis in Nigeria and Liberia.

Background: Girls and women living in endemic areas for urogenital schistosomiasis may have lifelong vulnerability to female genital schistosomiasis (FGS). For >2 decades, the importance of FGS has been increasing in sub-Saharan Africa, but without established policies for case detection and treatment. This research aimed to understand the level of FGS knowledge of frontline health workers and health professionals working in endemic areas and to identify health system needs for the effective management of FGS cases and prevention of further complications due to ongoing infections.

A Post-Lockdown Assessment of Albendazole Treatment Coverage in Mass Drug Administration Campaigns Implemented Before and During COVID-19 Pandemic in Ekiti, Southwest Nigeria.

This study assessed the coverage of albendazole (ALB) in mass drug administration (MDA) programs implemented before (2019) and during the (2020 and 2021) COVID-19 pandemic in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Standardized questionnaires were administered to 1,127 children across three peri-urban communities to ascertain if they received and swallowed ALB across the years. Reasons, why ALB was not received, were documented and analyzed in SPSS.

Morphometric analysis of schistosome eggs recovered from human urines in communities along the shoreline of Oyan River Dam in Ogun State, Nigeria.

There are growing concerns that communities characterized with surface water, where both humans and livestock interact for agricultural, domestic, cultural and recreational purposes, are likely to support hybridization between schistosome species infecting humans and livestock. This study therefore investigated the morphometrics of schistosome eggs recovered from human urine samples in four schistosomiasis endemic communities (Imala-Odo, Abule-Titun, Apojula and Ibaro-Oyan) along the banks of Oyan River Dam in Ogun State, Nigeria. Recovered eggs were counted, photographed, and measured with IC Measure™ for total length, maximum width and a ratio of egg shape.

Persistence of onchocerciasis in villages in Enugu and Ogun states in Nigeria following many rounds of mass distribution of ivermectin.

Background: Onchocerciasis is endemic in most local government areas (LGAs) in Enugu and Ogun states. Most meso- and hyper-endemic LGAs have received many rounds of ivermectin mass drug administration (MDA). This study aimed to determine the current prevalence of onchocerciasis in villages in Enugu and Ogun states that were formerly highly endemic and to assess progress toward elimination of the infection in areas believed to be at high risk for persistence.

The new WHO guideline for control and elimination of human schistosomiasis: implications for the Schistosomiasis Elimination Programme in Nigeria.

Unlabelled: [Image: see text]

Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40249-022-01034-3.

High-resolution species assignment of mosquitoes using -mer distances on targeted sequences.

The ANOSPP amplicon panel is a genus-wide targeted sequencing panel to facilitate large-scale monitoring of species diversity. Combining information from the 62 nuclear amplicons present in the ANOSPP panel allows for a more senstive and specific species assignment than single gene (e.g.

Integrated transmission assessment surveys (iTAS) of lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis in Cross River, Taraba and Yobe States, Nigeria.

Background: Integrated transmission assessment surveys (iTAS) have been recommended for evaluation of the transmission of both lymphatic filariasis (LF) and onchocerciasis as the prevalence of both diseases moves toward their respective elimination targets in Nigeria. Therefore, we conducted an iTAS between May and December 2017 in five local government areas (LGAs), also known as implementation units (IUs), in states of Cross River, Taraba and Yobe in Nigeria.

Methods: The TAS comprised two phases: the Pre-iTAS and the iTAS itself.

Estimating the population at risk with soil transmitted helminthiasis and annual drug requirements for preventive chemotherapy in Ogun State, Nigeria.

Soil transmitted helminth (STH) infections are among the most common human infections worldwide with over 1 billion people affected. Many estimates of STH infection are often based on school-aged children (SAC). This study produced predictive risk-maps of STH on a more finite scale, estimated the number of people infected, and the amount of drug required for preventive chemotherapy (PC) in Ogun state, Nigeria.

Effect of preventive chemotherapy with praziquantel on schistosomiasis among school-aged children in sub-Saharan Africa: a spatiotemporal modelling study.

Background: Over the past 20 years, schistosomiasis control has been scaled up. Preventive chemotherapy with praziquantel is the main intervention. We aimed to assess the effect of preventive chemotherapy on schistosomiasis prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa, comparing 2000-10 with 2011-14 and 2015-19.

Impacts of ivermectin mass drug administration for onchocerciasis on mosquito populations of Ogun state, Nigeria.

Background: The impact of single-dose mass drug administration (MDA) of ivermectin for onchocerciasis on mosquito populations was investigated in Ogun State, Nigeria.

Methods: Indoor and outdoor collection of mosquitoes was carried out in two intervention (IC) and two control communities (CC) at three different periods: pre-MDA (baseline), 2-3 days after MDA and 13-14 days after MDA. The density and parity rate of female Anopheles and Culex mosquitoes were determined and compared.

Attendee's awareness about preventive chemotherapy neglected tropical diseases (PC-NTD) control during the first world neglected tropical diseases day in Ekiti State, Nigeria.

Background: The need to control Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and sustain progress towards elimination through mass administration of medicines requires substantial communal participation. This study, therefore, assessed the knowledge and perception of attendees' regarding NTDs and its control activities during the inaugural World NTD day event in Ekiti State, Nigeria.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study involving the administration of pretested semi-structured questionnaires to consenting attendees at the Inaugural World NTD day event was conducted on the 30th January, 2020.

The impact of Worms and Ladders, an innovative health educational board game on Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis control in Abeokuta, Southwest Nigeria.

In most endemic sub-Saharan African countries, repeated infections with soil-transmitted helminth (STH) occur as early as six weeks after the end of mass drug administration (MDA) with albendazole. In this study, we designed a new health educational board game Worms and Ladders and evaluated its potential to complement MDA with albendazole and reduce reinfection rates through the promotion of good hygiene practices among school-aged children. The evaluation employed a randomized control trial (RCT) design.

Schisto and Ladders version 2: a health educational board game to support compliance with school-based mass drug administration with praziquantel - a pilot study.

Background: We redesigned the Schisto and Ladders health educational board game and evaluated its potential to encourage compliance to school-based mass drug administration with praziquantel.

Methods: Two hundred and seventy-five children from six schools who rejected praziquantel treatment were divided into intervention and control groups. Before the intervention, preassessment interviews were conducted on their knowledge about praziquantel treatment and schistosomiasis.

Polyparasitism with Malaria and Intestinal Parasite Infections among Infants and Preschool-Aged Children in Egbedore, Osun State, Nigeria.

Polyparasitism is widespread in many communities in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, there is paucity of data on polyparasitism in infants and preschool-aged children (IPSAC), to inform policy developments. Therefore, a survey of 1110 consented IPSAC was undertaken in Egbedore Local Government Area (LGA), Osun State, Nigeria, to determine the prevalence of polyparasitism in IPSAC in ten randomly selected rural communities.

Distribution of ascariasis, trichuriasis and hookworm infections in Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria.

Background: Ascariasis, Trichuriasis and Hookworm infections poses a considerable public health burden in Sub-Saharan Africa, and a sound understanding of their spatial distribution facilitates to better target control interventions. This study, therefore, assessed the prevalence of the trio, and mapped their spatial distribution in the 20 administrative regions of Ogun State, Nigeria.

Methods: Parasitological surveys were carried out in 1,499 households across 33 spatially selected communities.

Approaches in scaling up schistosomiasis intervention towards transmission elimination in Africa: Leveraging from the Chinese experience and lessons.

Schistosoma japonicum, differs from the African species including S. mansoni and S. haematobium, is a zoonotic parasite as it infects both human and animals including domestic ruminant animals such as cattle and animals from the wild.