Malaria Endemicity in the Rural Communities of Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

Malaria remains a global health threat. Approximately 97% of the population is at risk in sub-Saharan countries, particularly Nigeria. This study compared the performance of 2 diagnostic methods in assessing malaria endemicity in the rural communities of Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

Prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis amongst primary school children in Ikwo and Ohaukwu Communities of Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

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.

Maternal vitamin A supplementation delays time to first episode of parasitaemia and reduces malaria parasite densities among infants in rural communities in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

The study was a randomized mother -infant dyad placebo controlled field trial that evaluated the effect of maternal vitamin A supplementation on time to first episode of parasitaemia and on malaria parasite densities among infants in three rural communities in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. One hundred and fifty-two (152) pregnant women with pregnancies that had mature to at least six (6) months were equally randomized into supplemented and placebo groups. Ten thousand international unit (10,000 IU) of vitamin A supplement was administered three (3) times per week to women of the supplemented group while placebo was given to the control group at equal frequencies.

A Novel Methicillin-Resistant t11469 and a Poultry Endemic Strain t002 (ST5) Are Present in Chicken in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

Background: The changing epidemiology of methicillin-resistant (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 of and MRSA in poultry in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Samples were collected from 1800 birds on 9 different farms within the state.

Evaluation of the utility value of three diagnostic methods in the detection of malaria parasites in endemic area.

Background: Malaria is a debilitating disease with high morbidity and mortality in Africa, commonly caused by different species of the genus Plasmodium in humans. Misdiagnosis is a major challenge in endemic areas because of other disease complications and technical expertise of the medical laboratory staff. Microscopic method using Giemsa-stained blood film has been the mainstay of diagnosis of malaria.

Improved infant hemoglobin (Hb) and blood glucose concentrations: The beneficial effect of maternal vitamin A supplementation of malaria-infected mothers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

One hundred and fifty-two malaria-infected pregnant women whose pregnancies had advanced to the 6th month were randomised into two study groups - supplemented and placebo groups, after obtaining their approved consents. Ten thousand international units of vitamin A soft gels were administered to the supplemented group three times per week. Vitamin A soft gels devoid of their active ingredients were administered thrice weekly to the placebo group.