Molecular Identification and Characterization of Plasmodium ovale curtisi in Field Isolates from Symptomatic Children in North-Central Nigeria.

Purpose: Plasmodium ovale is not usually the focus of most malaria research or intervention programmes and has lately been termed the neglected human malaria parasites. The parasite exists as two genetically distinct sympatric species namely P. ovale curtisi and P.

Shedding proportion of -like oocysts in feral cats and soil contamination in Oyo State, Nigeria.

Toxoplasmosis, a disease caused by the intracellular protozoan parasite is transmitted through several hosts with cats serving as its definitive host. Oocysts are released with cat faeces into the environment ( soil); an important medium in its transmission. The level of soil contamination with oocysts is an indicator of the level of on- going transmission.

Genetic diversity and complexity of Plasmodium falciparum infections in the microenvironment among siblings of the same household in North-Central Nigeria.

Background: Plasmodium falciparum parasites are known to exhibit extensive genetic diversity in areas of high transmission intensity and infected individuals in such communities often harbour several complex mixtures of parasite clones with different genetic characteristics. However, in the micro-environment, the extent of genetic diversity of P. falciparum parasites remain largely unknown.

Arsenicosis in bladder pathology and schistosomiasis in Eggua, Nigeria.

Background: Chronic schistosomiasis and arsenic exposure through drinking water are some of the risk factors for bladder cancer. To determine the association of schistosomiasis and arsenicosis with bladder pathologies, 122 individuals from Eggua in southwest Nigeria were recruited for this study.

Methods: Prevalence of schistosomiasis was determined by urine microscopy and PCR.

Metabolite profiling for biomarkers in Schistosoma haematobium infection and associated bladder pathologies.

Background: Metabolic fingerprinting analysis can offer insights into underlying reactions in a biological system; hence it is crucial to the understanding of disease pathogenesis and could provide useful tools for discovering biomarkers. We sought to examine the urine and plasma metabolome in individuals affected by urogenital schistosomiasis and its associated-bladder pathologies.

Methodology: Blood and midstream urine were obtained from volunteers who matched our inclusion criteria among residents from Eggua, southwestern Nigeria.

Genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum isolates from naturally infected children in north-central Nigeria using the merozoite surface protein-2 as molecular marker.

Objective: To characterize the genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) field isolates in children from Lafia, North-central Nigeria, using the highly polymorphic P. falciparum merozoite surface protein 2 (MSP-2) gene as molecular marker.

Fine specificity of anti-MSP119 antibodies and multiplicity of Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 types in individuals in Nigeria with sub-microscopic infection.

Background: The absence of antibodies specific for the 19 kDa C-terminal domain of merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP119) has been associated with high-density malaria parasitaemia in African populations. The hypothesis that a high prevalence and/or level of anti-MSP119 antibodies that may inhibit erythrocyte invasion would be present in apparently healthy individuals who harbour a sub-microscopic malaria infection was tested in this study.

Methods: Plasma samples were collected from residents in a region in Nigeria hyperendemic for malaria, who had no detectable parasitaemia by microscopy.

Cellular responses to modified Plasmodium falciparum MSP119 antigens in individuals previously exposed to natural malaria infection.

Background: MSP1 processing-inhibitory antibodies bind to epitopes on the 19 kDa C-terminal region of the Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1(19)), inhibiting erythrocyte invasion. Blocking antibodies also bind to this antigen but prevent inhibitory antibodies binding, allowing invasion to proceed. Recombinant MSP1(19) had been modified previously to allow inhibitory but not blocking antibodies to continue to bind.

Comparison of PCR-based detection of Plasmodium falciparum infections based on single and multicopy genes.

PCR-based assays are the most sensitive and specific methods to detect malaria parasites. This study compared the diagnostic accuracy of three PCR-based assays that do not only differ in their sequence target, but also in the number of copies of their target region, for the detection of Plasmodium falciparum in 401 individuals living in a malaria-endemic area in Nigeria. Compared to a composite reference generated from results of all the 3 PCR assays, the stevor gene amplification had a sensitivity of 100% (Kappa = 1; 95% CI = 1.