Malaria surveillance amongst pregnant women attending antenatal care in private hospitals in Onitsha metropolis, South Eastern Nigeria.

Background: Recent reports suggest that pregnant women living in holoendemic regions of sub-Sahara Africa die in great numbers annually due to malaria disease resulting from their higher susceptibility, reduced immunity and demographic associated factors. This work investigated the prevalence of in pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) in selected private hospitals in Onitsha metropolis South East Nigeria.

Methods: Venous blood samples were collected from 270 pregnant women during ANC visits between October 2016 and December 2017.

Genetic diversity and allelic frequency of antigenic markers in Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Nnewi district in Nigeria.

Introduction: The genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum poses a threat to the development and implementation of malaria control strategies. Thus, there is a need for continuous surveillance of its genetic diversity, especially amongst the parasite's reservoir's asymptomatic population.

Methodology: Three cohorts comprising children under ten years old, pregnant women and other adults were recruited into this study.

Identification and control of specific aflatoxin-producing fungi in stored maize seeds in awka using azadirachta indica (neem) and garcinia kola seeds.

Four fungal isolates were identified in this study of which three were Aspergillus species with Aspergillus flavus having the highest frequency followed by A. parasiticus. The result of high frequency of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus in the Zea mays sample revealed production of aflatoxins.

Analysis of Plasmodium falciparum Pfcrt and Pfmdr1 genes in parasite isolates from asymptomatic individuals in Southeast Nigeria 11 years after withdrawal of chloroquine.

Background: A reversal of chloroquine (CQ) resistance following a period of withdrawal has raised the possibility of its re-introduction. This study evaluated the current prevalence of Pfcrt and Pfmdr1 alleles in Plasmodium falciparum isolates, 11 years after CQ withdrawal in Southeast Nigeria.

Methods: Filter-paper blood samples were collected from 725 non-febrile individuals, comprising 250 children (≤ 12 years), 250 pregnant women and 225 other adults, between October 2014 and February 2015 in Nnewi town, Southeast Nigeria.

Genetic Diversity of the Glutamate-Rich Protein R2 Region Before and Twelve Years after Introduction of Artemisinin Combination Therapies among Febrile Children in Nigeria.

The genetic diversity of glutamate-rich protein () R2 region in isolates collected before and 12 years after the introduction of artemisinin combination treatment of malaria in Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria, was compared in this study. Blood samples were collected on filter paper in 2004 and 2015 from febrile children from ages 1-12 years. The R2 region of the gene was genotyped using nested polymerase chain reaction and by nucleotide sequencing.

Prevalence, Antibiogram and Molecular Characterization of Comunity-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant in AWKA, Anambra Nigeria.

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.

Abattoirs as non-hospital source of extended spectrum beta lactamase producers: confirmed by the double disc synergy test and characterized by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry.

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.