Genetic profiling of Plasmodium falciparum antigenic biomarkers among asymptomatic pregnant women on intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine from southwest Nigeria.

Introduction: The genetic complexity of Plasmodium falciparum is contributory to the emergence of drug resistant-parasites. Intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) in malaria endemic settings is recommended by WHO. This study evaluated the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistance-1 gene (Pfmdr-1), genetic diversity of merozoite surface proteins (msp-1, msp-2) and glutamate-rich protein (glurp) among pregnant women with sub-patent parasitaemia from southwest Nigeria.

Comparative Evaluation of Microscopy, Rapid Diagnostic Tests, and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for Malaria Diagnosis in Nigerian Children.

Background  Malaria, a persistent public health issue in Nigeria, particularly among children, is often complicated by misdiagnosis, hindering effective treatment and control. The global adoption of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for malaria has significantly improved management. This study, therefore, compares the diagnostic performance of microscopy, RDT, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Plasmodium falciparum detection in children in Kano state, Nigeria, providing crucial insights for effective control and elimination.

Performance of rapid diagnostic test, light microscopy, and polymerase chain reaction in pregnant women with asymptomatic malaria in Nigeria.

Objectives: Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) offer an attractive tool for diagnosing malaria in pregnancy. This study assessed the effectiveness of a specific RDT compared with microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in diagnosing asymptomatic malaria in pregnant women in southwest Nigeria.

Methods: The study included 406 asymptomatic pregnant women seeking antenatal care.

Transcriptomic analyses of differentially expressed human genes, micro RNAs and long-non-coding RNAs in severe, symptomatic and asymptomatic malaria infection.

Malaria transmission and endemicity in Africa remains hugely disproportionate compared to the rest of the world. The complex life cycle of P. falciparum (Pf) between the vertebrate human host and the anopheline vector results in differential expression of genes within and between hosts.

Evaluating Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests and Microscopy for Detecting Plasmodium Infection and Status of Plasmodium falciparum Histidine-Rich Protein 2/3 Gene Deletions in Southeastern Nigeria.

Delays in malaria diagnosis increase treatment failures and deaths. In endemic regions, standard diagnostic methods are microscopy and malaria rapid diagnostic tests (mRDTs) detecting Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2/3 (PFHRP2/PFHRP3), but gene deletions can allow certain parasites to remain undetected. We enlisted a cohort comprising 207 symptomatic individuals, encompassing both children and adults, at a hospital in Nnewi, Nigeria.

Predictive model for early detection of type 2 diabetes using patients' clinical symptoms, demographic features, and knowledge of diabetes.

Background And Aims: With the global rise in type 2 diabetes, predictive modeling has become crucial for early detection, particularly in populations with low routine medical checkup profiles. This study aimed to develop a predictive model for type 2 diabetes using health check-up data focusing on clinical details, demographic features, biochemical markers, and diabetes knowledge.

Methods: Data from 444 Nigerian patients were collected and analysed.

High genetic and haplotype diversity in vaccine candidate but not among malaria-infected children in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Malaria remains a global public health challenge. The disease has a great impact in sub-Saharan Africa among children under five years of age and pregnant women. Malaria control programs targeting the parasite and mosquitoes vectors with combinational therapy and insecticide-treated bednets are becoming obsolete due to the phenomenon of resistance, which is a challenge for reducing morbidity and mortality.

Prediction of malaria positivity using patients' demographic and environmental features and clinical symptoms to complement parasitological confirmation before treatment.

Background: Current malaria diagnosis methods that rely on microscopy and Histidine Rich Protein-2 (HRP2)-based rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) have drawbacks that necessitate the development of improved and complementary malaria diagnostic methods to overcome some or all these limitations. Consequently, the addition of automated detection and classification of malaria using laboratory methods can provide patients with more accurate and faster diagnosis. Therefore, this study used a machine-learning model to predict Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) antigen positivity (presence of malaria) based on sociodemographic behaviour, environment, and clinical features.

Severity of Schistosoma haematobium co-infection with malaria in school-children is potentially modulated by host CD14 gene variants.

Objective: Schistosomiasis remains a chronic disease of global importance, especially in many rural areas of the world where co-infection with Plasmodium falciparum is common. It is critical to decipher the role of single or co-infected disease scenarios on immune system regulation in such individuals and how such co-infections can either ameliorate or complicate immune response and the consequent disease outcome. First, 10 ml of urine samples, collected between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm, was filtered for diagnosis of schistosomiasis, while egg count, indicative of disease severity, was determined by microscopy.

Genetic diversity of among asymptomatic pregnant women on intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in Nigeria.

This study investigated the genetic diversity of among asymptomatic pregnant women on intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-Sp) in Osogbo, southwest Nigeria. Blood sample was obtained from consenting pregnant women attending antenatal clinics. Microscopy and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were employed to diagnose and analyse genetic diversity.

Genotypic Determination of Extended Spectrum β-Lactamases and Carbapenemase Production in Clinical Isolates of in Southwest Nigeria.

Introduction: is a major pathogen implicated in healthcare-associated infections. Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase-producing isolates are a public health concern. This study investigated the existence of some ESBL and carbapenemase genes among clinical isolates of in Southwest Nigeria and additionally determined their circulating clones.

High prevalence of persistent residual parasitemia on days 3 and 14 after artemether-lumefantrine or pyronaridine-artesunate treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Nigeria.

Background: Microscopic evaluation of parasite clearance is the gold standard in antimalarial drug efficacy trials. However, the presence of sub-microscopic residual parasitemia after artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) needs to be investigated.

Methods: One hundred and twenty (AL: n = 60, PA: n = 60) days 3 and 14 dried blood spots, negative by microscopy were analysed for residual parasitemia using nested PCR.

Humoral antimalaria immune response in Nigerian children exposed to helminth and malaria parasites.

Background: Malaria and helminthic parasites are endemic in tropical countries, and co-infections might influence host-parasite interactions. In this community-based cross-sectional study, the effect that the presence of soil-transmitted helminths (STH) (Hookworm, and could have on the immunoglobulin (Ig) candidate protein of the malaria vaccine GMZ2 levels was evaluated.

Methods: Blood, stool, and urine samples were collected from 5-15-year-old children to diagnose (Pf), STH, and , respectively.

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.

Absence of Plasmodium falciparum artemisinin resistance gene mutations eleven years after the adoption of artemisinin-based combination therapy in Nigeria.

Background: The occurrence of artemisinin resistance (ART)-associated polymorphism of Plasmodium falciparum K13-propeller (pfk13) gene before and after the introduction of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) in two regions of Nigeria was investigated in this study. Regular surveillance is necessary to make a definite conclusion on the emergence and pattern of possible resistance to ART.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Southwestern and Southeastern geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

Prevalence of urogenital and intestinal schistosomiasis among school children in South-west Nigeria.

Background: The risk of co-infection with Schistosoma haematobium and S. mansoni and the potential harmful effect on morbidity and control is enhanced by the overlapping distribution of both species in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the reported high endemicity of both species in Nigeria, studies on the spread and effect of their mixed infection are limited.

Biting behaviour and infectivity of Simulium damnosum complex with Onchocerca parasite in Alabameta, Osun State, Southwestern, Nigeria.

A longitudinal study was carried out to investigate species composition, seasonal abundance, parity and transmission potential of Simulium damnosum complex in Alabameta community in Osun State, Southwestern, Nigeria. Adult Simulium damnosum complex were collected along Owena River, Alabameta, by two dark complexioned vector collectors from 07:00hr to 18:00hr weekly using collecting tubes from November 2014 to April 2015. The flies were morphologically identified and dissected for the purpose of detecting Onchocerca parasite using dissecting microscope.

Hepatitis E virus infection in high-risk populations in Osun State, Nigeria.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is an emerging infection that is of major public health concern, especially in some vulnerable groups like immunosuppressed individuals, pregnant women and HBV-coinfected individuals. HEV is transmitted faecal/oral or zoonotically depending on the HEV-genotype. This study aimed at investigating HEV infections among different at-risk populations in Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria.

Comparative evaluation of three histidine-rich Protein-2 based rapid diagnostic tests, microscopy and PCR for guiding malaria treatment in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria.

Background: Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (mRDTs) are the preferred option for programmatic deployment.

Aims: There are numerous mRDTs on the Nigerian market and there is a need to guide practitioners on the relative performance of the commonly used brands of mRDT in Nigeria.

Subjects And Methods: The performance of three commonly used Histidine-Rich-Protein-2-based mRDTs (SD-Bioline™, Carestart™ and Paracheck-Pf™) against microscopy of Giemsa stained blood and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was evaluated among 190 febrile under-5 children in Ibadan, Nigeria.

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.

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.

Analysis of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance-associated mutations in Plasmodium falciparum isolates obtained from asymptomatic pregnant women in Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria.

Intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) is one of the main strategies for protecting pregnant women, fetus, and their new-born against adverse effects of P. falciparum infection. The development of the drug resistance linked to mutations in P.

Anti-nociceptive Effect of Euphorbia hirta Leaf Extract: Involvement of Adenosine, Cholinergic, and Opioid Receptors.

Objective: The study was designed to investigate the anti-nociceptive activity of Euphorbia hirta leaf and its possible mechanism of action.

Methods: The extract of Euphorbia hirta obtained from the leaf was prepared as per standard procedures and evaluated at the three doses (300, 600, and 1200 mg/kg, i.p).