Parasite Counts Research Articles

Stein factors for negative binomial approximation in Wasserstein distance

The paper gives the bounds on the solutions to a Stein equation for the negative binomial distribution that are needed for approximation in terms of the Wasserstein metric. The proofs are probabilistic, and follow the approach introduced in Barbour and Xia (Bernoulli 12 (2006) 943-954). The bounds are used to quantify the accuracy of negative binomial approximation to parasite counts in hosts. Since the infectivity of a population can be expected to be proportional to its total parasite burden, the Wasserstein metric is the appropriate choice.

Metabolomic analysis of urine samples of vivax malaria in-patients for biomarker identification

Plasmodium vivax is the most dominating species in the Indian subcontinent among the five Plasmodium species causing malarial infection in humans. This species is generally believed to be benign and classically thought to cause uncomplicated clinical infection that rarely leads to death or other complication. However, recent studies have shown incidences of P. vivax infection leading to severe complications and even death. To understand the biochemical changes at the pathway level and the modality through which the host recovers from the infection, we monitored the small molecular weight metabolites of urine samples of hospital in-patients undergoing treatment for vivax malaria. Metabolomics, involving 1H NMR spectra of urine samples subjected to multivariate statistical analyses, was employed for this purpose. Urine metabolic profiles were used to identify putative biomarkers and establishing correlation with parasite count in the peripheral blood. The untreated malaria patients (day1) exhibited altered excretion of taurine, hippurate, citrate, glycine, 3-methylhistidine and alanine in comparison to the self-control profile on day30. The day1–4 urine metabolite profiles are distinct from day5 and day30 profiles. The latter two profiles are indistinguishable. Temporal trajectories of urinary metabolites indicated an inflection point on day3. The day1 1H NMR profiles, distinct from the profiles of viral fever patients, correlated with the parasitemia levels in the patients and could in fact be used to gauge the anemia status of the patients. This study demonstrates the potential of urine metabolic profiling in understanding the pathophysiology of P. vivax infection and in non-invasive disease diagnosis.

The rodent malaria lactate dehydrogenase assay provides a high throughput solution for in vivo vaccine studies

Rodent malaria is a useful model for evaluating the efficacy of malaria vaccine candidates; however, labor-intensive microscopic parasite counting hampers the use of an in vivo parasite challenge in high-throughput screening. The measurement of malaria parasite lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) activity, which is commonly used in the in vitro growth inhibition assay of Plasmodium falciparum, may be the cheapest and simplest alternative to microscopic parasite counting. However, the pLDH assay has not been applied in the in vivo rodent malaria model. Here, we showed that the pLDH assay is reliable and accurately determines parasitemia in the rodent malaria model. pLDH activity measured using a chromogenic substrate reflects the parasite number in the blood; it allows fast and easy assessment using a conventional microplate reader. To validate this approach, we synthesized recombinant PyMSP1-19 protein (rPyMSP1-19) using a wheat germ cell-free protein synthesis system and immunized mice with rPyMSP1-19. The antisera showed specific reactivity on the surface of the Plasmodium yoelii merozoite and immunized mice were protected against a lethal P. yoelii 17 XL challenge. The pLDH assay quickly and easily demonstrated a significant reduction of the parasite numbers in the immunized mice. Accordingly, the pLDH assay proved to be an efficient alternative to rodent malaria parasite counting, and may therefore accelerate in vivo vaccine candidate screening.

The efficacy of plant extracts on cecal amebiasis in rats

Amebiasis caused by <em>Entamoeba histolytica</em> is a major public health problem in tropical and subtropical countries. Treatment failure with specific chemotherapy has been reported suggesting the possibility of drug resistance. This study investigated the anti-amoebic effects of four plant extracts on cecal amebiasis in rats. The cecal amebiasis was induced by the injection of 3.0×105 troph/mL of <em>E. histolytica</em> parasite directly into the rat’s caecum. A total of 137 rats were used for these studies; five rats in each group for both positive and negative control, 15 rats in each group to test the four plant extracts and metronidazole. The infected rats were treated for cecal amebiasis using each of the four plant extracts at graded doses of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg and with metronidzole at a dose of 62.5 mg/kg,100 mg/kg and 125 mg/kg for five consecutive days. The efficacy of the four plant extracts were evaluated based on Neal’s, 1951 method. The plant extracts of Garlic, <em>Guava</em>, Pawpaw and Pumpkin at 400 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg body-weight gave a cure rate of 80%, 100%, 60%, 40% and 40%, 80%, 40%, 0%, respectively. The mean parasite count in the cecal contents of the treated rats at a dose 400 mg/kg were 18.5±1.6, 0.0±0.0, 33.3±1.8 and 49.5±4.0, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). This study has revealed that Guava at a high dosing level (400 mg/kg body weight) is as good as the standard drug in reducing the both parasite load (probably with limited side effect).

Gastrointestinal helminths of resident wildlife at the Federal University of Agriculture Zoological Park, Abeokuta

A total of forty two resident animals representing eighteen wildlife species at the Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB) Zoo Park were screened for nematode helminths between May and June 2013. Freshly voided faeces from the animals were subjected to basic coprology tests (Direct Microscopic Examination and Concentration Techniques). Trichuris specie. was the most prevalent nematode in primate species. Prevalence of 14.3% and 28.6% were recorded for Capillaria specie and Strongyles in the primates respectively. A prevalence of 100% infection with nematodes in screened fourteen (14) primates was recorded. Mona and Vervet monkeys have the highest points for parasite richness count of 2 out of 3 detected nematodes amongst the primates. Wild birds at the park recorded the lowest prevalence for any type of nematodes with 7 out of 8 species without any nematode detected. Ascaridae was only detected in carnivorous reptiles and birds. In terms of feeding category, carnivorous species namely the (Aquila spilogaster) and Royal python (P. regius) have the highest species richness count of parasites. Non-nematode helminths detected include protozoons (Isospora and Eimeria) and Cestodes segments suspected to be Echinococcus proglotids. Knowledge of the helminth parasites in wild animals is vital in formulating preventative veterinary protocols in captive exhibits. This is the first documented account of nematode helminths of resident wild animals at the FUNAAB Zoo Park, Abeokuta.

Efficacité anti-amibienne in vitro de l’association riboflavine/UV-A

Acanthamoeba keratitis is a rare but serious disease and is particularly difficult to treat when the diagnosis is delayed, partly because of the limitations of current therapies. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the anti-amoebic effectiveness of riboflavin and UV-A on Acanthamoeba castellani. We tested the effect of 0.02% chlorhexidine alone (C), the combination of riboflavin 1% and UV-A (UV-A+R), and the combination of the two treatments (R+C+UV-A) on cultures of vegetative and cystic forms of A.castellani. We conducted a parasite count under optical microscopy for each treated area at day 1, 4 and 8. There was a decrease in the number of cysts for all three treatments (C, UV-A+R, R+C+UV-A). This reduction was greater for the plates treated with R+UV-A (P <0.01 at D8) and those treated with C+R+UV-A (P<0.001 at D8) compared to those exposed to chlorhexidine alone (C). There was no decrease in the number of amoebic trophozoites for the three treatments (C, UV-A+R, R+C+UV-A), but encystment was observed. Given the in vitro efficacy of riboflavin combined with UV-A against cystic forms of A.castellani and excellent in vivo tolerance of the procedure, the treatment of acanthamoeba keratitis might be improved by this new therapeutic approach.

Anthelmintic activity of eugenol in tambaquis with monogenean gill infection

Abstract This study evaluated the effects of eugenol on the control of monogenean infestation in tambaqui gills. Naturally infected fish were subjected to eugenol baths at different concentrations (0, 5, 10 and 15 mg L − 1 ). After being immersed in a eugenol bath for 15 min, the fish were transferred to eugenol-free water for 30 min to remove parasites and sample for gill removal and parasite count (3 replicates per treatment, with 5 fish each). Fish sampling for parasite count was repeated after one week. The procedures were repeated in two other experiments, except for the bath periods, which lasted 30 min and 60 min. The bath with 10 mg L − 1 eugenol solution for 60 min was the most efficient against monogeans, decreasing their count by 81%. In conclusion, eugenol is efficient for controlling monogenean gill infection in tambaquis. However, other studies under field conditions are needed to improve the use of this natural substance for disease control and prevention.

Variations in the excretion patterns of helminth eggs in two sympatric mouse lemur species (Microcebus murinus and M. ravelobensis) in northwestern Madagascar.

Many factors can influence the parasite load of animal hosts, but integrative studies that simultaneously investigate several factors are still rare in many taxonomic groups. This study investigates the influence of host species, host population density, parasite transmission mode, sex, and two temporal (month, year) factors on gastrointestinal parasite prevalence and fecal egg counts of two endemic primate species from Madagascar, Microcebus ravelobensis and Microcebus murinus. A total of 646 fecal samples were available and analyzed from three dry seasons. Six different helminth egg morphotypes were found, and these were Subulura sp. (14.51 % prevalence), strongyle eggs (12.95 %), Ascaris sp. (7.94 %), Lemuricola sp. (0.17 %), and two forms of tapeworms (Hymenolepis spp.) (1.73 and 0.69 %). Coinfection with more than one egg type was observed in 21.22 % of the samples containing eggs. Multivariate analyses revealed that host species and sex did neither explain significant variation in the prevalence and fecal egg counts of parasites with direct life cycles (Ascaris sp., strongyle egg type, Lemuricola sp.) nor of arthropod-transmitted parasites (Subulura sp.). However, fecal egg counts of Subulura sp. differed significantly between study sites, and the prevalence of Subulura sp. and of parasites with direct life cycles was influenced by temporal parameters, mainly by differences between study years and partly between months. When comparing the findings with the yearly and seasonal rainfall patterns in the area, most results are in accordance with the hypothesis of an increased vulnerability of the host toward infection under some sort of environmental challenge.

Hematological indices in febrile neonates with malaria parasitaemia in Calabar.

Background:Normal hematological indices has been determined in Nigerian newborns and found to be lower compared to their Caucasian counterparts. This was attributed to genetic factors. Malaria is endemic in Nigeria and is one of the major causes of ill health and death. Anemia is an important manifestation of malaria. Resistance by malaria parasites to antimalarial drug exacerbates the situation by continuous hemolysis.Aim:To determine the hematological indices in febrile newborn with malaria parasitemia.Materials and Methods:One-hundred fifty neonates (0-28 days) with fever admitted into the Newborn Unit of University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, over a 6 months period, were recruited consecutively. Blood film for malaria parasites and samples for full blood count were obtained and sent to the laboratory before commencement of the treatment. Data analysis was with SPSS version 14.Results:One-hundred fifty babies were recruited into the study. Most (85.3%) of the babies were aged ≤7 days. Six babies (4%) had malaria parasitemia. Plasmodium falciparum was the only species identified. All the babies that had parasitemia were anemic (mean hemoglobin [Hb] concentration of 12.6 g/dl) even when parasite count was low (average of 30.6/µl) though this could not be attributed solely to malaria. None of these neonates was transfused. All the other hematological indices were within the normal range of healthy newborn population irrespective of parasitization.Conclusion:Neonatal malaria does occur in our environment. While it does not affect the white blood indices, it lowers neonatal Hb. It is recommended that Hb concentration be estimated in newborns with malaria to reduce infant morbidity and mortality in our environment.

An Enhanced Computer Vision Platform for Clinical Diagnosis of Malaria

Accurate malaria diagnosis is necessary to prevent unnecessary deaths and curb malaria drug resistance related to unnecessary treatment. While numerous diagnostic assays exist, the need for a low-cost, rapid and highly accurate malaria test remains. Here we evaluate the diagnostic performance of a computer vision platform, the Sight Diagnostic P2 device for malaria diagnosis, speciation and parasite quantification. The trial was conducted at two centers on Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax samples, using different testing protocols: 374 samples were collected at City Hospital Mangalore India and 167 samples were collected at Lancet Laboratories Johannesburg South Africa. At City Hospital, the device diagnoses were compared to RT-PCR results while at Lancet Laboratories the device diagnoses were compared to a panel of tests provided by the clinic. For identification of malaria, the device demonstrated a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 99.5% at City Hospital India, and a sensitivity of 97.8% and a specificity of 97.5% at Lancet Laboratories Johannesburg. For speciation, the device correctly identified 87.5% for Plasmodium Vivax and 93.5% for Plasmodium Falciparum at City Hospital India. Lastly, comparing the device parasite count with that of trained microscopes, produced an average pearsons correlation of 0.87.

Assessment of competence of participants before and after 7-day intensive malaria microscopy training courses in Nigeria.

The accuracy of malaria diagnosis by microscopy has been a challenge in health facilities in Nigeria due to poor competence of microscopists and inability to report on malaria species other than Plasmodium falciparum. Short microscopy courses were conducted to improve the skills of laboratory personnel to perform malaria microscopy in public health facilities in Nigeria. Seven-day malaria microscopy courses were conducted annually between 2011 and 2013 for microscopists in public health facilities. The training courses contained theoretical and practical sessions. Impact of the training was evaluated by practical and theoretical pre- and post-training assessments on malaria slide reading, parasite enumeration and basic malariology. The 102 participants who completed the training consisted of medical laboratory scientists (62; 60.8%), medical laboratory technicians (24; 23.5%) and other healthcare workers (16; 15.7%). The knowledge of basic malariology (theory) at pre- and post-tests were 34% (95% CI 31.7-36.3%) and 74.9% (95% CI 71.8-78.0%), respectively (P<0.001). The mean slide reading detection, species and counting agreements in pre-training assessment were 48.9%, 27.9% and 0%, respectively, and in post-training 56.8%, 39.2% and 25%, respectively. The mean species agreements in picture test pre- and post-training were 21.9% and 55.1%, respectively. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the median pre-test scores in picture tests and basic malariology of the three categories of participants but not in malaria slide reading and parasite counting tests. However, post-training, a significant difference in test scores of the three categories of participants was recorded only for basic malariology (P=0.0003). The 7-day malaria microscopy courses significantly increased the knowledge and microscopy skills of the trainees and were sufficient to bridge the significant difference in baseline microscopy skills of the different categories of trainees that participated in the training courses.

Gender-associated differential expression of cytokines in specific areas of the brain during helminth infection.

Intraperitoneal infection with Taenia crassiceps cysticerci in mice alters several behaviors, including sexual, aggressive, and cognitive function. Cytokines and their receptors are produced in the central nervous system (CNS) by specific neural cell lineages under physiological and pathological conditions, regulating such processes as neurotransmission. This study is aimed to determine the expression patterns of cytokines in various areas of the brain in normal and T. crassiceps-infected mice in both genders and correlate them with the pathology of the CNS and parasite counts. IL-4, IFN-γ, and TNF-α levels in the hippocampus and olfactory bulb increased significantly in infected male mice, but IL-6 was downregulated in these regions in female mice. IL-1β expression in the hippocampus was unaffected by infection in either gender. Our novel findings demonstrate a clear gender-associated pattern of cytokine expression in specific areas of the brain in mammals that parasitic infection can alter. Thus, we hypothesize that intraperitoneal infection is sensed by the CNS of the host, wherein cytokines are important messengers in the host-parasite neuroimmunoendocrine network.

Risk for Endemic Burkitt Lymphoma Is Elevated in Children Who Are Resistant to Blood-Stage Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria Infection: Preliminary Results from the Emblem Study

Introduction: Infection with Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) malaria is widely accepted as a risk factor for endemic Burkitt lymphoma (eBL), but whether children with eBL are more likely to have detectable blood-stage Pfmalaria parasites and/or report a history of malaria morbidity compared to location-matched control children without eBL is unknown. We investigated this hypothesis in children with eBL (cases) compared to location-matched children without eBL (controls) from the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-sponsored EMBLEM Study.Methods: Cases were children with eBL aged 0-15 years presenting to two hospitals in northern Uganda from 11/2010 to 07/2014 with histologically proven, untreated eBL. Controls were children with similar malaria exposure in the region, including children attending village health centers for minor complaints (pilot health-center controls [PHCs]), at home in 12 randomly selected villages (pilot population controls [PPCs]),and at home in 88 randomly selected villages with matching for the age- and sex-distribution of eBL cases (matched population controls [MPCs]). Cases and controls provided a venous blood sample and questionnaire information on exposure to Pf malaria parasites (mosquito bed net use, insecticide sprays, proximity to a river/swamp, history of treatment for malaria). Blood-stage malaria was evaluated microscopically with giemsa-stained thin and thick blood films and with a commercially available histidine-rich protein (HRPII) antigen-based rapid diagnostic test. The log of thick-film malaria parasite count in cases and controls was compared using the Students t-test. Associations were evaluated by calculating odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) using unconditional logistic regression adjusting for sex, age, ownership/ use of mosquito bed net, and in- or out-patient treatment for malaria.Results:We studied 280 eBL cases (61% male, mean + SD age 7.9 + 3.4 years) and 1619 controls including 171 PHCs (37% male, mean + SD age 7.3 + 4.0 years), 1005 PPCs (48% male, mean + SD age 7.0 + 4.1 years) and 443 MPCs (56% male, mean + SD age 7.5 + 3.3 years). Overall, eBL cases were less likely to own a mosquito bed net than controls (46% versus 67% - 79% in controls, p<0.0001), but among those who owned a mosquito bed net, eBL cases were more likely to have used it the previous night (42% versus 21% - 31% in controls, p<0.0001). Blood-stage malaria infection was detected less frequently in cases compared to controls (Figure 1). In adjusted results, eBL cases were less likely to have current blood-stage malaria infection based on the thin film (OR 0.42 [95% CI 0.26-0.67], p<0.0001) or thick film (OR 0.55 [95% CI 0.38-0.80], p=0.001) and less likely to have had recent infection based on the HRPII rapid diagnostic test (OR 0.31 [95% CI 0.22-0.44], p<0.0001) using all controls combined, with similar results using separate control groups (OR 0.28 – 0.60). Blood-stage malaria parasite count was 0.88 log lower in parasitemic eBL cases than controls (2.24 log versus 3.12 log, p=0.0003). With all controls combined and adjusting for HRPII antigen, the risk of eBL was inversely associated with female sex (OR 0.65 [95% CI 0.46-0.90], p=0.011), ownership of mosquito bed net (OR 0.03 [95% CI 0.01-0.07], p<0.0001), and any inpatient admission for severe malaria (OR 0.56 [95% CI 0.39-0.80], p=0.001) or outpatient treatment for moderate malaria (OR 0.47 [95% CI 0.32-0.69], p<0.0001). The risk of eBL was directly associated with older age (OR 3.1 [95% CI 1.9-5.00] and OR 2.6 [95% CI 1.60-4.40], for 5-9 and 10-15 years versus 0-4 years) and not sleeping under a mosquito net the previous night (OR 10.9 [95% CI 4.34-27.3], p<0.0001). Socioeconomics, spraying insecticides, and proximity to river/swamp did not influence the results.Conclusions: Cases of eBL were unlikely to have Pf malaria parasitemia despite high exposure to mosquitoes and low ownership of bed nets. These results reject the hypothesis that eBL is associated with current or recent blood-stage Pf malaria. They support an alternative hypothesis that children with eBL have superior immunological control of blood-stage infection (Pf elite controller phenotype) and that eBL might be an accident of robust immunological control of blood-stage malaria infection. Further studies are needed to characterize the molecular spectrum of Pf parasites and other mechanisms that drive eBL genesis. [Display omitted] DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Reservoir hosts for Gyrodactylus salaris may play a more significant role in epidemics than previously thought.

BackgroundGyrodactylus salaris Malmberg, 1957 has had a devastating impact on wild Norwegian stocks of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L., and it is the only Office International des Epizooties (OIE) listed parasitic pathogen of fish. The UK is presently recognised as G. salaris-free, and management plans for its containment and control are currently based on Scandinavian studies. The current study investigates the susceptibility of British salmonids to G. salaris, and determines whether, given the host isolation since the last glaciation and potential genetic differences, the populations under test would exhibit different levels of susceptibility, as illustrated by the parasite infection trajectory over time, from their Scandinavian counterparts.MethodsPopulations of S. salar, brown trout Salmo trutta L., and grayling Thymallus thymallus (L.), raised from wild stock in UK government hatcheries, were flown to Norway and experimentally challenged with a known pathogenic strain of G. salaris. Each fish was lightly anaesthetised and marked with a unique tattoo for individual parasite counting. A single Norwegian population of S. salar from the River Lærdalselva was used as a control. Parasite numbers were assessed every seven days until day 48 and then every 14 days.ResultsGyrodactylus salaris regularly leads to high mortalities on infected juveniles S. salar. The number of G. salaris on British S. salar rose exponentially until the experiment was terminated at 33 days due to fish welfare concerns. The numbers of parasites on S. trutta and T. thymallus increased sharply, reaching a peak of infection on days 12 and 19 post-infection respectively, before declining to a constant low level of infection until the termination of the experiment at 110 days.ConclusionsThe ability of S. trutta and T. thymallus to carry an infection for long periods increases the window of exposure for these two hosts and the potential transfer of G. salaris to other susceptible hosts. This study demonstrates that G. salaris can persist on S. trutta for longer periods than previously thought, and that the role that S. trutta could play in disseminating G. salaris needs to be considered carefully and factored into management plans and epidemics across Europe.

Correlation between diarrhea severity and oocyst count via quantitative PCR or fluorescence microscopy in experimental cryptosporidiosis in calves.

Cryptosporidium is an important diarrhea-associated pathogen, however the correlation between parasite burden and diarrhea severity remains unclear. We studied this relationship in 10 experimentally infected calves using immunofluorescence microscopy and real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) (N = 124 fecal samples). The qPCR data were corrected for extraction/amplification efficiency and gene copy number to generate parasite counts. The qPCR and microscopic oocyst quantities exhibited significant correlation (R(2) = 0.33, P < 0.05), however qPCR had increased sensitivity. Upon comparison with diarrhea severity scores (from 0 to 3), a PCR-based count of ≥ 2.6 × 10(5) parasites or an immunofluorescence microscopy count of ≥ 4.5 × 10(4) oocysts were discriminatory predictors of moderate-to-severe diarrhea (versus no-to-mild diarrhea), with accuracies and predictive values of 72-82%. In summary, a quantitative approach for Cryptosporidium can refine predictive power for diarrhea and appears useful for distinguishing clinical cryptosporidiosis versus subclinical infection.

Chemotherapeutic potential of 17-AAG against cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis.

BackgroundLeishmaniasis remains a worldwide public health problem. The limited therapeutic options, drug toxicity and reports of resistance, reinforce the need for the development of new treatment options. Previously, we showed that 17-(allylamino)-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG), a Heat Shock Protein 90 (HSP90)-specific inhibitor, reduces L. (L.) amazonensis infection in vitro. Herein, we expand the current knowledge on the leishmanicidal activity of 17-AAG against cutaneous leishmaniasis, employing an experimental model of infection with L. (V.) braziliensis.Methodology/Principal findingsExposure of axenic L. (V.) braziliensis promastigotes to 17-AAG resulted in direct dose-dependent parasite killing. These results were extended to L. (V.) braziliensis-infected macrophages, an effect that was dissociated from the production of nitric oxide (NO), superoxide (O−2) or inflammatory mediators such as TNF-α, IL-6 and MCP-1. The leishmanicidal effect was then demonstrated in vivo, employing BALB/c mice infected with L. braziliensis. In this model, 17-AAG treatment resulted in smaller skin lesions and parasite counts were also significantly reduced. Lastly, 17-AAG showed a similar effect to amphotericin B regarding the ability to reduce parasite viability.Conclusion/Significance17-AAG effectively inhibited the growth of L. braziliensis, both in vitro and in vivo. Given the chronicity of L. (V.) braziliensis infection and its association with mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, 17-AAG can be envisaged as a new chemotherapeutic alternative for cutaneous Leishmaniasis.

Evaluation of Severity of Malaria Infection and Effect of Anti-malaria Drugs on Gender Differences Using Blood Cell Lines Parameters

Malaria is a serious public health problem in most countries of the tropics. In Nigeria about 96 million people are exposed to malaria, and out of these 64 million people get infected and almost 300,000 deaths are being reported annually in the general population. The aim of the study therefore is to determine severity and prevalence of malaria infection and effect of anti-malaria drugs on gender differences causing changes in the blood cell lines. 202 confirmed malaria infected patients were recruited for the study between the ages of 15 – 64 years of both sexes at the general outpatient clinic of the Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. 4ml of blood sample was collected twice from the same patient before and after taking anti-malaria drug into di-potassium ethylenediaminetetracetic acid vaccutainer bottles for blood cell lines analysis. Malaria parasite detection, malaria parasite count and malaria parasite species identification were also carried out. All the subjects were infected with Plasmodium falciparum specie; out of the 202 malaria infected patients 129(63.9%) were males and 73(36.1%) were females. Mean± SD of MPC, MPV, WBC, absolute neutrophil in male was significantly (P<0.05) higher compared to female in pre and post anti- malaria drug treatment. Plasmodium falciparum is the most prevalent malaria specie in the study area. Severity and prevalence of malaria infection is more in male compared to female this might be as a result of different exposure to malaria vector and immunity to parasitic infection among the gender.

Activity of ivermectin long-acting injectable (IVOMEC(®) GOLD) in first-season grazing cattle exposed to natural challenge conditions in Germany.

The persistent activity of ivermectin long-acting injection (IVM LAI; IVOMEC® GOLD, Merial; 3.15% ivermectin w/v) against nematode infections of cattle was evaluated under natural challenge conditions. Seventy nematode-free Brown Swiss calves were blocked by pre-treatment bodyweight and allocated randomly to seven groups of 10 animals each: saline (control) at 1 mL/50 kg bodyweight once on day 0 or IVM LAI at 1 mL/50 kg bodyweight (630 mcg IVM/kg) on either days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, or 35. After housing until day 35, calves were grazed as one herd on a naturally contaminated pasture for 42 days. Calves were then weighed and housed for 4 weeks before being necropsied for parasite counting. Treatment with IVM LAI prevented the establishment (>90%, p < 0.05) of Dictyocaulus viviparus (100%), Bunostomum phlebotomum (100 %), Haemonchus contortus (98.6%), Ostertagia ostertagi/lyrata (94.9%), and Oesophagostomum radiatum (93.3%) for at least 77 days; Ostertagia leptospicularis (99.1%) for 63 days; Cooperia punctata (97.7%), Trichostrongylus axei (96.5%), and Ostertagia spp. inhibited larvae 4 (93.3%) for 56 days; Cooperia oncophora/surnabada (96.9%), Trichuris discolor (93.6%), and Cooperia spp. inhibited larvae 4 (98.8%); and Nematodirus spp. inhibited larvae 4 (97.1%) for 42 days. Calves of groups treated with IVM LAI had significantly (p < 0.001) higher days 0 to 77 weight gains than the saline-treated controls (28.40-39.25 vs 2.60 kg); the weight gains of the IVM LAI-treated groups, however, were not different from one another (p > 0.3). This study demonstrated a very high efficacy of IVOMEC® GOLD in preventing the establishment of a wide range of bovine nematodes for extended periods of time which was associated with a significant benefit to productivity in terms of weight gain.

English

This work is an investigation of the contaminants (microbial and parasitic) of suya (n=240) sold within Makurdi metropolis. The followings were detected in the roasted beef: bacteria: Escherichia. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella sp., Klebsiella sp., Shigella sp., Enterococcus sp., Streptococcus sp., Bacillus sp., and Pseudomonas sp.; fungi: Aspergillus sp., Penicillum sp., Rhizopus sp. and yeasts; protozoa: Ascaris lumbricoides, Entamoeba histolyica, Hookworm, Taenia sp. and Giardia lamblia. The moisture content of the meat increased when stored between 32.00 and 37.80%. The highest values of aerobic colony and coliform counts were 7.27 and 4.32 Log10CFU/g respectively. Mean fungal and parasite counts ranged from 2.05 to 4.35 and from not detectable to 2.85 Log10CFU/g respectively. Using a 95% level of significance, the concentration of the pathogen among the suya samples from the different markets were statistically different (p&lt;0.05). To reduce the number of these pathogenic microorganisms and parasitic contents of suya, it is recommended to apply either hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) or International Organization for Standardization&nbsp;(ISO) 22000 along with prerequisite programs. &nbsp; Key words: Ready-to-eat suya, microbial quality, bacteria, fungi, protozoa.

Spread of Artemisinin Resistance in Plasmodium falciparum Malaria

BackgroundArtemisinin resistance in Plasmodium falciparum has emerged in Southeast Asia and now poses a threat to the control and elimination of malaria. Mapping the geographic extent of resistance is essential for planning containment and elimination strategies.MethodsBetween May 2011 and April 2013, we enrolled 1241 adults and children with acute, uncomplicated falciparum malaria in an open-label trial at 15 sites in 10 countries (7 in Asia and 3 in Africa). Patients received artesunate, administered orally at a daily dose of either 2 mg per kilogram of body weight per day or 4 mg per kilogram, for 3 days, followed by a standard 3-day course of artemisinin-based combination therapy. Parasite counts in peripheral-blood samples were measured every 6 hours, and the parasite clearance half-lives were determined.ResultsThe median parasite clearance half-lives ranged from 1.9 hours in the Democratic Republic of Congo to 7.0 hours at the Thailand–Cambodia border. Slowly clearing infections (parasite clearance half-life >5 hours), strongly associated with single point mutations in the “propeller” region of the P. falciparum kelch protein gene on chromosome 13 (kelch13), were detected throughout mainland Southeast Asia from southern Vietnam to central Myanmar. The incidence of pretreatment and post-treatment gametocytemia was higher among patients with slow parasite clearance, suggesting greater potential for transmission. In western Cambodia, where artemisinin-based combination therapies are failing, the 6-day course of antimalarial therapy was associated with a cure rate of 97.7% (95% confidence interval, 90.9 to 99.4) at 42 days.ConclusionsArtemisinin resistance to P. falciparum, which is now prevalent across mainland Southeast Asia, is associated with mutations in kelch13. Prolonged courses of artemisinin-based combination therapies are currently efficacious in areas where standard 3-day treatments are failing. (Funded by the U.K. Department of International Development and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01350856.)