African Journal of Parasitology Research

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2343-6549 Vol. 6 (1), pp. 001-011, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of parasitological and some clinico-pathological responses of mice Heligmosomoides bakeri single primary infections

Ngongeh L. A.¹*, Chiejina S. N.¹  and Fakae B. B.²

¹Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.

²Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.

Accepted 16 November, 2018

Abstract

Influence of pregnancy and lactation on the parasitological and some clinico-pathological responses of out-bred albino mice to single doses of Heligmosomoides bakeri (H.b) were studied. Fifty six pregnant and ten non-pregnant mice were used for the study. The pregnant mice were either infected in the first, second or third trimester depending on the experimental group and were either allowed to suckle or not following parturition. The ten non-pregnant mice served as uninfected controls. Faecal egg counts (FEC), bodyweights (BW), packed cell volume (PCV) and worm burdens (WB) were recorded. Both lactating and non-lactating mice infected in the first trimester had significantly higher WBs (F_2,49 = 5.242, P = 0.001) and FECs (F_2,37 = 4.314, P = 0.001 ) in comparison to their counterparts infected in the second and third trimesters. Generally, the WB of lactating mice was only marginally higher than those of non-lactating mice in the first and third trimesters. The FECs of non-lactating mice were generally higher than those of lactating mice. The PCV of lactating mice was lower than those of both non-lactating and uninfected control mice. The body weights of both lactating and non-lactating mice (infected) were lower compared to those of the uninfected control mice. No periparturient rise in FEC was observed nor did lactation influence FEC.

Key words: Pregnancy, lactation, Heligmosomoides bakeri, outbred albino mice, parasitological and clinico-pathological responses.

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2343-6549 Vol. 6 (1), pp. 001-005, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Parasitic infections and anaemia during pregnancy in the Kassena-Nankana district of Northern Ghana

Godwin Fuseini¹*, Dominic Edoh², Bugre Gumah Kalifa³, Abdul-Wahab Hamid³ and Dave Knight⁴

¹International SOS, Ahafo Clinic, Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd, Kenyasi-BA, Ghana.

²University of Ghana, Ghana.

³Navrongo Health Research Centre, Ghana.

⁴International SOS and University of Cape Town, South Africa.

Accepted 09 September, 2018

Abstract

Anaemia is often an adverse outcome of severe parasitic infections during pregnancy in developing countries. This study examined the association between anaemia and Plasmodium and or intestinal helminth infections during pregnancy. A hospital based survey was conducted on 300 pregnant women on their first consultation to antenatal services in the Kassena-Nankana district of Northern Ghana from August-November, 2005. Stool specimens were examined by the concentration method whilst the blood specimens were examined microscopically. One in four women were found to be infected with one or two of the following helminths: Schistosoma mansoni (12.3%), hookworm (7.0%), Strongyloides stercoralis (2.3%), Ascaris lumbricoides (0.7%) and Trichostrongylus (0.7%). More than half of the women were found with the Plasmodium parasite (58%). Whilst the mean haemoglobin of mothers without any parasite was within the normal range, mothers with co-infections on the other hand, were within the moderately anaemic range. Whereas, Plasmodium and S. mansoni infections alone cause mild anaemia, hookworm infections alone cause moderate anaemia. However, the anaemia caused by these parasites on a whole, are not severe (Hb < 7.0 g/dl). An integrated programme for the control of these parasites is recommended in order to reduce the degree of anaemia during pregnancies.

Key words: Anaemia, parasitic infection, pregnancy, Northern Ghana.

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2343-6549 Vol. 6 (1), pp. 001-005, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Mixed sugar fermentation by Pichia stipitis, Sacharomyces cerevisiaea, and an isolated xylose-fermenting Kluyveromyces marxianus and their cocultures

Hamidimotlagh Rouhollah¹, Nahvi Iraj^1*, Emtiazi Giti¹ and Abedinifar Sorah²

¹Division of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran.

²Department of Chemical Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran.

Accepted 22 October, 2018

Abstract

A yeast strain with higher rates and yields in the fermentation of glucose, mannose and galactose in semiaerobic conditions than Pichia stipitis and Sacharomyces cerevisiae and ethanol tolerance than P. stipitis, was isolated from sugarcane baggase from Iranian resources. This strain that can ferment xylose with lower rates and yields than P. stipitis is characterized as Kluyveromyces marxianus. The ability of K. marxianus to ferment mixed sugars comprised of 30 g/l glucose, 30 g/l xylose, 12 g/l mannose and 8 g/l galactose (total sugar 80 g/l), as a model of many hydrolysates, were compared to P. stipitis and S. cerevisiae and then a coculture of P. stipitis and S. cerevisiae was compared with a coculture of P. stipitis and K. marxianus. In mixed sugars fermentation with individual yeasts P. stipitis shows the highest yield (0.40 gg-¹) and maximum ethanol (30.23 gl-¹), but K. marxianus shows the highest Qpmax (1.09 gl-¹h-¹) and substrate utilization efficiency (E,>99%). P. stipiti and K. marxianus coculture shows the best results with high yield (0.42 gg-¹) and maximum ethanol (31.87 gl-¹), Qpmax (1.09 gl-1h-1) and substrate utilization efficiency (E, >99%). Because of the higher rates and yields of K. marxianus to ferment hexoses than P. stipitis and its higher ethanol tolerance, K. marxianus helps the P. stipitis to reach the concentration higher than 30 g/l ethanol concentration.

Key words: Ethanol, Pichia stipitis, Kluyveromyces marxianus, xylose.

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2343-6549 Vol. 6 (1), pp. 001-005, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Epidemiological characteristics of Bancroftian filariasis and the Nigerian environment

B. E. B. Nwoke¹, E. A. Nwoke^1,2, C. N. Ukaga¹* and M. I. Nwachukwu¹

¹Public Health Parasitology and Entomology Unit, Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Evan Enwerem University, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.

²Department of Public Health Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.

Accepted 23 October, 2018

Abstract

Bancroftian filariasis, caused by Wuchereria bancrofti is widespread in Nigeria. It is a serious public health problem as well as a major cause of acute and chronic morbidity in Nigeria. Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles funestus are the main vectors in the rural Nigeria while Culex quenquifasciatus is the vector in the urban and semi-urban areas. Although these mosquito vectors breed and transmit bancroftian filariasis in Nigeria, human behaviour and activities, urbanization and overcrowding as well as industrialization in Nigeria have created abundant breeding sites. The availability and proximity of human settlement to these numerous breeding sites for the vectors play important role in the disease transmission and intensity in both rural and urban areas. Our quick drive and desire to develop some of the river basins into hydroelectric dams and irrigation schemes in the country has, in some cases led to increased threat to public health including aggravation of bancroftian filariasis. Together with other careless engineering practices, these projects have either aggravated the prevalence of bancroftian filariasis or directly introduced it into new areas by providing new and permanent habitat for the vector species. The epidemiological significance of these is discussed.

Key words: Bancroftian filariasis, Anopheles gambiae, Culex quenquifasciatus, public health, human behavior, urbanization.

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2343-6549 Vol. 6 (1), pp. 001-005, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effects of honey-supplemented diet on the parasitemia and some enzymes of Trypanosoma brucei-infected rats

J. T. Ekanem¹*, O. R. Majolagbe¹, F. A. Sulaiman¹ and N. O. Muhammad²

¹Trypanosomosis Research and ²Nutritional Biochemistry Units,

Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.

Accepted 13 November, 2018

Abstract

Trypanosoma brucei-infected rats were treated with natural honey and honey-supplemented diet at three days before infection (prophylaxis), early and late stages of infection. Proximate percentage composition of the honey was 71.19±0.90% carbohydrate, 3.28±0.05% protein and 10.68±0.27% lipid among others. Prophylactic treatment with natural honey extended the lifespan of infected rats by 13 extra days from a control of 12 days post infection while early and late stage treatments extended the lifespan by 10 and 5 days, respectively. Prophylactic feeding with honey-supplemented diet extended the lifespan by 6 extra days while early and late stage feeding extended it for 5 and 3 days, respectively. A specific pattern could not be established for alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) enzyme activities in the liver and serum. We conclude that honey even as part of a regular diet could be a useful, cheap and readily presentable agent in the management of African sleeping sickness for residents of disease endemic areas.

Key words: Honey, diet, sleeping sickness, management.

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2343-6549 Vol. 6 (1), pp. 001-005, January, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A prevalence of parasites in black bengal goats in Chittagong, Bangladesh

M. M. Hassan¹*, M. A. Hoque¹, S. K. M. A. Islam¹, S. A. Khan¹, K. Roy² and Q. Banu³

¹Department of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Khulshi, Chittagong, Bangladesh.

²Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Khulshi, Chittagong, Bangladesh.

³Department of Zoology, University of Chittagong, Bangladesh.

Accepted 13 October, 2018

Abstract

An investigation was carried out to measure the prevalence of ecto- and endopatasites in semi-scavenging black bengal goat (Capra hircus) at Pahartali Thana under Chittagong district, Bangladesh during the period of February to May/2006. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths in goat were 63.41% (N=317). In these positive samples, Strongyloides spp. (51.74%) was more prevalent and Moniezia sp. and Capillaria sp. were least prevalent (n=201). The gastrointestinal parasitic load of goats varied from egg per gram (epg) 0 to 1600. Faecal sample evaluation shows, 36.95% and 13.56% goats were loaded epg 0 and 300, respectively. Age was evident as risk factor where older goats (> 24 month) were more infected by endoparasites than younger ones (< 24 month) in this study (p < 0.05). Irrespective of factors, the prevalence of ecto- and endoparasites has been quite high. So, the preventive measurement should be adopted for this goat population. As goats are infected with ecto-and endoparasites, broad spectrum anthelmintics might be judicious choice. As older goats are more susceptible than younger ones for endoparasites, the grazing habit should be restricted.

Key words: Black bengal goat, prevalence survey, ecto-and endoparasites.