African Journal of Parasitology Research

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2756-3391 Vol. 14 (1), pp. 001-005, January, 2026. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Evaluating VersaTrek and BACTEC MGIT 960: Contamination, Detection Time, and Mycobacteria Recovery

Pelin Yuksel*, Suat Saribas and Yasar Bagdatli

Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Medical Faculty, İstanbul, Istanbul University Cerrahpasa, Turkey.

Accepted 21 November, 2025

The most commonly used conventional Lowenstein Jensen (L.J) culture method requires at least 6 to 10 weeks of incubation due to the slow growth rate of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Today, there are liquid automated systems to detect mycobacteria than faster conventional LJ culture method. In this study, we aimed to compare of the VersaTrek system and BACTEC MGIT 960 system for the contamination rate and recovery of mycobacteria from clinical specimens. The recovery rates of mycobacteria were detected as 4% (2/50) for both of the VersaTrek and MGIT 960 systems. No statistically significant difference was detected for the recovery rates of mycobacteria in both of the systems (p>0.05). Two strains were detected on 12 and 15 day in MGIT 960 system. Two strains were detected on 15 and 20 day in VersaTrek system. No statistically significant difference was detected for the time of detection of mycobacteria in both of the systems (p>0.05). The contamination rates were found as 10% (5/50) and 6% (3/50) in MGIT 960 and VersaTrek, systems respectively (p>0.05). No statistically significant difference was detected for the contamination rates for both of the systems. Antituberculosis resistance tests were performed using with antituberculosis agents in MGIT 960 and VersaTrek systems. The two strains were found sensitive against to streptomycin, isoniazid, rifampicin and ethambutol in MGIT 960 system. The two strains were found sensitive against to isoniazid, rifampicin and ethambutol in VersaTrek system. Streptomycin was not used in VersaTrek system because there is no standardization for streptomycin. We also examined the time of detection of 5 confirmed M. tuberculosis complex members in MGIT 960 and VersaTrek systems. When the time of detection in MGIT 960 and VersaTrek systems were compared, no statistically significant difference was found (p>0.05). In conclusion, no substantial difference has been observed between MGIT 960 and VersaTrek systems for M. tuberculosis isolation and contamination rate. We believe that VersaTrek media, which is going to be put into use in Turkey, is easy for application and follow up, gives rapid and sensitive results and that it can be used in routine alike MGIT media.

Key words: VersaTrek, MGIT 960, M.tuberculosis.
 

African Journal of Parasitology Research | Vol. 1, No. 1, January 2010 | pp. 1–8
DOI: 10.46882/AJPR/100001

Article Type: Full Length Research Paper
Title: Prevalence and spatial distribution of Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia among school-aged children in rural agrarian communities of southwestern Nigeria
Names of Authors: Adebayo O. Adeleke¹, Chinedu K. Okafor², Folashade M. Adebayo³
Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. ²Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, Akoka, Nigeria. ³Department of Public Health, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.

Abstract: Malaria remains a major public health challenge across sub-Saharan Africa. This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence and micro-spatial distribution of Plasmodium falciparum infection among 1240 school-aged children (aged 5 to 14 years) across four rural agrarian communities in southwestern Nigeria. Blood samples were examined using Giemsa-stained thick and thin blood films alongside rapid diagnostic tests. Overall prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum was determined at 42.8 percent (n = 531), with geometric mean parasite density reaching 2450 parasites per microliter (range 120 to 45100 parasites per microliter). Age-stratified analysis indicated that children aged 5 to 8 years experienced significantly higher infection rates (49.2 percent) compared to older cohorts aged 9 to 14 years (36.5 percent) (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression modeling associated proximity to stagnant agricultural irrigation channels (odds ratio = 3.42, 95 percent confidence interval [2.15 to 5.44]) and non-utilization of insecticide-treated bed nets (odds ratio = 2.88, 95 percent confidence interval [1.81 to 4.59]) as independent risk factors driving high transmission intensity. Haemoglobin profiling revealed an overall anaemia prevalence (haemoglobin < 11.0 grams per deciliter) of 31.4 percent among parasitaemic subjects. These empirical findings underscore the localized vulnerability of agrarian child populations and highlight the critical need for integrated vector management strategies coupled with targeted school-based chemoprevention interventions to mitigate persistent malaria morbidity in rural settings.

Keywords: Plasmodium falciparum, Epidemiology, School children, Spatial distribution, Agrarian communities, Nigeria
Manuscript Timeline: Received: 12 October 2009; Revised: 18 November 2009; Accepted: 05 December 2009; Published: 10 January 2010

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2756-3391 Vol. 14 (1), pp. 001-007, January, 2026. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper
Exploring the Intersection of Nutrition, Drug Use, and HIV/AIDS Knowledge in Dhaka's Urban Margins

A. K. Obidul Huq¹*, Tanni Chowdhury², Masud Rana³, Jahangir Alam¹, S. M. Golam Moktadir¹ and M. Z. Manir^4
1Department of Food Technology and Nutritional Science, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Santosh, Tangail-1902, Bangladesh.
²SATT & ANISA, International Research Projects by John Hopkins University and ICDDR, Bangladesh.
³Department of Biotechnology and genetic Engineering, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Santosh, Tangail- 1902, Bangladesh.
⁴Action Contre la FIAM, Cox’sBazar, Bangladesh.

Accepted 1 October, 2025
A cross sectional study was carried out among the 100 floating drug addicted people and 50 commercial sex workers in Dhaka city, Bangladesh. About 26% of sex workers and 36% of drug addicted were aged 20 years. Only thirty six percent of the sex workers and 38% of the drug addicted were married. Among the sex workers, 50% were illiterate whereas 42.9% of the drugs addicted were primary educated. About 78% of the sex workers and 86% of the drugs addicted had monthly income ranges from TK 5,001 to TK 10,000 (1 US$ = 80.00 TK). Among the drug addicts, 94% of the sex workers and 85% of drug addicted had knowledge on human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and more than ninety percent (94%) of the sex workers and 78% of the drug addicts had knowledge on route of transmission of HIV/AIDS. For example, they could state that HIV/AIDS can be spread through needle sharing behavior, shaving blade and unprotected sex with HIV positive partners. Majority of respondents were found to have multiple sex partners, and among them only 26% of sex workers and 21.7% of drug addicts were found to use condom regularly. The prevalence of malnutrition among sex workers and drug addicts were 52 and 62%, respectively, and mean body mass index (BMI) of both was 18.54. They (57%) were suffering from various degrees of malnutrition.

Keywords: Awareness, commercial sex workers, drug addiction, human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), nutritional status.
 

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2756-3391 Vol. 13 (12), pp. 001-008, December, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessment of praziquantel efficacy against school age schistosomiasis in Kelo, Chad

ISSA Mahamat Souleymane^1,3, BAME DAKANGA Christophe⁹, MAHAMAT Moussa Hassan Taisso³, DJIkOLMBAIRANGAR Jean-Eudes⁴, DJIMRASENGAR Honoré⁷, DJIDDI Ali Sougoudi^3,10, MAHAMAT Adano⁶, ISSA Ali Hagar⁶, HASSOUMI Manah⁸, NGUINAMBAYE Mberdoum³, NADJIOROUM Ngam-Asra³, ONGRAM Kouleta II², DJIMADOUM Djionadji², MERAM Atteib Taher², AHMAT Togui Koutou2, MAHAMAT Zakaria Azrack⁵, KALTAM Abderaman Yakhoub¹⁰, MAHAMAT ALI Bolti^3,10 and BRAHIM BOY Otchom³,

¹Chad National Malaria Control Program, N’Djamena, Chad, ²Ministry of Health, Public and Preventive, N’Djamena, Chad, ³Faculty of Science and Human Health, University of N’Djamena, Chad, ⁴Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Cameroon, ⁵Faculty of Science, University Toumai of N’Djamena, Chad, ⁶Ecole Nationale des agents sanitaires et Sociaux (ENASS), N’Djamena, Chad, ⁷World Health Organization, N’Djamena, Chad, ⁸Hospital of Tchad-Chine, N’Djamena, Chad, ⁹Hospital of Kélo, Tandjilé, Chad, ¹⁰Renaissance National University Hospital, N'Djamena, Chad  

Abstract

Receive 17 September, 2025; Revised 13 October, 2025; Accepted 26 December, 2025; Published 27 December, 2025

Background: Schistosomiasis is a major endemic parasitic disease in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly affecting school-age children. Praziquantel, administered in a single dose of 40 mg/kg, is the standard treatment recommended by the WHO. Samples were collected using a pre-established questionnaire. Of the 250 children examined before mass treatment, 200 students were recruited. The study had many limitations, mainly the post-treatment follow-up period, which was limited to three months, making it impossible to assess long-term reinfection dynamics. In addition, no measurement of parasite intensity (number of eggs/10 ml of urine) was performed, which would have allowed for an assessment of the effectiveness on parasite load, and the sample size was limited (200 students), which does not necessarily reflect the full diversity of the health district. Methodology: This study, conducted on children aged 6–14 years from five primary schools who received a dose of praziquantel in the Kélo health district (Chad), aimed to evaluate its therapeutic efficacy in a school setting. Children were recruited from May to July 2022. Results: A total of 200 students aged 6–14 years were included. Before treatment, the prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium was 28%.  Three months after praziquantel administration, prevalence dropped to 3.5%, corresponding to a cure rate of 96.5%. The persistence of positive cases, observed in some schools, is likely linked to poor hygiene conditions and the risk of reinfection. Conclusion: These results confirm the high efficacy of praziquantel but highlight the need to combine treatment with complementary water, sanitation, and hygiene measures.

Keywords: Schistosomiasis-Praziquantel-Therapeutics-School-age-Kélo.
 

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2756-3391 Vol. 13 (12), pp. 001-008, December, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Histological and molecular identification of Sarcocystis sp. species from pig carcasses slaughtered at abattoirs in Dakar, Senegal

GBATI Oubri Bassa¹, *N’DA Kacou Martial¹, KOFFI Marcel², DAHOUROU Laibané Dieudonné³, MUSABYEMARIYA Bellancille¹, NSOUARI Stève Hermane Sadry¹, EKOU Chérita Dora¹, BAKOU Serge Niangoran 4, BONFOH Bassirou², SALIFOU Sahidou⁵, PANGUI Louis-Joseph¹

¹Department of Public Health and Environment, Ecole Inter-Etats des Sciences et Médecines Vétérinaires (EISMV), Dakar, Sénégal.
²Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques (CSRS), Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
³Institut des Sciences de l’Environnement et du Développement Rural, Université de Dédougou, BP 176, Dédougou, Burkina Faso.
⁴Université Nangui Abrogoua, Laboratoire de Biologie et Cytologie Animales, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
⁵Ecole Polytechnique d’Abomey-Calavi (EPAC), Cotonou, Bénin.

Abstract

Received 06 October, 2025; Revised 05 November, 2025; Accepted 06 November, 2025; Published 30 December, 2025

Sarcosporidiosis is a cosmopolitan protozoan disease caused by Sarcocystis, which is present in the form of cysts in the muscle tissue of several animal species, including pigs. Often asymptomatic, this disease can only be detected at the slaughterhouse, as its diagnosis relies on histological, enzymatic and molecular techniques. This study aimed to identify the Sarcocystis species present in the carcasses of pigs slaughtered at slaughterhouses in Dakar, Senegal. Samples were taken from different muscles (oesophagus, masseter, diaphragm, myocardium, gluteal) of 300 pig carcasses. These samples were subjected to histological sectioning techniques stained with haematoxylin and eosin (HE) on the one hand, and molecular biology analyses on the other, in order to precisely identify the species concerned. According to the results obtained by histology, the prevalence of Sarcocystis infection in pigs was 91.7%. The most infested muscle was the oesophagus. Molecular biology enabled us to identify Sarcocystis miescheriana in pigs for the first time in Senegal. In this context, strengthening measures against parasitic diseases in pigs in Senegal and improving health control in abattoirs is essential for public health. New, easy-to-use techniques for researching and identifying the parasite must therefore be developed in order to significantly reduce the risk of disease transmission to human populations.

Keywords: Slaughterhouses - identification - molecular - pigs – sarcosporidiosis.

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2756-3391 Vol. 13 (11), pp. 001-009, November, 2025. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Knowledge of patients and interest of Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RTDs) for uncomplicated malaria efficient management in community pharmacies of Côte d’Ivoire

Kpongbo Etienne Angora^1,2*, Pulchérie Chritiane Kiki- Barro¹, Abo Henriette Vanga-Bosson¹, Sébastien Assohoun Miézan¹, Estelle Massafoma Koné¹, Valérie Akoua Bédia-Tanoh¹, Jean Baptiste Levy¹, Sylvain Konan Yao¹, Orphée Sanga¹, Fulgence Kondo Kassi¹, Abibatou Konaté-Touré¹, William Yavo¹, Hervé Menan¹, Vincent Djohan¹

¹Parasitology and Mycology Department, Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences Training Research Unit, University of Félix Houphouët Boigny, BPV 34 Abidjan Côte d’Ivoire.
²Medical Biology service, University Hospital of Angré, BP 54378 Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

Abstract

Received 17 October, 2025; Revised 01 November, 2025; Accepted 02 November, 2025; Published 24 November, 2025

For better management of malaria, WHO recommends early biological diagnosis for rapid treatment. In Côte d'Ivoire, due to difficulties associated with the use of microscopy in primary health care facilities, the biological diagnosis of malaria relies mainly on RDTs. Private pharmacies play an important role in the outpatient healthcare using RDTs to diagnose malaria. The aim of this study was to determine knowledge of patients and frequency of malaria cases using RDTs among patients in private pharmacies of Côte d’Ivoire. This cross-sectional survey was carried out from June to November 2020 among patients in three private pharmacies. Questionnaire was administered to individuals after informed consent to assess knowledge and collect sociodemographic data. Blood samples were taken from patients and the "ABON™ Plus Malaria P.f /Pan" RDT was performed on each sample. Of 450 subjects sampled, 33.3% (150/450) were RDTs positive. Plasmodium falciparum was the only species identified. The majority of the population (93.4%) revealed that the mode of transmission of malaria is mosquito bites. The main symptom of patients was fever (85.6%). The main ways of malaria prevention mentioned by patients were the use of insecticides (80%) and mosquito nets (73.5%). The majority of patients (74.6%) justified biological confirmation by detecting parasite in blood. This study shows the importance of confirming suspected cases of malaria in all contexts, in order to avoid misuse of anti-malarial drugs in pharmacies.

Keywords: Rapid diagnostic tests - uncomplicated malaria – private pharmacies.