The Emergence of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains especially multidrug resistant-TB (MDR-TB) and indeed extensively drug resistant TB (XDR-TB) is considered a real threat to achieving TB control. Thus, the WHO identified the need for accelerated access to rapid testing for rifampicin resistance to improve case detection in all patients with suspected MDR and XDR-TB. This study aimed at detecting MDR status of rifampicin-resistant TB patients in north western part of Nigeria, as such information was found to be rare in this part of Nigeria. It was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, North-West TB reference Laboratory and purposive sampling technique was used in selecting patients for the study. Data generated was presented using descriptive statistics. Sputum samples were collected and processed according to standard mycobacteriological procedures. The presence of M. tuberculosis complex (MTBC) was confirmed using SD BIOLINE TB Ag MPT64 Rapid test. Genotypic assays were carried out on these samples by the GenoType® MTBDRplus molecular line prove assay (LPA). The results of the study revealed that of the 88 sputum samples collected from rifampicin resistant (confirmed by Genxpert from referring centres) TB patients, 74 (84.09%) were males and 14 (15.9%) were females. Most of them were aged 21-30 years and 31-40 years. Also, 86 of the sputum samples were confirmed as MTBC. Genotypic assays revealed that 48/88 (54.5%) of the samples were identified as MDR-TB, 29 (32.9%) were rifampicin mono-resistant cases while only 1(1.36%) was resistant to isoniazid and 8 samples were found to be susceptible to both isoniazid and rifampicin. The pattern of genetic mutations revealed that rifampicin resistance due to the missing rhoB WT gene and the presence of rhoB MUT gene was seen in 77/78 (98.7%) and 51/78 (61.4%) of the rifampicin-resistance samples respectively and isoniazid resistance due to katG missing WT gene and katG MUT gene region was seen in 35/78 (44.9%) of the samples. Among the MDR-TB cases rifampicin resistance was associated with rpoB WT gene and rpoB MUT gene in 100% and 62% of the isolates, and INH resistance was associated with katG WT gene and katG MUT gene in 70.8% and 72.9% of the isolates respectively. INH resistance in the MDR-TB cases was further associated with InhA WT and InhA MUT in 16.67% and 4.17% of the isolates respectively. The study concludes by identifying that the reported MDR-TB rate of 54.5% among rifampicin-resistant TB patients in the study was rather alarming and also identifies the need for expertize in the conduct and diagnosis of rifampicin-resistance status of TB patients using the GeneXpert techniques lack of which may be detrimental to the health of the patient.Thus, the study solicits for a much more committed TB control programmesincluding provision and training of manpower by the relevant agencies as a well as putting more efforts towards rapid and accurate diagnosis of TB patients, and proper treatment and mana...

The study aimed at detecting the incidence of rotavirus infection among children with gastroenteritis in Kano Metropolis. It was a descriptive cross-sectional study and a total of 200 stool samples were randomly collected and assayed for the presence of rotavirus antigens using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay and confirmed using Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction. The study revealed that 21/200 (10.5%) stool samples were positive for rotavirus antigen and more males 13/21(6.5%) were positive than females 8/21 (4%) (p>0.05). The highest and lowest incidence rates in rotavirus infection of 42.8% (9/21) and 4.8% (1/21) were found among children aged 7-12 month and 31-36; 43-48 month (p>0.05) respectively. Most of the positive samples (95%) were from those who presented with diarrhea, vomiting and fever (p<0.05). The study further revealed that 20/21(95%) of the positive children were from married couples and the incidence rate was found to be independent of the educational level of the parent (p>0.05). Among the risk factors considered, source of drinking water (tap water) and playing with toys appeared to be the most predisposing factors as 16/21 (76%) and 19/21 (90.5%) of the children were found to be infected (p>0.05). Finally, the lowest rate of rotavirus infections was found in only 1/21 (0.5%) among the exclusively breastfed children compared to 14/21 (7%) of those on mixed feeding (p>0.05). The study recommends detection of rotavirus infection to be part of routine laboratory tests in our hospitals and advocates the concept of exclusive breastfeeding to curtail rate of infection among infants.

Drug resistant Tuberculosis (DR programmes with Multidrug re predisposing individuals to develop Extensively resistant TB (XXDR-TB). The World Health Organization reemphasizes the need for drug Susceptibility testing (DST) for appropriate treatment of individual cases in order to minimize rapid transmission of tuberculosis especially DR line drug sensitivity test of MDR Samples for the study comprised of 22 purposely selected MDR sputum samples of new AFB smear positive West Zonal Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory located at AminuKano. The isolates were re-con to second line drug sensitivity testing using Proportional methods anti-TB drugs (Ofloxacin, Capreomycin, Ethionamide, & Kanamycin). The results of the study revealed that all the 22 isolates were re further shows that all the 22 isolates were sensiti (100%), followed by Kanamycin (90.9%) and Aminkacin (86.36 identified as XDR-TB. Most of the isolates 16 (72.72%) were however resistant to Ethionamide with only 6 (27.27%) of them being sensiti the studied isolates as all of them were sensitive to Ofloxacin and Capreomycin, however majority of them were resistant to Eth The study identifies the need for patients identified as new AFB smear positive for appropriate treatment so as to reduce transmission of DR-TB.

The epidemic of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the emergence of drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains have been recognized as the most important factors contributing to increasing resurgence of tuberculosis (TB). This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of HIV among tuberculosis patients and drug sensitivity pattern of some of the mycobacterial isolates. One hundred and sixty eight (168) sputum samples from tuberculosis patients attending Infectious Diseases Hospital, Kano were collected and processed for the presence of Mycobacteria. Blood samples of the patients were also screened for the presence of HIV. The drug susceptibility test (DST) was performed using the BACTEC Mycobacteria Growth Inhibitory Test (MGIT) M960 technique. Results revealed that out of the 168 patients studied 24 (14.29%) were TB and HIV co-infected and 135 (68.88%) were males while 61 (31.12%) were females (P = 0.001). Majority of the studied cases were of the age groups 15-24 years and 25-34 years (P = 0.001). Ten (58.82%) of the 17 isolates that were subjected to DST against the first-line anti-TB drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, pyrazinamide) were found to be resistant against the various drugs to which they were tested; out of which 7 (41.17%) exhibited a primary drug resistance pattern, 3 (17.65%) exhibited acquired drug resistance pattern and 2 (11.74%) were multi-drug resistant TB. The highest drug resistance of 23.53% was recorded against isoniazid, followed by rifampicin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide each with a resistance of 17.65%. The study recommends screening of all TB patients for early diagnosis of HIV co-infection as well as conducting DST which will inform prompt management of the infected individuals and designing appropriate treatment schedule for effective TB/HV control as well as preventing transmission of drug resistant TB. Key words: Tuberculosis, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Infection, Prevalence, Drug Susceptibility.

The magnitude of the immune response to tuberculosis (TB) infection also involves cell-mediated immunity comprising numerous types of T-cell subsets and this reflects the magnitude of the bacterial load and those with the highest load are at a greater risk of developing TB disease. The study assesses the immunological profile (CD4+, CD8+, CD3+, CD45+) of TB infected individuals with drug sensitive TB (DS-TB) and compares it with that of subjects with Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI) and those with Rifampicin Resistant TB (RR-TB). The study was a cross-sectional study conducted at Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH), Kano. Two hundred and five (205) subjects participated in the study. Collected sputum samples were subjected to Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining and cultured on Lowenstein Jensen medium for the identification of Mycobacteria tuberculosis. Molecular detection of M. tuberculosis and RR-TB was performed using Xpert® MTB/RIF. Blood samples were also collected and the T-cell counts were determined using flow cytometry. The result of the study indicated that 131 of the studied subjects were males and 74 were females and that majority of them were in the group 14-24years (41.0%), 25-34 years (35.6%) and 35-44 years (13.7%) respectively. Among the DS-TB and RR-TB groups majority were males (70.8% and 66.7% respectively). It was shown that 86.2% and 88.9% of the samples from the DS-TB and RR-TB were AFB positive.  However, all the 65 samples of DS-TB and 54 samples of the RR-TB were identified as MTB by culture. All the DS-TB samples were detected as susceptible TB by Xpert® MTB/RIF, and all the samples of the RR-TB were confirmed as rifampicin resistant by the Xpert® MTB/RIF. The study also revealed that the T-cell (CD4+, CD8+, CD3+ and CD45+) counts of the studied subjects varied significantly among the different groups of the study (p<0.05) and that compared to the control and the LTBI groups the DS-TB and the RR-TB groups recorded the lowest counts in the order; Control>LTBI>DS-TB>RR-TB. Key words: Tuberculosis, T-cells counts, Drug susceptible TB, Latent TB, RR-TB.