A study to evaluate the genetic similarities and differences among 11 specimens of cichlids and four specimens of mudcatfishes obtained from Warri River was carried out through DNA fingerprinting analysis using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR amplification with seven decamer primers and dendrograms through unweighted pair-group method with average (UPGMA) cluster analysis. The total number of bands generated by the seven RAPD primers, ranged between 2 to 33 for the cichlids and 8 to 28 for the catfish family, with band size between 100 to 800 bp. The primers produced 228 bands in total 119 for the cichlids and 109 for the catfishes, with 24% polymorphism. Considerable genetic variation was observed within species (especially within Tilapia zilli, T. guineensis and Clarias gariepinus), between species in the same genera (T. zilli and T. guineensis) and among cichlids and catfishes. The most consistent of the RAPD primers generated 87 bands among the cichlids with 23 bands (26%) polymorphic and 74% conserved. Among the catfishes, the primers produced 69 bands with 16 (23%) polymorphic. The data show that the RAPD technique was useful and sensitive in differentiating various fish genera and species.

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by the blood fluke that continues to plague many developing countries in the tropics. The goal of this study was to determine the occurrence of schistosomiasis, malaria, HBV and HIV co-infection among adults in some villages of Eggua Community, Nigeria (Tata, Imoto, Orile and Ebute Igbooro). In cross-sectional surveys, 240 participants were recruited from Orile and Ebute Igbooro and 207 from Tata and Imoto. Urine samples were collected and tested for urinary schistosomiasis by conventional microscopy; blood samples were tested for HBV, HIV and malaria using standard RDTs and microscopy respectively. Prevalence and co-infection of the diseases was analyzed by chi-squared (x2) test. The prevalence of schistosomiasis and malaria was 21.3% and 11.1% in Tata and Imoto respectively; and 14.5% and 19.1% in Orile and Ebute Igbooro, respectively. The overall prevalence of co-infection of urinary schistosomiasis with malaria was 2.5% and 0.4% each with HIV and HBV in the study areas. Schistosoma haematobium and Plasmodium falciparum are prevalent in the study-area, and an integrated control approach directed against the two parasites should be carried out. Keywords: Schistosomiasis; malaria; co-infection; HBV and HIV.

An Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA),

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