This study showed that the prevalence of placental malaria in southeastern Nigeria is high, and demonstrated that the mean parasite density was inversely related to parity. Significant factors associated with placental malaria were also identified. Appreciation of these significant factors will assist program managers in implementing the strategies for the prevention of malaria in pregnancy.

Prevalence of cervical Human Papillomavirus infection and type distribution vary with different environments. Knowledge of this will help in some cervical cancer interventions such as vaccine administration. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of cervical HPV infection among women attending a tertiary hospital in Awka, Nigeria. To evaluate cervical HPV Infections, cervical samples were collected over a period of 1 year from 405 consenting women. Multiplex PCR and cytology were used in the study. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain the demographic characteristics of the participants. Statistical analysis was done using IBM SPSS statistics version 21. The findings showed that of the 405 women, 387 (94.4%) had normal cytology, and 18 (4.4%) had Low-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (LSIL). There was no High-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (HSIL). HPV prevalence of (79) 19.5% was obtained overall in the 405 women, (75 of 387) 19.4% with normal cytology, (4 of 18) 22.2% with LSIL. Age specific prevalence peaked at age group 30 -39 and a second peak at 60 -69. HPV types obtained were HPV 16 31 (7.7%), HPV 18 24 (5.9%), HPV 35 3 (0.7%), HPV 33 9 (2.2%), HPV 68 3 (0.7%) and multiple infections (9) 2.2%. HPV 16 was the only type found in LSIL. Regular HPV typing and screening of our women for HPV infection and Pap's smear can go a long way in the reduction of cervical cancer.

Urine examination has been employed in clinical practice as the most common screening laboratory method for early detection of urinary tract infections (UTIs) or renal disorder. This study was undertaken to ascertain the usefulness of urine macroscopy and microscopy as vital screening procedure for diagnosing UTI among antenatal patients in a teaching hospital in Awka, Nigeria. Freshly voided midstream urine specimens of 269 pregnant women were collected and examined using macroscopic, microscopic and culture methods. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of urine colour, and microscopic features were compared with urine culture in diagnosis of UTI. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS and Epi info® and P-value was set at <0.05 significant level. One hundred and seven specimens showed positive urine cultures. Out of these 107 specimens, 60 (56.1%) also had deviation from normal urine colour and 77(72%) were positive on urine microscopy. Macroscopic examination showed that a significant relationship exists between urine colour and positive urine culture (p=0.0001). The sensitivity and specificity of urine colour with respect to UTI were 56.7% and 67.9% respectively. Urine microscopy revealed that the positive features had a significant relationship with positive urine culture (p= 0.000). Pyuria alone showed the specificity and positive predictive value of 100% each. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and the negative predictive value of combination of positive microscopic features were 72%, 64.8%, 57.5% and 77.8% respectively. Examination of colours and microscopic features of urine are therefore vital in predicting urinary tract infection.

Background: Many women are known to contract human papilloma virus (HPV) infection in their lifetime but only a few develop cervical cancer. One of the major factors that contribute to development of cervical cancer is HPV persistence. Several other factors including viral load have been implicated in cervical cancer development. This work therefore intends to investigate the persistence of cervical HPV infection among cohort of women in Awka, Nigeria.Methodology: A cohort of 58 women with normal Papanicolaou (Pap) test but positive HPV DNA selected from a population of 410 women at baseline were followed up over a period of 6 months from April to October 2015. Cervical specimens collected were subjected to HPV DNA test and viral quantification using TaqMan Real Time PCR and cervical cytology. Risk factors were obtained using semi structured interviewer administered questionnaires. Variables were analysed using descriptive statistics and T-test on IBM SPSS statistics version 21.0 and EPI INFOTM 7.0Results: At the 6-month follow up, cervical HPV infection persisted in 29 women, representing 50% of the women followed up. Among the 29 women, 7 (24.1%) developed abnormal Pap smear (Low grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion). Factors significantly associated with persistence at bivariate analysis of HPV include previous sexually transmitted infection (STI) (p=0.005), HIV positivity (p=0.04), HIV positivity but no anti-retroviral drugs (p=0.014), HPV 16 infection (p<0.0001) and age less than 40 years (p<0.0001). At multinomial logistic regression, only age above 17 years at first sexual intercourse (p=0.003, CI=0.012-0.392) and multiple lifetime sexual partners (p=0.021, CI=0.20-0.726) were statistically significant.Conclusion: High risk HPV infection, in addition to other factors peculiar to an individual may influence HPV persistenceKey words: cervical cancer, human papillomavirus, persistence, cytology, risk factors, infection   French Title: Persistance de l'infection cervicale par le papillomavirus humain parmi une cohorte de femmes à Awka, Nigéria Contexte: De nombreuses femmes sont connues pour contracter une infection au virus du papillome humain (VPH) au cours de leur vie, mais seules quelques-unes développent un cancer du col de l'utérus. L'un des principaux facteurs qui contribuent au développement du cancer du col de l'utérus est la persistance du VPH. Plusieurs autres facteurs, y compris la charge virale, ont été impliqués dans le développement du cancer du col de l'utérus. Ce travail vise donc à étudier la persistance de l'infection cervicale au VPH parmi la cohorte de femmes à Awka, au Nigeria. Méthodologie: Une cohorte de 58 femmes avec un test de Papanicolaou (Pap) normal mais un ADN HPV positif sélectionné parmi une population de 410 femmes au départ ont été suivis sur une période de 6 mois d'avril à octobre 2015. Les échantillons cervicaux collectés ont été soumis à l'ADN HPV. test et quantification virale à l'aide de la PCR en temps réel TaqMan et de la cytologie cervicale. Les facteurs de risque ont été obtenus à l'aide de questionnaires semi-structurés administrés par les intervieweurs. Les variables ont été analysées à l'aide de statistiques descriptives et d'un test T sur IBM SPSS statistics version 21.0 et EPI INFOTM 7.0 Résultats: Au suivi de 6 mois, l'infection cervicale au VPH persistait chez 29 femmes, soit 50% des femmes suivies. Parmi les 29 femmes, 7 (24,1%) ont développé un test Pap anormal (lésion squameuse intraépithéliale de bas grade). Les facteurs significativement associés à la persistance lors de l'analyse bivariée du VPH comprennent les antécédents d'infection sexuellement transmissible (IST) (p=0,005), la positivité au VIH (p=0,04), la positivité au VIH mais pas d'antirétroviraux (p=0,014), l'infection au VPH 16 (p<0,0001) et moins de 40 ans (p<0,0001). Lors de la régression logistique multinomiale, seuls les âges supérieurs à 17 ans lors du premier rapport sexuel (p=0,003, IC=0,012-0,392) et les multiples partenaires sexuels à vie (p=0,021, IC=0,20-0,726) étaient statistiquement significatifs. Conclusion: Une infection au VPH à haut risque, en plus d'autres facteurs propres à un individu, peut influencer la persistance du VPH Mots clés: cancer du col de l'utérus, papillomavirus humain, persistance, cytologie, facteurs de risque, infection

This study was designed to screen and characterize antibiotic producing bacteria and fungi from soil samples from a waste dump site in Enugu. The molecular characterization of the isolates was performed by using Zymo Research Quick-DNA fungi/bacteria miniprep kit. The bacteria isolates were Providencia stuartii, Providencia alcalifaciens. Bacillus sp., Streptococcus sp., Micrococcus sp., and Staphylococcus sp while Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger were fungal isolates. The efficacy of the Crude Extract (CE) of the antibiotics produced was tested against species of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The CE of antibiotics when compared with a conventional antibiotic (Ciprofloxacin) showed lower antimicrobial activity. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the crude extracts ranged between 12.5% and 25% concentrations while the minimum bactericidal concentration ranged from 25% and 50% concentrations. The findings suggest that these organisms have the potential to produce antibiotics and could be harnessed by pharmaceutical industries for the production of newer antibiotics.