The development and survival of the eggs of Haemonchus contortus on pasture at Vom were studied by depositing faecal pellets on grass plots over a period of 12 months. Development and survival to the infective larvae occurred throughout the study except during the dry season months of December to April. More infective larvae were recovered from the herbage in June, July and August than in other months. The survival time of the infective larvae ranged from 2 weeks in October to 10 weeks in June, July and August. Rainfall was the most important epizootiological factor influencing the development and survival of the infective larvae. Temperature was not a limiting factor.

Des prélèvements de fèces provenant de 1000 porcs ont été recueillis dans les régions de Jos et de Port Harcourt (Plateau et Rivers State) entre janvier 1987 et mars 1988. Dans la région de Jos, l'incidence parasitaire était la suivante : Ascaris suum 53,1 p. 100, Trichuris suis 8,5 p. 1O0, Hyostrongylus rubidus 13,1 p. 100, Metastrongylus salmi 3,7 p. 100, Strongyloides ransomi 87,7 p. 100, Oesophagostomum dentatum 35,1 p. 100 et Eimeria spp. 2,4 p. 100 alors qu'à Port Harcourt elle se répartissait ainsi : Ascaris suum 10,4 p. 100, Trichuris suis 47,2 p. 100, Oesophagostomum dentatum 50 p. 100, Hyostrongylus rubidus 2 p. 100, Ancylostoma duodenale 83,2 p. 100 et Eimeria spp. 3,6 p. 100. La proportion élevée d'helminthoses était due au mauvais entretien comme aux conditions sanitaires défectueuses. Le contact avec des excréments humains, une alimentation pauvre et le manque de vermifugation étaient aussi très évidents. Les différents taux de l'incidence parasitaire à Jos et à Port Harcourt étaient aussi dus aux conditions d'humidité, variables dans ces Etats.

No abstract

In order to investigate the immunomodulatory influence of concurrent T. brucei and H. contortus infection in West African Dwarf (WAD) goats, 28 infected and 7 uninfected (control) of 8-9 months old male WAD goats were studied. The infected goats were separated into resistant (Class 1) and susceptible (Class 2) Faecal Eggs Count (FEC) phenotypes. They were infected with 3000 infective larvae (L 3 ) of H. contortus and 5 x 10 6 T. brucei. Another group of these phenotypes received only the H. contortus challenge. The responses were measured by parasitological response through FEC and Worm Burden (WB), and by host immune response through IgG levels. Class 2 animals with or without T. brucei infection exhibited non-significant (P > 0.05) higher FEC compared to those of Class 1. Worm burdens were not significantly different between FEC classes but were different (P=0.038) in relation to T. brucei infection. There was an overall increase in worm burdens of T. brucei infected goats, more pronounced in Class 2 than in Class 1. There was a significant upward drift of antibody levels with time across all groups without significant interactions. However, there was a significant effect of FEC Class (P=0.017) and trypanosome infection (P=0.041) with no significant interaction. Animals in Class 1 had generally higher antibody levels than those in Class 2, irrespective of T. brucei infection. Infection status had a highly significant (P=0.0001) effect on IgG. H. contortus only infected goats had the highest antibody levels and trypanosome infection reduced this response, irrespective of FEC phenotype. There was a highly significant (P=0.001) positive correlation (r = +0.719) between FEC and total worm counts. This work showed that the two response phenotypes identified in earlier immunizing infections were still clearly recognizable following homologous challenge and dual infections. This suggests that under field conditions where repeated H. contortus challenge occurs and trypanosomosis is endemic, the phenotypes could remain unchanged.

Malaria remains a global health threat. Approximately 97% of the population is at risk in sub-Saharan countries, particularly Nigeria. This study compared the performance of 2 diagnostic methods in assessing malaria endemicity in the rural communities of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. A total of 1,140 study participants were screened for malaria parasite using Rapid Diagnostic Test kits (RDT) in the field, while thick and thin films for microscopy were examined in the laboratory. Our result showed that malaria prevalence was 56.8 by RDT and 38.6% by microscopic test. Age group under 10 years had the highest prevalence of 28.9% (RDT) and 23.6% (microscopy), respectively. The highest prevalence of 19.5% by RDT was recorded in Onicha Local Government Area, while the highest prevalence of 13.4% with microscopy was recorded in Ezza North Local Government Area. The sensitivity and specificity of microscopic examination were both 100%, while those of RDT were 95.5% and 75.9%, respectively.