33 Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) have remained a major threat to human especially children 34 in developing countries including Nigeria. Interventions have always been geared towards 35 school-aged children, neglecting preschool-aged children and occupational risk adults. The 36 Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis Advisory Committee (STHAC) recently suggested 37 incorporating other at-risk groups. In the context of this recommendation, this study assessed 38 the associated risk of STH infection among agrarian communities of Kogi State, Nigeria. A 39 total of 310 individuals of all ages participated in the cross-sectional survey. Stool samples 40 were analyzed using standard Kato-Katz method. A total of 106 (34.2%) individuals were 41 infected with at least one STH. Hookworm was the most prevalent (18.1%); followed by 42 Ascaris lumbricoides (16.8%). Worm intensity was generally light. Prevalence of infection 43 was similar between four age groups considered (preschool, school, 'women of reproductive 44 age' and older at-risk group). Poor socio-economic status (SES) was a major risk for STH 45 infection. Using a 20-assets based criteria, 68 (23.1%) and 73 (24.7%) of 295 questionnaire 46 respondents were classified into first (poorest) and fifth (richest) wealth quintiles respectively.47 Risk of infection with STH was 60% significantly lower in the richest wealth quintile 48 compared to the poorest (Prevalence Ratio (PR) = 0.4843, 95% CI = 0.2704 -0.8678, p = 3 3 49 0.015). Open defecators were more likely to harbour STH than those who did not (PR = 50 1.7878, 95% CI = 1.2366 -2.5846, p = 0.00201). Pit latrine and water closet toilet each 51 approximately reduced STH infection by 50% (p < 0.05). Preventive chemotherapy for all age 52 groups, health education and provision of basic amenities especially toilets are needed in 53 order to achieve the goal toward the 2020 target of STH control. Author summary58 Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) are major cause of morbidities globally, especially among 59 children in developing countries such as Nigeria. Present World Health Organization 60 recommended control strategy solely require preventive chemotherapy targeting preschool-61 aged children (PSAC) and school-aged children (SAC), and the recently included women of 62 reproductive age (WRA). The Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis Advisory Committee (STHAC) 63 which is saddled with responsibility of evaluating STHs status and providing appropriate 64 recommendations proposed that preventive chemotherapy be extended to other at-risk groups.65 This study evaluates this and some other recommendations of STHAC 2016 using sections of 66 a state in Nigeria where soil-transmitted helminthiasis is endemic.67 Findings from this study supports recommendations for extension of preventive chemotherapy 68 to other at-risk groups apart from PSAC and SAC. It supports WASH (water, sanitation and 69 hygiene) as integral part of STH control. This finding emphasizes the need for health 70 education and change in attitude which could promote tene...

General anaesthesia using ketamine has been shown to be safe. It is generally used in our private hospitals where there is lack of qualified personnel and sophisticated anaesthetic machines. A retrospective review of 295 cases of laparoscopy was performed over 28 months at the fertility Unit of Life Specialist Hospital Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria. Ketamine general anaesthesia was used for all the patients after premedication with 0.6 mg of atropine. Seventy-six and 102 patients who had additional premedication of 10 mg diazepam and 50 mg promethazine, respectively, were compared. The duration of this procedure ranged between 7 and 18 minutes, with a mean of 12 minutes. The dose of ketamine used was 100 mg mean (range 50-180 mg); 12.6% of the patients had some form of reaction. Diazepam reduced talkativeness during recovery but increased the recovery time significantly, from an average of 45 minutes to 3 hours. Promethazine significantly reduced vomiting and restlessness and did not significantly prolong the recovery time (from an average of 45 minutes to 70 minutes). Two patients who had only atropine as premedication had an idiosyncratic reaction of breathlessness and tonic-clonic-like movements. They responded to intravenous diazepam. Ketamine produces a safe, effective and simple general anaesthesia and is recommended for use in day-case laparoscopy, where standard anaesthetic machines and trained personnel are lacking. Use of promethazine premeditation is advocated for improved outcome.

No abstract

Seventy-seven Bulinus snail species were fed for eight weeks with eleven diets consisting o different feed-formulations and vegetables. Snails reared exclusively on grower's mash, corn fibre meal and fish meal did not survive for up to two weeks. The result from this investigation indicates that there is no signi icant difference in body grow h gain between lettuce + blood meal, lettuce + groundnut fibre meal, blood meal, lettuce and cabbage. But they showed significant d fference with lettuce + corn fibre meal and lettuce + fish meal. It is therefore recommended that in a situation where lettuce which is well known as the snail's food is not available as during the peak of rainy season, feeds like blood meal and cabbage can be used as viable substitutes for rearing experimental Bulinus snail species in the laboratory. Also, lettuce + blood meal has been shown by this study as the best feed formulation for the optimal growth and development o Bulinus sp in the laboratory. f

The parasites and morphometric indices of frozen fish sold in Nsukka Urban Market in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria were investigated between June and December 2008 to determine the parasite prevalence, mean intensity and abundance and some morphometric indices associated with parasitism. Two species of acanthocephalan endo-parasites were isolated from Savreda sp namely, Gorgorhynchus sp and Paragorgorhynchus sp with overall prevalence of 35.4%. The mean intensity for Gorgorhynchus sp was 14.1+0.2 and the mean abundance was 10.0+0.1. Paragorgorhynchus sp had mean intensity of 1.2+0.1 and mean abundance of 10.0+0.1. Some morphometric characteristics were calculated to correlate weight against standard length (SL) and total length (TL). There was a significant correlation between mean SL (2.76 + 0.59 cm) and mean TL (3.23+0.15 cm) with mean body weight (BW = 320 +0.49g) for Sardinella sp and mean SL (32.6+0.71cm) and TL (35.9+0.66 cm) with mean BW (440+0.13g) for Savreda sp. The mean condition factor (K) fell in 0.01+0.001 in both species, this shows that the fish overall condition is in a good state, whereas b-value (b=1.7) shows that the Savreda sp which hosted parasite had a negative allometric growth pattern (b<3). Sardinella sp had b-value (bvalue = 3.37) (b>3) showing a positive allometric pattern. The negative allometric pattern for Savreda sp is probably as a result of the parasites they hosted.