(Meliaceae).Objective: Combination of an artemisinin-based compound and a medicinal herb extract will provide an indigenous alternative/herb-based ACT. Materials and methods: The in vivo schizontocidal activity of the crude aqueous extract of 100, 500, and 1000 mg/kg of A. indica fresh leaves (NCE) and 6, 15, and 20 mg/kg of artesunic acid were determined, alone and in combination, while keeping the dose of artesunic acid constant at 15 mg/kg, using the Peter's 4-day suppressive test and Swiss albino mice. The ED 50 was calculated from the dose-response relationships. Percentage survival and cure were also determined. Results: The average yield of two extractions of NCE was 8.33 AE 1.67%. Combination of 1000 mg/kg of NCE and 15 mg/kg of artesunic acid, produced a significant reduction of parasitemia (96.87%), compared to 20 mg/kg of artesunic acid alone (68.14%). The combination had an ED 50 of 0.58 mg/kg while that of artesunic acid alone was 8.814 mg/kg. The combinations of NCE with artesunic acid produced a cure, although the artesunic acid did not produce a cure in 30 d. Discussion: NCE increased the activity of artesunic acid in terms of reduction in parasitemia, and increased survival time and cure rate. Conclusion: The combination of an artemisinin and aqueous extract of neem leaf is possible, providing a potentiated reduction of parasitemia, and increased cure rate.

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Malaria infection is the most common diagnosis made in Africa. Efficient diagnosis of malaria parasite is very vital for treatment of malaria infection. The efficacy of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) in comparison to microscopy, the gold standard, in the diagnosis of malaria in Nigeria has not been fully ascertained. This study compared the sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of RDTs available in Nigeria market with microscopy. Two RDT kits were used and their results were compared with the gold standard, microscopy using thick and thin blood films (TBF and tBF). TBF had sensitivity of 85%, specificity of 30%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 55.2%, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 66.6%; tBF had sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 35%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 55.2%, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 63.6%. Among the RDTs, Care Start HRP2 kit had sensitivity of 65%, specificity of 50%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 56.5%, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 59% while SD Bioline kit had sensitivity of 55%, specificity of 65%, PPV of 61%, and NPV of 59%. It can thus be inferred that rapid diagnostic test kits are not as sensitive as microscopy in diagnosis of malaria parasite, but they are more accurate and are thus suitable alternatives to microscopy.

Introduction: The genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum poses a threat to the development and implementation of malaria control strategies. Thus, there is a need for continuous surveillance of its genetic diversity, especially amongst the parasite’s reservoir’s asymptomatic population. Methodology: Three cohorts comprising children under ten years old, pregnant women and other adults were recruited into this study. Blood sample was collected from all consenting individuals and screened by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. The genetic diversity of P. falciparum was determined by genotyping the merozoite surface protein-1 (msp-1), merozoite surface protein-2 (msp-2) and glutamate-rich protein (glurp). The size of alleles was visualized on the agarose gel. The multiplicity of infection (MOI) and expected heterozygosity (He) were determined. Results: The majority of the patients showed polyclonal infections, while the multiplicity of infection with msp-2 and glurp of isolates from pregnant women were 2.5 and 1.8, respectively. Children and adults were 2.3 and 1.1; 2.4 and 1.3, respectively. The estimated number of genotypes was 10 msp-1 (4 KI; 4 MAD; 2 RO33), 27 msp-2 (14 FC27; 13 IC/3D7) and 8 glurp. K1 (36/100) was more frequent than the MAD20 (22.33/100) allele, which was, in turn, more frequent than the RO33 (13.59/100). The samples with the 3D7 allele (53.40/100) of msp-2 occurred more frequently than the FC27 type (45.63/100). Polymorphism in the glurp gene occurred most frequently (72.82/100). Conclusion: The study samples exhibited a high degree of genetic polymorphism in msp-2 allele typing with multiple clones, reflecting the complexity of parasite populations.

In this study, the presence of extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) producing organisms in abattoirs, a non-hospital community was investigated. The presence of ESBL-producing phenotypes was confirmed by the Double Disc Synergy Test (DDST). Out of the 99 isolates screened for ESBL, 28 (28.3%) were confirmed positive. The positive isolates were characterised by using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of flight Mass Spectrometry. 50% of the isolates were Pseudomonas spp., the rest were different species of Acinetobacter, Stenotrophomonas and Achromobacter. Pseudomonas monteilli and Pseudomonas putida were the most occurring in the intestine. The entire positive ESBL producers were subjected to plasmid curing to ascertain the location of the resistant marker. The result of the plasmid curing indicated that the resistant genes were chromosomally borne. The findings have therefore established the presence of ESBL producing organisms in the gut of animals from abattoirs and the table were the meat are sold, and its rate of occurrence is comparable to hospital ICUs. Abattoir communities could probably be a source of human infection with ESBL expressing pathogens and possible transfer to non-ESBL producers.