BackgroundCytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is common among HIV-infected individuals. Its contribution to morbidity and mortality became more apparent following introduction of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) which improved survival among HIV-infected individuals.ObjectivesThis study aimed at determining the prevalence of both active and latent CMV infections among HIV-infected individuals on HAART in Ilorin, Nigeria.MethodsA total of 360 consented HIV-1 patients were recruited for the study. About 5ml of blood and socio-demographic data were collected from each patient. Plasma from the blood was tested for anti-CMV IgM and IgG presence using ELISA.ResultsOf the 360 participants tested, 42 (11.7%) and 265 (73.6%) were respectively anti-CMV IgM and IgG antibodies positive representing active and latent infection rates respectively. Gender and age were the correlates of IgM seropositivity while age, occupation and marital status correlated with IgG seropositivity. Occupation, marital status, use of HAART and CD4+ count were not statistically associated with IgM level while gender, use of HAART and CD4+ count did not correlate with IgG level.ConclusionsThis study has demonstrated high level of latent and active CMV infection among HAART recipients in Ilorin and highlighted the need for incorporation of anti-herpes drugs in the treatment regimen.

Despite the increase in popularity of hand sanitizers (HS) in Nigeria, there is a dearth of literature on the efficacies of these products. This study assessed the efficacies of four popular brands of HS in Nigeria against some clinically important bacterial pathogens. Using the well variant of the agar dilution method to determine antimicrobial susceptibility and the broth dilution method to determine minimum inhibitory concentration, the activities of the HS (HSF, HSM, HDT, and HSK) were evaluated against Staphyl ococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumonia . Each of the products displayed varying activities against the test organisms. HSM had the highest inhibitory effect against all the test organisms, while HSF was the least effective. S. aureus was the most susceptible organism, with the highest susceptibility to HSM (12.0 mm). P. aeruginosa was the most resistant organism, with the highest resistance to HSM (9.0 mm). Each of the HS was bacteriostatic against all of the test bacteria and none displayed bactericidal activity. HSM and HDT reduced the mean colonyforming unit (cfu) counts of bacteria on the hands of subjects by 72% and 62%, respectively. A onetailed t-test showed that HSM was more effective than HDT in this regard. None of the products could reduce bacterial counts by 99.9%, as the manufacturers claim. Such claims need to be verified to ensure that these products contain the correct quantities of active ingredients, and sellers need to store such products according to the manufacturers’ instructions.

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus types I/II (HTLV-I/II) is endemic in some parts of the world including Nigeria. Reported prevalence rates in Nigeria have largely focused on blood donors. This study aims at determining the prevalence of HTLV infection among pregnant women in Ilorin North-central Nigeria. Serum samples from 276 pregnant women who were antenatal clinic attendees at General and Civil Service Hospitals in Ilorin were tested for the presence of HTLV-I/II antibodies using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay test kits from Diagnostic Automation INC., USA. Out of the 276 women tested, 3 tested positive giving a prevalence rate of 1.1%. The result was analyzed on the basis of age, marital status, nature of family, educational status, occupation, religion, parity, and gestational stage of the women. There was no statistical association of HTLV positivity with any of the variables. Although relatively lower than prevalence rate recorded among similar study groups in other parts of the country, the 1.1% prevalence in this study underscores the need for proper education and creation of awareness among antenatal clinic attendees, so as to reduce viral transmission and incidence of HTLV-related diseases.

The microbiological quality of pre-cut fruits retailed in three local markets in Ilorin, Kwara state, Nigeria was assessed. Pre-cut fruit samples comprising watermelon, pineapple and pawpaw were obtained from vendors at different retail outlets in the markets and the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics were examined. Mean total aerobic plate count ranged from 1.20 x 104 to 2.0 x 104cfu/g while fungal count ranged from 0.5 x 102 to1.6 x 102 cfu/g. Eight bacterial and six fungal species were isolated: Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Campylobacter jejuni, Klebsiella aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp. Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Mucor mucedo, Rhizopus stolonifer , Aspergillus fumigatus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The physicochemical parameters studies varies as follows: pH ranged from 3.5 to 4.1, moisture content 60.20 to 90.73%, titratable acidity 0.42 to 0.80g/100ml, ash 0.50 to 1.11% and total sugar 2.01 to 2.53g/100ml. The findings from this study showed that the fruits contained microorganisms that are potentially pathogenic. Under favourable conditions, they may multiply and thus render the fruits unsafe for consumption as they could become means of food poisoning.

An ethnobotanical investigation has revealed that the roots of Anthocliesta vogelii and stem bark of Tinospora cordifolia are used by indigenous people in the treatment of pile. This present study evaluated the antibacterial activity of the root and stem bark of Anthocliesta vogelii and Tinospora cordifolia respectively against the human pathogenic gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. The phytochemical composition of these two plants was also assayed. Graded concentrations of 25mg/ml, 50mg/ml, 100mg/ml and 200mg/ml of the respective crude extract were applied against the test organisms. The percentage yield of the ethanolic extract of T. cordifolia stem and A. vogelii root were 40.978% and 21.872% respectively with their phytochemical analysis revealing the presence of saponins, alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, and glycosides, with steroids present in A. vogelii but absent in T. cordifolia. The antimicrobial effect of the ethanolic extracts of both plants on the two test bacteria was significant (P<0.05). However, the ethanolic root extract of A. vogelii showed higher inhibition against P. aeruginosa and E. coli than the ethanolic stem extract of T. cordifolia at concentrations of 50mg/ml, 100mg/ml and 200mg/ml, while both extracts did not have any inhibition on the test organisms at a concentration of 25mg/ml. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) of the ethanolic extract of A. vogelii root on P. aeruginosa and E. coli were 50mg/ml and 100mg/ml respectively, while the MICs for the ethanolic extract of T. cordifolia stem on P. aeruginosa and E. coli was 50mg/ml respectively. Both plant extracts could not kill the test bacteria; hence, they are only bacteriostatic and not bactericidal against the test bacteria. Keywords: Anthocleista vogelii, Tinospora cordifolia, Bacterial, Bacteriostatic, Bactericidal