20The aim of this study was to determine the differences in the shell, radula and genital 21 structures of 3 new invasive species, Achatina fulica Bowdich, 1822,Achatina albopicta E.A. 22Smith (1878) and Achatina reticulata Pfeiffer, 1845 collected from southwestern Nigeria and to 23 determine features that would be of importance in the identification of these invasive species in 24 Nigeria. This is the first report of Achatina albopicta and A. reticulata in Nigeria, but Achatina 25 fulica have since been reported in Nigeria and other African countries outside coastal East 26 Africa. No study has described the external or internal morphology of any of the invasive species 27 in Nigeria. Five to ten live specimens of each species, with complete shell characters, of each 28 species were used for this study. Vernier caliper was used to obtain all shell measurements, with 29 the shell held vertically and the aperture facing the observer. The genital structures were 30 dissected out and fixed in 70% alcohol for 10-15 minutes and examined. The buccal mass was 31 dissected out and digested in 7.5% sodium hydroxide for 24 hrs to free the radula from snail 32 tissues and then examined under the compound microscope. 33The shells of the 3 new species were dextral, conical with pointed spire and narrow apex. 34The whorls were separated by deep sutures. The parietal walls and the columella of the three 35 species were white but columella of A. reticulata had a characteristic thick deposit of white 36 porcelain-like material. There were dark brown markings on the whorls of the three species on 37 dirty brown background for A. fulica and A. reticulata and dirty yellowish background for A. 38 albopicta. The shell of A. albopicta was slightly glossy on the body whorl. The whorls of A. 39 albopicta were much more convex than the whorls of A. fulica and A. reticulata. The columella 40 of A. albopicta was truncate above the base of the peristome, moderately concave and slightly 3 41 curved up at the base, while the columella of A. fulica was truncate sharply at the base of the 42 peristome and straight and the columella of A. reticulata was slantly truncate at the base of the 43 peristome and straight. The genitalia of the three species were very identical but differed slightly 44 in the emergence of the basal vas deferens from the penis. The penes were slender and 45 completely enclosed by the penial sheaths. The length of the penis varied from 10 to 12 mm. The 46 vas deferens, free oviduct and the spermatheca duct were very long.The radula could be 47 48 the shell morphology, radula and genital structures can be of importance in the identification of 49 members of the family Achatinidae in Nigeria. 50 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 62 Species of Achatinidae are endemic in African countries south of the Sahara. They are 63 characterized by large to medium sized, broadly ovate shells, with regular conical spires. With 64 increase in mobility of humans and globalization of travel and trade, several achatinids, have 65 been accid...

Introduction: Poliovirus, an enterovirus, still persists in Nigeria despite the global efforts tailored towards its eradication. This study aimed to assess the impacts of poliovirus and other enteroviruses on the susceptibility of individuals to intestinal parasite infections. Methodology: A cross-sectional study on the prevalence of intestinal parasites was conducted on two-sample stool specimens of 717 Nigerian children (between 1 and 19 years of age) whose poliovirus/other enteroviruses infection status had been determined. Results: The overall prevalence of Sabin poliovirus and other related enteroviruses infections were 6.6% and 13.8%, respectively. The prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides was significantly higher than that of other intestinal parasites (p < 0.05), with children in the 0-4 year age group being the most predisposed age group to intestinal parasitic infection (OR = 11.7, CI = 9.2-15.0). While the prevalence of all species of parasites except S. mansoni showed no significant variations in children with Sabin poliovirus (p > 0.05), the prevalence of hookworms and Taenia spp. was significantly higher in children with other enteroviral infections (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The high risk of children of acquiring enteroviral infection through some intestinal parasites is an indication of possible association of the parasites in a more poliovirus-endemic population. A combined intervention approach for the two infections is advocated.