The seroprevalence of hepatitis B among children in the study population is high. Its screening in school children should be incorporated into school health services in our setting while awareness campaigns and health education on its modes of transmission and prevention should be promoted and strengthened.

Summary: Malaria in pregnancy is a major contributor to adverse maternal and perinatal outcome. In hyper endemic areas like ours, it is a common cause of anaemia in pregnancy in both immune and non-immune individuals and is aggravated by poor socioeconomic circumstances. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia among pregnant women in a rural setting. 272 pregnant women, aged between 18 and 40 years in some remote rural areas of Ebonyi State, Nigeria were recruited between January 2007 and March 2008.Their blood samples were collected and examined for malaria parasite, haemoglobin and packed cell volume using standard methods. Our results showed 59.9% prevalence of parasitaemia with the highest prevalence occurring in the first trimester (84.1%).Among the positive cases, mild parasitaemia was recorded in 47.2% moderate parasitaemia in 37.4% while severe parasitaemia was recorded in 15.3% of cases. These differences were statistically significant (P<0.016). Furthermore the distribution of malaria densities in different gravidity groups showed an inverse relationship, 45.4% in primigravidae, (31.9%) in secundigravidae and (10.4%) among people with more than five pregnancies. These findings were statistically significant (P< 0.0001). The prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy in this study was 62.4%. Apart from the use of nets, drugs and vector control, the prevention of malaria in pregnancy in very poor socioeconomic settings should make provision for nutritional support.

High copper levels indicate that supplementation should not be undertaken during normal pregnancy. Dietary intake should be modified to ensure optimal selenium levels during pregnancy.

Azadirachta indica, reported to be antioxidative, is hepatoprotective. This study evaluates the effect of A. indica leaf aqueous extract on antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) in paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in Wister rats. Twenty four rats, in four groups, each containing six rats were used. Group A was given normal saline, group B paracetamol (800 mg/kg body weight) and groups C and D paracetamol and graded doses of the extract (400 mg and 800 mg/kg body weight respectively). The animals were weighed before and after experiment. Plasma liver enzymes (alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatases (ALP), plasma and liver homogenate malondialdehyde (MDA), GPx and SOD were estimated. Results showed significant weight increase (P<0.05) in A and D and weight loss in B. ALT, AST and ALP were significantly increased in B compared with A while C and D were decreased compared wth B. Plasma and homogenate MDA were increased while GPx and SOD were decreased in B compared wth A. Groups C and D MDA were decreased with increased GPx and SOD compared wth B. The extract could be a potent antidote to paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity as indicated by the increased GPx and SOD in C and D.

Asymptomatic malaria parasitemia does not induce additional oxidative stress on pregnant women in Nigeria. The enormity of acute and complicated attack should be further investigated.