The prevalence of multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis was high in the study area. Ser531Leu and Ser315Thr1 substitutions were the highest gene mutations for rifampicin and isoniazid, respectively.

Background Malaria in pregnancy remains a major public health problem especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In malaria endemic areas, majority of pregnant women may remain asymptomatic but still associated with complications on the mother and her foetus. They also serve as reservoirs and act as transmitters of infection. Despite these effects, the prevalence of asymptomatic Plasmodium species infections among pregnant women attending antenatal care has not been yet studied at the study area. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of asymptomatic Plasmodium species infections among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Fendeka town health facilities. Methods Health facility based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to March 2019. A total of 331 participants were enrolled by using convenient sampling technique. Sociodemographic and associated factors were collected by a face to face interview. All the 331 samples were tested using rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and microscopy. However, only 83 dried blood spot (DBS) samples out of 331 participants, were collected by using systematic random sampling technique for molecular analysis. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic Plasmodium species infections. Univariate logistic regression was employed to assess factors associated with asymptomatic Plasmodium species infection. Variables with P-value < 0.25 in the univariate logistic regression were selected for multivariate logistic regression analysis model. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated and P-values < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant.

Background. Malaria is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality especially in pregnant women and under-five-year-old children. However, data on the prevalence among delivering mothers, potential fetal transmission, and associated birth outcomes is lacking in Ethiopia. Objective. To assess the prevalence of Plasmodium infection from peripheral, placental, and cord blood samples among delivering mothers in Kuch health center, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 218 delivering mothers from February to May 2021 in Kuch health center. Data on sociodemographic characteristics and clinical and obstetric history of mothers were collected using a structured questionnaire. Giemsa stained blood films from maternal capillary and placental and umbilical cord blood were examined for plasmodium infection. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 23 software package. Results. The prevalence of maternal, placental, and umbilical cord malaria was 6.4% (14/218), 2.3% (5/218), and 0.5% (1/218), respectively. Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax accounted 3.7% (8/218) and 2.8% (6/218), respectively, in maternal peripheral blood but only Plasmodium falciparum was detected in placental and umbilical cord blood samples. Maternal malaria had significant association with primigravida ( χ 2 = 12.611 , p = 0.002 ) and low birth weight ( χ 2 = 8.381 , p = 0.004 ). Placental malaria was also significantly associated with low birth weight ( χ 2 = 32.255 , p ≤ 0.001 ). Conclusion. The prevalence of malaria among delivering mothers was considerable. Maternal peripheral malaria had a significant association with gravidity and birth weight. Placental and umbilical cord malaria also had a significant association with birth weight. Pregnant mothers should be examined for malaria and receive appropriate treatment to prevent adverse birth outcomes.

Introduction: Even if the prevalence of intestinal parasites is high in Ethiopia, we still use only direct wet mount method for laboratory diagnosis of intestinal parasitic infections, having low sensitivity, and this significantly increases false-negative results. Therefore, the performance evaluation of three laboratory diagnostic methods is mandatory.  Methods: Single stool sample was collected from March 2018 to June 2018, among 211 school children, and processed using a wet mount, modified Baermann (MB), and Ritchie’s methods. The sensitivity and negative predictive values (NPVs) at 95% confidence interval and Kappa values were calculated in terms of the gold standard method (the combined result of altogether).  Results: The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 60.2%. The sensitivity and NPVs of the wet mount, MB, and Ritchie’s methods against the “Gold standard” test were 49.6% and 56.8%, 80.3% and 77.1%, and 67.7% and 68.8%, respectively.  Conclusions: MB showed the best, and wet mount showed the least performance for the laboratory diagnosis of intestinal parasitic infections.

Background Malaria in pregnancy remains a major public health problem in the globe especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In malaria endemic areas, majority of pregnant women remain asymptomatic but could still associate with complications on the mother and her offspring. They also serve as reservoirs to transmit infection. Despite these effects, no attention is given for the diagnosis of asymptomatic Plasmodium infections (APIs) using highly sensitive and specific laboratory diagnostic tools among pregnant women in Ethiopia. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the performance of RDTs with microscopy and performance of RDTs and microscopy with PCR for detecting APIs among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Fendeka town health facilities, Jawi district, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods Health facility based cross -sectional study was conducted from February-March, 2019. A total of 166 participants were enrolled by using convenient sampling technique. Socio-demographic and other characteristics were collected using semi structured questionnaire. Dried blood spot (DBS) samples were collected for molecular analysis. APIs on pregnant women was diagnosed using rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), smear microscopy and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the prevalence of APIs. Method comparison was done and Cohen’s kappa coefficient (k) was used to determine the degree of agreement among the diagnostic methods. Parasite densities were also calculated Results Prevalence of API was 17 (10.2%), 18 (10.8%) and 30 (18.1%) using RDTs, microscopy and real-time PCR, respectively. The overall proportion of API was 18.7%. Sensitivity of the RDT was 83.3% as compared with microscopy. RDTs and microscopy also showed sensitivity of 50% and 60%, respectively as compared with PCR. Majority of API identified by microscopy had moderate parasite densities. Conclusions Prevalence of API in the study area was significant. Both RDTs and microscopy had lower sensitivity when compared with real-time PCR. Therefore, routine laboratory diagnosis of API among pregnant women with better laboratory diagnostic tool would be adopted as a part of the antenatal care.