A SURVEY OF DENGUE VIRUS AND MALARIA PARASITE CO-INFECTIONS IN FEBRILE PATIENTS IN KADUNA METROPOLIS, NIGERIA

No Thumbnail Available
Date
2015-01
Authors
IDOKO, MATTHEW OWOICHO
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Dengue fever and malaria are febrile illnesses and common arthropod-borne diseases in humans.They represent major public health problems. The aim of this work was to survey the occurrence of dengue virus and malaria co-infection among febrile patients in Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria. Blood specimens were collected from 340 subjects with febrile complaints attending four General hospitals in Kaduna metropolis selected for the research and who gave their consent to participate in the research. Serological determination of dengue virus IgM was carried out using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. Malaria status was determined using microscopy and malaria rapid diagnostic test kit. Structured questionnaires were also administered to obtain data on risk factors, demographic data and symptoms of illness. A total of 6 subjects were positive for dengue virus IgM, giving a prevalence of 1.8%. For malaria, microscopy gave a prevalence of 46.5% and rapid diagnostic test gave a prevalence of 35.6%. There was no statistically significant relationship between the occurrence of dengue virus IgM and the presence of risk factors in the environment. A total of 2 (1.3%) of the malaria positive cases were coinfected with dengue virus. The occurrence of dengue virus in the study population was confirmed. Therefore, as the clinical symptoms associated with dengue virus Infection are indistinguishable from many other febrile illnesses such as malaria, specific diagnostic tests assume critical importance in the identification of dengue virus infection.Long lasting physical transformation of vector habitats should be enhanced. Protective clothing and repellents which are common means of protection against mosquitoes and other biting insects should also be enhanced.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN MICROBIOLOGY, FACULTY OF SCIENCE, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA.
Keywords
SURVEY, DENGUE, VIRUS, DENGUE VIRUS, MALARIA, PARASITE, MALARIA PARASITE, CO-INFECTIONS, PARASITE CO-INFECTIONS, PARASITE CO-INFECTIONS, FEBRILE, PATIENTS, FEBRILE PATIENTS, KADUNA, METROPOLIS, KADUNA METROPOLIS, NIGERIA
Citation
Collections