A SURVEY OF DENGUE VIRUS AND MALARIA PARASITE CO-INFECTIONS IN FEBRILE PATIENTS IN KADUNA METROPOLIS, NIGERIA
A SURVEY OF DENGUE VIRUS AND MALARIA PARASITE CO-INFECTIONS IN FEBRILE PATIENTS IN KADUNA METROPOLIS, NIGERIA
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Date
2015-01
Authors
IDOKO, MATTHEW OWOICHO
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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