Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine

88-91

Authors: Xiaoning Sun, Cheng Lan

Objective To investigate the expression of Runx3 and TGF-β1 protein in the colon from rats with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Methods Rat model for IBS was established by intracolonic instillation with acetic acid and restraint stress methods, which was confirmed by determinating the visceral sensitivity of the animals, including abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) score and the electronic behavior of the abdomen wall. The rats were randomly assigned into three groups: IBS1 group (restraint stress, n = 25); IBS2 group (both instillation with acetic acid and restraint stress, n = 25) and Control group (n=16). The colonic tissue samples were collected for histological study and the expression of Runx3 and TGF-β1 proteins were detected by immunohistochemistry. Meanwhile, the relationship of these two proteins was calculated. Results Visceral hypersensitivity (AWR and abdominal electrical activity) was significantly enhanced in IBS1 and IBS2 groups than other groups. The colon tissue in all groups did not show any signs of inflammation. Furthermore, the expression of Runx3 and TGF-β1 protein in the colon from all groups show no significant difference (P>0.05), with no remarkable relevancy between each other (P>0.05). Conclusions The rat model for IBS was successfully established. We did not find any significant changes in the expression of Runx3 and TGF-β1 protein in the colon tissue from IBS rats, suggesting that the quantitative changes may be not the way by which Runx3 and TGF-β1 protein play their roles in IBS. The accurate roles of Runx3 and TGF-β1 proteins in the pathogenesis of IBS remains to be further studied.

97-100

Authors: Rassi Yavar, Saghafipour Abedin, Abai Mohammad Reza, Oshaghi Mohammad Ali, Rafizadeh Sina, Mohebail Mehdi, Yaaghobi-Ershadi Mohammad Reza, Mohtarami Fatemeh, Farzinnia Babak

Objective To determine the sand flies species responsible for most transmission of Leishmania major (L. major) to human, as well as to determine the main reservoir hosts of the disease. Methods Sand flies were collected using sticky papers and mounted in Puri's medium for species identification. Rodents were trapped by live Sherman traps. Both sand flies and rodents were subjected to molecular methods for detection of leishmanial parasite. Results Phlebotomus papatasi (P. papatasi) was the common species in outdoor and indoor resting places. Employing PCR technique only three specimens of 150 P. papatasi (2%) were found naturally infected by parasites with a band of 350 bp which is equal to the L. major parasite. Forty six rodents were captured by Sherman traps and identified. Microscopic investigation on blood smear of the animals for amastigote parasites revealed 1 (3.22%) infected Meriones libycus (M. libycus). Infection of this animal to L. major was confirmed by PCR against rDNA loci of the parasite. Conclusions This is the first molecular report of parasite infection of both vector (P. papatasi) and reservoir (M. libycus) to L. major in the region. The results indicated that P. papatasi was the primary vector of the disease and circulating the parasite between human and reservoirs and M. libycus was the most important host reservoir for maintenance of the parasite source in the area.

106-111

Authors: Marimuthu Govindarajan

Objective To investigate the larvicidal and repellent properties of essential oils from various parts of four plant species Cymbopogan citrates, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Rosmarinus officinalis and Zingiber officinale against Culex tritaeniorhynchus (Cx. tritaeniorhynchus) and Anopheles subpictus (An. subpictus). Methods Essential oils were obtained by hydro-distillation method. The mosquitoes were reared in the vector control laboratory and twenty five late third instar larvae of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus and An. subpictus were exposed to based on the wide range and narrow range test, essential oil tested at various concentrations ranging from 25 to 250 ppm. The larval mortality was observed after 24 h under the laboratory conditions. The repellent efficacy was determined against two mosquito species at three concentrations viz., 1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 mg/cm2 under laboratory conditions. Results Results showed all the four plant essential oil produced significant larval mortality against two mosquito species. However, the highest larvicidal activity was observed in the essential oil from Zingiber officinale against Cx. tritaeniorhynchus and An. subpictus with the LC50 and LC90 values as 98.83, 57.98 ppm and 186.55, 104.23 ppm, respectively. All the four essential oil shows significant repellency against Cx. tritaeniorhynchus than An. subpictus. Among four essential oil tested the highest repellency was observed in Zingiber officinale, a higher concentration of 5.0 mg/cm2 provided 100% protection up to 150 and180 min against Cx. tritaeniorhynchus and An. subpictus, respectively. Conclusions In this work, it can be concluded that four essential oils which were distilled from Cymbopogan citrates, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Rosmarinus officinalis and Zingiber officinale showed promising larvicidal and repellent agent against Cx. tritaeniorhynchus and An. subpictus.

117-120

Authors: Suseem SR, Mary Saral A, Neelakanda Reddy P, Marslin Gregory

Objective To evaluate the analgesic activity of the ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous extracts of Pleurotus eous (P. eous) mushroom. Methods The dried fruiting bodies were extracted with ethyl acetate, methanol and water. The analgesic effect of extracts of P. eous were investigated at doses 250 500 and 1 000 mg/kg body weight, using acetic-acid induced writhing, hot-plate, tail immersion and tail-clip tests. Results P. eous extracts produced significant reduction in number of writhes induced by intraperitoneal injection of acetic-acid (P<0.05). Moreover, in hot-plate and tail immersion test, all the three extracts significantly raised the pain threshold at different time of observation (0-60 min) in comparison with control (P<0.05). In tail-clip test the extracts also caused a significant inhibition of pain at both the doses used (P<0.05). Conclusions The results of present study suggest that extracts of P. eous possess potent analgesic property and could serve as a base for future drugs.

125-128

Authors: Wabo Poné J, Kenne Tameli Florence, Mpoame Mbida, Pamo Tedonkeng E, Bilong Bilong CF

Objective To assess ovicidal activity of three acetonic extracts from the leaves of three forage legume, Calliandra calotyrsus (C. calotyrsus), Gliricidia sepium (G. sepium) and Leucaena diversifolia (L. diversifolia) in vitro on Haemonchus contortus (H. contortus). Methods Eggs were exposed for 24 hours to five different concentrations (0.075, 0.15, 0.3, 0.6 and 1.25 mg/mL) of acetonic extracts at room temperature (24 °C). Distilled water and 0.4% Tween were used in the bioassay as negative controls. Results The later did not affect embryonation and egg hatching of H. contortus. Conversively, significant effects were obtained with the acetonic extracts of leaves of all three plants and the maximum activity was observed with the highest concentration (1.25 mg/mL). The acetonic extract of G. sepium was found to be more active (2.9% and 0.0% for embryonation and egg hatching, respectively) than the other substances 16.5% and 33.5%, respectively for C. calothyrsus, 33.7% and 33.3%, respectively for L. diversifolia. Conclusions These results suggest that the three forage legumes do possess ovicidal properties and further studies on larvae should be carried out.

133-136

Authors: Rasheed MU, Thajuddin N

Objective To determine the antimoraxella activity of Ethiopian medicinal plants extracts. Methods Two clinical isolates of Moraxella cattarhalis (M. cattarhalis) with different antibiotic sensitivity pattern were tested to determine their susceptibility to garlic [Allium sativum (A. sativum)], bark of cinnamon [Cinnamomum zeylanicum (C. zeylanicum)], clove [Syzygium aromaticum (S. aromaticum)], and leaves of avocado [Persea americana (P. americana)], rosemary [Rosmarinus officinalis (R. officinalis)] and prickly poppy [Argemone mexicana (A. mexicana)]. Disk diffusion assay and broth dilution method were used to measure zone of inhibition, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of plant extracts against M. cattarhalis. Results Both the strains of M. cattarhalis exhibited similar sensitivities to the extracts of medicinal plants. Antimoraxella activity was exhibited only by garlic, avocado leaves and cinnamon. Garlic was found to be more antagonistic to M. cattarhalis than cinnamon and avocado. Garlic and avocado leaves have shown similar MIC (30 mg/mL) where as their zone of inhibition (15 and 11 mm, respectively) were different. Conclusions Garlic, cinnamon and avocado leaves extracts represents alternative source of natural antimicrobial substances for use in clinical practice for the treatment of cases of M. cattarhalis. Further research on the effects of these extracts on M. cattarhalis can be rewarding to pursue in the search for new broad spectrum antimicrobial agents.

140-145

Authors: Renae Fernandez, Anu Rammohan, Niyi Awofeso

Objective To determine health systems-related, familial, and cultural factors which influence the delivery and uptake of measles vaccination in Indonesia. Methods Logistic regression analysis of data collected during the 2007 Indonesian Demographic and Health Survey was undertaken by the authors to investigate these factors. The 2007 Indonesian Demographic and Health Survey dataset is a nationally representative, randomly sampled survey containing 15 065 children aged between 9 and 59 months. Results 72.8% of children had received the measles vaccine. Vaccination coverage was similar for males and females; however, coverage was higher amongst urban children, 80.1%, compared to 68.5% in rural areas. The key findings of the regression analysis were congruent with the results of previous research targeting vaccination coverage. After controlling for all other factors, maternal age, maternal education, wealth, the use of a skilled birth attendant, and postnatal check-ups were positively and significantly (P< 0.01) correlated with measles vaccination. The number of children per household was negatively correlated (P<0.01). Conclusions In order to enhance measles vaccination coverage in Indonesia, delivery to, and uptake by, rural and low socio-economic populations require substantial improvements. Mass health education and health systems improvements are also required.

148-151

Authors: Olusoji Daniel, Eltayeb Osman

Objective To determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with drug resistant tuberculosis (TB) in South West Nigeria. Methods A retrospective study conducted among pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients from Oyo and Osun States in South West Nigeria who had their culture and drug susceptibility test performed at the institute of tropical medicine Antwerp, Belgium between 2007 and 2009. Data on the patient's characteristics were retrieved from the TB treatment card. Univariate analysis was performed to assess the risk factors for drug resistant tuberculosis. The Level of significance was at P<0.05. Results Among the 88 patients who had drug-susceptibility test result, there were 50 males and 38 females. Of the 88 patients, 55 (62.5%) had strains resistant to at least one or more anti-drugs. The proportion of TB cases with resistance to a single drug was 12.7%. The multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) rate was 76.4%. The only significant factor for the development of drug resistance and MDR was the history of previous anti TB treatment (P<0.01). Other factors such as age [OR 0.86 (0.35−2.13); P=0.72] and gender [OR 1.24 (0.49−3.14); P=0.62] were not significantly associated with drug resistance TB. Conclusions The study highlighted a high prevalence of MDR-TB among the study population. History of previous TB treatment was associated with MDR-TB. There is an urgent need to conduct a national TB drug resistance survey to determine the actual burden and risk factors associated with drug resistance TB in the country.

156-158

Authors: Samuel Nwadioha, Daniel Egah, Edmond Banwat, Julie Egesie, Ifeanyi Onwuezobe

Objective To determine the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis in the HIV/AIDS patients of primary health care clinics in Jos Plateau state, Nigeria. Methods Female genital swabs were collected from primary health care centers, Jos and analyzed by microscopy, culture, etc. in Jos University Teaching Hospital from December 2006 to December 2007. Data on epidemiologic indices were collected, using structured interviewer-administered questionnaires. Results The incidence of bacterial vaginosis in the study was 28% (n=196/700). Among the HIV/AIDS group, the bacterial vaginosis incidence was 36% (n=126/350), while in the control (non-HIV patients) group, the rate was 20% (70/350) with a statistically significant difference at 95 percent confidence level (P<0.05). HIV/AIDS and non-HIV (control) patients contributed 64% (n=126/196) and 36% (n=70/196), respectively. The risks to bacterial vaginosis included vaginal douching with disinfectant/detergent constituted (60%), poor use of condom 40%, a median age of 26 years, and a median number of 3 sex partners per week. Conclusions There was a significant statistical difference in prevalence of bacterial vaginosis between the HIV/AIDS group and non-HIV(control) group of patients in the study. Risk behaviors that promote the incidence of bacterial vaginosis should be especially paid attention.

163-166

Authors: Anosike Chioma, Abonyi Obiora, Ubaka Chukwuemeka

Objective To evaluate the possible antiulcer effect of the African garden egg, Solanum aethiopicum (S. aethiopicum) (a domestic vegetable) experimentally in rats. Methods A methanol extract of the plant fruit was prepared by maceration. Twenty five overnight fasted rats for each model were divided randomly into five groups of five rats. Groups 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 received normal saline, extract dose levels of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg of ranitidine respectively. All administrations were given orally. For the indomethacin and aspirin models, ulcerogenic agents (indomethacin, 50 mg/kg and aspirin 200 mg/kg) were given thirty minutes after extract treatments and animals sacrificed 8 h later. The acidified ethanol model (ethanol 60% + 0.1 mol/L HCl) was given 1hr after extract treatment and animals sacrificed 1 h later. Ulcer index was checked and analysed with appropriate statistical tools. Results Extract of S. aethiopicum showed positive effect on all the models used. It produced higher ulcer inhibition than ranitidine in the indomethacin and acid-ethanol models. All the anti-ulcer effects of the extract at different doses were dose dependent but only in indomethacin model did it produce statistically significant (P<0.05) ulcer reduction in all doses compared to control. Conclusions Garden egg, a readily cultivated crop vegetable possesses ulcer protective properties against ulcers induced experimentally making it a cheap source of natural anti-ulcer remedy.