October 2007

Human bocavirus, a real respiratory tract pathogen

A new virus was discovered by molecular techniques in respiratory samples collected from young children with respiratory diseases in Sweden in 2005. The virus, named human bocavirus, is genetically related to the bovine parvovirus and the canine minute virus, both of which belong to the bocavirus genus of the parvoviridae family. Recent studies conducted in different countries have shown that HBoV is found in 1.5 - 19%...

Author(s): Zhenqiang Bi, Pierre B. H. Formenty and Cathy E. Roth.

October 2007

Prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Staphylococcus aureus from clinical isolates grown at 37 and 44oC from Irrua, Nigeria

A survey of the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Staphylococcus aureus strains from clinical and skin isolates grown at 37 and 44oC respectively were carried out in Irrua Nigeria. Of the 240 different specimens, 50(20.8%) S. aureus isolates were reported. The highest carrier rate of S. aureus (48%) occurred in wound swab while the least (8.0%) was reported on the healthy skin of the...

Author(s): Obiazi H. A. K., Nmorsi, O. P. G., Ekundayo A.O. and Ukwandu N.C.D.

October 2007

Antioxidant status of Nigerian children with Plasmodium falciparum malaria

We evaluated the antioxidant status of 148 Nigerian children with Plasmodium falciparum malaria. The mean malarial parasitaemia was 4701.05 ± 2160.53/µL. The mean antioxidant concentrations of the infected children were determined for vitamin A (12.16 ± 1 - 16 µg/dL), vitamin C (0.43 ± 0.03 mg/dL), 5 carotenes (40.96 ± 5.38 µg/dL), and vitamin E (0.45 ± 0.03...

Author(s): Nmorsi O.P.G., Ukwandu N.C.D. and Egwunyenga A.O.