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Background and study aim: Inadequately treated water supply and unhygienic food consumption are the major sources of contracting feco-orally transmitted viral pathogens, including Rotavirus. This prospective study aimed to assess the presence of Rotavirus in sewage, underground and surface waters collected from different locations within Maiduguri Metropolis, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A total of 170 sewage and water samples (underground and surface waters) were collected from various sources in high-density and low-density areas of the Maiduguri metropolis. A modified adsorption- elution method for concentration of enteric viruses in sewage and water samples and detection of the presence of rotavirus (if present) was done using Enzyme linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA). The viruses in water were concentrated by negatively charged membrane filtration, eluted with 0.05M Glycine at pH 11.5, and re-concentrated by centrifugation at 12,000rpm for one hour. Results: Out of the 60 domestic sewage samples collected from high-density areas, 8.3% were positive for rotavirus antigen, whereas none of the samples from low-density areas were positive. In addition, rotavirus antigen was not detected in underground and surface water samples. The temperature range of the 5 rotavirus positive samples was 23-30oC. All the 5 positive samples had alkaline pH that ranged between 8 and 9. Conclusion: This study has demonstrated the persistence of rotavirus in sewage and its possible transmission through contaminated food and poor treated water

Background and study aim: Globally, Hepatitis-A Virus (HAV) is a major etiology of acute hepatitis. Though, enterically transmitted, there is evidence HAV being transmitted through of blood transfusion. The presence of HAV antibodies may indicate infectious threat to blood transfusion safety. In view of these, the present study was aimed to determine the seroprevalence and associated risk factors of HAV among blood donors in three tertiary Hospitals in Sokoto State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from one hundred and sixty eight (168) blood donors >20 years. Sera from these samples were investigated for anti-HAV specific IgG and IgM antibodies using a commercial enzyme immunosorbent assay (ELISA) Kits. Structured question-naires were used to access socio-demographic variables of subjects. Results: Seroprevalence of HAV- specific IgG and IgM were 86.3.1% and 0.0%, respectively. Of 168 blood donors, 145 had previous exposure to HAV [IgG (+) IgM (-), and none had recent infection [IgG (-) IgM (+)], 23 were susceptible to HAV [IgG (-) IgM (-). There was no significant association between sero-prevalence and any of the risk factors and sociodemographic variables studied (p>0.05). Findings from this study revealed that larger proportion of blood donors are already immune to HAV infection, while none of them had active HAV infection. Conclusion: The high prevalence of Hepatitis A antibodies among the studied subject reflects a high HAV transmission rate in this area. Hence, determination of HAV should be taken into consideration before blood transfusion.

Background:Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) is a major public health problem in developing countries and often fatal among pregnant women in the third trimester.Objectives:The study investigated the sero-prevalence and risk factors of HEV infection among pregnant women attendee of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, Nigeria.Methods:The cross-sectional study was carried out between 4thJanuary 2016 to 30thMay, 2016. One hundred and eighty blood samples from pregnant women who consented and enrolled for the study were analyzed for anti – HEV IgM using a quality assured commercial Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kit. Structured questionnaires were used to collate the sociodemographic characteristics and risk factor of study subjects.Results:Out of the 180 pregnant women sampled, the anti-HEV IgM seroprevalence of 13.3% was recorded. The seroprevalence was significantly higher in the age range of 31 – 35 years (26.5%) and least in age range ≤ 20 years (4.9%) (p=0.009). The highest seroprevalence was recorded in the third trimester 14.1% followed by second (p>0.05). After logistic regression, nature of toilet system, and source of water consumption were significant risk factors for active HEV infection (p˂0.05).Conclusion:Based on the 10.8 % pooled national prevalence of HEV infection in Nigeria, this study recorded a significantly high level of anti – HEV IgM seropositivity, an indication of recent and active HEV infection among pregnant women at the study area. Also, these infections are most among the pregnant women in their third trimester. HEV infection was related to personal, water and environmental hygiene.

Background: This cross-sectional study investigated the serological profile, socio-demographic characters and risk factors of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among HBsAg-negative blood donors at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) Gwagwalada and Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) Nnewi, Nigeria.Methods: Blood samples collected from 176 HBsAg-negative blood donors (96 from UATH and 80 from NAUTH) were screened using a commercially available HBV 5-Panel (CTK Biotech, USA) and anti-HBc IgM ELISA kits. Determination of HBV-DNA was done on 36 HBV positive and 100 negative samples using COBAS Roche Real-time qPCR. Structured questionnaires were used to collate subjects’ socio-demographic variables and risk factors of HBV infection. Results: Out of 176 samples tested, 140 (79.5%) were negative for HBV serologic markers while 36 (20.5%) were positive. The pattern of seropositivity showed that 19 (10.8%) samples were positive for anti-HBs, 9 (5.1%) were positive for anti-HBc, 3 (1.7%) were positive for both anti-HBc & anti-HBs and 5 (2.8%) were positive for anti-HBc IgM. None was positive for HBeAg and anti-HBe markers. Of the 36 HBV positive and 100 negative samples, 15 (41.7%) and 3 (3%) were positive for HBV-DNA respectively p=0.006. Not heard of HBV, no vaccination with HBV vaccines, previous blood transfusion, history of sexually transmitted diseases and visiting commercial barbers were significantly associated with HBV infection. Socio-demographic data showed that male blood donors were more infected with HBV than the females (p=0.284) and age group 26-40 years old was more affected than other age groups (p=0.015). Conclusions: The study revealed the endemicity of HBV infection and recommends that blood donors with critical risk factors be deferred from blood donation to reduce HBV transmission risk in Nigeria. Anti-HBc and anti-HBs markers could be included as screening tests for blood donors since HBV-DNA testing is not readily available and affordable.