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Introduction: Histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) antigen kits are widely used for malaria diagnosis in tropical regions due to their heat stability. The Plasmodium Lactate Dehydrogenase (pLDH) used in BIOCREDIT® malaria test kit is claimed to be heat-stable. This study aimed to evaluate the heat stability and field performance of three BIOCREDIT® kits., Methodology: A cross-sectional community survey of malaria infection was carried out in Agbowa and Ikosi communities in Lagos State. Finger-prick blood was used to assess the performance of three BIOCREDIT® kits: Kit 1 (PfpLDH), Kit 2 (PfLDH/HRP2), and Kit 3 (PfLDH/PvLDH). Malaria microscopy and a reference mRDT (SD BIOLINE® PfHRP2) were used as comparators. Heat stability testing was performed using Plasmodium falciparum panels after exposure to 35oC and 45oC for 60 days. A total of 834 participants were recruited., Results: The sensitivity of BIOCREDIT® kits were: Kit 1 (PfLDH) 88.4%; Kit 2 PfHRP2 92% and PfLDH 86.6%; Kit 3 (PfLDH) 88.4%. The specificity of kits was: Kit 1 (Pf LDH) 91.7%; Kit 2 (PfHRP2) 82.3%) and (PfLDH) 92.1%; Kit 3 (PfLDH) 91.6%. The sensitivity and specificity of the reference kit were 92.9% and 85.9%. The three BIOCREDIT® Kits were stable. No potential case of pfhrp2 gene deletion was observed., Conclusions: The sensitivities of the three BIOCREDIT® malaria test kits were similar to the reference kit (SD BIOLINE mRDT). However, the specificities of PfLDH kits were significantly higher than the specificities of PfHRP2 kits. The BIOCREDIT® kits are suitable to be deployed in malaria-endemic tropical regions., Competing Interests: No Conflict of Interest is declared, (Copyright (c) 2024 Oluwagbemiga O Aina, Chimere O Agomo, Olusola Ajibaye, Celestina O Okoyenta, Nnenna Ogbulafor, Simon Ijezie, Akwaowo B Orok, Chinedum T Oparaugo, Samuel K Akindele, Damilare J Bamgbose, Susan A Holdbrooke, Olaide K Kareem, Yetunde A Olukosi, Isaac Ola.)

Background: Incidence of malaria and anaemia are of public health importance especially in pregnant women in endemic regions, due to the negative health consequences to the mother and fetus. This study aimed to assess the pattern of falciparum malaria infection and anaemia, based on malaria prevention methods practiced by participants., Methods: A semi-structured tool was used to capture information on demographic, socio-economic and malaria prevention practices from 113 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in 2 peri-urban health facilities in Lagos, southwest Nigeria. Malaria microscopy was conducted and haematocrit was measured. Logistic regression analysis was performed on the data collated from the survey., Results: The prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women was 87.2%. The mean (± sd) packed cell volume (PCV) (%) of the 22 (19.5%) infected subjects (26.8 ± 6.6), was significantly lower (t = -2.60, P value = 0.007) than that of the 91 (80.5%) uninfected subjects (30.8 ± 6.0). The prevalence of infection was highest in the 3rd trimester (n = 40, 35.4%) at 27.5% (11/40) and among those in their first pregnancy (n = 32, 28.3%) at 25.0% (8/32). There was a significant difference (t = -2.23, P-value = 0.01) in the mean PCV % of pregnant women who consumed herbal teas in pregnancy (28.2 ± 5.2) compared to those who did not (30.8 ± 6.6). Regression analysis showed that first pregnancy, anti-malarial use and insecticide-treated nets use the night before study had increased odds of malaria infection in participants (OR = 1.35, P = 0.006, 95% CI 0.52-2.49; OR = 2.3, P = 0.005, 95% CI 0.14-0.41; OR = 1.92, P = 0.001, 95% CI 0.62-5.98) while intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) participation and formal education were strongly and significantly associated with lower risk of parasitaemia (OR = 0.95, P = 0.025, 95% CI 0.41-2.26; OR = 0.44, P = 0.005, 95% CI 0.34-10.50)., Conclusion: Interventions that will reduce malaria and moderate to severe anaemia, especially in a first pregnancy, should include education on the correct use of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets (LLIN), IPT and the dangers of herbal teas in pregnancy.

The antibacterial activity of processed Nigerian Lipton Tea and South African 5 Roses Tea, extracted using distilled water, chloroform and 70% ethanol were determined against nine (9) enteropathogenic bacteria which includes; Bacillus subtilis, Proteus sp, Enterobacter sp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi A, Salmonella arizona and Staphylococcus aureus. The 2 tea bags, Nigerian Lipton tea bag and the South African 5 Roses tea bag were extracted through Solvent extraction method using 3 extraction solvents; Distilled water, Chloroform and 70% Ethanol and then inoculated onto the Mueller-Hinton agar plates containing the standard isolates at 6 different points on each plate. The zones of inhibition of the bacterial isolates produced by each of these tea - extracts were determined while meaningful antibacterial activities against five (5) of the standard isolates; Enterobacter sp., K. pneumoniae, S. paratyphi A, B. subtilis and S. aureus were observed. Lipton tea water-extract was a more effective antibacterial agent than water-extract of 5 Roses tea. While the 70% ethanol-extract of 5 Roses tea had the greatest antibacterial activity of all the different tea-extract used for the study, the chloroform-extracts of the tea bags had no antimicrobial effect on all the test organisms used.