Association of ABO blood group and Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Dore Bafeno Area,Southern Ethiopia

Objective:To assess the distribution of ABO blood group and their relationship with Plasmodium falciparum(P.falciparum) malaria among febrile outpatients who sought medical attention at Dore Bafeno Health Center,Southern Ethiopia.Methods:A total of 269 febrile outpatients who visited Dore Bafeno Health Center,Southern Ethiopia,were examined for malaria and also tested for ABO blood groups in January 2010.The blood specimens were collected by finger pricking,stained with Geimsa,and examined microscopically.Positive cases of the parasitemia were counted.CareStart^(TM) Malaria PflPv Combo was also used to test the blood specimens for malaria.ABO blood groups were determined by agglutination test using ERYCLONE antisera.Data on socio-demographic characteristics and treatment status of the participants were also collected.Chi-square and ANOVA tests were used to assess the difference between frequencies and means,respectively.Results:Out of a total of 269 participants,178(66.2%) febrile patients were found to be infected with Plasmodium parasites,among which 146(54.3%),28(10.4%),and 4(1.5%) belonged to P.falciparum,P.vivax,and mixed infections,respectively.All febrile patients were also tested for ABO blood groups and 51.3%,23.5%,21.9%and 3.3%were found to be blood types of 0,A,B and AB,respectively.Both total malaria infection and P.falciparum infection showed significant association with blood types(P<0.05).The proportion of A or B but not 0 phenotypes was higher(P<0.05) in individuals with P.falciparum as compared with non-infected individuals.The chance of having P.falciparum infection in patients with blood groups A,B and AB was 2.5,2.5 and 3.3times more than individuals showing blood 0 phenotypes,respectively.The mean P.falciparum malaria parasitemia for blood groups A,B,AB,and 0 were 3 744/μ L,1 805/ μ L,5 331/μ L,and1 515/μ L,respectively(P<0.01).Conclusions:The present findings indicate that individuals of blood groups A,B and AB are more susceptible to P.falciparum infection as compared with individuals of blood group O.Nevertheless,further in depth studies are required to clearly establish the role that ABO blood group plays in P.falciparum malaria.

Berberine alleviates myocardial diastolic dysfunction by modulating Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission and Ca^(2+) homeostasis in a murine model of HFpEF

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction(HFpEF)displays normal or near-normal left ventricular ejection fraction,diastolic dysfunction,cardiac hypertrophy,and poor exercise capacity.Berberine,an isoquinoline alkaloid,possesses cardiovascular benefits.Adult male mice were assigned to chow or high-fat diet with L-NAME(“two-hit”model)for 15 weeks.Diastolic function was assessed using echocardiography and noninvasive Doppler technique.Myocardial morphology,mitochondrial ultrastructure,and cardiomyocyte mechanical properties were evaluated.Proteomics analysis,autophagic flux,and intracellular Ca^(2+)were also assessed in chow and HFpEF mice.The results show exercise intolerance and cardiac diastolic dysfunction in“two-hit”-induced HFpEF model,in which unfavorable geometric changes such as increased cell size,interstitial fibrosis,and mitochondrial swelling occurred in the myocardium.Diastolic dysfunction was indicated by the elevated E value,mitral E/A ratio,and E/e’ratio,decreased e’value and maximal velocity of re-lengthening(-dL/dt),and prolonged re-lengthening in HFpEF mice.The effects of these processes were alleviated by berberine.Moreover,berberine ameliorated autophagic flux,alleviated Drp1 mitochondrial localization,mitochondrial Ca^(2+)overload and fragmentation,and promoted intracellular Ca^(2+)reuptake into sarcoplasmic reticulum by regulating phospholamban and SERCA2a.Finally,berberine alleviated diastolic dysfunction in“two-hit”diet-induced HFpEF model possibly because of the promotion of autophagic flux,inhibition of mitochondrial fragmentation,and cytosolic Ca^(2+)overload.

Effects of environmental modification on the diversity and positivity of anopheline mosquito aquatic habitats at Arjo-Dedessa irrigation development site,Southwest Ethiopia

Background:Irrigated agriculture is key to increase agricultural productivity and ensure food security in Africa.However,unintended negative public health impacts(e.g.malaria)of such environmental modification have been a challenge.This study assessed the diversity and distribution of breeding habitats of malaria vector mosquitoes around Arjo-Dedessa irrigation development site in Southwest Ethiopia.Methods:Anopheline mosquito larvae were surveyed from two agroecosystems,‘irrigated’and‘non-irrigated’areas during the dry(December 2017–February 2018)and wet(June 2018–August 2018)seasons.Mosquito habitat diversity and larval abundance were compared between the irrigated and non-irrigated areas.The association between anopheline mosquito larvae occurrence and environmental parameters was analysed using Pearson chisquare.Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine primary parameters that influence the occurrence of anopheline larvae.Results:Overall,319 aquatic habitats were surveyed during the study period.Around 60%(n=152)of the habitats were positive for anopheline mosquito larvae,of which 63.8%(n=97)and 36.2%(n=55)were from irrigated and non-irrigated areas,respectively.The number of anopheline positive habitats was two-fold higher in irrigated than non-irrigated areas.Anopheline larval abundance in the irrigated area was 16.6%higher than the non-irrigated area.Pearson’s chi-square analysis showed that season(χ2=63.122,df=1,P<0.001),agroecosystem(being irrigated or non-irrigated)(χ2=6.448,df=1,P=0.011),and turbidity(χ2=7.296,df=2,P=0.025)had a significant association with larval anopheline occurrence.Conclusions:The study showed a higher anopheline mosquito breeding habitat diversity,larval occurrence and abundance in the irrigated than non-irrigated areas in both dry and wet seasons.This indicates that irrigation development activities contribute to proliferation of suitable mosquito breeding habitats that could increase the risk of malaria transmission.Incorporating larval source management into routine malaria vector control strategies could help reduce mosquito population density and malaria transmission around irrigation schemes.

Parasitic contamination of raw vegetables and fruits collected from selected local markets in Arba Minch town,Southern Ethiopia

Background:One way that people get infected with intestinal parasites is through the consumption of contaminated vegetables and fruits.This study aimed at determining the prevalence and predictors of parasitic contamination of fruits and vegetables collected from four local markets in Arba Minch town,Southern Ethiopia.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 to 21 September 2014 to determine the level of parasitic contamination of fruits and vegetables sold in Arba Minch town.A total of 360 samples of different types of fruits and vegetables were soaked in physiological saline,followed by vigorous shaking with the aid of a mechanical shaker for 15 minutes and then examined using the sedimentation concentration technique.Results:Out of the 360 samples examined,196(54.4%)were contaminated with at least one type of parasite.Ascaris lumbricoides(20.83%)was the most frequently detected parasite and Isospora belli(3.06%)was the least frequently detected one.It was also observed that decreased parasitic contamination was significantly associated with washing the products before displaying it for selling(P<0.001).Conclusions:The findings of this study provide evidence that there is a potentially high risk of acquiring parasitic infections from the consumption of raw vegetables and fruits in Arba Minch,Ethiopia.The authors believe that an effort should be made by the relevant bodies to reduce the rate of contamination of products with medically important parasites by educating the vendors and the community.

Zooprophylaxis as a control strategy for malaria caused by the vector Anopheles arabiensis(Diptera:Culicidae):a systematic review

Background:Zooprophylaxis is the use of wild or domestic animals,which are not the reservoir host of a given disease,to divert the blood-seeking malaria vectors from human hosts.In this paper,we systematically reviewed zooprophylaxis to assess its efficacy as a malaria control strategy and to evaluate the possible methods of its application.Methods:The electronic databases,PubMed Central^(■),Web of Science,Science direct,and African Journals Online were searched using the key terms:“zooprophylaxis”or“cattle and malaria”,and reports published between January 1995 and March 2016 were considered.Thirty-four reports on zooprophylaxis were retained for the systematic review.Results:It was determined that Anopheles arabiensis is an opportunistic feeder.It has a strong preference for cattle odour when compared to human odour,but feeds on both hosts.Its feeding behaviour depends on the available hosts,varying from endophilic and endophagic to exophilic and exophagic.There are three essential factors for zooprophylaxis to be effective in practice:a zoophilic and exophilic vector,habitat separation between human and host animal quarters,and augmenting zooprophylaxis with insecticide treatment of animals or co-intervention of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets and/or indoor residual spraying.Passive zooprophylaxis can be applied only in malaria vector control if cattle and human dwellings are separated in order to avoid the problem of zoopotentiation.Conclusions:The outcomes of using zooprophylaxis as a malaria control strategy varied across locations.It is therefore advised to conduct a site-specific evaluation of its effectiveness in vector control before implementing zooprophylaxis as the behaviour of Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes varies across localities and circumstances.