Introduction: This study evaluates the coverage efficacy of the tetanus immunization programme in JOS University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Nigeria and certain factors that affect the efficiency of maternofoetal transfer of tetanus toxoid (TT) IgG antibodies.Materials and Methods: Sera from 43 mother-baby pairs selected randomly in JUTH were investigated for TT IgG antibodies using enzyme linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA) technique.TT IgG antibodies were detected in 36 and 38 mothers and babies respectively.Results: Thirty-six (83.7%) and 38 (88.4%) mothers and babies respectively were found to be seropositive (equivalent to or greater than 0.151IU/ml of TT IgG antibodies). Three (7.0%) seronegative mothers had seropositive babies. One (2.3%) seropositive mother had a seronegative baby. A highly significant correlation was observed between maternal and fetal TT IgG antibodies level (r=0.905). Twenty-one (58.3%) of the 36 seropositive mothers had concentrations lower than their respective babies. The ratio of the mean concentrations of the TT IgG antibodies of cord blood to maternal blood (C/M ratio) was less than one. Maternofoetal transfer of TT IgG antibodies was found to be unrelated to the baby’s gender, weight and the mode of delivery.Conclusion: The study underscores the need to improve on the current immunization programme in JUTH and for further studies to understand how maternal characteristics affect the maternofoetal transfer of TT IgG antibodies in JUTH.

Background: Concerns on the safety of polio vaccine in some parts of northern Nigeria that led to the suspension of the immunization efforts in those parts of the country, informed our design of this prospective study.Objective: To determine polio-specific Immunoglobulin G antibodies among children (seven months - seven years) in JOS.Methods: Within the months of March and April 2007, One hundred and eighty two blood samples were collected from children in the Emergency Peadiatric Unit of the JOS University Teaching Hospital and tested for the presence of polio-specific IgG antibodies using Poliomyelitis IgG ELISA Test Kit produced and described by DEMEDITEC Diagnostic GmbH Germany.Results: One hundred and seventy eight percent (97.8%) of the tested children had detectable antibodies against poliovirus. The study population had appreciable levels of protection against poliovirus. There was no significant association between the detection of the IgG in children in relation to gender, age, religion, and number of doses. Only educational status of fathers had statistically significant relationship with the detection of the antibodies.Conclusion: This study demonstrated that progress has been made towards the eradication of poliomyelitis in Nigeria. To further strengthen the gains made and weaken the barriers to immunization, there is an increasing need for more funding to increase awareness and intensify the final efforts targeted at ‘kicking polio’ out of Nigeria.

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common cause of sexually transmitted venereal infection in the world. There is little information about the prevalence of C trachomatis in JOS, Nigeria.Objectives: The study was carried out to determine the prevalence of C trachomatis infection in women attending the gynaecology clinic of the Plateau State Specialist Hospital and to assess the variables associated with the infection.Methods: A questionnaire was administered, followed by collection of endocervical swabs from patients who gave their consents using sterile plastic shaft Dacron swabs. Collected samples were analyzed using Chlamydia Rapid Test Device Swab/Urine (INTERCHEMICAL LTD. CHINA).Results: Samples were collected from a total of 164 women, aged between 14 and 45 years.Ninety two (56.1% of total sample) tested positive for C trachomatis. The prevalence was slightly higher in patients within the age group 25-29 (17.68%) than in the age group 20-24 (15.24%). Both age groups 15-19 and 30-34 had a prevalence of 7.93% each. The age groups 35-39, 40-44, 45-49 and<15 had prevalence of 3.66%, 3.05%, 0.16%, and 0.00% respectively. Married women were related to a higher percentage of infection than single women: 38.41% versus 17.07%. Age of onset of sexual activity played a role in infection with C trachomatis. Women who started having sex earlier in life had a higher prevalence.History of other sexually transmitted diseases was found to be significantly associated with genital C trachomatis infection (41.46%) (P<0.05). Fourteen percent of the women had history of infertility, 26.22% spontaneous abortion, 22.12% pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and 42.68% had more than one sexual partner (past/present).Conclusion: A 56.1% prevalence of C trachomatis genital infection was found. Awareness campaigns and Chlamydia screening and monitoring activities should be initiated and supported by the government.

Introduction: Human activities, such as mining, result in the elevation of natural ionizing radiation in the environment. JOS-Plateau, Nigeria, including Kuru-JOS has experienced commercial tin mining in the past, and local mining is still being practiced in this area. Therefore, it is important to assess the radiation exposure due to grown crops and the farm soils in Kuru-JOS, Nigeria. Material and Methods: In total, four crops and soil samples were randomly collected from farmlands in Kuru-JOS. The radioactivity levels in the soil and food samples were measured using a thallium-activated sodium-iodide detector coupled to a Canberra series 10 plus Multi-Channel Analyzer. The effective dose rates in soils and food crops along with the cancer risks in the crops were determined. Results: According to the results, the highest mean activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra, and 232Th in the food crops were 456± 126. 0Bq/Kg (yam), 46. 9± 9. 6Bq/kg (yam), and 31. 6± 23. 9Bq/Kg (maize), respectively. Moreover, the mean activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra, and 232Th in farm soil were determined at 1105. 6± 357. 7Bq/Kg (cassava), 167. 5± 37. 6Bq/Kg (yam), and 205. 4± 124. 4Bq/Kg (Guinea corn), respectively. Additionally, yam crop had the highest mean ingestion effective dose of 1231. 9μ Sv/y, and maize crop indicated the minimum mean value of 304. 1± 179. 1μ Sv/y. The cancer risks of   3 3. 8 0. 7 10   and   3 3. 0 0. 4 10   for yam and cassava, respectively, were higher than the world average value (i. e., 1. 0x10-3). Conclusion: The results indicated a high radioactivity level which is in line with the results obtained from other areas in JOS-Plateau, Nigeria; however, there have been no radiological health plague reports from the areas so far.