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The effect of treatment time on the efficacy of trypanocides in rats experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei was assessed. The thirty albino rats utilized in this study were divided into six groups, each with five rats. Group 1 rats were uninfected while those in groups 2 - 6 were inoculated intraperitoneally with 106 trypanosomes. Group 2 rats were left untreated while groups 3 - 6 rats were treated respectively on days 5, 8, 11 and 14 post infection (PI) with 1.0 mg/kg Securidium® (brand of isometamidium chloride) intraperitoneally. Level of parasitaemia, rectal temperature, clinical signs, haematological indices (packed cell volume and total leucocyte count) and survivability were used to evaluate the treatment time on the efficacy of Securidium®. Pre-patent period was 4 - 5 days. On days 4, 5, and 11 following the treatments (PT), the parasites were eliminated in the treated groups 3 - 6 respectively. Also, two rats relapsed in group 3 from 37 days PT with 20% mortality, whereas groups 4 - 6 rats relapsed from days 19, 16 and 21 PT respectively. Groups 4 - 6 rats had 40%, 60% and 80% mortalities respectively. The mean PCV and TLC showed a striking drop (p<0.05) PI, however, group 3 had a better result PT compared to other infected-treated groups. In conclusion, it is safe to say that treatment time is a significant determinant of therapeutic efficacy in trypanosomosis, as early treatment group had better overall indices of therapeutic efficacy than the late treatment groups.

Animal trypanosomosis is an important endemic and wasting disease in sub-Saharan Africa. Its control relies on chemotherapy, and resistance to trypanocides has been widely reported. The pathogenicity of drug-resistant canine trypanosomes is not clear with scanty information available. Thus, this study assessed the comparative pathogenicity of drug-resistant and drug-sensitive Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma congolense infections in dogs. Twenty Nigerian local dogs were used and were randomly assigned into five groups (A–E) of four dogs each. Group A served as the uninfected-control group, while groups B and C were infected with 10 6 drug-sensitive T. congolense and T. brucei . Groups D and E were infected with 10 6 multidrug-resistant T. congolense and T. brucei , respectively. The pre-patent period (PPP), clinical signs, level of parasitaemia (LOP), rectal temperature, body weight, packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell count (RBC), haemoglobin concentration (HbC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), total leucocyte count (TLC) and survivability were assessed. Groups D and E had longer ( p  < 0.05) mean PPP than groups B and C. Also, group E dogs had lower ( p  < 0.05) mean LOP, longer ( p  < 0.05) mean survivability, and higher ( p  < 0.05) mean body weight, PCV, HbC and RBC than group C dogs. The clinical signs were very severe in group C dogs, compared to group E dogs. However, these parameters did not differ statistically between groups B and D. Thus, multidrug-resistant T. brucei was of lower pathogenicity than drug-sensitive T. brucei , while multidrug-resistant and drug-sensitive T. congolense had comparable pathogenicity following infection in dogs.

Coccidiosis is a major economic burden in poultry farming worldwide. In Nigeria, herbal anticoccidials are widely used, yet their efficacy compared to orthodox drugs remains unclear. This study evaluates their comparative effects in broilers experimentally infected with mixed Eimeria species. 70 five-week-old broiler birds were employed in this study. The infective dose of the field strain of mixed Eimeria species was determined following standard procedures. Forty-two birds were randomly assigned to six groups (seven birds per group) to compare the anticoccidial effects of herbal and orthodox drugs. Groups A–E were infected with 10 5 sporulated mixed Eimeria tenella and E. maxima oocysts while group F was the uninfected control. Groups A-D were treated with Cocci00® (branded herbal drug), unbranded herbal preparation (UHP), Amprolium, and Diclazuril respectively, following the manufacturer's recommended dosage. Group E remained untreated. Clinical signs, body weight changes, oocyst output, feed conversion ratio (FCR), lesion score, survivability/mortality and haematological parameters of the birds were assessed. Among treated groups, birds in the UHP group had significantly higher ( p <  0.05) oocyst counts, mortality rates, and FCR, along with lower ( p <  0.05) weight gain. Conversely, groups A, C, and D demonstrated comparable mortality rates, survival times, oocyst counts, FCR and lesion scores. However, these values were slightly better in the Diclazuril-treated group D birds. In conclusion, both Cocci00® (branded herbal) and orthodox drugs showed similar anticoccidial effects, but Diclazuril was the most effective. The UHP had the lowest efficacy.

Yaws is a disease caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue, which is most commonly seen among children below 15 years. In the twentieth century yaws was endemic in Nigeria but eradication strategies markedly reduced the disease burden. Currently there is minimal data on the ongoing transmission of yaws in Nigeria, despite reports of confirmed yaws cases in neighbouring West African countries. We conducted both community and school-based active yaws case search among school-aged children in southeast Nigeria. Children were screened by trained community volunteers. Suspected yaws cases were clinically reviewed and tested using rapid diagnostic serological tests. Between February and May 2021, up to 28 trained community volunteers screened a total of 105,015 school children for yaws. Overall, 7,706 children with various skin lesions were identified. Eight (8) suspected cases of yaws were reported, reviewed and screened, but none was confirmed using rapid diagnostic tests. The four most common skin conditions identified were scabies (39%), papular urticaria (29%), tinea corporis (14%) and tinea capitis (12%). No case of yaws was confirmed in this large population of children in south-east Nigeria. Continuous community awareness and yaws case finding activities have been recommended across Nigeria.

Background Racial and ethnic disparities in post-stroke blood pressure (BP) control persist, and effective interventions to address post-stroke care inequities are needed. We designed a randomized comparative effectiveness trial to evaluate the Video-based Intervention to Reduce Treatment and Outcome Disparities in Adults Living with Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (VIRTUAL) model of care for post-stroke BP reduction. Methods The study will enroll 534 stroke survivors in a randomized trial to receive either the VIRTUAL intervention or enhanced standard care. Individuals with ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, or transient ischemic attack (TIA) are enrolled before hospital discharge and randomized (1:1) to VIRTUAL or ESC for their post-stroke care. The VIRTUAL care model is a social risk-informed telehealth intervention that incorporates remote BP monitoring and multidisciplinary clinical care from a clinical provider, pharmacist, and social worker. Telehealth (TH) based clinical visits occur 7, 30, 90, and 150 days after hospital discharge with the multidisciplinary care team. Pharmacists monitor and manage BP between telehealth visits for 6 months after enrollment. Patients randomized to ESC receive standard post-stroke follow-up, a BP monitor (without remote capabilities), and pharmacist-engaged care (monthly calls and communication to primary care). The primary outcome is BP control (< 125/75 mmHg) assessed with 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) 6 months after hospital discharge. The secondary outcomes are 24-h ABPM-assessed BP control (< 125/75 mmHg) at 12 months, 6- and 12-month mean systolic and diastolic ambulatory BP, 12-month composite recurrent vascular events, insurance coverage at 3 and 6 months, hospital readmission rates, and acute healthcare utilization (emergency room and urgent care visits) at 3, 6, and 12 months after hospital discharge. Discussion The VIRTUAL care model represents a novel approach to addressing post-stroke BP control disparities. The intervention aims to improve BP control and reduce disparities in a diverse patient population by integrating telehealth with a multidisciplinary team approach and social risk-informed care. Findings from this study will inform evidence-based strategies for enhancing post-stroke care delivery, particularly in underserved populations, and may contribute to reducing healthcare disparities among racial and ethnic groups. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT05264298. Registered on March 3, 2022. URL of trial registry record: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05264298?cond=stroke&term=virtual%20&rank=2 . Trial status Protocol version 1.5, approved May 15, 2024. Recruitment started on March 29, 2022, and was completed on April 28, 2025.

Background Asparagus flagellaris leaves are ethnomedicinally used to treat syphilis, gonorrhea and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), with no reports on the volatile constituents. This study was aimed to quantitatively and qualitatively characterise the composition of essential oil, evaluates the free radical scavenging and antimicrobial capacity of the essential oil. Methods The essential oil was isolated by hydrodistillation method using all-glass Clevenger-type apparatus, while the identification and quantification of constituents were performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique. The antioxidant activity on 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was evaluated and the oil was also tested against 10 strains of microorganisms consisting of 6 bacteria: Escherichia coli , Salmonella typhi , Klebsiella pneumonia , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis and 4 fungi: Candida albicans , Penicillium notatum , Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus spp. using broth dilution and surface plate methods, respectively. Results A pale yellow essential oil with a characteristic scent was obtained, with a yield of 0.80% (w/w). A total of 28 compounds accounting for 97.41% of the total oil contents were identified. The oil was predominated by Thymol and its derivatives, accounting for 57.48%. The most abundance (% area) constituents of the essential oil were 5-Thymyl tiglate (18.49%), Thymyl-2-methyl butyrate (17.34%), Thymol hydroquinone dimethyl ether (10.52%), Thymol methyl ether (9.42%) and 5-Propyl-1, 3-benzodioxole (4.59%). The essential oil showed a significant free radical scavenging activity compared to the standard antioxidant drugs used in this study, with % inhibition varying from 88.06 ± 0.0001 to 93.05 ± 0.0006. The leaf essential oil exhibited antimicrobial activity on all the tested organisms at 500–125 μg/mL, with an 18–10 mm inhibitory zone. Conclusion The leaf essential oil of A. flagellaris contains notable chemical compounds responsible for its antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.

Effective blood pressure (BP) management is essential for several disease states, including secondary stroke prevention. Remote BP monitoring used in combination with an electronic data capture (EDC) system offers potential for improved BP control for patients. While such systems currently exist, there are many patient-, provider-, and system-specific challenges these systems currently do not address. In addition, such systems are rarely described transparently and comprehensively in the literature with enough detail to be reproduced by other clinicians. This study aims to describe the development and design of a web-based EDC system tailored for remote BP monitoring and management to overcome common patient-, provider-, and system-specific challenges. The EDC system was developed for use in the Video-based Intervention to Reduce Treatment and Outcome Disparities in Adults living with Stroke (VIRTUAL) and transient ischemic attack clinical trial, a randomized study involving adult stroke survivors receiving care for secondary stroke prevention. The EDC system supports remote monitoring using a BP monitor, which was specifically and methodically chosen for its suitability to the population. The EDC system integrates the data from the remote monitors into a web-based application, facilitating real-time monitoring for health care team intervention. The system includes a BP dashboard displaying time-series data, visual alerts, and email notifications for out-of-range readings. Proxy measures assessed system effectiveness in addressing patient-, provider-, and system-specific needs. Seventeen BP monitors were evaluated, and the BlipcareBlip BP800 was selected based on its cellular connectivity, ergonomic design, and application programming interface compatibility. The EDC system successfully linked patient data to the dashboard, enabling real-time visualization of BP trends and provider alerts. A total of 97% (184/190) of participants in the intervention arm engaged in BP monitoring, averaging 1.2 readings per day. Clinicians actively used the system, with mean monthly logins ranging from 19 to 44 per provider. Alerts were triggered for 69% (131/190) of participants, primarily for systolic BP abnormalities. Data transmission delays were minimal, with a median time of 1.4 minutes from data collection to dashboard entry. Outlier alerts were efficiently processed, with an average notification time of 17.9 hours. The system demonstrated high functionality in addressing patient-, provider-, and system-specific needs, supporting effective BP monitoring and intervention delivery. The VIRTUAL EDC system facilitates remote monitoring of BP in stroke survivors, offering a model for similar systems in clinical trials. Clinicians can analyze, track, and interpret monitored data in near real-time, remotely, which may enhance BP management approaches, particularly in communities with limited access to care. This approach has the potential to improve hypertension management for patients and clinicians when standard data transparency is insufficient, standard monitor features are incompatible with the user, or when integrating a commercial dashboard may threaten electronic health record security.

Background Eremomastax speciosa (Hochst.) Cufod. ( Acanthaceae ) is a renowned medicinal plant used to ease menstrual cramps and treat female infertility, anaemia, dysentery, urinary tract infection and haemorrhoids. Essential oils and their constituents from herbs have also been utilised in the management of a good number of ailments in ethno-medicine. The chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the stem essential oil are investigated in this study. The essential oil was obtained by hydro-distillation using an all-glass Clevenger apparatus. Identification and characterisation were done using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry, while antioxidant activity was evaluated with 2, 2-diphenyl-1 picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH*) method. The antimicrobial property was assessed by the broth dilution method. Results The essential oil contained forty-three compounds constituting 62.87% of the total oil composition. It was dominated by non-terpene derivatives, of which (14β)-Pregnane (17.58%) is the most abundant compound. Other significant compounds identified in the essential oil include n -decane (2.3%), norbornane (2.2%), (−)-α-Copaene (1.5%), 10-epizonarene (1.5%), thymol (1.25) and (−)-α-phellandrene (1.12%). The essential oil exhibited significant antioxidant activity (IC 50 0.7296 μg/mL), which is more active than the standards; vitamin C (IC 50 0.8728 μg/mL) and butylated hydroxy anisole (IC 50 0.8729 μg/mL) used for the assay. Also, the oil inhibited significant bacterial and fungal strains at concentrations ranging from 100 to 3.125 μg/mL with a minimum inhibitory concentration between 3.5 and 6.5 μg/mL. Conclusion The chemical composition of the stem essential oil of E. speciosa could be responsible for the pharmacological applications of the plant in ethno-medicine and the chemical constituent of the stem essential oil of E. speciosa is reported for the first time. Graphical Abstract

African animal trypanosomosis is an important wasting and endemic protozoan disease causing morbidities and mortalities in animals in the sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, chemotherapy is the widely used method of African animal trypanosomosis control, especially in dogs in the sub-Saharan Africa. However, their efficacy is threatened by the emergence of drug-resistant trypanosomes owing to their extensive use and misuse over several decades amongst other factors. Thus, this study focused on the trypanocidal sensitivity and characterization of Trypanosoma species isolated from dogs in Enugu North Senatorial Zone (ENSZ), Southeastern Nigeria. Trypanosoma brucei (n = 44) and T. congolense (n = 4) isolated from naturally infected dogs in ENSZ, Southeastern Nigeria, between January and August 2016 were subjected to single dose test to assess their sensitivity to diminazene aceturate (DA) and isometamidium chloride (ISM). Subsequently, DA and multidrug-resistant isolates were further subjected to DA multi-dose test and CD50 was determined and was used to characterize the drug-resistant trypanosomes. Clones were derived from a randomly selected multidrug-resistant isolate and their sensitivity also assessed. 100% and 83.3% of T. congolense and T. brucei respectively were resistant to the trypanocides. Amongst the drug-resistant isolates, 50%, 16.7%, and 33.3% were resistant to DA, ISM, and both trypanocides respectively with CD50 ranging between 11 and 32.34 mg/kg. Drug-resistant trypanosomes were characterized into highly resistant (CD50 = 11–24.99 mg/kg) and very highly resistant (CD50 =  > 25 mg/kg) trypanosome isolates. Clones also expressed high levels of resistance to both DA and ISM with CD50 values between 35.58 and 38.85 mg/kg. Trypanocidal resistance was, thus, confirmed and appears to be widespread in dogs in ENSZ, Southeastern Nigeria. The adoption of an integrated trypanosomosis control strategy in ENSZ is most desirous.

Abstract Background Eremomastax speciosa (Hochst.) Cufod. (Acanthaceae) is a renowned medicinal plant used to ease menstrual cramps and treat female infertility, anaemia, dysentery, urinary tract infection and haemorrhoids. Essential oils and their constituents from herbs have also been utilised in the management of a good number of ailments in ethno-medicine. The chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the stem essential oil are investigated in this study. The essential oil was obtained by hydro-distillation using an all-glass Clevenger apparatus. Identification and characterisation were done using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry, while antioxidant activity was evaluated with 2, 2-diphenyl-1 picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH*) method. The antimicrobial property was assessed by the broth dilution method. Results The essential oil contained forty-three compounds constituting 62.87% of the total oil composition. It was dominated by non-terpene derivatives, of which (14β)-Pregnane (17.58%) is the most abundant compound. Other significant compounds identified in the essential oil include n-decane (2.3%), norbornane (2.2%), (−)-α-Copaene (1.5%), 10-epizonarene (1.5%), thymol (1.25) and (−)-α-phellandrene (1.12%). The essential oil exhibited significant antioxidant activity (IC50 0.7296 μg/mL), which is more active than the standards; vitamin C (IC50 0.8728 μg/mL) and butylated hydroxy anisole (IC50 0.8729 μg/mL) used for the assay. Also, the oil inhibited significant bacterial and fungal strains at concentrations ranging from 100 to 3.125 μg/mL with a minimum inhibitory concentration between 3.5 and 6.5 μg/mL. Conclusion The chemical composition of the stem essential oil of E. speciosa could be responsible for the pharmacological applications of the plant in ethno-medicine and the chemical constituent of the stem essential oil of E. speciosa is reported for the first time. Graphical Abstract