HEALTHY INHABITANTS

SEROPREVALENCE OF MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS ANTIBODIES IN APPARENTLY HEALTHY INHABITANTS OF GABIA AND CHINKE COMMUNITIES OF PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA.

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Abstract
Tuberculosis continues to be a major public health problem globally. The aim of the study was to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis antibodies in apparently healthy individuals in Gabia and Chike communities of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. Out of the 228 respondents of the questionnaire served, 205 (89.9%) acknowledged that they heard about tuberculosis. Two hundred and twenty eight (228) samples of human serum were examined for Mycobacterium tuberculosis antibodies using a one step TB IgG/IgM flow chromatographic immunoassay. The prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in
the study areas was 19.7%. The prevalence in the inhabitants of Chinke was 10.5% while that of Gabia was 9.2%. The females in the study population had a prevalence of 12.3% while the males had 7.5%. The prevalence was more in individuals in the age brackets of 40 – 49 years (7.9%) and 50 – 59 years (3.5%), while individuals within the age brackets of 70 – 79 years in Chinke and 80 – 89 years in Gabia did not present with Mycobacterium tuberculosis antibodies. Considering active and inactive (Latent) infection, a total of 18 (7.9%) individuals had IgM antibodies, with males constituting 4.7% and females with 3.1%, indicative of recent infection while 27 (11.9%) had IgG antibodies showing previous infection. Considering active and inactive (Latent) infection, a total of 18 (7.9%) individuals had IgM antibodies, with males constituting 4.7% and females with 3.1%, indicative of recent infection while 27 (11.9%) had IgG antibodies showing previous infection. The sputum of IgM positive cases were further examined for acid fast bacilli and the result was statistically significant (p>0.02), showing 2.6% with 2+, 5.2% with a +. The high prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the study areas is worrisome as the positive individuals are not only at risk of having full blown tuberculosis in the future but are also sources of spreading the bacteria to the populace.
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