PREVALENCE OF TREPONEMA PALLIDIUM (SYPHILIS) AMONG STUDENTS OF THE FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC NASARAWA, NASARAWA STATE

PREVALENCE OF TREPONEMA PALLIDIUM (SYPHILIS) AMONG STUDENTS OF THE FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC NASARAWA, NASARAWA STATE

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of Treponema palladium (Syphilis) was carried out among students of the Federal polytechnic Nasarawa, Nasarawa state. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of T.pallidium (syphilis) among Higher National Diploma (HND) students. The rapid diagnostic test kits (T.p strips) were used according to the manufacturer’s instruction in screening process. A total number of 100 students were examined, 61% for female and 39% for male. The result showed a prevalence of 0%. This research work has shown that the prevalence of T.pallidium in Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa, Nasarawa State among students is 0%.  Although syphilis is not associated with high value of mortality but it is recommended that multiple sex partners should be avoided, consistent used of condom and appropriate treatment to patients should be encourage.  Expanded screening for this infection would surely help in identifying new cases.

CHAPTER ONE

1. INTRODUCTION

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by a spiral-shaped bacterium,Treponema Pallidum(Singh, 1999). This disease has been reported as one of the common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Nigeria (Brown and frank, 2003). Reports in late 2001 by the World Health Organization (WHO) showed that 12million people become infected with Syphilis each year (Campos et al., 2008). Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have continued to be a major health problem in Sub-Sahara Africa especially with the recent resurgence of Syphilis (Adegoke et al., 2011).

The entire genome of this spirochete Treponema pallidum has been completely sequenced. It has a small genome of 1, 138,006 base pairs and 1041 predicted coding sequences (open reading frames). Because of this, it lacks many pathways including the tricarboxylic acid cycle, components of oxidative phosphorylation, and most biosynthetic pathways and relies on the host to perform necessary functions (Centurion, et al., 2005).

Syphilis is a global public health hazard that continues to be a tragic and substantial problem in many developing countries, including Nigeria, where it is more common among the poor population and those with multiple sex partners. Vertical transmission from infected mother to child is also a major concern (Avelleira and Bottino, 2006).

Syphilis mobility ranges from the relatively minor symptoms of the primary stage of infection to the more consequential neurological and cardiovascular effects of the tertiary stage of the disease (CDC, 2017). The infection is re-emerging as a public health hazard globally particularly, among HIV infected persons (Shilaiah etal., 2007). The effect of the infections on each other is well documented. HIV wanes the immune system and there is a strong correlation between a weaken immune system and a higher chance of developing Syphilis (Shilaiah et al., 2007). Conversely, the genital ulcerations and inflammation caused by Syphilis are implicated as co-factor making infected individuals more likely to acquire HIV if exposed to the virus through sexual contact (Low and Sax, 2003). Syphilis-HIV co infection provides further burden to HIV control efforts, particularly in resource limited countries in sub-Saharan Africa that have a high prevalence of HIV infection (Forbi et al., 2009). The urgent need for innovative research is one of the strategic plans of WHO to address the burden of STDs globally (Low and Braute, 2017; WHO, 2016).

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) have been globally reported to have reached an alarming prevalence in several countries especially in Sub-Saharan Africa with more than 20 STIs been identified by the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID, 2006). About 340million new cases of Syphilis, Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia and Trichonimiasis reportedly occur in men and women age 15-49years in each year and the overall STI prevalence rate continue to rise in most countries (WHO, 2012). The major mean of transmission of sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) is through person to person contact (sexual intercourse), through some of the pathogens that causes it, such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Syphilis, can be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy and childbirth, and transfusion of blood and /or blood products and tissue transplantation (Nsuami et al,. 2010; WHO, 2011).

Syphilis mobility ranges from the relatively minor symptoms of the primary stage of infection to the more consequential neurological and cardiovascular effects of the tertiary stage of the disease (CDC, 2017). The infection is re-emerging as a public health hazard globally particularly, among HIV infected persons (Shilaiah etal., 2007). The effect of the infections on each other is well documented. HIV wanes the immune system and there is a strong correlation between a weaken immune system and a higher chance of developing Syphilis (Shilaiah et al., 2007). Conversely, the genital ulcerations and inflammation caused by Syphilis are implicated as co-factor making infected individuals more likely to acquire HIV if exposed to the virus through sexual contact (Low and Sax, 2003). Syphilis-HIV co infection provides further burden to HIV control efforts, particularly in resource limited countries in sub-Saharan Africa that have a high prevalence of HIV infection (Forbi et al., 2009). The urgent need for innovative research is one of the strategic plans of WHO to address the burden of STDs globally (Low and Braute, 2017; WHO, 2016).

1.1.AIM:

To determine the prevalence of Treponema Pallidum (syphilis) among Higher National Diploma (HND) Students of the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa, Nasarawa State.

1.2.OBJECTIVES:

1. To determine the prevalence of Treponema Pallidum in relation to demographic factors among students of the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa State.
2. To determine the prevalence of Treponema Pallidum among Students of Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa in relation to Gender.