Nangarhar University International Journal of Biosciences

Evaluation of the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices toward Scabies among Hopsotial Outpatients in Jalalabad City, Afghanistan

Abdul Ghafar Sherzad — 2024-12-30

Background: Scabies is widespread skin disease in tropical and subtropical areas and is particularly prevalent in developing regions with low socioeconomic conditions. Scabies can be effectively prevented with proper education. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the level of knowledge, attitude, and practices toward scabies among hospital outpatients in Jalalabad City, Afghanistan.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 442 individuals who visited the adult outpatient departments (OPD) at public and private health facilities for various health services from August 1 to November 15, 2023. A non-probability convenience sampling technique was used to select study participants, and data was collected through structured questionnaires. The data was then analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 27.

Findings: In this study, a total of 442 participants were enrolled; 67.6% of them were male and 32.4% were female. Regarding knowledge, half of the participants had heard about scabies, and more than 70% were aware of its signs and symptoms. The majority of respondents (52%) had a moderate level of knowledge about scabies, while 24% had poor knowledge and 24% had good knowledge. The respondents’ attitudes were generally good and their practices were moderate. The study showed a statistically significant relationship between the knowledge score and demographic variables, such as gender, educational level, and family income.

Conclusion: The study concluded that, overall, participants reported moderate knowledge of scabies. Additionally, the respondent’s knowledge about scabies is somewhat influenced by their demographic factors. Thus, there is a need for enhanced health education, awareness initiatives, and preventive programs to improve community knowledge and support the implementation of effective prevention measures.

Age-Related Incidence of Aspergillosis in Broiler Chickens in Qalat, Zabul

Haji Gull Hamat — 2024-09-29

|Abstract| Aspergillosis is a noncontagious fungal disease affecting birds, primarily caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, with A. flavus and A. niger occurring less frequently. also this disease has a global distribution, thriving in humid environments, while dry litter conditions promote the aerosolization of Aspergillus spores. Although Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous and opportunistic fungal pathogen primarily associated with respiratory tract infections, it is also capable of infecting other organs throughout the body. This study, conducted across three commercial broiler chicken farms in Zabul Province, Afghanistan, from January 1, 2024 to June 15, 2024 with a total of 3,000 birds, investigated the incidence of aspergillosis in relation to their age. Using the Slovin’s formula, 352 broilers were selected and categorized into three age groups: 1-10 days, 11-20 days, and 21-30 days. The findings indicated that 152 chickens tested positive for aspergillosis, representing an average incidence rate of 43.33%. The incidence varied by age: 61.53% in chickens aged 1–10 days, 40.17% in chickens aged 11–20 days, and 28.20% in chickens aged 21–30 days. Higher infection rates were observed in younger chickens, while older birds showed decreased susceptibility. <more..>

Assessment of Economic Losses Due to Coccidiosis in Broiler Chickens in Balkh Province, Afghanistan

Mohammad Nasim Sahab — 2024-12-30

Understanding the losses caused by diseases leads to enhanced management practices and increased economic efficiency in poultry farming. Therefore, this research was conducted to assess the economic losses associated with coccidiosis in broiler chickens in Balkh, Afghanistan. Data were obtained from 37 broiler farms through direct communication with poultry farmers and veterinarian who are involved in the diagnosis, control, and treatment of poultry diseases. The findings of this study indicated that the average loss resulting from coccidiosis in a broiler farm with 1000 birds were up to 20,000 Afghani. Coccidiosis has been identified as a significant factor leading to direct losses (mortality and reduced body weight gains) and indirect losses (chemotrophy, coccidiostat costs and increased feed conversion ratio) across all poultry farms. Among these economic parameters, body weight loss had the greatest impact, accounting for 54.1% of the losses, followed by an increase in feed conversion ratio (35.7%). Considering the economic losses, it is necessary to explore the use of natural products, including extracts of fungi and plants, as well as probiotics, to alleviate the issues arising from coccidiosis. Additionally, poultry farmers should incorporate coccidiostat drugs and vaccination programs to prevent coccidiosis. The cumulative results of this study will inform farmers, policymakers, and other stakeholders about the potential impact of coccidiosis and aid in developing strategies to address it.

Clinical Patterns and Management Modalities in Traumatic Hyphema Among Patients Attending Nangarhar University Teaching Hospital, Afghanistan

Abdul Basir Safi — 2024-12-30

Hyphema is defined as the presence of blood in the anterior chamber of the eye. It is most commonly caused by ocular damage. Hyphema can cause pain, blurred vision, and elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), all of which can lead to serious problems if not treated properly. The goal of this study was to look into clinical patterns and treatment modalities for patients with traumatic hyphema. This retrospective study was conducted at Nangarhar University Teaching Hospital, focusing on patients who presented with traumatic hyphema between January 2023 and April 2024. The study included 73 participants with mean± SD (12.98±10.2) age years. The majority were men (60.3%, n=44), and women accounting for 39.7% (n=29). The age distribution revealed that the largest age group was children aged 6-10 years, accounting for 38.4% (n=28) of the sample population. In terms of residency, Nangarhar province accounted for the most of participants (47.9%, n=35). According to the types of ocular damage, blunt trauma was the most common, affecting 41.1% (n=30) of participants. Compared to the left eye, the right eye was more commonly affected. The vast majority of the cases—57.5%, had intraocular pressures that were within the normal range. Of the 73 patients, 31 with high IOP received a variety of treatments, including medication and operations such cataract extraction and trabeculectomy, while 42 with a normal IOP were treated medically. The study found that young males often have hyphemia due to blunt trauma, emphasizing the need for preventive measures. Nearly half of the patients had high intraocular pressure, requiring individualized treatment.

Effects of dietary edible bird’s nest supplementation on hippocampal neurons of multigenerational mice

Mahaq Obaidullah — 2024-12-30

Edible bird’s nest (EBN) is a natural food product rich in glycoproteins such as sialic acid, minerals and essential amino acids. Sialic acid from EBN most effectively absorbs in the brain, where it plays a fundamental role in the ganglioside structure involved in the brain development and synaptic transmission, particularly in preterm infants. Nevertheless, the impact of multiple generations of EBN on brain cellular variations is not yet fully understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of dietary EBN supplementation on brain neurons density and histology of multigenerational mice. A total of 40 females C57BL/6 mice as (F0) generation were equally distributed into four treatment and a control groups. Mice in the treatment groups were orally administered with four different sources of EBN for eight weeks. Subsequently, all mice were bred to produce the first generation (F1) followed by the second generation (F2). The sialic acid concentration in EBN samples was examined by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The brain tissue of all mice was collected for histological study. The research found that dietary EBN significantly increased the number of neurons in the hippocampus of three generations (F0, F1, and F2) compared to the control. Histological study showed that the average number of neurons was significantly (P<0.05) higher in EBN-South and EBN-North groups compared to control in F0, F1 and F2 generations. However, the population of neurons was not significantly (P>0.05) higher in EBN-Commercial and EBN-Borneo groups compared to control. The highest neuron density was found in the mice supplemented with EBN contained higher concentration of sialic acid. In conclusion, it was suggested that the sialic acid from maternal EBN supplementation during pregnancy transmitted to the next generations of mice, where it influenced the development and functions of the fetal brain.

Milk Consumption and its Determinants - An In-depth Study in the Context of Kunduz City

Rashid Rasoli Sebghatullah — 2024-12-30

This study has been launched to identify the factors influencing milk consumption in Kunduz City. Related data were collected from 335 samples by questionnaire using convenience sampling. Various statistical methods have been used to consider the goals, such as multiple linear regression, one-sample t-test, frequency, and percentage. The results of the analysis of factors affecting milk consumption showed that children under 10 years old, the number of family members with income, the number of family members, having sports activities, an educational level above a bachelor's degree, and age are important factors on the consumption of fresh milk in Kunduz city. Knowing the factors affecting milk consumption will help producers adjust their marketing activities according to their needs and desires by understanding and familiarizing themselves with consumers and customers. In addition, to produce proper and sustainable milk products, dairy companies need to solve the obstacles and infrastructure challenges in their way with the help of responsible institutions.