ABSTRACT
Nigeria bears the heaviest burden of infectious diseases, topping the list of countries with heavy burden for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), tuberculosis (TB), malaria, typhoid and other viral diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. Diagnostics for detection and confirmation of the aetiological agents of infections remain some of the greatest areas of needs in the healthcare and animal husbandry in Nigeria. Nigeria is totally dependent on importations for the smallest needs in diagnostics for infectious diseases. Unlike in the areas of drugs where there are many indigenous pharmaceutical companies with some measure of research and development activities, diagnostic companies with capability in research and development (R&D) are non-existent. Microorganisms which cause diseases represent important genetic resources and sources of raw materials that can be used for production of biopharmaceuticals and diagnostics for infectious diseases. Modern biotechnological tools and techniques are now available for applications in the use of these indigenous bioresources to produce diagnostics that are more relevant and accurate for use in Nigeria. However, the training of many students does not prepare them for R&D activities, particularly in diagnostics. There is a need for more concerted efforts to build indigenous capacity in development and production of diagnostics reagents for detection and confirmation of infectious agents that affect humans and animals in Nigeria. This chapter highlights the needs for indigenous capacity for development of diagnostics for infectious diseases, the available indigenous bioresources and the methods that can be used for R&D to harness the huge indigenous bioresources of Nigeria for development and production of diagnostics for infectious diseases.
