Eimeria infection in calves under local farming system in and around asella, oromia regional state, Ethiopia

Bovine coccidiosis is one of the most common livestock diseases worldwide, and usually affects cattle under one-year-old. High infection rates occur from environments that were already contaminated with infected animals. A study on the prevalence, species and risk of occurrence of Eimeria species in calves was conducted at Asella, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Management systems, breed, age, sex, and site were considered as variables for the surveillance. For this, fecal samples were collected from 384 randomly selected calves of age less than or equal to 12 months. Sporulation was applied at room temperature for 10-14 days. The flotation technique was applied on fecal samples and these were examined using direct microscopic examination to detect presence of Eimeria species. Eimeria oocysts weredetected in 72.4% of the total samples with ranges of 68-100% prevalence in all factors considered. Ten different Eimeria species were identified: E. bovis (44.5%), E. zuernii (26.3%), E. auburnensis (10.9), E. canadensis (9.4%), E. ellipsoidalis (5.7%), E. subspherica (6.5%), E. cylindrical (3.1%), E. alabamensis (2.6%), E. wyomingensis (2.6%) and E. bukidnonensis (2.1%) in decreasing order of prevalence. Of the 278 positive calves, 52.2% were infected with single species, while 47.8% were infected with 2-4 of identified species. Significantly lower prevalence in calves fed colostrums (71.2%) than those not fed colostrum (100%) (χ2 = 6.3; p <0.05) were observed in early birth. However, no statistical association in infection was observed within all other risk factors considered (p >0.05). Infection with one or more species was found to be insignificant in sex, feeding system, and cleaning frequency (p >0.05). The present finding showed the role of early colostrum feeding in a remarkable reduction of coccidiosis. However, the majority of assessed factors had a great contribution for the contamination and maintenance of Eimeria on the farm and its primes at 68.4%-100%, with high risk of infection to subsequent calves. Moreover, the occurrence of infection, with single (52.2%) to multiple of four (1.4%) pathogenic Eimeria spp. in positive cases, indicated the downside of substandard management systems, making calves prone to subclinical cases thus hampering growth and health, with considerable economic losses. Therefore, early feeding with sufficient amount of colostrum, practicing good management in calves and implementation of proper hygienic measures in their environments should be recommended to reduce direct and indirect economic losses from the infection.Key words: Eimeria, epidemiology, prevalence, calves, infection, sporulated oocyst, Asell

Small-Scale Dynamic Aurora

Small-scale dynamic auroras have spatial scales of a few km or less, and temporal scales of a few seconds or less, which visualize the complex interplay among charged particles, Alfvén waves, and plasma instabilities working in the magnetosphere-ionosphere coupled regions. We summarize the observed properties of flickering auroras, vortex motions, and filamentary structures. We also summarize the development of fundamental theories, such as dispersive Alfvén waves (DAWs), plasma instabilities in the auroral acceleration region, ionospheric feedback instabilities (IFI), and the ionospheric Alfvén resonator (IAR)

AIDS Vaccine for Asia Network (AVAN): Expanding the Regional Role in Developing HIV Vaccines

Yiming Shao and colleagues describe the work of AVAN, the AIDS Vaccine for Asia Network, which aims to strengthen its regional efforts in finding an AIDS vaccine

Intestinal parasitosis and shigellosis among diarrheal patients in Gondar teaching hospital, northwest Ethiopia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Diarrheal diseases are the major causes of morbidity and mortality in developing world. Understanding the etiologic agents of diarrheal diseases and their association with socio-demographic characteristics of patients would help to design better preventive measures. Thus, this study was aimed to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites and enteropathogenic bacteria in diarrheic patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional study involving 384 consecutive diarrheal patients who visited Gondar teaching hospital, Gondar, Ethiopia from October 2006 to March 2007 was conducted. Stool specimens were collected and examined for intestinal parasites and enteropathogenic bacteria following standard parasitological and microbiological procedures.</p> <p><b><it>Results</it></b></p> <p>Intestinal parasites were diagnosed in 36.5% of the patients. The most frequently encountered protozoan parasite was <it>Entamoeba histolytica/dispar </it>(7.3%) followed by <it>Giardia lamblia </it>(5.0%), C<it>ryptosporidium parvum </it>(1.8%) and <it>Isospora belli </it>(1.3%). The dominant helminthic parasite identified was <it>Ascaris lumbricoides </it>(5.5%) followed by <it>Strongyloides stercoralis </it>and <it>Schistosoma mansoni </it>(3.1% each), hookworm infection (1.8%), and <it>Hymenolepis </it>species (1.3%). Multiple infections of intestinal parasites were also observed in 6.3% of the patients. Among the enteropathogenic bacteria <it>Shigella </it>and <it>Salmonella </it>species were isolated from 15.6% and 1.6%, respectively, of the patients. <it>Escherichia coli O57:H7 </it>was not found in any of the stool samples tested. Eighty eight percent and 83.3% of the <it>Shigella </it>and <it>Salmonella </it>isolates were resistant to one or more commonly used antibiotics, respectively.</p> <p>Intestinal parasitosis was higher in patients who live in rural area, in patients who were washing their hands after visiting toilet either irregularly with soap and without soap or not at all, in patients who used well and spring water for household consumption, and in patients who had nausea (<it>P </it>< 0.05). Statistically significant associations were also observed between Shigella infections and patients who were using well and spring water for household consumption, and patients who had dysentery and mucoid stool (<it>P </it>< 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The high prevalence of intestinal parasites and <it>Shigella </it>species in diarrheic patients calls for institution of appropriate public health intervention measures to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with these diseases. The rational use of antibiotics should also be practiced.</p

Tryptophan depletion in context of the inflammatory and general nutritional status of a low-income South African HIV-infected population

MV was the project leader. PB developed and validated the GC-MS method for the analysis of tryptophan and performed the biochemical and immunological analyses. MV and PB were responsible for the project design, analyses of the results and writing of the manuscript. PL was involved in the sourcing of patients and the clinical examination of all patients.The authors wish to thank the participants and staff of the Immunology Clinic at Kalafong Hospital and the South African National Blood Service at the Pretoria West satellite site.BACKGROUND : The essential amino acid tryptophan cannot be synthesised in the body and must be acquired through dietary intake. Oxidation of tryptophan, due to immune induction of the enzyme indoleamine 2,3- dioxygenase (IDO), is considered to be the main cause of tryptophan depletion in HIV infection and AIDS. We examined plasma tryptophan levels in a low-income sub-Saharan HIV-infected population and compared it to that of developed countries. Tryptophan levels were further examined in context of the general nutritional and inflammatory status. METHODS : This cross-sectional study included 105 HIV-positive patients recruited from the Kalafong Hospital in Pretoria, South Africa, and 60 HIV-negative controls. RESULTS : Patient tryptophan levels were in general markedly lower than those reported for developed countries. In contrast to reports from developed countries that showed tryptophan levels on average to be 18.8 % lower than their control values, tryptophan levels in our study were 44.1 % lower than our controls (24.4 ± 4.1 vs. 43.6 ± 11.9 μmol/l; p < 0.001). Tryptophan levels correlated with both CD4 counts (r = 0.341; p = 0.004) and with proinflammatory activity as indicated by neopterin levels (r = −0.399; p = 0.0001). Nutritional indicators such as albumin and haemoglobin correlated positively with tryptophan and negatively with the pro-inflammatory indicators neopterin, interleukin 6 and C-reactive protein. The most probable causes of the lower tryptophan levels seen in our population are food insecurity and higher levels of inflammatory activity. CONCLUSIONS : We contend that inflammation-induced tryptophan depletion forms part of a much wider effect of pro-inflammatory activity on the nutritional profile of HIV-infected patients.This research was supported by grant funding received from the Medical Research Council of South Africa and the South African Sugar Association (SASA Project 213).http://www.jhpn.net/index.php/jhpnam2016Internal MedicinePhysiologyPsychiatr

Equine Helminthiasis In And Around Assela, Arsi Zone Of Oromia Regional State.

Study was conducted on a total of 384 equine comprising 167 each horses and donkeys, and 50 mules by randomly sampling to assess the statues of equine helminthiasis in and around Assela, Arsi-Oromia regional state, Ethiopia by considering species, sex and age of the animal. Qualitative coprological fecal examination was used for eggs of helminthes. A total 345 (89.8%) of examined equine were found positive for at least one helminthes where 93.4%, 85.0% and 94.0% of donkey, horses and mule are positive, respectively. A prevalence of 94.4% in young and 89.6% in adults by age, and 88.9% in male and 91.5% in female by sex were observed. In all circumstances, insignificant differences in prevalence were observed among species, between age groups and sex groups (P>0.05). Qualitative fecal egg analysis revealed the rate of 71.1% Strongyles spp, 30.73 % Parascaris equorum (P. equorum), 7.29 % Strongloid westeri, 5.7% Anoplocephala species (spp), 4.43 % Oxyuris equi and 1.04% Fasciola spp in equine. Except for P. equorum, Strongloid westeri and Anoplocephala spp which shows significant difference infection (P0.05). Highest co-infection of equines with Strongyles spp and P. equorum (17.7%) were also observed. The rate of mixed infection with at least two helminthes were observed in 20.4%, 22.2% and 56.0% of donkey, horse and mule, respectively showing significant differences (P 0,05). L’analyse qualitative des oeufs fécaux a révélé des taux de 71,1% de Strongles spp, 30,73% d’equorum Parascaris (P. equorum), 7,29% de Strongloid westeri, 5,7% des espèces Anoplocephala (spp), 4,43% Oxyuris equi et 1,04% de Fasciola spp. chez les chevaux. Sauf pour les espèces P. equorum, Strongloid westeri et Anoplocephala spp. qui montrent une différence significative d’infection (P 0,05). Les plus grandes co-infections des équidés par les espèces de Strongles spp. et de P. equorum (17,7%) ont également été observées. Le taux d’infection mixte avec au moins deux helminthes ont été observées dans 20,4% d’ânes, 22,2% de chevaux et 56,0% de mulets,respectivement ; ce qui montre des différences significatives (

Prevalence and Carrier Status of Leptospirosis in Smallholder Dairy Cattle and Peridomestic Rodents in Kandy, Sri Lanka

Leptospirosis is an important bacterial zoonotic disease globally and one of the notifiable diseases in Sri Lanka. Other than human leptospirosis, little information is available on leptospirosis in domestic and feral animals in Sri Lanka. Thus, this study attempted to determine the prevalence and carrier status of leptospirosis in small-holder dairy cattle and peridomestic rodents to understand the impact of the disease on public health in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Cattle and rodent samples were collected from the Yatinuwara and Udunuwara divisional secretaries in Kandy. Serum samples were analyzed for the presence of antileptospiral antibodies using microscopic agglutination test. DNA was extracted from cattle urine and rodent kidney tissue samples, in which polymerase chain reaction was carried out to detect the Leptospira flaB gene. The cattle in 19 (38.8%) of the 49 farms harbored antileptospiral antibodies. Out of 113 cattle serum samples, 23 (20.3%) were positive; 17 (73.9%) and 6 (26.1%) reacted with serogroups Sejroe and Hebdomadis, respectively. Out of the 74 rodent samples, 13 (17.5%) were positive; 8 (61.5%) and 4 (30.8%) had reactions to serogroups Javanica and Icterohaemorrhagiae, respectively. Leptospiral DNA was detected in one cattle urine sample and identified as Leptospira interrogans. This study revealed a high prevalence of leptospirosis in cattle and rodents in Kandy. These animals were infected with a wide array of leptospiral serogroups, which are consistent with the research findings observed in humans in Kandy. Overall, serological data indicate that relative to rodents, cattle may be a more significant reservoir for human transmission and a greater source of potential risk to local agricultural communities