Investigations On The Carrier Rate Of Pasteurella Multocida In Black Rats (Rattus Rattus) In A Commercial Quail Farm

The aim was to investigate the level of Pasteurella Multocida infection from two anatomic sites of black rats (Rattus Rattus), popularly referred to as house or roof rats in a commercial quail farmhouse with recurrent fowl cholera outbreaks and also to evaluate the association between the Pasteurella Multocida found in rats co-habiting quail poultry houses and isolates from outbreaks of fowl cholera. Thus 100 pharyngeal and 100 rectum swabs samples taken from rats co-habiting farmhouse were obtained and evaluated bacteriologically for isolation of P. multocida; 54% of pharyngeal swabs and 62% of rectum swabs were positive for P. multocida. Extended phenotypic characterization of the isolates confirmed the presence of subspecies P. multocida multocida. Subspecies Pasteurella Multocida septica and gallicida were not encountered. Ramdom serotyping of 5 isolates each from the two sites confirmed serotypes A:4. Fowl cholera outbreaks were confirmed on the quail houses and carrier rats had the same Pasteurella Multocida subspecies and serotype as the infected quail. The public health significance of the finding is also discussed.African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology Vol. 10 (1) 2009: pp. 2-

Effects of Sterculia tomentosa stem bark extract on haematological parameters and Trypanosoma brucei infection in rats

Evaluation of antitrypanosomal efficacy of stem bark water extract of Sterculia tomentosa using rats as a model revealed significant suppressive effect on parasitaemia with extended survival time in group D rats treated with extract subcutaneously. The extract did not affect packed cell volume of treated rats. There was no significant difference (

Avian spirochaetosis associated with colisepticemia in free ranging white breasted guinea fowls (Numida meleagris pallas) in arid region of Nigeria: A case report

An outbreak of avian spirochaetosis in free ranging white-breasted guinea fowls associated with acute colisepticemia was diagnosed and reported in this paper. During investigation of the outbreak, clinical signs observed were sudden death, listlessness, depression, cyanosis of the wattles and combs, increased thirst, anorexia and fever up to 43&#176C. There was sporadic mortality of the affected birds. Ticks were observed on the less feathery parts of healthy and the affected guinea fowls and may have contributed to the transmission of the etiologic agent of spirochaetosis (Borellia anserina) leading to the high mortality in this outbreak. Lack of immunization and prompt case reporting contributed to the severity of infection and losses recorded in the farm. Total collapse in tick control and environmental management were the major factors, which precipitated the outbreak. Keywords: Spirochaetosis; colisepticemia; Numida meleagridis; NigeriaAnimal Production Research Advances Vol. 2 (3) 2006: pp. 161-16

ETHNOVETERINARY MEDICINE AMONG BADE PASTORALISTS IN SEMI ARID ZONE OF NORTHERN NIGERIA: STUDIES ON INDIGENOUS TREATMENTS AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.

Ethnoveterinary medicine is the study of indigenous systems of animal health care, the practical aspects of which are relevant to applied development work. The ancient Bade pastoralists posses sophisticated body of ethnoveterinary knowledge about animal diseases, treatments and management practices, which spans from generation to generations till date. To obtain information used for this study, seventy (70) structured questionnaires were designed and distributed to pastoralists aged forty years and above in seven districts of Bade emirate in semi arid zone of northern Nigeria. It was observed that ethno veterinary practices were adopted by 85.7% of the pastoralists. The major reasons for their adoption is that ethnoveterinary medicine is cheap, partly effective, accessible and practicable. Perhaps this practices is not without risk. However, the ingredients used also have potential for investigation. Integrating this concept into orthodox animal health care delivery will bring alternative therapy which is affordable. Key Words:-Ethno veterinary medicine, Bade Emirate, orthodox, Treatment, Pastoralists. African Journal of Livestock Extension Vol.3 2004: 59-6

Observations on the helminth parasites of west african nocturnal hedgehog (Atelerix albiventrix) in the semi-arid northern Nigeria

The prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites of nocturnal hedgehog was studied during the rainy season of 2005. Of the 95 gastrointestinal and lungs samples examined, the following prevalence rates of infection were observed. Cresoma striatum 35(36.8%), Capillaria erinaceous 30(31.5%), Haemonchus contortus 5(5.26%), Spirura ritypleurites 14(14.7%), Dicrocoelium dendriticum 2(2.10%), Nephridiorhynchus major 8(8.42%) and Metacestoides species 3(3.15%). Two of the parasites detected (H. contortus and D. dendriticum) were classical parasites of ruminants, while the most highly pathogenic parasites identified were C. striatum and N. major. The study implicates hedgehogs in the epizootiology of helminth parasites of ruminants in the study area. More work is however needed to understand the dynamics of infection in wild and domestic ruminants. Keywords: hedgehog; helminth parasites; ruminants; NigeriaAnimal Production Research Advances Vol. 2 (3) 2006: pp. 172-17

EVALUATION OF ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF SEVERAL SOUTH AFRICAN TREES AND ISOLATION OF TWO BIFLAVONOIDS WITH ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY FROM GARCINIA LIVIGSTONEI

The acetone leaf extracts of eleven South African plant species were screened for their antibacterial activity by determining the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) against 4 nosocomial bacterial pathogens and bioautography. MIC screening was at concentrations of 0.02 to 1.25 mg/ml using two-fold serial microdilution against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 1. The extracts of Macaranga capensis, Garcinia livingstonei, Diospyros rotundifolia and Dichrostachys cinerea had good antibacterial activity with minimum MIC values of 0.03, 0.04, 0.06 and 0.08 mg/ml, respectively. The average MIC values of the plant extracts against the tested pathogens ranged from 0.23-1.77 mg/ml. S. aureus was the most susceptible bacterial pathogen with average MIC of 0.36, the extract of Diospyros rotundifolia was the most active with an average MIC against all the organisms of 0.23 mg/ml. The extracts of Buxus natalensis, Dracaena mannii (natal), and Pittosporum viridiflorum, Acacia sibeiriana, Erythrina lattissima, Cassine papillosa and Pavetta schumanniana (savoti) had a low antibacterial activity. G. livingstonei was selected for further work and two biflavonoids with antibacterial activity was isolated from a leaf extract. Keywords: Garcinia livingstonei, biflavonoids, antibacteria, traditional medicine References: 1. Eloff JN, 1988 Planta Medica 64, 711-714

Acute poisoning in cattle due to ingestion of rattlebox weed in Nigerian pasture

A case of poisoning due to ingestion of Crotalaria cylindrocapa otherwise referred to as rattlebox weed in cattle was investigated and reported in this paper. High morbidity and low mortality rates were recorded in the affected cattle. Clinical signs observed were; hypersalivation, weakness, ataxia, inappetance , recumbency , lameness and enlargement of the hooves was noticed in the affected animals two weeks post toxicosis. Phytochemical analysis of this plant revealed the presence of cardiac glycosides, steroids, and flavonoids. Whereas alkaloids, anthraquinones, saponins, tannins, were not detected. Prompt case reporting coupled with early treatment with antibiotic, steroid and atropine sulphate have greatly contributed to the amelioration of the severity of the poisoning. Advice to safeguard future occurrence of the case was highlighted. Keywords: Crotalaria cylindrocapa, pasture, poisoning, rattlebox weed, cattle Journal of Environmental Extension Vol. 6 2007: pp. 25-2

Research Note 1: Detection of helminth parasites of ruminants in hedgehog Atelerix albivetrix

Parasitological investigation on the gastro-intestinal contents of hedgehog was conducted. Samples were scrubbed from the length of gastro-intestinal tracts of road kills and casualty hedgehogs collected from the road site(s) during the early hours of the day and transported to the laboratory before post-mortem changes sets in. Of the ninety-nine road-kills hedgehogs collected and used for the studies, 5.26% (5) and 2.10 % ( 2) prevalence rates of infestation with Haemonchus contortus and Dicrocoelium dendriticum that are classical ruminant helminthes were detected respectively. Thus, the findings confirmed hedgehog as a host in the epizootiology of helminth parasitosis in ruminants; further investigation is required to determine if hedgehog could act as a secondary intermediate host in the epizootiology of helminthes infection in ruminants. Keywords: helminth parasites, hedgehog, ruminants, helminthosis. Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol. 28 (2) 2007: pp. 129-13