Helminthes parasites of local chickens in Bauchi state, Nigeria

The prevalence of helminthes infections in domestic fowls in Bauchi was carried out aimed at providing information on their species composition and prevalence. Two hundred chickens comprising of one hundred males and one hundred females were collected on a weekly basis for eight months and screened for helminthes parasites. A total infection of 87.8% was recorded consisting of the following nematodes and cestodes: Ascaridia styphlocerca (4.5%), Heterakis brevispiculum (18.0%), Subulura brumpti (15.5%), Gongylonema congolense (40.5%), Raillietina tetragona (38.5%),Raillietina echinobothrida (42.0%), Raillietina cesticillus (10.5%), Choanotaenia infundibulum (3.3%) and Raillietina magninumida (8%). There was no significant difference in infection rates between the sexes (

Gastrointestinal helminths of the domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica gmelin, 1789 aves:columbidae) in Zaria, northern Nigeria.

The gastro-intestinal tracts of 240 Columba livia domestica were examined parasitologically for helminths aimed at providing information on their species composition, prevalence and distribution in Zaria area, northern Nigeria. Of these, 116 (48.3%) were infected by 9 species of helminths, comprising 6 species of cestodes and 3 species of nematodes. The infection with cestode species was in the order Raillietina tetragona 65 (27.1%), R. echinobothrida 26 (10.6%), Hymenolepis cantaniana 4 (1.7%), Hymenolepis carioca 3 (1.3%), R. cesticillus 1 (0.45%), and Amoebotaenia cuneata 2 (0.83%). Raillietina tetragona was the most prevalent cestodes recovered throughout the 12 months of the survey period. The three nematodes encountered were Ascaridia columbae 27 (11.3%), A. galli 8 (3.3%) and Heterakis gallinarum 8 (3.3%). Ascaridia columbae which was the most prevalent nematode was recovered in 9 out of the 12 months of the year. Single infection was more common (37.5%) than double 24 (10%) and triple infections (0.83%). More infection was observed during the wet season (June and September). Keywords: Helminths, Prevalence, Domestic Pigeon, Columba livia domestica, Zaria, Nigeria

Ectoparasites and intestinal helminths of speckled pigeon (Columba guinea Hartlaub and Finsch 1870) in Zaria, Nigeria.

A total of 30 (20 males and 10 females) Speckled Pigeons trapped from the wild in Zaria and its environs, Nigeria, were examined for ectoparasites and intestinal helminths, to determine the prevalence, intensity and mean intensity of infestation and infection. The plumages of the birds were brushed onto a white sheet of paper placed in a tray for the collection of ectoparasites, while the gastrointestinal tracts of the birds were examined for helminths. Eighteen (60.0%) of the birds were infested by three species of ectoparasites. The ectoparasites comprised of lice: 17 (56.7%) Menopon gallinae Linnaeus 1758, 18 (60.0%) Columbicola columbae Linnaeus 1758 and flies: 9 (30.0%) Pseudolynchia canariensis Macquart 1840. Single, double and triple infestations were found in 1(3.3%), 8(26.7%) and 9(30.0%) respectively, though the difference was not significant (P>0.05). The sex-specific infestation rate was 12(60.0%) in males and 6(60.0%) in females. Seventeen (56.7%) birds were infected by helminths represented by four species of cestodes recovered from the gastrointestinal tract. The cestodes were represented by Raillietina tetragona Molin, 1858 1(3.3%), Raillietina cesticillus Molin, 1858 8(26.7%), Amoebotaenia cuneata Linstow, 1872 4(13.3%) and Hymenolepis carioca Magalhaes, 1898 4(13.3%). Single infection was the only infection type observed. The sex-specific rate of infection was 11(55.0%) in males and 6(60.0%) in females. This study portrays the Speckled Pigeons as a probable definitive host of some ectoparasites and helminths. Keywords: Ectoparasites, Gastrointestinal helminths, Prevalence, Speckled Pigeon, Columba guinea, Zaria, Nigeri

Early Eculizumab Withdrawal in Patients With Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome in Native Kidneys Is Safe and Cost-Effective: Results of the CUREiHUS Study

Introduction: The introduction of eculizumab has improved the outcome in patients with atypical hemo-lytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). The optimal treatment strategy is debated. Here, we report the results of the CUREiHUS study, a 4-year prospective, observational study monitoring unbiased eculizumab discontinuation in Dutch patients with aHUS after 3 months of therapy.Methods: All pediatric and adult patients with aHUS in native kidneys and a first-time eculizumab treat-ment were evaluated. In addition, an extensive cost-consequence analysis was conducted.Results: A total of 21 patients were included in the study from January 2016 to October 2020. In 17 patients (81%), a complement genetic variant or antibodies against factor H were identified. All patients showed full recovery of hematological thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) parameters after the start of eculizumab. A renal response was noted in 18 patients. After a median treatment duration of 13.6 weeks (range 2.1-43.9), eculizumab was withdrawn in all patients. During follow-up (80.7 weeks [0.0-236.9]), relapses occurred in 4 patients. Median time to first relapse was 19.5 (14.3-53.6) weeks. Eculizumab was reinitiated within 24 hours in all relapsing patients. At last follow-up, there were no chronic sequelae, i.e., no clinically relevant increase in serum creatinine (sCr), proteinuria, and/or hypertension in relapsing patients. The low sample size and event rate did not allow to determine predictors of relapse. However, relapses only occurred in patients with a likely pathogenic variant. The cost-effectiveness analysis revealed that the total medical expenses of our population were only 30% of the fictive expenses that would have been made when patients received eculizumab every fortnight.Conclusion: It is safe and cost-effective to discontinue eculizumab after 3 months of therapy in patients with aHUS in native kidneys. Larger data registries are needed to determine factors associated with suboptimal kidney function recovery during eculizumab treatment, factors to predict relapses, and long-term outcomes of eculizumab discontinuation

Early Eculizumab Withdrawal in Patients With Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome in Native Kidneys Is Safe and Cost-Effective: Results of the CUREiHUS Study

Introduction: The introduction of eculizumab has improved the outcome in patients with atypical hemo-lytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). The optimal treatment strategy is debated. Here, we report the results of the CUREiHUS study, a 4-year prospective, observational study monitoring unbiased eculizumab discontinuation in Dutch patients with aHUS after 3 months of therapy.Methods: All pediatric and adult patients with aHUS in native kidneys and a first-time eculizumab treat-ment were evaluated. In addition, an extensive cost-consequence analysis was conducted.Results: A total of 21 patients were included in the study from January 2016 to October 2020. In 17 patients (81%), a complement genetic variant or antibodies against factor H were identified. All patients showed full recovery of hematological thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) parameters after the start of eculizumab. A renal response was noted in 18 patients. After a median treatment duration of 13.6 weeks (range 2.1-43.9), eculizumab was withdrawn in all patients. During follow-up (80.7 weeks [0.0-236.9]), relapses occurred in 4 patients. Median time to first relapse was 19.5 (14.3-53.6) weeks. Eculizumab was reinitiated within 24 hours in all relapsing patients. At last follow-up, there were no chronic sequelae, i.e., no clinically relevant increase in serum creatinine (sCr), proteinuria, and/or hypertension in relapsing patients. The low sample size and event rate did not allow to determine predictors of relapse. However, relapses only occurred in patients with a likely pathogenic variant. The cost-effectiveness analysis revealed that the total medical expenses of our population were only 30% of the fictive expenses that would have been made when patients received eculizumab every fortnight.Conclusion: It is safe and cost-effective to discontinue eculizumab after 3 months of therapy in patients with aHUS in native kidneys. Larger data registries are needed to determine factors associated with suboptimal kidney function recovery during eculizumab treatment, factors to predict relapses, and long-term outcomes of eculizumab discontinuation