Blood tumour necrosis factor-α and the pathogenesis of anaemia in Trypanosoma brucei infected rabbits

Trypanosomosis is a protozoan infection of domestic and wild animals characterized by anaemia, however, the pathogenesis of trypanosomosis-induced anaemia is not fully understood. This study evaluated the possible roles of Tumour Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the pathogenesis of anaemia induced by Trypanosoma brucei in rabbits. Twelve adult rabbits of both sexes with mean weight of 2.1 ± 0.1kg were randomly assigned into two groups of six rabbits each. Group A rabbits were intraperitoneally (i.p) infected with blood containing 2 x 106/ml of T. brucei, while group B (control) rabbits were injected with one ml of normal saline i.p. Blood was collected from the ear vein before infection and weekly thereafter for six weeks post-infection (p.i), in order to determine the packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb) concentration, red blood cell (RBC) count, reticulocyte count (RC) and serum concentrations of TNF-α. The PCV, RBC count and Hb concentration were significantly (p<0.05) lower in group A than group B rabbits throughout the duration of the study. Serum concentration of TNF-α was significantly (p<0.05) higher in group A (227.5 ± 8.1 ng/ml) than group B (51.3 ± 8.2 ng/ml) at week four post-infection. The serum concentration of TNF-α negatively correlated with PCV (r=-0.513) and Hb (r=-0.769) in group A. The study concluded that anaemia observed during experimental infection in rabbits with trypanosomosis was associated with increased levels of TNF-α.Keywords: Anaemia, Rabbits, Pathogenesis, Trypanosomosis, Tumour Necrosis Factor-

Effect of Morinda Morindiodes Extracts on Organs of Mice Infected with Plasmodium Berghei

Morinda morindiodes is a herb that is widely used locally in southwest Nigeria for the treatment of malaria. The histological evaluation of the effect of Morinda(M.) morindiodes plant part(s) extracts in the treatment of malariausing mice infected with chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium (P) berghei was carried out. Healthy adult albino mice with average weight of 25g were used for the study. Plant part(s) were extracted with distilled water and ‘aqueousfermented maize starch’ (vernacular- ‘omi edun’). Treated groups were administered orally with 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg of plant part(s) extracts respectively. Chloroquine and artesunate were used as control drugs. Control animals were given water for the same period of time. Pathological effects were observed in the liver, kidney, heart, spleen, brain and testis. The leaf and the root extract of Morinda morindiodes prepared with ‘aqueous fermented maize starch’ extract  reduced the  patholog  observed to  be inflicted by the  parasite  similar to the  standard treatment  (chloroquine and artesunate). However when extracts were administered to mice that were without infection, vacuolar degeneration of hepatocytes and periportal mononuclear cells infiltration in the liver were observed. Sperms were not produced during the period of treatment (Spermiostasis) which indicated= reversible infertility in the male mice. The pathological damages caused by the root extracts increased with concentration. Also, the medium of extraction played important role, in that ‘aqueous fermented maize starch’ extractions were better in reducing the pathological effect of the parasite.  The extracts were safer when used in low concentration.Keywords- Morinda morindiodes, Plasmodium berghei,  histology,  organs,  spermiostasis

Dicephalus and diprosopus foetuses: Gross and radiological observations in White Fulani cattle in Nigeria

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Serological and pathological assessment of lymphoid organs in chicks fed with graded levels of fermented and unfermented cassava diets

Despite the myriad of investigations in literature on cassava utilization in domestic chickens, its effects on the avian specific humoral immune system still remains elusive. This study investigated the effects of graded levels of fermented (F) and unfermented (UF) cassava diets on the lymphoid organs and its subsequent humoral immunological response in domestic chicks. One hundred day-old Yaffa White cockerels were randomly divided into five groups (A to E) of twenty birds each. The replacement of maize with 0%, 20%, 30%, fermented or unfermented cassava root meal was on a quantitative basis in each group fed for 5 weeks. All other ingredients remained constant. The mean body weight in different cassava treated groups (CTGs) showed no significant difference (P>0.05) compared with the control. The bursa and thymic weights showed both decrease and increase significant difference (P<0.05). There was significant decrease in the IBD antibody titers of CTGs compared with the control at week 5. Macroscopically, mild to moderate enlargement and atrophy of bursa of Fabricius, with petechiation of cortical surfaces of the thymus were observed. Microscopically, lesions such as interfollicular edema, interfollicular fibrosis, follicular atrophy, lymphofollicular hypoplasia, dystrophic epithelium, thickened splenic capsule, splenic lymphoid hypoplasia, thymic lymphoid hypoplasia, diffuse medullary thymic haemorrhages and Myoid cells proliferation were the consistent histopathological changes in all the CTGs. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that cassava inclusion feeds could cause subtle sublethal effects to the lymphoid organs of domestic chickens, and consequently lead to vaccine failure when it is administered for a long period of time.Keywords: Lymphoid organs, fermented and unfermented cassava, serology, patholog

Mandibular morphological changes associated with actinomycesviscosus infection in a West African dwarf goat in Nigeria

This report described the morphological alterations on the mandible in a 3- year- old West African dwarfdoe caused by Actinomycesviscosus infection. The animal recovered after treatment but was later culled and the head submitted to the Department of Veterinary Anatomy. Hot water maceration of the lower jaw and the histology of the right mandibular lymph nodewere carried out. The mandible revealed worn off periodontal membrane, lodgment of tough feed materials in the gingival-alveolar spaces as well as a fistulous tract of about 4mm in diameter with uneven ridges at its edges ventral to the 2nd molar on the lateral aspect of the horizontal ramus of the mandible. Also, the alveolar borders of both sides of the mandible were worn off with the right side forming a thicker ridge than the left. While the mandibular tuberosity on the median surface of the right mandiblewas more prominent than the left, there was equally a distortion in the alveolar alignment with deviation towards the median plane. Histologically, the right mandibular lymph node revealed moderate fibroplasia with cortical lymphoid hypoplasia and local area of mineralization with mononuclear cell infiltration (mostly macrophages) in the sinuses. These findings showed a great similarity in the mandibular morphological changes in the West African dwarf goat and other small ruminants irrespective of the causative agent. It also showed that these changes arepermanent and could lead to imbalance in the alignment of the upper and the lower jaws thereby impairing chewing and consequently, the growth of the affected and even treated animals

Evaluation of the toxic effect of aqueous extract of the bark of Morinda morindoides root in male Wistar rats

The toxic effect of the aqueous extract of the bark of the root of Morinda morindoides was studied in 24 sexually matured, male Wistar rats weighing between 150-200g. The rats were randomly divided into four groups (I-IV). Rats in groups I, II and III received 400 mg/kg, 800 mg/kg and I,600 mg/kg of 50mg/ml of the aqueous extract respectively once daily for 28 days while the control group (Group IV) was given distilled water (5ml/kg) once daily for 28 days after which the rats were euthanized. Following euthanasia, about 3 ml of blood was collected and was divided into 1.5ml each for haematology and serum chemistry. In addition, samples of the kidney, liver, heart, lungs and spleen were also harvested for histopathology. Haematological and serum biochemical values were expressed as mean ± standard error of mean and were analyzed using One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) followed by Duncan’s multiple range test. Lesions observed in histopathology were scored as mild, moderate or severe. Results were considered statistically significant at 95% confidence interval (P<0.05). In this study, there was no significant difference in the haematological parameters, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase between the treated groups and the control. Histopathologically, the extract caused mild, diffuse degeneration of the liver, mild tubular nephrosis; mononuclear cellular infiltration in the heart and mild hypoplasia of the lymphoid nodules in the spleen of rats to which 1,600 mg/kg of the extract was administered. It was therefore concluded that aqueous extract of the root of Morinda morindoides may produce subchronic toxicity at the dosage of 1600mg/kg.Keywords: Toxicity, Haematology, Serum, Biochemistry, Histopathology, Morinda morindoides

Experimental reproduction of rotavirus and Salmonella pullorum gastroenteritis in broiler chicks

Numerous viruses, including astroviruses, reoviruses, rotaviruses, coronaviruses, and adenoviruses, have been implicated as causative agents of enteric disease. This is because they have been isolated from or identified in the intestines and intestinal contents of affected poultry flocks. Four experiments were conducted to reproduce enteritis in broiler birds using rotavirus and Salmonella pullorum. Fifty-two broiler birds were obtained and randomly divided into 4 groups. Group A chicks were inoculated with 1 X 106 pfu/ml of rotavirus, group B chicks were inoculated with 1 X 106 cfu/ml of Salmonella pullorum, group C chicks were inoculated with 1 X 106 pfu/ml of rotavirus and 1 X 106 cfu/ml of Salmonella pullorum, while group D birds were given 1ml of PBS alone. Birds in all groups were observed daily for clinical signs and the intestines were processed for histopathological evaluation. Diarrhea and depression were the major signs in chicks given any one of the inoculum. Histological changes were characterized by swollen villus tips and constricted villus bases, proliferation of enterocytes and necrotic villi. Significant growth retardation was observed in chicks given either rotavirus or Salmonella pullorum, but this effect was more pronounced in chicks given the combination of rotavirus and Salmonella pullorum. The present study reveals that oral inoculation of birds with rotavirus or rotavirus/Salmonella pullorum combination leads to diarrhoea and significant growth depression. It is thus important to continuously screen and prevent against organisms infecting the GIT for optimal performance of birds.Keywords: Broiler, Diarrhea, Growth depression, Rotavirus, Salmonella pulloru

Acute Respiratory Disease Associated with Mannheimia Haemolytica Infection in a Herd of West African Dwarf Sheep

An acute severe fibrinonecrotic bronchopneumonia suggestive of Mannheimia haemolytica infection was diagnosed histopathologically in West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep submitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH), University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. Mannheimia spp was isolated from the nasal swab and lymph node and lung samples of the affected sheep. The isolated organism was found to have cultural, morphological and biochemical properties consistent with those of Mannheimia haemolytica biotype A. The organism was resistance to ampicilin, streptomycin, gentamcycin, oxytetracyclin and trimethoprim in agar disc diffusion method. It was however sensitive to furazolidone, ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin. The present finding is consistent with the view that M. haemolytica may occur in a proportion of small ruminants that exhibit respiratory problem. It is therefore suggested that in the present natural outbreak, climatic condition, environmental and/or transportation stress could have resulted in the break down of the defense barrier of the sheep resulting in eventual susceptibility to infection by Mannheimia haemolytica.Une bronchopneumonie fibrinonécrotique aiguë sévère, évocatrice d’une infection à Mannheimia haemolytica, a été diagnostiquée par examen histopathologique chez des moutons nains d’Afrique de l’Ouest (WAD: West African Dwarf) soumis à l’Hôpital d’enseignement vétérinaire (VTH) de l’Université d’Agriculture d’Abeokuta au Nigeria. Mannheimia spp a été isolée dans des écouvillons nasaux et des ganglions lymphatiques et des échantillons pulmonaires des moutons affectés. On a découvert que l’organisme isolé avait des spécificités de culture et des caractéristiques morphologiques et biochimiques correspondant à celles de Mannheimia haemolytica biotype A. L’organisme a montré une résistance à l’ampicilline, à la streptomycine, à la gentamcycine, à l’oxytétracycline et au triméthoprime dans la méthode de diffusion en gélose. Cependant, l’organisme a montré une sensibilité à la furazolidone, à la ciprofloxacine et à la norfloxacine. Le présent résultat concorde avec l’opinion selon laquelle M. haemolytica peut être présente dans une proportion de petits ruminants ayant un problème respiratoire. Il est donc sous-entendu que, dans les épidémies actuelles survenant naturellement, les conditions climatiques, le stress environnemental et / ou le stress du transport ont probablement été à l’origine de la dégradation de la barrière de défense des moutons, avec comme conséquence une sensibilité éventuelle à l’infection par Mannheimia haemolytica.Mots-clés: Pathologie des organes; Mannheimia haemolytica biotype A; Bronchopneumonie fibrinonécrotique aiguë; Moutons nains d’Afrique de l’Oues

Hepatic Histopathological Changes in a Dog with Natural Capillaria hepatica Infection in Nigeria

This study describes the appearance of Capillaria (C.) hepatica in an adult dog with a history of fever, which has been previously documented in different parts of the world, yet never in domestic animals in Nigeria. The infection was observed during a retrospective study on the pathology of liver diseases in dogs in the south-western part of the country. Fifty-six formalinised liver tissues of dogs were retrieved and examined from the archives of two veterinary schools and one veterinary clinic. Only one case of C. hepatica infection was found (1.79%). Macroscopically, multiple foci of yellowish-white areas were observed on the hepatic surface. Microscopically, randomly distributed multifocal areas of granuloma-like reactions were observed in the hepatic parenchyma intermingled with Capillaria eggs. The eggs showed characteristic bipolar lids positive for glycoprotein with Periodic acid Schiff andWarthin Starry silver stains. The double-layer shell showed radial striations in the outer shell. Portal and septal fibrosis with closely associated mast cells were also observed. In conclusion, this is the first reported case of the C. hepatica infection in dog in Nigeria. The public health importance of the parasite was also discussed