Decision making in clinical veterinary practice

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Serum biochemical and liver enzymes changes in dogs with single and conjunct experimental infections of Trypanosoma brucei and Ancylostoma caninum

The serum biochemical changes that occur in dogs with single and conjunct experimental infections of Trypanosoma brucei and Ancylostoma caninum were studied. Four groups (GPI, GPII, GPIII and GPIV) of five dogs each were used for this study. GPI was the uninfected control while GPII, GPIII and GPIV were infected with A. caninum, T. brucei and conjunct A. caninum/T. brucei, respectively. Results show that the disease was more severe in the conjunct infection than in the single infections. This was apparent from the shorter prepatent period of T. brucei infection (four to six days) in GPIV (conjunct) when compared with six to nine days in GPIII (T. brucei alone). Infection with A. caninum also showed a shorter patency period of 13 days in GPIV when compared with 19 days in GPII (A. caninum alone). Significant decrease (P < 0.05) in total protein occurred in all the infected groups due to hypoalbumineamia. There was a transient rise followed by a sustained decline in the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration in all the infected groups. Total bilirubin and creatinine recorded a significant increase (P< 0.05) in the infected groups, except in GPII where the creatinine level was unaffected. The liver enzymes: aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) showed significant increase in the infected groups, while alkaline phosphatase (ALP) showed a significant decrease (P < 0.05). These biochemical changes were in all cases more profound in the conjunct infection, and could thus be ancillary to diagnosis and useful in prognosis during natural infections.Keywords: Trpanosoma brucei, Ancylostoma caninum, total protein, albumin, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT)African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(6), pp. 618-62

Comparative Trypanocidal Efficacy of a New Commercial Brand of Diminazene in Trypanosoma congolense Infected Rats.

Nigerian Veterinary Journal, Vol. 32(2): 2011; 87 - 9

The effect of resveratrol supplementation on haematological parameters and trypanocidal efficacy of diminazene aceturate in dogs

Trypanosomosis is a debilitating, fatal disease of man and animals often associated with anaemia. The trypanocides currently used in the management of the disease are far from giving desired results. This study investigated changes in haematological indices and the treatment outcome of diminazene aceturate (DA) against Trypanosoma brucei in dogs supplemented with resveratrol. A total of twenty (20) male Nigerian local breed of dogs (NBD) aged 6 to 12 months were used for the study. The dogs were randomly assigned into five groups (I-V) of four dogs per group. Group I was uninfected and unsupplemented; group II, was infected, untreated, and unsupplemented; group III, infected unsupplemented, treated with DA, group IV was infected and supplemented but untreated with DA, and group V was infected and supplemented DA-treated. The mean pre-patent period of Trypanosoma infection was 5.75±0.96 and 9.00±0.82 days for the infected unsupplemented and the infected resveratrol-supplemented groups, respectively. There was a complete parasite clearance from peripheral blood within 24-48 hours following treatment with DA on day 10 post-treatment (PT) in the supplemented and 24-72 hours in the unsupplemented treated groups. The supplemented treated did not show any relapse of infection, whereas the un-supplemented, DA-treated showed relapse on day 25 PT. It was concluded that resveratrol supplementation enhanced the efficacy of diminazene aceturate with no risk of relapse, minimized the effects of the parasite in the animals, and increased survival time

Haematology and serum biochemistry of dogs naturally infected with canine parvovirus-2

Canine parvovirus is a deadly virus affecting the Canid family, causing virus-induced destruction of rapidly dividing haemopoietic precursor cells such as crypts of intestinal epithelial cells, thymus, lymph nodes, bone marrow precursor cells, blood cells and cardiac cells leading to multi-organ dysfunctions. The aim of this study was to determine the haematological, serum biochemical and electrolytic changes associated with canine parvovirus (CPV) -2 infection. An immunochromatographic test was used to differentiate the virus-positive and negative dogs using faecal samples. One hundred and sixty whole blood and serum samples were collected from apparently healthy and CPV-2-positive dogs in Plateau State, Nigeria. Haematological, serum biochemical and electrolytic analyses were done using standard methods. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a student t-test. Significance was accepted at probability values of p < 0.05. The haematological effect of CPV-2 showed a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in mean Packed Cell Volume (PCV), total red blood cell count, haemoglobin concentration, total white blood cell count, neutrophils, lymphocytes and platelet count. In addition, the CPV-2 significantly (P < 0.05) increased the mean aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, urea, creatinine, triglyceride and malondialdehyde, while the mean total protein, sodium, potassium, chloride and cholesterol significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in the infected dogs. From the findings, CPV infection variably and significantly affected some haematological and serum biochemical parameters of infected dogs. Therefore, clinicians should endeavour to incorporate haematinics, haptatonics and immune-modulators during the management of canine parvoviral infection as supportive drugs with fluid therapy to improve the survivability of infected animals

Brucellosis as an Emerging Threat in Developing Economies:Lessons from Nigeria

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, has a large proportion of the world's poor livestock keepers, and is a hotspot for neglected zoonoses. A review of the 127 accessible publications on brucellosis in Nigeria reveals only scant and fragmented evidence on its spatial and temporal distribution in different epidemiological contexts. The few bacteriological studies conducted demonstrate the existence of Brucella abortus in cattle and sheep, but evidence for B. melitensis in small ruminants is dated and unclear. The bulk of the evidence consists of seroprevalence studies, but test standardization and validation are not always adequately described, and misinterpretations exist with regard to sensitivity and/or specificity and ability to identify the infecting Brucella species. Despite this, early studies suggest that although brucellosis was endemic in extensive nomadic systems, seroprevalence was low, and brucellosis was not perceived as a real burden; recent studies, however, may reflect a changing trend. Concerning human brucellosis, no studies have identified the Brucella species and most reports provide only serological evidence of contact with Brucella in the classical risk groups; some suggest brucellosis misdiagnoses as malaria or other febrile conditions. The investigation of a severe outbreak that occurred in the late 1970s describes the emergence of animal and human disease caused by the settling of previously nomadic populations during the Sahelian drought. There appears to be an increasing risk of re-emergence of brucellosis in sub-Saharan Africa, as a result of the co-existence of pastoralist movements and the increase of intensive management resulting from growing urbanization and food demand. Highly contagious zoonoses like brucellosis pose a threat with far-reaching social and political consequences

Effect of selenium supplementation on the efficacy of diminazene aceturate or isometamidium chloride in chemotherapy of Trypanosoma brucei infected rats.

The effect of Selenium supplementation on the chemotherapeutic efficacy of diminazene aceturate (Berenil®) and isometamidium chloride (Samorin®) was studied. Thirty-six adult albino rats were randomly assigned into 6 Groups (A – F) of 6 rats each and were treated as follows; Group A= Samorin® only, Group B = Samorin® + Selenium, Group C= Berenil® only, Group D = Berenil® + Selenium and Group E = infected untreated control whereas Group F served as uninfected untreated control. The supplementation prolonged relapse interval in Samorin® + Selenium treated group and prevented relapse in Berenil® + Selenium group. Supplementation also appeared to have improved the blood values of the treated rats with the PCV and RBC count of the infected untreatedgroup being significantly (

Incidence Of Trypanosomosis In A Muturu Herd At Nsukka, South-Eastern Nigeria

A herd of 28 Muturu cattle under semi-intensive system of management at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka Agricultural Farm, southeastern, Nigeria, was examined for the presence of trypanosome infection over a one year period (April, 1998 - March, 1999). The aim was to assess the incidence of trypanosomosis and factors that may affect its occurrence variation. Infection was widespread in the herd (67. 9%) during the period. Out of the factors (season, sex and age) only season showed a significant effect on the occurrence of trypanosomosis. The incidence was highest in the third quarter of the year corresponding to the late rainy season period, followed by the fourth quarter (early dry season) and was least in the first quarter (late dry season). This seasonal incidence varied between 2.6% (CL 0.3 - 9.1 %) to 20.3% (CL 12.0 -30.8%) All the infections were due to Trypanosma vivax and the principal tsetse vector was Glossina tachinoides. Parasitaemic animals were able to control anaemia as their PCV's were similar to those of uninfected animals (P>0.05). The importance of these findings in relation to the general epizootiology of trypanosomosis and animal production in the area is discussed.Keywords: Trypanosomosis, muturu cattle, semi-intensive, Nigeri