Comparative Haematology of Chickens and Turkeys Experimentally Infected with a Velogenic Newcastle Disease Virus

This study compared the haematological findings in cockerels and turkeys infected with a velogenic Newcastle disease virus. One hundred and twenty day-old birds each of cockerels and turkeys, making a total of two hundred and forty were used for the study. The bird types were randomly divided into four groups each making a total of eight groups. Two groups in each species were vaccinated against NDV with La Sota vaccine at three weeks of age via drinking water. The vaccinated and unvaccinated cockerels and turkeys were inoculated with the velogenic NDV at six weeks of age while the control groups were not vaccinated and not inoculated. Blood samples were randomly collected from five birds in each group for haematological analyses at days 0, 3, 6, 10, 15 and 21 post inoculation (pi). The results showed significant (p < 0.05) reductions in packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration and total red blood cell count in unvaccinated infected turkeys, but showed significant (p < 0.05) increase in total white blood cell (WBC) and heterophil counts throughout the days of the experiment. The increase in the total white blood cell counts was observed three days pi in the cockerels. There was reduction of lymphocytes in unvaccinated but infected cockerels and turkeys three days pi. The erythrocyte and leukocyte values in unvaccinated but infected cockerels and turkeys were similar. The values were lower than those recorded in vaccinated and infected birds. Thus, vaccination against the disease can ameliorate the adverse effect of the virus on haematological parameters. Vaccination of the birds against velogenic Newcastle disease virus reduced morbidity and mortality.Keywords: Haematology, Velogenic NDV, Vaccination, Cockerels, Turkey

Efficacy of Isometamidium in Combination with Verapamil, Chlorpromazine or Sodium-ethylenediaminetetra-acetic Acid in Treatment of Experimental Diminazene Aceturate-resistant Strain of Trypanosoma brucei brucei Infection in Rats

This study investigated the efficacy of different chemotherapeutic regimes in the treatment of rats experimentally infected withdiminazene aceturate-resistant strain Trypanosoma brucei brucei. Thirty Sprague Dawley male rats used for the study wererandomly assigned to six groups of five rats each as follows: group A-uninfected untreated (negative control), group Binfected and untreated (positive control), groups C-F were infected and treated with 1.0 mg/kg isometamidum chloride, administered  intramuscularly on day 11 post-infection. However, rats in groups D, E and F received further treatments with 700 mg/kg sodium-ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid, 0.4 mg/kg verapamil and 3 mg/kg chlorpromazine, respectively, administered orally for four days. Clearance of parasite post-treatment (PT), mortality PT, relapse parasitaemia post-clearance, body weight change, rectal temperature, packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (HB) concentration and red blood cell count (RBC) were determined during the experiment. Result showed parasite clearance PT of 100% in groups D and E, 80% in group F and 20% in group C by 24 hours PT. The infection relapsed on day 35 PT in 40% of rats in group C, on day 37 PT in 20% of rats in group F and lastly 20% of rats in groups D and E on day 39 PT. Rats that received drug combination showed marginal improvement in erythrocytic parameters analysed when compared with those treatment with isometamidium alone. Combination therapy showed faster clearance of parasite from the blood and also prolonged relapse post-clearance, thus had a better promising efficacy when compared to using isometamiduim chloride alone. Keywords: Chlorpromazine, Diminazene aceturate-resistance; Isometamidium chloride; Sodium-EDTA salt; Trypanosoma brucei brucei; Verapermi

Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Combination of Artemether and Diminazene Aceturate Therapy in Experimental Trypanosoma brucei Infection in Rats

This study evaluated the efficacy of a combination of artemether and diminazene aceturate therapy in experimental Trypanosomabrucei infection in rats. Thirty five male albino rats used for the study were randomly assigned to seven groups of five rats eachas follows: Group A- infected and treated with diminazene aceturate (DA) at 7.0 mg/kg body weight (bw), intramuscular (IM)once on day 7 post-infection (pi); Group B – infected and treated with artemether (ART) at 3.2 mg/kg bw IM on day 7pi and 1.6mg/kg bw IM on days 8,9,10 and 11pi; Groups C,D and E, – infected and treated with DA at 7.0 mg/kg bw IM, 3.5 mg/kg bwIM, and 1.75 mg/kg bw IM respectively, once on day 7pi and ART at 3.2 mg/kg bw IM on day 7pi plus 1.6 mg/kg bw on days8,9,10 and 11pi; Group F –infected, untreated and Group G – uninfected, untreated. Onset of parasitaemia (OP), level ofparasitaemia (LOP), clearance of parasites post treatment, mortality post infection, relapse of parasitaemia post clearance, rectaltemperature, and body weight, were determined at specified intervals during the 70-day experimental period. Results showedthat there were no significant (p > 0.05) variations in the OP and LOP between the infected groups. Trypanosomes were clearedfrom the blood of rats in group A, C, D, and E after treatment. All the rats in groups B and F were dead by day 14pi. The infectionrelapsed in groups C and E. It was concluded that a combination of DA (3.5 mg/kg bw once) and ART (3.2 mg/kg bw on day1 of treatment and 1.6 mg/kg bw for 4 consecutive days) exhibited efficacy comparable to the standard dose of DA at 7 mg/kgin the treatment of trypanosome brucei in rats and could thus possibly constitute an effective treatment regimen to reduce thedose of DA and avoid toxicity. Keywords: Efficacy; Combination therapy; Artemether; Diminazene aceturate; Trypanosoma bruce

Investigation Of The Antitrypanosomal Activity Buchholzia Coriacea Seed Extract Against A Field Strain Of Trypanosoma Congolense

The antitrypanosomal activity of the methanol extract of Buchholzia coriacea seed against a field strain of Trypanosoma congolense was investigated using experimentally infected mice of both sexes. Monitoring of parasitaemia was by the rapid matching technique. When parasitaemia was approximately log 7.8 (63 x 106 parasites/ml), treatment with graded doses of the extract (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg) was instituted for 5 consecutive days. Diminazene diaceturate (Dimivet® SKM Pharma Pvt. Ltd.) was given at 3.5 mg/kg i.p. to the positive control mice. No significant differences in body weights were observed. The rectal temperatures of infected mice showed fluctuations. The PCV of infected mice were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than those of the uninfected controls. There was no significant difference between the PCV of the extract-treated and untreated animals. Parasitaemia increased steadily in the extract-treated and untreated mice groups till all the animals died. Three days post-treatment with diminazene diaceturate parasitaemia was cleared. Six days later, there was a relapse of infection. By the end of the experiment, a 50 % relapse rate was recorded in the diminazene diaceturatetreated group. The methanol extract of Buchholzia coriacea seeds did not show any antitrypanosomal activity in mice infected with Trypanosoma congolense at the doses tested

Comparison of blood biochemistry responses of cockerels and turkeys experimentally infected with a velogenic newcastle disease virus

This study compared the serum biochemical responses of cockerels and turkeys infected with a velogenic Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Two hundred and fourty birds of one hundred and twenty each were used for the study. The birds were obtained at day-old and were randomly divided into eight groups of four groups for each bird species. Two groups from both bird types were vaccinated against NDV with La Sota vaccine at three weeks of age. The vaccinated and unvaccinated cockerels and turkeys were subsequently inoculated with the velogenic NDV after six weeks while the control groups were not vaccinated and not inoculated. Blood samples were randomly collected from five birds in each group for serum biochemical analyses at days 0, 3, 6, 10, 15 and 21 post inoculation (pi). Parameters determined included serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities, total serum proteins, albumin, globulin, blood glucose level, total cholesterol, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine. Data generated were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results showed decreased (p&lt;0.05) total serum protein, albumin, globulin, plasma glucose and total cholesterol levels in unvaccinated infected cockerels, unvaccinated and vaccinated infected turkeys and subsequent increased (p&lt;0.05) serum globulin. Hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, hypoglobulinemia, hypoglycemia and hypocholesterolemia with subsequent hyperglobulinemia may be signs of velogenic NDV infection in turkeys. The absence of negative effects in some parameters in vaccinated infected turkeys further confirmed that vaccination not only prevents mortality due to velogenic NDV but also reduces pathologic effects in infected birds.Keywords: Blood biochemistry, Velogenic NDV, Cockerels, Turkey

Effect of treatment with trypanocides on Trypanosoma brucei induced oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activities in dogs

Oxidative stress and alteration of endogenous antioxidant enzymes play roles in the pathophysiological mechanism of trypanosomosis. The oxidative stress marker: malondialdehyde- MDA and antioxidative stress markers: Serum catalase- CAT, Serum Reduced Glutathione -GSH-Rd and Serum Superoxide dismutase- SOD of Nigerian local dogs (NLD) experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei were evaluated after treatments with diminazene aceturate (DA) and isometamidium chloride (IMC). Twenty dogs of age 3 – 4 months were assigned to any of the four groups of five dogs each as follows: 1 = infected and treated with DA (7.0 mg/kg); 2 = uninfected untreated; 3 = infected and untreated; 4 = infected and treated with IMC (0.5 mg/kg). DA and IMC cleared the parasites from the blood, following treatment of the dogs. Relapse was recorded in two dogs in group 1 and one dog in group 4 on days 35 and 56 post-infection (PI) respectively. No dog died except one in group 1. The levels of malondialdehyde- MDA increased significantly by day 7 post-infection in all the infected groups. However, by day 14 post-infection the malondialdehyde levels in group 4 became similar with group 2. The MDA level in group 1 remained significantly higher than in group 2. As from days 7 – 14 post-infection Catalase, Reducedg glutathionend superoxide dismutase levels in the infected groups were significantly lower than group 2. Nevertheless, both trypanocides did not return the levels of CAT, GSH, and SOD to pre-infection values before the termination of the experiment. The findings suggested that the two trypanocides could neither reverse the induced oxidative stress nor normalize the antioxidant capacity of the dogs infected with T. brucei

Haematology of normal and trypanosome infected Muturu cattle in southeastern Nigeria

Blood parameters of 23 Muturu cattle in a herd were studied between April and August 1998 by monthly examination of their blood samples. Fourteen of a total of 110 blood samples analysed (5 samples were unsuitable for analysis) were infected with Trypanosoma vivax. Data from the trypanosome-infected blood were included to evaluate the role of trypanosome infection. The blood values of infected animals were except for the erythrocyte indices of MCH and MCHC indistinguishable from those of uninfected animals. There were variations due to age and physiological status (open heifer, pregnant and lactating). Mean RBC and WBC count, MCV and monocyte count were lower in calves than older animals. Open heifers had higher mean RBC and monocyte count, and lower WBC count, MCV and MCH than pregnant and suckling cows. Keywords: Haematology, muturu, trypanosomosis, Nigeri

A diminazene-resistant strain of Trypanosoma brucei brucei isolated from a dog is cross-resistant to pentamidine in experimentally infected albino rats

Trypanosomosis is a major cause of mortality for dogs in Nigeria and treatment with diminazene aceturate has steadily become less effective, either as a result of low quality of the locally available diminazene preparations or of drug resistance. To investigate these alternatives, samples of locally obtained drugs were analysed for diminazene aceturate content and a strain of Trypanosoma brucei brucei was isolated from a diminazene-refractory dog in Nsukka, south-eastern Nigeria, and used to infect albino rats. The quality of diminazene aceturate-based preparations was variable, with two preparations containing less than 95% of the stated active compound. Rats infected with T. brucei isolated from the dog were treated 7 and 10 days after infection either with 7 mg/kg diminazene aceturate (intraperitoneally, once) or with 4 mg/kg pentamidine isethionate (intramuscularly, 7 consecutive days). Relapse rates were 100% for both trypanocides in the groups of rat treated 10 days post-infection, and 83% and 50% of rats treated 7 days after infection relapsed to diminazene aceturate and pentamidine isethionate, respectively. Careful consideration of physiological parameters showed that pentamidine was only marginally superior to diminazene aceturate as applied in this study. It was concluded that dogs in Nigeria are infected with genuinely diminazene aceturate-resistant trypanosomes that appear to be cross-resistant to pentamidine isethionate