Sonographic measurements of ocular biometry of indigenous Nigerian dogs in Zaria, Nigeria

This study was aimed at conducting ophthalmic sonographic examination of Nigerian indigenous dogs to provide baseline information on some major ocular parameters. Healthy eyes of eighty (80) indigenous dogs were used for the study. The dogs were adequately restrained physically and the structure of the ocular globe was evaluated at a depth of 4-6 cm. For each dog, baseline data were obtained for D1= corneal thickness, D2= anterior chamber depth, D3= lens thickness, D4= vitreous chamber depth, and D5= the sagital axial length of the eye. Similarly, the baseline data were obtained for A1= anterior chamber area, A2= lens area, A3= vitreous chamber area and A4= globe area. Result revealed that the baseline ocular parameters of the Indigenous Nigerian dogs’ (in puppy, adult and older dogs respectively) were D1: 1.2 ± 0.2 mm, 1.4 ± 0.2 mm, 1.8 ± 0.2 mm; D3: 12.6 ± 0.6 mm, 13.6 ± 0.8 mm, 15.1 ± 0.9 mm and D5: 39.1 ± 1.4 mm, 42.5 ± 1.5 mm, 43.2 ± 2.1 mm. similarly, area biometry were obtained for A1: 30.8 ±3.0 mm2, 34.5 ± 3.6 mm2 and 32.0 ± 4.6 mm2 and A2: 213.7 ± 21.1 mm2, 250.3 ± 23.6 mm2, 264.8 ± 21.0 mm2. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with turkey’s multiple comparison post-hoc test was used to compare the level of significance among the test groups. Values of P < 0.05 were considered significant at 95 % confidence. As such, it was deduced that these baseline ocular parameter values varied in two patterns: corneal thickness (D1), lens thickness and area (D3 and A2) and axial length and area (D5 and A4) increased with age from puppy to the adult and the older dogs in both sexes. However, the anterior chamber depth and area (D2 and A1) and vitreous depth and area (D4 and A3) increased initially with age from puppy to the adult dogs and then decreased slightly in the older dogs. The three (3) major ocular segments- anterior chamber, lens capsule and vitreous chamber was demonstrated in this study to represent approximately 2%, 17% and 76% respectively of the entire ocular globe area. The ciliary body and muscles, suspensory ligament and posterior chamber makes up the remainder 5%. This study has presented the baseline sonographic values of some major parameters of Indiginous Nigerian dogs in Zaria, and the values will be useful in the disgnosis ocular conditions that these may present.Keywords: Ultrasonography, Baseline Value, Nigerian indigenous Dog, Ocular Biometr

Prevalence, associated factors and effects of malaria parasitaemia in pregnancy in a tertiary hospital in northeastern Nigera.

Background: About 30 million women living in malaria endemic area become pregnant each year. We determined the prevalence, determinants and consequences of malaria parasitemia in pregnancy inMaiduguri, North-eastern Nigeria. Method: Four hundred healthy pregnant women were randomly selected for the study. Packed cellvolume estimation and blood film examination for malaria parasite were done at booking and delivery. Cord blood and placental tissue were also examined for malaria parasite. Risk factors and consequences of malaria parasitemia were determined. Results: The prevalence of malaria parasitemia at booking was 60.3% with mean parasite density of 701.04+382.22 parasite/l. These dropped to 28.8% and 405.17+310.43 parasite/l, respectively at delivery. The factors associated with malaria parasitemia were young maternal age (p<0.001), low parity (p<0.001), late booking (p=0.029) and non-usage of Intermittent Preventive Therapy (IPT) (p<0.001). Compared to pregnant women who had no malaria parasitaemia at delivery, those who had were more likely to have maternal anemia (OR = 3.5, 95% Cl = 2.2-5.5), preterm delivery (OR = 2.5, 95% Cl = 1.12-5.2), low birth weight (OR = 10.5, 95% Cl = 4.4-25.1), placental malaria (OR = 6.00, 95% Cl = 3.7-9.6) and cord parasitemia (OR = 16.9, 95% Cl = 8.5-33.6). Conclusion: There were high prevalence of malaria parasitemia and parasite density in pregnancy at booking. However, both declined remarkably at delivery as a result of intermitten preventive therapy

Effect of multiple in-utero insonation on rabbit fetal thyroid hormonal level

Due to the increased use of ultrasound in the diagnosis of cyesis, it is necessary to study the possible adverse effect of insonation on thyroid hormone in fetuses. Sixteen (16) adult rabbit does that had kindled at least once were used for the study and were scanned using a Medison S600V® Ultrasound machine with a 6.5MHz transcutaneous curve-linear probe. All does were mated naturally by the introduction of a doe to a buck and then divided randomly into two groups. The does that were scanned (insonated)-, were properly restrained on dorsal recumbency, liberally shaved; aquasonic gel applied and scanned using a transcutaneous curve-linear probe for 5 minutes on the 5th day post coitus and thereafter on days 7, 12, 15, 20, 25, 27 and 29. The restrain and scanning procedures were mimicked on the group of does that were not scanned (non-insonated). Upon parturition, blood was collected from kits and serum was extracted and used to assay for total thyroxine (tT4) and triiodothyronine (tT3). Fetal thyroid glands were also harvested for histologic study. Mean tT3 concentration was 1.60 ± 0.90 μg/dl and 1.58 ± 0.03 μg/dl while mean tT4 was 1.46 ± 0.10 μg/dl and 1.39 ± 0.07 μg/dl for the non-insonated and insonated groups, respectively. P values of 0.610 and 0.132 for tT3 and tT4 concentration respectively showed that there is no statistically significant difference in the values even though there was a numerical difference between the groups. No histopathologic change on fetal thyroid gland from both groups was observed. In conclusion, although the values were not significantly different, the numerical decrease of both tT3 and tT4 in the insonated rabbits suggest the possibility that insonation could alter their values in fetuses when the threshold of ultrasound waves are increased and insonation prolonged.Keywords: Fetus, Insonation, Rabbit, Thyroid hormone, Ultrasoun