Neonatal infections caused by Escherichia coli at the National Hospital, Abuja: a three-year retrospective study

Background: Escherichia coli (E.coli) has been implicated as a common cause of both early and late onset neonatal infections. The emergence of different strains of E.coli that are multiply resistant to commonly used antibiotics has made continuous antibiotics surveillance relevant. Knowledge about common infections caused by E.coli as well as its antibiotics susceptibility pattern will guide paediatricians in choosing appropriate antibiotics for empirical treatment of neonatal infections.Methods: A retrospective study of E.coli neonatal infections in NHA was conduct for the period 1st January 2010 to 31st December 2012. The records of all specimens submitted to the Medical Microbiology laboratory within the neonatal period (first 28 days of life) were examined and data about E.coli isolates and their antibiotics susceptibility pattern were retrieved and evaluated.Results: 251(33.2%) bacteria were isolated out of a total of 757 specimen submitted for analysis within the period under review. 17(6.8%) were E.coli; 16 were from soft tissue specimen and one from blood. There was no isolate of E.coli from CSF. Most of the isolates were resistant to commonly used antibiotics for treatment of neonatal infections. Three isolates were resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanate and ceftriaxone. One isolate was resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanate, ceftriaxone and imipenem. 100% and 80% of the strains tested were susceptible to amikacin and imipenem respectively.Conclusion: E.coli is third among the gram negative bacteria isolated within the period under review. Most of them were resistant to commonly used antibiotics for treating neonatal infections but, susceptible to amikacin and imipenem. There is need for regular antibiotics resistance surveillance and stewardship.Keywords: Neonates, E.coli Infections, Antibiotics Resistance, Abuja

Effects of age and sex on haematological and serum biochemistry in Japanese quails

This study was conducted to determine the variations in blood parameters (haematology and serum biochemistry) at different ages (in weeks) in male and female Japanese quails. A total of hundred (100) unsexed day-old quail chicks were purchased and sorted based on sex at the third week. Blood samples were collected at the 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th week of age from each sex and analysed for the haematological and serum components. The experiment was arranged in a 4 x 2 factorial layout and all data collected were subjected to one way analysis of variance in completely randomized design (CRD) using SPSS version 20 for windows. Haematological indices were not significantly (P> 0.05) influenced by age except (P< 0.05) haemoglobin which increased with increasing age. However, none of the haematological parameters were different (P> 0.05) between the sexes. Total protein, albumin and globulin decreased significantly (P< 0.05) with increasing age, however significant (P< 0.05) increase were noted for serum calcium, Aspartate transaminase (AST) and Alanine transaminase (ALT). Cholesterol was the only serum biochemical parameter that varied significantly (P<0.05) between the sexes with the highest (131.88mg/d) shown in females. All determined haematological indices did not indicate any significant (P>0.5) effect of interaction between age and sex in quails except (P<0.05) for the PCV which was highest in male quails at the 9th week (51.00%) and least in male quails at the 3rd week (36.50%). All serum indices were statistically different (P <0.05) except calcium and uric acid. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that haemoglobin increased with advancement in age while other haematological parameters were not affected. Sex did not influence haematological parameters in quails, however, female quails had higher serum cholesterol than male quails.Keywords: age, sex, haematology, serum biochemistry and Japanese quail

Short Communication: Visual assessment, proximate composition and cost analysis of three differently processed discarded vegetable-bovine blood-rumen content mixtures

With increased search for least-cost alternative feed resource in animal production, this study was conducted to determine the visual properties, chemical composition and cost analysis of three differently processed discarded vegetable-bovine blood-rumen content mixture as potential alternative feed resource. These mixtures were obtained by mixing whole bovine blood, discarded vegetable and rumen content at ratio 1:1:1 under different processing methods. The processed mixtures obtained were in three categories: discarded vegetable-fresh bovine blood-fresh rumen digesta (D1), discarded vegetable-ensiled bovine blood-fresh rumen digesta (D2) and discarded vegetable-fresh bovine blood-ensiled rumen digesta (D3). The mixtures were cooked and sun-dried to constant moisture content and thereafter were subjected to particle size reduction. Chemical composition of the products indicated a good potential nutritional quality with metabolizable energy and crude protein contents ranging from 9.66 to 10.49 MJ/kg and 40.79 to 50.21, respectively. Crude fibre concentrations were relatively low (8.39-13.14) for most of the products compared to conventional protein sources. Visual assessment of processed mixtures revealed D1 to be brownish in colour while D2 and D3 tend towards grey. In terms of odour, all three test mixtures were strongly pungent. Processed mixture D1 had an intermediate texture (it was neither finely ground nor coarse) where D2 and D3 had a finely ground texture. Cost analysis revealed a lower production cost for the three processed mixtures indicating its adequacy to replace soybean and other plant and animal protein sources in terms of their cost/kg inclusion in diet. Processed mixtures can serve as suitable replacements for soybean meal in terms of chemical constituents and reduced cost/kg feed for animal.Keywords: Bovine blood, rumen digesta, discarded vegetable, visual assessment, proximate composition, cost analysis

Maternal malaria status and metabolic profiles in pregnancy and in cord blood: Relationships with birth size in Nigerian infants

BACKGROUND: Malaria is more common in pregnant than in non-pregnant Nigerian women, and is associated with small birth size and the attendant short- and long-term health risks. The influence of malaria on maternal metabolic status in pregnancy and in cord blood and how this relates to birth size has not been studied. The study objective was to define relationships between maternal and cord serum metabolic markers, maternal malaria status and birth size. METHODS: During pregnancy, anthropometric measurements, blood film for malaria parasites and assays for lipids, glucose, insulin and TNF were obtained from 467 mothers and these analytes and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) were obtained from cord blood of 187 babies. RESULTS: Overall prevalence of maternal malaria was 52%, associated with younger age, anaemia and smaller infant birth size. Mothers with malaria had significantly lower cholesterol (total, HDL and LDL) and higher TNF, but no difference in triglyceride. In contrast, there was no effect of maternal malaria on cord blood lipids, but the median (range) cord IGF-I was significantly lower in babies whose mothers had malaria: 60.4 (24,145)μg/L, versus no malaria: 76.5 (24, 150)μg/L, p = 0.03. On regression analysis, the key determinants of birth weight included maternal total cholesterol, malarial status and cord insulin and IGF-I. CONCLUSIONS: Malaria in pregnancy was common and associated with reduced birth size, lower maternal lipids and higher TNF. In the setting of endemic malaria, maternal total cholesterol during pregnancy and cord blood insulin and IGF-I levels are potential biomarkers of foetal growth and birth size