First reported case of dog associated pig rabies in Ghana

Background: Pig rabies is uncommon and there is paucity of information on rabies in pigs in West African countries other than Nigeria. This communication presents a case of dog associated pig rabies in Adidome, Ghana.Materials and Methods: Case history, Dog assessment in adjoining communities, human exposure, clinical presentations and mortality in affected pigs were evaluated using standard techniques. Laboratory screening of brain samples collected was by Fluorescent antibody technique.Results: Stray dog bitten affected pigs showed anorexia, constipation, hyper excitation, twitching of head, roaring and foaming with resultant category 1 and 11 human exposure, 17% mortality and 75% case fatality rate. Laboratory examination of swine brain specimens tested positive for Rabies virus using Fluorescent Agglutination Test.Conclusion: This report described the first documented case of dog associated pig rabies in Ghana and emphasis was laid on continued advocacy and prompt reporting of suspected neurological conditions in pigs in GhanaKey words: Dog associated Rabies, Pig, Ghan

Clinicopathological evaluation of intranasal, subcutaneous and intramuscular routes of vaccination against intratracheal challenge of Peste des petits ruminants virus in goats

An experiment was conducted to compare the efficacy of intranasal vaccination against caprine Peste des petits ruminant lineage 1 variant virus infection with intramuscular and subcutaneous vaccinations. Twenty four goats were divided into four equal groups. Group 1 was vaccinated intranasally, group 2 was vaccinated subcutaneously, and group 3 intramuscularly, while group 4 was the unvaccinated control. In each group, the vaccinations were carried out once. All goats were challenged intratracheally with PPR virus at a concentration of 106.5 TCID50 two weeks after vaccination and were euthanised 21 days after the challenge. The clinical, lung consolidation, gross and histopathological scores were employed using standard techniques. All data were analysed statistically using the paired t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Group 3 had the highest clinical score following the challenge of vaccinated group while deaths were observed only in group 4. Three goats in group 2 and 3 had pneumonic lung lesions, compared with none in group 1 and all the goats in group 4. The lung lesions in group 4 were significantly (P 0.05) while group 1 had no consolidation. This study showed that PPR vaccination using subcutaneous, intramuscular and intranasal routes were protective but that of intranasal was found to be easy to apply hence it could be used for the prevention of the disease in small ruminants

FIRST REPORTED CASE OF DOG ASSOCIATED PIG RABIES IN GHANA

Background: Pig rabies is uncommon and there is paucity of information on rabies in pigs in West African countries other than Nigeria. This communication presents a case of dog associated pig rabies in Adidome, Ghana. Materials and Methods: Case history, Dog assessment in adjoining communities, human exposure, clinical presentations and mortality in affected pigs were evaluated using standard techniques. Laboratory screening of brain samples collected was by Fluorescent antibody technique. Results: Stray dog bitten affected pigs showed anorexia, constipation, hyper excitation, twitching of head, roaring and foaming with resultant category 1 and 11 human exposure, 17% mortality and 75% case fatality rate. Laboratory examination of swine brain specimens tested positive for Rabies virus using Fluorescent Agglutination Test. Conclusion: This report described the first documented case of dog associated pig rabies in Ghana and emphasis was laid on continued advocacy and prompt reporting of suspected neurological conditions in pigs in Ghan

Evaluation of the shedding routes and serological patterns in experimentally-induced Brucella melitensis infection in dexamethasonetreated and transport-stressed goats

Aim: To identify and evaluate the shedding routes and patterns following experimentally-induced Brucella melitensis infection in dexamethasone-treated and transport-stressed goats. Materials and Methods: Twenty four healthy, adult goats were divided into 4 groups: A, B, C and D respectively. Group A was treated with dexamethasone for 8 days prior to inoculation with 10 (7) Colony Forming Units of B. melitensis via the intraocular route. Group B was transported for 3 hours prior to inoculation with a similar dose. Group C was inoculated with a similar dose without subjecting the animals to any prior treatment, and this group served as our positive control. Group D was not inoculated with the infective dose and served as our negative control. Blood samples along with nasal, ocular, and vaginal swabs were collected on days 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, and weekly thereafter until day 63 post inoculation (pi) and were analyzed by PCR, Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT), and indirect ELISAtechniques. Results: The nasal, ocular and vaginal swabs tested positive for Brucellosis with PCR from day 7, with nasal route being the first and most consistent route to reveal the positive results. Group B showed the earliest onset of shedding the bacterium (day 7) followed by group Awhich started from day 10 and shed relatively more positive of the bacterium via the routes examined. Blood samples tested positive with PCR from day 7 through 14 and the results were inconsistent subsequently. Sera samples tested positive with RBPT on day 14 in all the 3 infected groups but more consistent in group C. On the other hand, tests using ELISAshowed positive results from day 7 pi, with group C having a 100% seroconvertion –while groups Aand B showed only 50% seroconvertion. Conclusion: The consistent shedding via the nasal, ocular, and vaginal routes in groups A and B implied possible immunosuppression in the infected animals. We recommend that programs designed to control Brucellosis should consider analyzing a larger number of biological samples to enhance the accuracy of identification of shedders

Accelerated gastric ulcer healing in thyroxine-treated rats; roles of gastric acid, mucus and inflammatory response

The roles of gastric acid, mucus and inflammation on the pro ulcer-healing effect of thyroid hormone were investigated. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control, thyroidectomised, thyroidectomised with thyroxine treatment (100µg/kg/day) and sham operated animals treated with thyroxine. Thirty-five days after thyroidectomy, sham surgery or thyroxine treatment, ulcer was experimentally induced. Healing was assessed 3, 7 and 10 days post ulceration by measurement of ulcer area, gastric mucus and acid secretion, and neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as an index of inflammation. By day 10, ulcer area had reduced in all groups. Recovery was significantly greater (PThe accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Prevalence, distribution and pattern of gastric lesions in slaughtered pigs in south-western Nigeria

Gastric lesions, especially ulceration, cause significant economic losses in the swine industry worldwide. The study was designed to assess its prevalence, distribution and pattern in pigs in south-western Nigeria. Slaughter house surveys were conducted on three government-established abattoirs in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states. Stomachs from 480 pigs were assessed for gross lesions, which were graded using a modification of a standard technique. Tissues from different regions of the stomach were routinely stained to assess histopathologic changes. Data were presented as frequency counts and analysed using analysis of variance and chi-square technique. Significance was determined at p ≤ 0.05. Gastric lesions were encountered across the four regions of the stomach with a point prevalence of 57.29%. The prevalence of lesions in the non-glandular region was 32.9%, with severe hyperkeratosis (13.13%) being most frequently observed (p < 0.05). Erosions were significantly higher in the cardia (8.54%) (p < 0.05), followed by fundus (8.33%). Gastric ulcers were significantly higher in the fundus (19.58%) (p < 0.05). Scars of healed ulcers and lacerations were also observed in the fundus (5.42%) (p < 0.05). The gastric lesion distribution across the four regions of the stomach and the occurrence of ulceration in the fundus showed an unusual pattern, which is rarely reported in other parts of the world. The reason for these findings in pigs in Nigeria is not fully understood; therefore, further studies are required to identify and manage these factors for increased productivity, improved animal welfare and enhanced food security. Keywords: prevalence; gastric; lesions; fundic ulcers; pig

Synergistic effect of aqueous extract of Telfaria occidentalis on the biological activities of artesunate in Plasmodium berghei infected mice

Background: Resistance to most antimalarial drugs has encouraged the use of herbal preparations along with prescribed orthodox drugs. Objective: this study investigated effect of co-administration of aqueous extract of T. occidentalis leaves, commonly used as antimalarial and haematinic agent in Nigeria, and artesunate using P. berghei animal model. Methods: In vivo curative antiplasmodial effect of T. occidentalis (200mg/kg) alone and in combination with artesunate (2mg/kg) were evaluated using albino mice infected with 106 parasitized erythrocytes of P. berghei intraperitoneally. The haematological parameters: haemoglobin level, red blood cells and white blood cells and packed cell volume were monitored using standard methods. Results: Aqueous extract of T. occidentalis, artesunate and the combination gave 72.17±4.07%, 70.43± 4.27% and 85.43± 3.65% reduction in parasitaemia after 48hours respectively. A significant enhancement of the PCV was obtained with the co-administration of artesunate and aqueous extract (p < 0.01). Similar trends were also observed with heamatological parameters at 72 hours of administration. Conclusion: This study revealed a synergistic effect of the co-administration on parasite clearance rate of P. berghei infection in mice, with a significant enhancement of haematological parameters within 48 hours of administration. This indicates a rapid rate of recovery from plasmodial infections with the co-administration

RUNX3 polymorphism present in human oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is characterized by high incidence, mortality, post-management recurrence and metastatic rates as well as poor prognosis. This study was designed to identify molecular diagnostic and predictive signatures of OSCC in Nigerian cases. It was a retrospective-prospective case-control study spanning a 12 year period using 74 OSCC tissue blocks as well as benign epithelial lesions which served as control from which DNA was extracted and profiled for rs7528484 and rs760805 in RUNX3 gene by restriction fragment length polymorphism-PCR. Demography of the tissue blocks was recorded. Computed data were presented as frequencies/percentages. Association between RUNX3 polymorphism and patient's gender, age, tumor location, histology was assessed by Pearson's χ2 test at α0.05, Monte-Carlo exact test and Odds Ratios (OR) at Confidence Interval (CI) of 95%. Only rs7528484 was successfully genotyped with a distribution of 52.7% homozygote normal (CC), 28.4% heterozygote mutant (CT) and 18.9% homozygote mutant (TT). Gender and histology was generally significantly associated with genotypes/alleles. Genotypes CT and TT as well as the mutant allele T, showed odds of predicting OSCC. It appears that rs7528484 in RUNX3 might be common in patients suffering from OSCC. Individuals carrying the mutant allele could also be more susceptible to OSCC development

Enhanced electroscalpel incisional wound healing potential of honey in wistar rats

Electrosurgery reduces surgical bleeding, and delayed wound healing. This study evaluated comparative incisional wound healing potential of honey in wound created with electroscalpel and cold scalpel. The study used twelve (12) adult male albino rats (130 ± 20 g), randomly grouped into Electro-cautery (n = 6) and Cold scalpel (n = 6). Each rat had three full thickness (6 mm diameter) skin wounds (a, b and c) created on its dorsum with either Electroscalpel (ES) or Cold blade scalpel (CS), and treated topically with Silver sulphadiazine (SSD, wound a), untreated (control, wound b) and Bee honey (H, wound c). The wounds were evaluated for gross (exudation, edema, hyperemia, contraction), histologic (granulation, angiogenesis, fibroplasia, epithelialization) and immunologic healing indices using standard techniques. Data were analyzed with Chi-square, Two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Duncan Multiple Range tests (DMRT) at α = 0.05. Wound hyperemia and edge edema were prominent in the ES group from day 4 to 6 (P = .000). Percentage wound contraction was higher in the CS than ES group from days 5 to 7 (P = .006) and in the CS treated with honey than ES treated with honey from days 7 to 14 (P = .000). Granulation tissue reduced in ES group treated with SSD than in honey and control wounds. Fibroelastic tissue increased in SSD and honey treated wounds of ES group, and higher in honey treated wounds of CS group (P < .05). Fibroplasia was sustained in honey and SSD treated wounds than control. Honey can be applied to electroscalpel surgical wound to facilitate rapid healing during surgical management of tumours having vascular network. Keywords: Electrocautery, Epithelialization, Incisional methods, Silver sulphadiazide, Wound management, Wound contractio