Isolates of Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides (SC) in small ruminants in Sahel zone of Nigeria and its implications on disease control

A study on the isolation of Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides (SC) in small ruminants and its implication on disease control was carried out in the Sahel zone of Nigeria. This was achieved by the examination of pneumonic lesions in apparently normal and affected lungs of sheep and goats slaughtered at Maiduguri municipal abattoir. A total of 400 lungs (200 each from sheep and goats) were examined at post-mortem (PM) for pneumonic lesions. Of this number, 50 (25%) sheep had pneumonic lungs, while almost double the number 89 (44.5%) of goats showed pneumonic lungs. The prevalence of pneumonic lungs in the sheep was higher amongst the females (34.3%) than the males (23%), while in the goats, the prevalence was higher in the males (48%) compared to the females (38.7%) examined. Seven different Mycoplasma species were isolated from both unaffected and affected lungs of sheep and goats. 42 isolates were obtained from 150 unaffected sheep samples, whilst 36 isolates were obtained from 50 affected sheep. Of the 111 unaffected and 89 affected caprine lung samples, a total of 55 and 66 Mycoplasma isolates were recovered respectively. The commonly occurring Mycoplasmas in both unaffected and affected lungs of sheep and goats were Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (30%), Mycoplama mycoides subspecies capri (29.5%), Mycoplama mycoides subspecies mycoides SC (13.5%) and Mycoplasma capricolum (11.5%) with Mycobacterium bovis (1.5%) being the least isolated. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides SC the causative agent of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in cattle in small ruminants (sheep and goats) in Nigeria. Although the isolation rate of M. bovis was low in this study, its isolation in non-bovine ruminants is significant as it shows evidence of mycoplasma circulation between various animal species reared in close contact. These findings may pose serious impediments to the control of endemic CBPP in Nigeria.Key words: Isolates, Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides, sheep, goats, Nigeria

Studies on Serum Haemolytic Complement and Haematological Parameters in Apparently Healthy Dromedary Camels (Camelus Dromedarius) in Northern Nigeria

Studies on serum haemolytic compliment and haematological parameters in 330 apparently healthy dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) were conducted in northern, Nigeria. The survey was conducted in the abattoirs of three major northern cities of Maiduguri, Kano and Sokoto. The parameters measured using standard procedures were complement level via the classicalpathway (CH ), packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell 50 (RBC) and white blood cell counts (WBC). Mean CH units in 50 the camels investigated was 360 ± 15.8. In addition, PCV 12 (32.9 ± 1.5), total RBC (10.2 x 10 /L ± 1.2) and WBC (7.2 x 109 ± 1.3) values were obtained. There was no significant(p>0.05) differences between sexes and ages in all the parameters studied. The result obtained can be used as preliminary data in the investigation of the role of complement and blood cells in some immune mediated parasitic, bacterial and viral diseases of the dromedary camel in the study area

Bacteriology of the Anterior Genitalia of the Domestic House Cat: Aetiology of Non-Specific Infection

The bacteriology of the anterior genitalia of the domestic house cat was determined using vaginal swabs collected from sixty apparently healthy female domestic cats (20 kittens, 20 pregnant and 20 non-pregnant adults). The swabs were streaked on blood agar, Mac Conkey agar and eosin methylene blue agar plates which were all incubated at 37oC for 24 – 48 hours. Biochemical tests were also used to determine the bacterial isolates. The species of bacteria isolated were; coagulase negative Staphylococci 31 (25.2%); α-haemolytic Streptococci 21 (17.1%); Actinomyces pyogenes 21 (17.1%); E. coli 16 (13.0%); Bacillus species 12 (9.7%); β-haemolytic Streptococci 9 (7.3%); Proteus species 8 (6.5%) and Staphylococcus aureus5 (4.1%). These organisms could therefore be regarded as part of the normal aerobic vaginal flora of domestic cats found in the semi-arid region of north -eastern Nigeria.Keywords: Domestic cats, Aerobic bacteria, Anterior genitalia, Semi-arid region, Nigeria.