Anti-trypanosomal effects of aqueous extract of Ocimum gratissimum (Lamiaceae) leaf in rats infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei

The anti-trypanosomal effects of aqueous extract of the leaf of Ocimum gratissimum were evaluated in both in-vitro and in-vivo studies. The anti-trypanosomal activity of the extract against Trypanosoma brucei was investigated in-vitro. The survival and motility of the trypanosomes were completely inhibited within two hours of incubation in various concentrations of the extract. Parasite survival time was concentration dependent being longer in lower (25 and 12.5 mg/ml) than higher (100, 75 and 50 mg/ml) concentrations of the extract. The invivo anti-trypanosomal effect of the leaf extract of the leaf extract was investigated in rats infected with Trypanosoma brucei and treated with the extract. The infected rats treated with the extract had less dramatic clinical manifestations and mortality, survived longer and higher PCV values than their untreated counterparts, however, parasitaemia was not significantly reduced. The results suggest that the folkloric medicinal application of the aqueous extract of Ocimum gratissimum has no possible pharmacological basis.Key words: Anti-trypanosomal, Leaf, Ocimum gratissimum, Rat

In vitro Efficacy of Albendazole against Strongyle eggs recovered from Trade Goats slaughtered at the Nsukka Abattoir: A Preliminary Survey of Resistance to Albendazole

The efficacy of Albendazole against trichostrongyle nematode parasites in goats presented for slaughter at the Nsukka municipal  abattoir was evaluated using the In vitro Egg hatch assay (EHA) model. The abattoir was visited once every week for 4 consecutive months during which a total of 240 goats were sampled. Fecal samples were collected per rectum from a minimum of 15 goats on each day of the visit. Egg Hatch Assay was performed on strongyle eggs recovered from pooled faecal sample on each day of sampling with a 2.5% W/V Albendazole. Faecal culture was also set up from the pooled faecal sample on each sampling day to recover and identify the nematode parasites present in the goats. Among the 240 goats sampled, the prevalence of trichostrongylosis as observed by the presence of strongyle eggs was 94.6% (227/240). Faecal culture and larval identification revealed 69.8% of the strongyles as  Haemonchus contortus, while 25.5 and 4.8% were Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Oesophagostomum species respectively. In the EHA, Albendazole had mean LC50 value of 0.16 µg/ml which is slightly in excess of the discriminating dose of 0.1µg/ml as prescribed by the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP) as an indication of anthelmintic resistance. There is therefore an urgent need to screen the nematode parasite population in the Nigeria for the presence Albendazole resistance genes. Key words: GI nematode; egg hatch assay; goat; Albendazole; Resistance; Nigeri

Outbreak of acute coccidiosis in housed West African Dwarf goats

In February 1991,16 West African Dwarf/Djallonke goat kids aged 3-4 months were purchased from two rural communities from south western Nigeria and divided evenly into 4 experimental groups (I-IV) and housed in fly-proof pens with concrete floors and bedding of litter changed weekly. Faecal egg and oocyst counts and packed cell voloume (PCV) were determined at the time of purchase and repeated 32 days later. Faecal egg and oocyt counts were low at the time of purchase. At day 32, nematode eggs were low or absent in faeces but significantly high (

Response of Nigerian local breed of dog to graded doses of Ancylostoma caninum infection

The experiment investigated the response of Nigerian local breed of dog to different doses of Ancylostoma caninum infection. Sixteen dogs aged 6 to 7 months and assigned to 4 groups (A – D) of 4 dogs each were used. Groups A, B and C were infected with 100, 200 and 400 A. caninum infective larvae (L3) while group D served as the uninfected control. Faecal egg count (FEC), red blood cell (RBC) counts, haemoglobin concentrations (HBC), packed cell volume (PCV) and body weight (BWT) were evaluated weekly from day 0 (D0) to D56 post-infection (Pi). The dogs were humanely sacrificed on D56 Pi to determine the adult worm count (WC). The mean FEC of dogs given 400 L3 (group C) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those given 100 L3 (group A). There was no significant (P > 0.05) difference between the mean FEC of groups B (200 L3) and C dogs. The group C dogs had significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) worm burden than those in groups B and A. There was a dose dependent reduction in RBC counts, HBC and PCV of the infected dogs which was most significant (P < 0.05) in group C followed by group B. The control and group A dogs had a BWT gains of 0.75 and 0.15 kg, respectively at the end of the experiment when compared to their D0 BWT while groups B and C lost 1.70 and 3.30 Kg of their BWT by D56 respectively. The results of this study showed that while the FEC did not differ significantly among the infected dogs, other measures of parasite intensity, namely, WC, PCV, RBC, HBC and BWT differed in a dose dependent manner.Keywords: Ancylostoma caninum, Dogs, infective dose, Nigeria, Respons

Parasitic Gastroenteritis (PGE) Complex of Domestic Ruminants in Nigeria: A Review

Parasitic gastro-enteritis (PGE) is a major health problem and thus the main constraint on the profitable production of domestic ruminants in Nigeria. An annual loss of 60 million Naira due to the disease in domestic ruminants has been estimated. Parasitic gastro-enteritis is a complex of diseases involving several nematode species in these genera,  Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Oesophagostomum, Gaigeria, Cooperia and Strongyloides. The disease has been shown to be a rainy season problem in the derived eastern savannah of Nigeria and the Sahel savannah or through out the year on the Jos plateau. Normal Nigerian temperature range of 13.8oC (lower minimum for Obudu) to 40oC (maximum for Maiduguri) are suitable for the development and survival of the eggs of the nematode species to infective larval stages of the parasites. During the dry season, however, when ambient temperature exceeds 40oC in the arid-northeastern Nigeria, some degree of pasture sterilization occur with low parasitic load pertaining in the environment. The complex can either occur in a hyper acute, acute, or chronic form. The clinical signs include diarrhea, weight loss, submandibular oedema (bottle jaw), severe anaemia, dark-colored faeces and death depending on the stage. The anaemia is associated with either, intestinal haemorrhage or haemopoitic disturbances initiated by inapetence or loss of metabolites (due to impaired protein digestion) into the gut. The increased loss of plasma or serum proteins (proteinleaking gastro-enteropathy) occurs and is responsible for the hypoprotinaemia. Iron re-absorption in the gastrointestinal lumen is eventually reduced leading to low serum and bone marrow iron reserves leading to dyserythropoisis. Controls by grazing management, strategic anthelmintic medication have been used under varied conditions.Key words: Parasitic gastroenteritis, domestic ruminants, Nigeri

The effect of Diospyros mespiliformis (Ebenaceae) extracts on the haemato-biochemical parameters of Yankasa Sheep experimentally infected with Haemonchus contortus

The study evaluated the anthelmintic efficacy of the crude ethanolic extract of Diospyros mespiliformis (Ebenaceae) among Yankasa Sheep. Twenty-five (25) sheep were randomly selected and placed into five groups (A-E) of five animals each. The extract at dosages of 100 and 200 mg/kg resulted in 34.05 and 55.08% faecal egg reduction respectively. Haematological parameters (PCV, RBC, Hb, WBC, DLC, Platelet count and ESR) were significantly (p<0.005) increased after treatment with the extract in a graded dose manner. The extract significantly (p<0.005) decreased alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate amino transferase (AST) and alanine amino transferase (ALT) activities after treatment, similar to observed changes in total protein and serum albumin. The extract exerted 55.08% anthelmintic activity against adult Haemonchus contortus at the highest dosage tested. This finding supports the folkloric application of this plant as a vermifuge in trado-veterinary medical practices.Keywords: Haemonchus contortus; Diospyros mespiliformis; anti-helminth; ethanolic extrac

Academic achievement of physics education students’ in two Nigerian universities

The objective of this study was to find out factors affecting the academic achievement of physics education students’ in Benue State University and University of Agriculture, Makurdi. The study sought answers to four research questions. The research was carried out using a sample size of 108 students of the department of curriculum and teaching, faculty of education, Benue State University and the department of Science Education, College of Agricultural Science Education, University of Agriculture, Makurdi. A questionnaire was used for data collection. A simple percentage and chi-square were used for the analysis of the data collected. Two hypotheses relevant to the research questions were tested. Several teacher, student’s, parental and institutional factors were found to affect students achievement. These factors include cultism among students’, lack of interest in teaching by teachers, inadequate finance from parents and poor study habits and lack of laboratory and library facilities, Recommendations were made towards overcoming the negative effect of these factors.Keywords: Factors, academic, achievement, physics educatio

Characterization and land evaluation of three tropical rainforest soils derived from the coastal plain sands of southeastern Nigeria

Soils on coastal plain sands of southeastern Nigeria have hitherto been referred to as fragile sandy and acidic soils of low base saturation, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and fertility, as evidenced by the extensive land degradation evident in the region. This underscores the need for the characterization of the soils for sustainable use. Three profile pits were therefore dug on the upper, middle and bottom slopes of three towns in the rainforest belt underlain by the coastal plain sands. The results showed that the topsoil of the soils was  generally sandy, with relatively more clayey subsoil. The pH ranged from extremely acidic (< 4.4) to slightly acidic (6.1- 6.5). They had low organic matter, low total nitrogen, low effective CEC, low Al saturation and moderate base saturation. The soils of the upper and the middle slopes were classified as Arenic Kandiudult by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Soil Taxonomy or as Chromic Acrisols by the World Reference Base (WRB) for Soil Resources classification system, while that of the bottom slope was classified as a TypicDystrudept (USDA Soil Taxonomy) / Dystric Cambisol (WRB classification system). The upper slope had a USDA land capability class of IIes and a United States Bureau for Reclamation (USBR) land capability class of 2v/C. The middle slope and the bottom slope both had USDA and USBR capability class of IVs and 3v/C, respectively. Though moderately to marginally irrigable, the soils can still produce increased and sustainable agricultural yield if the appropriate land use and husbandry practices are adopted. Key words: Coastal plain sands, land use planning, soil characterization, toposequence, tropical rainfores