Use of cracked maize as a carrier for NDV4 vaccine in experimental vaccination of chickens

The suitability of V4 vaccine coated on cracked local grain (maize) and its husks and used for oral vaccination of chickens was assessed. Seventy-two (72) birds aged three (3) weeks and above were divided into six groups of twelve (12) birds per group. The birds were bled to determine their prevaccination HI antibody status while five different samples of cracked maize were coated with the V4 vaccine and fed to the chickens orally in each of the groups. All birds in the group including the controls were bled at 7, 14 and 21 days post vaccination to determine the presence and level of antibody response in each of the groups. Results obtained showed that prevaccination haemagglutination inhibition (HI) titre was less than two (log2) in 18% of the birds used in this experiment, however 14% of the birds had an HI titre of ≤ 4. The post vaccination antibody titre showed that birds vaccinated with vaccine coated maize gave a post vaccination HI antibody titre of between Log2(6-8). when the coated maize samples were soaked in water at room temperature and assessed after 24 hours, the treated maize parts gave >6.3 log10 EID50 and above while the untreated parts gave < 3.0 log10 EID50. The experiment showed that whole maize and husks, which were not treated, may contain agents which are virus inhibitory. Form this research the treated maize which was soaked and washed gave a higher geometric mean titre, hence tends to be good carriers of the virus (vaccine). It is therefore concluded from this work that processed cracked maize could be a good carrier of NDV4 vaccine. It is hereby recommended that only treated maize could be used as carrier for the V4 vaccine

Hepatitis C Virus infection in apparentenly healthy individuals with family history of diabetes in Vom, Plateau State Nigeria

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important public health problem worldwide. Its association with, and predisposing nature for diabetes mellitus (DM) has been long established. This research was carried out to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) amongst people with possible genetic predisposition to diabetes mellitus living in and around Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria. 188 subjects were screened after they filled a structured questionnaire to determine some of their demographic data, social habits and possible risk factors. 5 ml of blood was collected from each subject and sera separated out. Biotech's third generation ELISA Kit for HCV antibodies was used for the screening. Liver enzyme analysis was carried out on positive samples to determine their disease status. A prevalence of 14.36% was recorded with the highest seropositive group being those in the age bracket of 18 – 37 years. 13(13.40%) of males and 14(15.38%) of females were sero-positive. Liver enzyme analysis of sero-positive subjects showed increased levels which may imply early onset of liver damage. These result showed that these individuals could later suffer diabetes which may be triggered by their HCV infection if not treated. This is not over-looking the economic significance of their ill health, assuming they progress to cirrhotic HCV or develop hepatocelluar carcinoma due to HCV chronicity

Comparison of NDVI-2 Vaccine EID50 Titre Values After Three Weeks of Freight Under Cold Monitored Storage Condition

The EID50 titres per dose values of three batches of NDVI-2 were determined as log10 EID50 7.7, 7.6 and 6.8 after production, against reference EID50 5.5 per dose. These values were log10 EID50 2.2, 2.1 and 1.3 above the reference EID50 for NDVI-2. These vaccines were re-evaluated at PANVAC laboratory Debre-Zeit, prior to release. The initial EID50 values were compared with EID50 values obtained by the certifying laboratory, after three weeks of cold monitored freight. The packaged vaccine cold storage temperature of +1.9 oC prior to the shipment, was recorded with the aid of a temperature logger. The temperature logger was set to record and retain packaged vaccine cold storage temperature at hourly intervals during the freight. At the end of three-week freight, the temperature logger readings were analysed, and temperature range of -2.48 oC to 7.7 oC was observed throughout the freight. However, sudden rise in packaged vaccine storage temperature from 7.7 oC to 22.28 oC was noticed on the last day of freight. The initial EID50 titre per dose values, when compared with EID50 log10 6.5, 6.8, and 6.6 per dose obtained by the certifying laboratory after the cold monitored freight and re-evaluation, showed EID50 titre loss of log10 EID50 1.2, 0.8 and 0.6, respectively. The observed EID50 loss could not invalidate these vaccine batches, considering that these had an initial EID50 titre per dose values that were well above the reference EID50 titre for NDVI-2. In Nigeria, and to our knowledge, this is the first recorded monitored cold storage temperature transit for NDVI-2