Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth infections of dog in Enugu State, South Eastern Nigeria

The prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth infections of dog in Enugu State, South Eastern Nigeria was studied retrospectively and prospectively. In the retrospective study, records of all diagnosed helminth infections of dogs brought to the University of Nigeria Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Nsukka from January, 2006 to September 2013 were collated and analyzed. The prospective study was carried out between October 2013 and July 2014 by examination of 263 faecal samples collected per rectum from dogs presented to a purposively selected Veterinary Clinics in Enugu metropolis and the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The results of the 8 year retrospective prevalence study gave an overall prevalence of 56.1% and Ancylostoma species as the most prevalent helminth in the study area (33.2%). Mixed infections with more than one helminth parasite species were recorded in 8.6% of the cases. Annual breakdown of the prevalence data showed that the highest prevalence was recorded in 2009. Breed and age of the dogs were found to significantly influence the prevalence. In the prospective study, an overall prevalence of 51.7% was obtained. Ancylostoma spp. was also found most often in the study area, with a prevalence rate of 33.6%. Mixed infections with more than one helminth parasite species were found in 16.3% of the cases. A strong association was obtained between prevalence and breed of the dogs and also between prevalence and season. Due to the zoonotic nature of most of the encountered parasites and the close association between children and dogs, routine deworming, proper management of dogs and adequate personal hygiene is therefore recommended

Resposta eritropoética de ratos em diferentes graus de parasitemia por Trypanosoma evansi Erithropoietic response in Trypanosoma evansi infected rats with different parasitaemia intensity

O Trypanosoma evansi é um protozoário hemoflagelado que causa, em várias espécies, uma doença caracterizada por altos níveis de parasitemia, com rápido desenvolvimento de anemia. Este trabalho teve como objetivo investigar a relação entre o grau de parasitemia e a alteração na eritropoese de ratos (Rattus norvegicus) da linhagem Wistar infectados experimentalmente com T. evansi. Foram utilizados 42 ratos, dos quais 36 foram inoculados pela via intraperitoneal com 0,2ml de sangue, contendo 2,5 x 104 parasitas. Seis ratos não-inoculados foram utilizados como controles. Após inoculação, a parasitemia foi avaliada a cada 12h. Os grupos para análise foram estipulados de acordo com a média de tripanossomas em 10 campos homogêneos focados aleatoriamente, sendo: A, controle; B, animais que apresentaram um grau de parasitemia entre 1-10 tripanossomas/campo; C, ratos com 11-20 tripanossomas/campo; D, ratos com 21-30 tripanossomas/campo; E, ratos com 31-40 tripanossomas/campo; F, 41-50 tripanossomas/campo; e G, ratos com mais de 51 tripanossomas/campo. Quando os animais apresentaram o número de protozoários equivalente ao grupo, foram coletadas amostras de sangue para realização de hemograma e dosagem de ferro, e foi realizada citologia de medula óssea para avaliação da relação mielóide:eritróide. A análise estatística mostrou redução significativa das hemácias e do hematócrito a partir de 31 tripanossomas/campo (grupos E, F e G; P<0,005) e a redução de hemoglobina ocorreu a partir de 41 tripanossomas/campo (grupos F e G; P<0,005). A relação mielóide:eritróide foi reduzida de 0,7 para 0,6 a partir de 41 tripanossomas/campo (grupos F e G; P<0,005). Não foram detectadas variações na concentração de ferro. Os dados obtidos demonstraram que ratos com parasitemia acima de 31 tripanossomas por campo desenvolvem uma anemia aguda, com um aumento compensatório na atividade hematopoética.<br>Trypanosoma evansi is a flagellate protozoan that causes a disease characterized by high parasitemia and acute anemia in various species. This study was aimed at evaluating and establishing a relationship between different parasitemia levels and eritropoyesis in Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) experimentally infected by T. evansi. Forty two animals were used. In 36 animals parasites were inoculated by intraperitoneal blood injection of 0.2ml containing 2.5x104 parasites. Six non-inoculated animals were used as controls. Parasitemia was evaluated every 12 hours and the animals were allocated in groups according to parasitemia levels. Then they were classified according to average number of parasites in 10 random homogeneous fields, Group A: control (not-inoculated); B: rats with 1-10 trypanosomes/field; C: 11-20 trypanosomes/field; D: 21-30 trypanosomes/field; E: 31-40 trypanosomes/field; F: 41-50 trypanosomes/field; G: more then 51. Blood samples were taken when the animals reached the correspondent group number of parasites. Hemogram and iron levels were evaluated and a bone marrow cytology was performed to detect the myeloid:erythroid ratio. Statistical analysis showed a significant reduction on red blood cells count and hematocrit from group E on and also hemoglobin on groups F and G. The myeloid:erythroid ratio reduced from 0.7 to 0.6 on groups F and G (P<0.005). Iron levels alterations were not detected. These data showed that Wistar rats with parasitemia higher then 31 parasites per field have an acute anemia associated to a compensatory hematopoietic activity