Response of chickens to oral vaccination with Newcastle disease virus vaccine strain I2 coated on maize offal

Thermostable Newcastle disease (ND) vaccine virus strain I2 was investigated for its efficacy as foodborne vaccine, using maize offal as the vehicle. Immune response to vaccination and resistance tochallenge were assessed by standard methods. Results showed that following primary vaccination, 40 (64.5%) out of the 62 birds produced detectable haemagglutination inhibiting (HI) antibody, but only 4(6.5%) produced HI (log2) antibody titre 3.0 regarded as protective with a geometric mean titre (GMT) of 3.1. After a booster dose, 49 (79.0%) seroconverted and 20 (32.3%) had HI (log2) titres 3.0 with GMT of 4.9. When challenged all vaccinated birds survived while all control (unvaccinated) birds died. Prechallenge HI antibody titre of 50 vaccinated birds selected for challenge showed that 13 (26.0%) had titres 3.0 and GMT = 4.5, while post-challenge, 31 (62.0%) had HI (log2) 3.0 with GMT of 7.2. Using Student t test analysis of significance, the birds were observed to show 70% HI antibody production at a P 0.3 and 3 degree of freedom (df), and 70% secondary immune response on challenge at 4df. It is therefore concluded that the vaccine could be effective for protection of village chickens as food-borne vaccine provided the carrier foods are adequately treated

Studies on Prevalence and Risk Factors for Hepatitis B Surface Antigen among Secondary School Students in North-central, Nigeria

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) Infection is one of the major global public health problems, with its attendant risks especially among the young adults. This study was therefore carried out to assess the sero-prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and associated risk factors among students of a secondary school in Jagindi Tasha, Kaduna State, Nigeria. One hundred and ninety (190) apparently healthy students were screened and sera samples obtained were separated and analysed for HBsAg using a commercially available Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)-based kit (Dialab). Information was obtained for risk factors using structured questionnaire. Out of the 190 samples screened, 35 (18.4%) were sero-positive. Subjects aged 13-15 years recorded 6.8% positivity (x2 = 1.084; p>0.05) and male subjects had 25.5% positivity compared to 10.9% positivity for females (x2 = 6.768; p<0.05). Risk factors such as blood transfusion was 32.0% among male subjects compared to 30.0% in females (x2 =18.07; p-value = 0.113). Furthermore, alcoholic consumption, the predominant lifestyle of the youths in this community was 20.0% among male subjects as compared to none in females. Unfortunately, the prevalence of HBV appears high among the studied population. This suggests that public awareness on the virus be accorded urgent attention, while vaccination programme should be improved in the community

Delivery of thermostable Newcastle disease (ND) vaccine to chickens with broken millet grains as the vehicle

The efficacy of treated broken millet grains as a carrier for delivery of thermostable Newcastle disease (ND) vaccine HRV4 to free-range chickens in three locations was assessed by haemagglutinationinhibition (HI) test and challenge experiment. Out of 256 birds fed with first dose of the vaccine, 130 (50.8%) produced detectable HI antibody but only 16 (6.3%) attained serum antibody level of log2 3.0adjudged protective. From the locations, Igumale (74 birds), Kuru (88 birds) Riyom (94 birds), only 1 (1.4%), 8 (9.1%) and 7 (7.4%) attained log2 titre 3.0, respectively. A booster vaccine dose 2 weeks lateron 236 of the birds led to 126 (53.4%) attaining HI (log2) titre 3.0 [Igumale (63 birds), Kuru (86 birds) Riyom (87 birds) had 33 (53.5%), 46 (53.5%) and 42 (48.3%) respectively attaining log2 titres of 3.0]. Out of a total of 70 buy-back chickens challenged, 49 (70.0%) survived. The break down showed that from Igumale (20 birds), Kuru (25 birds) Riyom (25 birds), the survivors were 13 (65.0%), 19 (76.0%) and 17 (68.0%), respectively. Out of 28 unvaccinated control birds challenged, only 4 survived. The overall results showed that millet, if properly treated, could be a good vaccine carrier and that the method of vaccination was relatively efficacious.

Occurrence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV) among alcoholics

Studies have shown that hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected alcoholics have more severe biochemical and histological evidence of liver disease than anti-HCV-negative patients. One possible mechanism for the increased liver damage is that alcohol may have a stimulatory effect on HCV replication. This study was therefore carried out to investigate the seroprevalence of HCV virus among alcoholics. Two-hundred and seventy (270) alcoholics and fifty (50) control subjects at selected locations in Jos South local government area (LGA), of Plateau State were screened for HCV antibodies using grand rapid diagnostic test strip. Structured questionnaire was employed to obtain demographic data of studysubjects. Overall, the prevalence of HCV infection was found to be 45(16.7%) in response to alcoholics while the non-alcoholic (control) subjects recorded 3 (6.0%) positivity, [(x2 = 3.765); P > 0.05]. Genderconsideration showed that females subjects had a higher prevalence of 25 (9.3%) compared to males with 20 (7.4%) among the alcoholic subjects. The 19 – 30 years age group recorded the highestseroprevalence of 14 (5.2%) to the HCV, [(x2 = 4.757); P > 0.05], while no significant difference was observed among positive subjects screened for serum aminotranferase levels in relation to age and gender. Available evidence from this study indicates that alcoholic consumption is a strong determinant of HCV infection. Drastic measures at creating awareness and the need for routine screening among alcoholics should be given due consideration. However, future HCV studies need toquantify concurrent alcoholic consumption to further our understanding of the total burden of illness from alcohol associated HCV in the community.Keywords: Alcoholics, hepatitis c virus, occurrenc

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) among Children of Primary School Age in a Community, North-Central, Nigeria

Globally, Hepatitis B Virus has been identified as one of the most common infectious diseases and a major public health problem.This study was therefore carried out to assess the prevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection among primary school children attending LGE primary school, Sabon Pegi, Kuru, Nigeria. Three hundred and sixty (360) blood samples were collected from the pupils and sera separated and analyzed for HBsAg using one step Hepatitis B surface antigen test strip. Of the 360 samples screened, 35 (9.7%) were sero-positive. Pupils within the age 7-9 years had the highest prevalence of 3.9%. Male subjects recorded a prevalence of 6.1% compared to 3.6% for females. Risk factors such as blood transfusion recorded 1.6%. Furthermore, family history of HBV infection accounted for 3.6%, while male subjects that had traditional method of circumcision recorded a high prevalence of 3.3%. Unfortunately, the prevalence of this ravaging infectious agent appears to be high amongst the subjects studied. It is strongly suggested that public awareness be accorded urgent attention while socioeconomic development in these areas be given priority as a measure to preventing further spread of this virus amongst children, particularly the school age group. Key words: Children, HBsAg, Primary school, Seroprevalenc

Response of Village Chickens to Newcastle Disease (ND) Vaccine with Broken Sorghum as the Vehicle

The suitability of sorghum as carrier for Newcastle Disease (ND) V4-UPM virus vaccine for vaccination of freerange chickens was assessed by standard methods. The grain was ground rough or broken, soaked in water for three days, washed, sun-dried, coated with the virus and finally dried at room temperature. The food vaccine which was supplied to chicken owners in two different locations was fed to the birds in their natural habitat. Blood for serum was collected two weeks after each feeding event for haemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays. Samples of vaccinated and unvaccinated chickens were bought back from owners and exposed to velogenic strain of ND virus. Results showed that out of 129 birdsvaccinated, 87 (67.4%) propduced detectable HI antibody with only 13 (10.1%) attaining antibody level of log2 > 3.0 regarded as protective and geometric mean titre (GMT) of 3.1 after primary vaccination. After a booster dose on 116 birds in the same flock, 95 (81.9%) seroconverted with 67 (57.8%) attaining log2 > 3.0 and GMT of 11.8. Exposure of 34 vaccinated buy-back and 25 unvaccinated (control) chickens to velogenic challenge virus led to 26 (76.5%) chickens and 4 control birds (16.0%) surviving respectively. Sorghum, if adequately treated could be a suitable carrier for thermostable ND vaccines, and as dried food vaccine, it could have good shelf life at room temperature

Survival of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) strain V4- UPM coated on three grains offal and exposed to room temperature

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) strain V4-UPM was investigated for its viability when coated on different grains offal following exposure to room temperature (RT) (21-27°C) for 8 weeks and using residualinfectivity titration at weekly intervals in chick embryos as a measure of viability. The grains (maize, sorghum and millet) used for the study were processed to produce the offal which was dried in the sunbefore and at RT under a gentle air current after coating with virus. The time duration taken for the infectivity of the virus to drop below the minimum immunizing dose (MID) (log10 EID50/g≥ 6.0) wascompared for virus suspensions containing additive (2% gelatin) and without additive. Results showed that the virus coated onto the carrier foods offal without additive remained stable at MID value for 3weeks (millet), 3.5 weeks (sorghum) and 5 weeks (maize) and with additive for 5.2 weeks (sorghum), 5 weeks (millet) and 6 weeks (maize) at RT. Thus, V4-UPM was found in this study to be stable evenwithout additive for a minimum of 3 weeks on one of the grains offal, a reasonable time for the food vaccine to reach remote areas of most villages. It is concluded that the waste byproducts of any ofthese foods could be suitable as carriers for food-based vaccination of rural chickens in Nigeria

Prevalence of Hepatitis C virus in apparently health individuals at Jos, Nigeria

No Abstract.International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 4 (1) 2008: pp. 37-4

Stability of Newcastle Disease Virus Strain V4-UPM Coated on Cassava Granules and Exposed to High Temperatures.

Protection of village chickens against Newcastle disease (ND) is considered feasible through food-delivered vaccines. Vaccine virus strain V4-UPM coated on cassava granules with or without additive (2% gelatin) was tested for stability at room temperature (RT) for 8 weeks and 40oC for 12 hours at weekly and two hourly intervals respectively. Stability was assessed by estimation of residual infectivity and infective virus excretion using standard methods. Results showed that at RT, the titre (EID50/gm) of the food vaccine with additive did not drop below the minimum effective immunogenic titre (MEIT) of 106.0 until after 4 weeks, whereas the one without additive dropped below MEIT value at the 3rd week of exposure. Following exposure at 40oC, the one with additive lost MEIT value after the 10th hour, while the infectivity of food vaccine without additive dropped below MEIT value after the 6th hour of exposure. Only four chickens produced HI antibody at first, whereas all 10 sero-converted on booster dose of vaccine, all 5 vaccinated and challenged birds resisted challenge, while all the unvaccinated control birds died. The vaccine virus was efficiently excreted by all birds that ate the food vaccine. It is hereby concluded that cassava granules sustained virus infectivity fairly enough for effective village chicken vaccination in any part of Nigeria

Bacteriological Assessment of Selected Local Non-Alcoholic Beverages Hawked in Vom and It Environs

No Abstract