Antibiotic Resistant Salmonella And Escherichia Coli Isolated From Day-Old Chicks, Vom, Nigeria

Reports of large scale mortality of day-old-chicks were received at the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Nigeria in 2007 to 2008. We investigated the cause of death using several virological and bacteriological techniques, isolated the pathogenic agents and carried out sensitivity tests. Our investigation revealed that Escherichia coli and Salmonella organisms were isolated in the outbreaks. A pattern of antibiotic resistance that seems to be increasing was also found. Considering the role of chickens and its products in the human food chain in Nigeria; and the close interaction between poultry and man, these resistant organisms may pose dangers to humans through the food chain or zoonotic infection and precipitate a similar pattern of resistance in man. We advocated for informed use of antibiotics in the food animals, especially poultry

Diagnostic Tests for The Control of Foot and Mouth Disease: An Overview

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a major trans-boundary animal disease (TAD) that has a great potential for causing severe economic loss in susceptible cloven-hoofed animals. This paper describes the various diagnostic tests available for FMD, the limitations of each and theirpotential application in a low technology setting. The need to have complementary field and laboratory operations including suitable samples and transport methods are discussed, and examples are given. The importance of a quality assurance system to assess the accuracy andprecision of diagnostic results is highlighted

A five-year survey of African swine fever outbreaks in Plateau State, Nigeria

Reported here is a five-year account of outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) in Plateau state, which devastated swine production and almost threw the whole pig induatry of the state in total disarray. Although veterinary authorities from 15 local government areas (LGA) of the state kreported the lsuspicion of the ldiseas, confirmation by laboratory test was obtained only from 8 LGA.s namely: Jos-North, Jos-South, Mangu, Pankshin, Langtang North, LantangSouth, Shendam and quaan-pan, representing all the three zones of the state (Northern, central and southern zones). Since its initial outbreak in 1999, the disease; has remained enzootic in the state. A control programme ,involving improved management, major surveillance operation, heightened public awareness and a market value compensation scheme for slaughtered pigs is suggested

Antimicrobial activities of honey from different geographical locations on gram negative and positive organisms

Honey samples were obtained from the different agro-ecological zones of Nigeria including: the tropical rainforest, mangrove swamp, plateau grassland, guinea savannah and sudan savannah. The antimicrobial activities of these differently sourced honeys were assessed against six bacteria organisms (Staphylococcus aureaus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Klebsiella aerogenes and Proteus mirabilis). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were studied using standard methods. Results obtained showed that geographical locations had effects on the antibacterial activities of the different honeys at different concentrations (6.25-100%). Honey originating from Vom, Plateau State showed the highest antimicrobial activity. All the honeys showed varied bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities. None of the honeys produced any effect on Klebsiella aerogenes and Proteus mirabilis. Further work is encouraged

Non-Attenuation Of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 By Laboratory Exposure To Ultraviolet Rays

Avian influenza H5N1 represents one of the most researched viruses in laboratories world-wide in recent times with regards to its epidemiology, ecology, biology and geography. The virus has caused 409 human cases and 256 human fatalities to date. Some laboratory activities and other lab relatedworks predispose certain workers to exposure to this virus. In this work, we assessed the effect of exposure of HPAI infective allantoic fluid to ultraviolet rays for between 15 and 180 minutes. No significant difference was found between the unexposed and exposed viruses. The ability of the virus to haemagglutinate chicken red blood cells, the haemagglutination titre and its pathogenicity in embryonating eggs did not change despite this prolong exposure to UV-light. We call for caution in the handling of HPAI viruses in laboratory inside the microbiological safety cabinet despite sterilization using UV-light

Predicting the Lay Preventive Strategies in Response to Avian Influenza from Perceptions of the Threat

Background: The identification of patterns of behaviors that lay people would engage in to protect themselves from the risk of infection in the case of avian influenza outbreak, as well as the lay perceptions of the threat that underlie these risk reduction strategies. Methodology/Principal Findings: A population-based survey (N = 1003) was conducted in 2008 to understand and describe how the French public might respond to a possible outbreak. Factor analyses highlighted three main categories of risk reduction strategies consisting of food quality assurance, food avoidance, and animal avoidance. In combination with the fear of contracting avian influenza, mental representations associated with the manifestation and/or transmission of the disease were found to significantly and systematically shape the behavioral responses to the perceived threat. Conclusions/Significance: This survey provides insight into the nature and predictors of the protective patterns that might be expected from the general public during a novel domestic outbreak of avian influenza

Effectiveness of esterified whey proteins fractions against Egyptian Lethal Avian Influenza A (H5N1)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Avian influenza A (H5N1) virus is one of the most important public health concerns worldwide. The antiviral activity of native and esterified whey proteins fractions (α- lactalbumin, β- lactoglobulin, and lactoferrin) was evaluated against A/chicken/Egypt/086Q-NLQP/2008 HPAI (H5N1) strain of clade 2.2.1 (for multiplicity of infection (1 MOI) after 72 h of incubation at 37°C in the presence of 5% CO₂) using MDCK cell lines.</p> <p>Result</p> <p>Both the native and esterified lactoferrin seem to be the most active antiviral protein among the tested samples, followed by β- lactoglobulin. α-Lactalbumin had less antiviral activity even after esterification.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Esterification of whey proteins fractions especially lactoferrin and β-lactoglobulin enhanced their antiviral activity against H5N1 in a concentration dependent manner.</p