Chronic toxicity studies on deltaphos in rats

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Anti-diabetic potentials of stem-bark extracts of Terminalia avicennioides on alloxan-induced diabetic rats

This study evaluated the extracts of Terminalia avicennioides stem-bark for their effect on alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus in male wistar rats. The powdered stembark of the plant was extracted with 70% methanol to yield crude methanol extract (CME). The CME was dissolved in distilled water to obtain the aqueous methanol (AME), then partitioned using ethyl acetate and hexane to obtain ethyl acetate (EAE) and hexane (HEX) extracts respectively. Fifty five alloxan induced diabetic rats were randomly divided into 11 groups of five rats each. Rats in groups1 and 2 received distilled water (DW) and 1% Tween 80 (TW80) at 5 ml/kg, respectively. Rats in group 3 received glibenclamide (GLB) 10 mg/kg. Rats in groups 4, 5, 6 and 7 were administered with 100 mg/kg of CME, AME, EAE and HEX,  respectively. Similarly, rats in groups 8, 9, 10 and 11 were given the extracts at 200 mg/kg, respectively. In addition, three normoglycaemic rats were used as non-diabetic non-treated control (group 12). All treatments and diabetic inductions were done intraperitoneally. Treatments started 72 hours after induction of diabetes which served as day 1, then on day 4, 7, 14 and 21. Blood glucose level in all the rats was monitored weekly for three weeks. All animals were sacrificed by jugular venipuncture and serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides (TGL) were determined. The extracts significantly (p<0.05) decreased the levels of blood glucose, serum total cholesterol, serum triglyceride and serum low density lipoprotein in diabetic rats when compared with the negative controls. However, HDL level was significantly (p<0.05) increased in the HEX, EAE and CME (100 mg/kg) treated rats. In conclusion, the extracts exhibited an anti-hyperglycaemic and anti-hyper lipidaemic effect which validates the use of the plant in traditional treatment of diabetes mellitus.Keywords: Alloxan, anti-diabetic, extracts, rats, Terminalia avicennioide

SEROPREVALENCE OF MAREK'S DISEASE VIRUS ANTIBODY IN CHICKENS FROM THREE ZONES OF NIGERIA

Blood samples from jugular veins were randomly obtained from 2,452 commercially improved and indigenous chickens from 36 flocks in Abuja, Kaduna, Bauchi, Plateau and Nasarawa States of Nigeria. Based on suspected Marek’s disease (MD) outbreaks that needed follow up, the study area was chosen. Commercial flocks were mostly kept on deep litter with few in battery cage system with clinically suspected MD. Agar gel precipitin test (AGPT) was used to test sera sampled for Marek’s disease virus (MDV) antibodies. Herpes turkey virus vaccine was mostly given by the farmers to control MD; some farmers believed chicks from hatcheries might have been vaccinated while other farmers had no idea of any MD vaccination status. The indigenous chickens had no records of vaccination and were all on free range. Marek’s disease virus (HPRS-16) positive standard antigen and serum were commercially obtained from Veterinary Laboratory Agency (VLA–UK). Analysis of risk factors associated with seropositivity of MDV antibodies in commercial and indigenous chickens; univariate and multivariate logistic regression was done. A factor or independent variable of interest was considered to have an influence on seropositivity with statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05). The overall seroprevalenvence of MD was 66.0% (P < 0.0001) which has increased since it was first diagnosed in Nigeria. The detection of MDV antibodies in unvaccinated improved and unvaccinated indigenous chickens indicated that they were exposed to MD field virus. This study gave current findings on Marek’s disease in this area. A nationwide screening of chickens against Marek’s disease is needed for epidemiological study and biosecurity control measures

Studies on effects of lactose on experimental <i>Trypanosoma vivax</i> infection in Zebu cattle. 2. Packed cell volume

The ability of intravenously administered lactose in normal saline to prevent a decline in packed cell volume (PCV) during experimental trypanosomosis was studied in Zebu cattle. During the lactose infusion period, the PCV was stable up to Day 5 post-infection (p.i.) in a lactose-infused group, compared to that in an uninfused group in which the PCV dropped significantly (P < 0.05) as shown by the values of cumulative percentage change. Furthermore the mean rate of change in PCV was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the uninfused group relative to the lactose-infused group during the same period. While the PCV fell markedly in the lactose-infused group a day after lactose infusion was stopped (Day 13 p.i.), subsequent PCV values were significantly (P < 0.05) higher compared to those in the uninfused group, up to the end of experiment on Day 17 p.i. However the mean rates of change in PCV did not vary significantly (P > 0.05) between the groups during the period in which lactose infusion was stopped. The mean levels of parasitaemic waves and parasitaemia were higher, more prolonged and more frequent in the lactose-infused group. It was inferred that the lactose was able to prevent an early onset of anaemia in the Trypanosoma vivax-infected Zebu cattle

Comparative study on the sensitivity of bacteriology and immunohistochemical technique in the diagnosis of natural salmonellosis in chickens

Bacteriological and immunohistochemical diagnoses of natural salmonellosis in chickens were carried out on 36 cases, in order to compare the sensitivities of the two techniques. Samples of the lungs, heart, liver, spleen, kidneys, proventriculus, intestine and caecum were collected at postmortem for bacterial isolation and separately fixed in 10% formalin for immunohistochemistry. The frequencies of Salmonella isolation by bacteriology and antigen detection by immunohistochemical technique were determined from the tissue samples and overall percentages between the two were compared. Out of 36 cases of natural salmonellosis, 53 Salmonella isolates were obtained from different organs in 31 (86.1%) cases; 48 isolates from 28 (77.8%) cases tested biochemically positive; PCR confirmed 41 isolates from 25 (89.3%) cases. Immunohistochemical test was positive in all the 36 (100%) cases. In the present study, immunohistochemical technique was more sensitive than isolation and identification and can be used as an adjunct to bacteriology in the diagnosis of avian salmonellosis.Keywords: Salmonellosis, Diagnosis, Bacteriology, Immunohistochemistry, Postmortem, Chicke