Epidemiology and interactions of Human Immunodeficiency Virus - 1 and Schistosoma mansoni in sub-Saharan Africa.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1/AIDS and Schistosoma mansoni are widespread in sub-Saharan Africa and co-infection occurs commonly. Since the early 1990s, it has been suggested that the two infections may interact and potentiate the effects of each other within co-infected human hosts. Indeed, S. mansoni infection has been suggested to be a risk factor for HIV transmission and progression in Africa. If so, it would follow that mass deworming could have beneficial effects on HIV-1 transmission dynamics. The epidemiology of HIV in African countries is changing, shifting from urban to rural areas where the prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni is high and public health services are deficient. On the other side, the consequent pathogenesis of HIV-1/S. mansoni co-infection remains unknown. Here we give an account of the epidemiology of HIV-1 and S. mansoni, discuss co-infection and possible biological causal relationships between the two infections, and the potential impact of praziquantel treatment on HIV-1 viral loads, CD4+ counts and CD4+/CD8+ ratio. Our review of the available literature indicates that there is evidence to support the hypothesis that S. mansoni infections can influence the replication of the HIV-1, cell-to-cell transmission, as well as increase HIV progression as measured by reduced CD4+ T lymphocytes counts. If so, then deworming of HIV positive individuals living in endemic areas may impact on HIV-1 viral loads and CD4+ T lymphocyte counts.RIGHTS : This article is licensed under the BioMed Central licence at http://www.biomedcentral.com/about/license which is similar to the 'Creative Commons Attribution Licence'. In brief you may : copy, distribute, and display the work; make derivative works; or make commercial use of the work - under the following conditions: the original author must be given credit; for any reuse or distribution, it must be made clear to others what the license terms of this work are

Outbreak of neurological disorder associated with Streptococcus suis in a pig multiplication unit in Kenya

Two, 8 week old piglets from a large-scale pig multiplication unit in Nairobi, Kenya was referred to Department of Veterinary Pathology, Microbiology and Parasitology for necropsy and laboratory analyses. Clinically, the  piglets expressed nervous signs comprising inco-ordination, tremors,  nystagmus and paralysis. Out of 200 piglets, 20 developed the disease of which 12 died. Necropsy indicated a septicemia with suppurative meningitis and pneumonia. The cause of the problem was a hemolytic S. suis that was isolated from  meninges and lungs tissues. The stress of weaning and mixing piglets from different sows predisposed to disease. The study showed that confirmatory diagnosis of neurological disorders in pigs is only possible when the clinical signs observed are combined with necropsy and laboratory analyses

Cases of Pig Poisoning Encountered Naturally in Smallholder Farms in Nairobi and Its Environs

Systematic necropsies were conducted on 84 pig carcasses presented to Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology between June 2004 and June 2007. Affected farms were visited in order to gather epidemiological data. Four pigs (4.8%) were diagnosed as poisoning cases. The first pig was found dead and at autopsy, 1litre of watery fluid in thoracic cavity was encountered. A commercial feed was responsible for the poisoning. The second was a boar that had nervous signs, at post mortem, it had fluid in thoracic cavity and pericardial sac and infiltration of mononuclear cells into meninges and acidophilia of cortical neurons, microscopically. Swill and lack of water caused the poisoning. The third pig was found trembling and at necropsy, pale kidneys were embedded in gelatinous edema. Histopathology revealed protein material in tubules. Swill supplemented with Amaranthus spp caused the poisoning. The fourth pig that had respiratory distress, at necropsy, gastric and gallbladder edema; and hepatomegaly were observed. Self-formulated feeds were the cause of poisoning. Poisoning cases exist in pig farms, but toxicological analyses to determine the actual toxicant are needed. These cases were associated with poor husbandry and farmers should be educated on good husbandry practices to avoid such losses

Multiple Anthelmintic Resistance On A Sheep Farm In Kenya And Its Implication For Helminth Control

The occurrence of anthelmintic resistance in gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep on a farm in Kabete, Kenya was investigated between October 2005 and March 2006 when an outbreak of acute and fatal helminthosis occurred despite the use of ivermectin in worm control. The efficacies of locally available anthelmintics, namely, ivermectin, levamisole, levamisole rafoxanide combination and albendazole were evaluated based on faecal egg count reduction percentages (FECR%), clinical manifestation of helminthosis and post-mortem worm count (WC). All drugs tested showed low efficacies with FECR% of 44.2%, 77.0%, 66.9% and 42.3% for ivermectin, levamisole, levamisole rafoxanide combination and albendazole respectively. During the test period, 18 clinical cases were observed out of which 10 died. The mean WC in the dead animals declined gradually from 8905 in the pre-treatment period to 1545, 1529, 618, and 111 following ivermectin, levamisole, levamisole rafoxanide combination and albendazole treatments respectively. Haemonchus contortus and Trichuris ovis were resistant to all drugs tested. Trichostrongylus species were resistant to ivermectin and levamisole, but susceptible to albendazole. This necessitated treatment of the entire flock with albendazole and movement to new pastures and pens. No clinical case of helminthosis or mortality was recorded one month after the movement. This study indicated presence of multiple anthelmintic resistance on the farm as reported elsewhere in the country. Based on these findings, it is necessary to educate farmers on adapting integrated approach to helminth control with appropriate use of anthelmintics.Les cas de résistance anthelminthique chez les nématodes gastro-intestinaux dans une ferme ovine à Kabete au Kenya ont fait l\'objet d\'enquête entre octobre 2005 et mars 2006 lorsqu\'un foyer d\'helminthiase aigue et mortelle est apparu malgré l\'usage de l\'ivermectine pour le contrôle des vers. L\'efficacité des anthelminthiques disponibles sur place, à savoir : l\'ivermectine, le levamisole, l\'association levamisole/rafoxanide et l\'albendazole a été évaluée en tenant compte du taux de réduction du nombre d\'oeufs dans les fèces (% FECR), du signe clinique de l\'helminthiase et du nombre de vers à la nécropsie (NV). Tous les médicaments testés avaient une efficacité réduite avec des %FECR de 44,2% ; 77% ; 66,9% et 42,3% pour l\'ivermectine, le levamisole, l\'association levamisole/rafoxanide et l\'albendazole respectivement. Pendant la période de test, 18 cas cliniques ont été observés, parmi lesquels il y a eu dix morts. Le NV moyen chez les animaux morts baissait peu à peu, allant de 8905 avant le traitement à 1545, 1529, 618 et 111 après les traitements à l\'ivermectine, au levamisole, à l\'association levamisole/rafoxanide et à l\'albendazole respectivement. Haemonchus contortus et Trichuris ovis étaient résistants à tous les médicaments testés. Les espèces Trichostrongylus étaient résistantes à l\'ivermectine et au levamisole, mais sensibles à l\'albendazole, ce qui a rendu nécessaire le traitement de tout le troupeau à l\'albendazole et le déplacement vers de nouveaux pâturages et parcs à moutons. Aucun cas clinique d\'helminthiase ou de mortalité n\'a été enregistré un mois après le déplacement. Cette étude a montré la présence de résistance anthelminthique multiple sur la ferme comme signalé ailleurs dans le pays. A la lumière de ces conclusions, il est nécessaire de donner de l\'instruction aux éleveurs pour ce qui est de l\'adaptation de la méthode d\'approche intégrée au contrôle de l\'helminthe avec l\'usage judicieux des anthelminthiques.Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa Vol. 55 (4) 2007: pp. 226-23

Pathogenic effects associated with natural gastrointestinal helminth infections in pigs in Kenya

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Clinical, Haematological, Biochemical and Pathological Manifestations of Sub-Acute Toxicity of Nicandra Physaloides (L) Gaertn in Calves

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