Bioavailability of cobalt, zinc and selenium and anthelmintic effects of fortified and non-fortified albendazole in Sheep

The present study was carried out to compare the use of liver and plasma analysis as methods of assessing the status of cobalt, zinc and selenium in sheep, and to assess the anthelmintic efficacy of fortified and non-fortified albendazole preparations. Plasma and liver samples were collected in duplicate from fourteen sheep aged nine to twelve months. Plasma samples were collected on days 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 and liver samples on days 0, 14 and 28 post treatment, upon sacrifice of the study animals. Various trace elements were isolated from the organic matrix by wet oxidation for mineral estimation using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Data was statistically analyzed using repeated measurement test. Significance was noted at p < 0.05. Both the fortified albendazole and non-fortified albendazole cleared all the worms in the treated sheep by day 14 day post treatment. All the trace elements were shown to be more bioavailable in the liver and plasma of fortified albendazole (Group B) treated sheep compared to the non-fortified albendazole (Group A) treated sheep. The study has shown that the liver is a better indicator of cobalt, zinc and selenium status in sheep compared to plasma

Ethnoveterinary Medicine: The prospects of integrating medicinal plant products in Veterinary Medicine in Kenya

Animal diseases are a major constraint to livestock production, drought animal power and the acceptability of companion animals. These diseases also impact negatively to the food security in our country. The use of synthetic drugs for disease management is always a challenge because of the unavailability of these drugs especially in rural areas, shortage of foreign exchange to import them, lack of finance to purchase them, drug resistance, misuse due to paucity of knowledge and environmental pollution. Medicinal plants products are part of the natural products that have been in use in traditional medicine and also a source of novel drugs. Therefore, the use of medicinal plant products would be a rational alternative to synthetic drugs. Ethnobotanical surveys carried out in many parts of Kenya have revealed a lot of plants being used in animal disease management. Specific plant extracts have been identified and screened by many researchers for their antimicrobial, anthelmintic, acaricidal, antiprotozoal activity and also their toxicity. There is therefore the need to look for ways on how these plants products will be available in the market and be integrated in the overall veterinary medicine practice in Kenya