Clinico-haematological features of dermatophilosis in indigenious breeds of cattle in Ibadan, Nigeria

This study evaluated the clinical-hematological profiles in bovine dermatophilosis. A total of 50 dermatophilosis infected cattle were studied clinically and 50 blood samples taken from two different locations of Akinyele cattle market and Bodija Abattoir Ibadan. Hematological parameters such as PCV, Hb, RBC,WBC,Platelets, MCV, MCH, MCHC, Lymphocyte and Neutrophils were evaluated using standard procedures .The level of severity was classified based on the extent of the surface lesions and the chronicity as observed on the animals vis a viz body condition scoring system, hematological parameters under different breeds, sexes, ages and severity of disease condition were subjected to a one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with no level of significance established at p < 0.05. White Fulani was the breed with the highest cases of dematophilosis (66%), females (86%) were more infected than males. Cattle within age bracket of 2-2½ years (38%) showed clinical signs of dermatophilosis more than other age groups. Sokoto Gudali breed had the highest values for most hematological parameters, while Kuri breed had the least values for most of the hematological parameters. Females showed better values than males. Age range 3-3½ years had most of the highest values. Mild infestation showed the highest values. Therefore, this study has been able to revealed variation to dermatophilosis susceptibility, Kuri breed, adult cattle and bulls appeared to be more resistance. The hematology in generalized dermatophilosis have been elucidated by this present study and have been found to vary with age, sex, severity of infection and breed of cattle.Keywords: Clinical-Haematological, Profile, Dermatophilosis, Cattle, Nigeri

Antibiotic sensitivity of some bacteria isolates isolated from scouring calves from some farms in Oyo and Ogun States, Nigeria

Diarrhoea in young pre-weaned calves is one of the most important causes of calf morbidity and mortality. Information on this multi-aetiological condition is scanty in Nigeria. Therefore, we studied the prevalent bacteria and antibacteria susceptibility to various bacterial isolates from faecal samples of suspected cases of calf scours in Oyo and Ogun States of South-western Nigeria. One hundred and twenty calf faecal samples (120) from various breeds of cattle showing clinical manifestation of scours were screened for bacterial agents in two farms in Oyo and five farms in Ogun States. Isolation and identification were done using standard procedures, while antibiotic sensitivity was done using Kirby Bauer’s disc diffusion method. Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. were identified. Out of all the calves, 19 calves (15.8%) were positive for bacteria agents, E. coli was isolated from 12 calves (10%), Salmonella spp. was isolated in 10 calves (8.3%) and Campylobacter spp. was isolated in 1 calf (0.8%). Antibiotic sensitivity test revealed that the most sensitive antibiotics were Meropenem (91.3%) and Amikacin (82.6%) while the least sensitive was Ampicillin (21.7%). Therefore Meropenem is the most sensitive antibiotic and recorded the highest percentage sensitivity in all the three bacteria pathogens isolated, while Ampicillin appeared to be the least sensitive antibiotic to virtually all the pathogens isolated. Meropenem is therefore recommended as the drug of choice for the management of bacteria calf scours. The isolation of highly pathogenic E.coli 0157 from calf scour cases reaffirmed cattle as a reservoirs host which may enter the food chain and poses a faeco-oral potential public health hazards.Keywords: Antibiotics, Calves, Scouring, Sensitivit

Case report: Dystocia due to Schistosomus reflexus (co-joined twins) in a West Africa Dwarf doe (female goat) in Ibadan, Nigeria

A three years old light brown West African dwarf doe, weighing about 32 kg was presented with history of dystocia of about 36 hours was presented to the University of Ibadan Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Ibadan. The animal was restless. Close  observation showed a swollen vulva with protruding foetal head. There was abnormal slimy blood tinted discharges with foul odour in her vulva. Rectal temperature was 40 degree Celcius with relatively high respiratory rate. Dystocia was diagnosed. Using systematic and calculated tration and retropulsion, Schistosomus reflexus (co-joined twins) were subsequently delivered after about 20 minutes of intervention.   Post-manipulation care was given by intramuscular injection of procaine penicillin and streptomycin combination at a dose of 1ml per 10kg body weight for 4 days   consecutively; multivitamins injection was also given at 1ml per 10kg body weight for four days. Complete recovery of the doe was achieved

The role of community based organisations' NGOs and farmers in technology transfer

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) are key food crops in Tanzania in general and in the lake zone in particular. Cassava and sweetpotato are household food security crops in addition to being a source of household income. Availability of the new improved varieties to farmers has been a problem in Tanzania. A project was initiated to transfer improved varieties of both cassava and sweetpotato in the lake zone to farmers. In collaboration with community-based organisations (CBOs), non-government organisations (NGOs) and farmer groups, the project distributed different varieties of cassava and sweet potato in Shinyangu and Mwanza regions through CIP/ASARECA. The CBOs, NGOs and farmer groups were very instrumental in facilitating the delivery of improved varieties to farmers. Through this informal seed delivery system using CBOs, NGOs, and farmers groups, farmers have been able to access, use and adopt improved varieties suitable for their areas. The project has also established a system that can be used for future technology transfer activities. through this system more than 988,000 and 1,752,711 cuttings of improved cassava and sweet potato varieties respectively were distributed in three regions of the lake zone. The distribution activity went hand in hand with training of farmers in rapid multiplication techniques of planting materials

Analysis of interactions between cassava brown streak disease symptom types facilitates the determination of varietal responses and yield losses

Cassava brown streak disease (CBSD), caused by cassava brown streak viruses, is recognized as one of the most important plant disease threats to African food security. This study describes the incidence and severity of the different symptom types caused by CBSD, derived from extensive surveys in the country most severely affected by the disease: Tanzania. Total plant incidence and mean root severity of CBSD, recorded from 341 farmers’ fields, were both greater in the Coast Zone (49.5% and 3.05), than in the Lake Zone (32.7% and 2.57). Overall, the differing incidences recorded declined in the following order: total plant incidence (39.1%), plant shoot incidence (33.4%), plant root incidence (19.3%), root incidence (10.5%), and unusable root incidence (5.4%). The much lower-than-anticipated loss due to the root necrosis that is characteristic of CBSD was offset by large reductions of root number in plants expressing foliar symptoms of CBSD (15.7% in the Coast Zone and 5.5% in the Lake Zone). These data suggest that the effects of CBSD on the growth of affected plants are greater than those due to root spoilage. Based on these two factors, annual losses due to CBSD in the parts of Tanzania surveyed were estimated at >860,000 t, equivalent to more than U.S.$51 million. A novel approach to using farm-derived data on the responses of the most frequently cultivated varieties to CBSD infection allowed the grouping of the varieties into four categories, based on their relative resistance or tolerance to infection. This tool should be of value to breeders in identifying and selecting for sources of resistance or tolerance in both local and exotic germplasm, and should ultimately contribute to enhancing the management of one of Africa’s most damaging crop diseases

Multiplex RTPCR assays for the simultaneous detection of both RNA and DNA viruses infecting cassava and the common occurrence of mixed infections by two cassava brown streak viruses in East Africa

Uniplex and multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) protocols were developed for the detection of cassava brown streak viruses (CBSVs) in single and mixed infections with cassava mosaic begomoviruses (CMBs) in a tropical crop plant, cassava (Manihot esculenta). CMBs contain ssDNA as their genome (genus Begomovirus, family Geminiviridae) while CBSVs are made up of positive sense ssRNA (genus Ipomovirus, family Potyviridae), and they cause the economically important cassava mosaic and cassava brown streak diseases, respectively, in sub-Saharan Africa. Diagnostic methodologies have long been available for CMBs but they are limited for CBSVs especially in mixed infections. In this study, the two CBSVs, Cassava brown streak virus (CBSV) and Cassava brown streak Uganda virus (CBSUV) occurring singly or in mixed infection with CMBs, African cassava mosaic virus and East African cassava mosaic virus were detected in a single RT-PCR using both previously described and newly designed virus-specific primers. These protocols were highly efficient for detecting CBSVs compared to the existing methods and have great potential to minimize sample handling and contamination. As well as improving the diagnosis of cassava viruses, the development of multiplex RT-PCR protocols have revealed the common occurrence of mixed infections by CBSV and CBSUV in cassava fields of Tanzania and Kenya, which was contrary to the common belief until recently that these two viruses have existed separately. These protocols have implications for diagnosis and epidemiological studies on cassava virus diseases in Eastern Africa