Efficacy of a Pyrethrum Extract Against Mixed Natural Gastrointestinal Helminths Infestations in Puppies

‘Pyrethrins' is the term used for the six known insecticidal constituents of pyrethrum extracted from flowers of Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium. Apart from their insecticidal actions, pyrethrins are also reputed to possess anthelmintic properties. In this study, the anthelmintic efficacy of a pyrethrum extract was determined in 8 to 10 weeks old puppies with mixed natural helminths infestations. The mean and range of pre-treatment hookworms eggs per gram (EPG) of faeces were 3,760(2100 to 6,300) and 4,660(2,900 to 6,300) for the treatment and control groups respectively. The EPG values for the ascarids were 3,560(2,900 to 4,600) for the treatment group and 4,320(2,700 to 6,000) for control group. A single oral dose of the extract was administered to each puppy in the treatment group at a dosage rate of 150mg pyrethrins per kg of body weight. The treatment caused a significant decrease in both hookworm and ascarid faecal egg counts compared to the untreated control (

Analysis of pyrethroids in air using commercial XAD sampling cartridges and gas chromatography

Pyrethroids are synthetic esters used commercially as pesticides. They are readily available as active components of numerous over-the-counter products for control of household pests mainly formulated as sprays (aerosols), powders and for application via electro-evaporators. The potential for toxic effects in humans from inhalation of these pesticides is therefore great and there is need to develop methods of determination of indoor post-application concentration of the pyrethroids in air. A gas liquid chromatographic (GLC) method was used for the analysis of bioallethrin, permethrin, cypermethrin and deltamethrin in air. This method involved sampling of 1 m3 of air by adsorption of the analytes onto XAD sampling cartridges. Analytes were extracted with ethyl acetate and analyzed by gas chromatography with electron capture detection. The desorption/extraction efficiency (EE) was determined using fortification of known quantities of analytes (5-50 ng) and recovery ranged from 81% to 97%. The upper and lower limits of quantification (LOQ) were determined to be 4.5 ng/m3 and 45 ng/m3 respectively. This method is easily transferable to other pyrethroids or other volatile substances that are amenable to chromatography with selective detection. The Kenya Veterinarian Vol. 29 2005: pp. 85-9

Fluoride Levels in Water, Animal Feeds, Cow Milk, Cow Urine and Milk Production of Dairy Cattle from Kiambu and Thika Districts in Kenya

Kiambu and Thika Districts are situated in Central part of Kenya. Most of the available land is suitable for agricultural use. Majority of the farmers are small scale or subsistence dairy farmers. Intake of excess fluoride in water, feed and mineral supplements may adversely affect health, reproduction and production in dairy cattle. The objectives of this study were to investigate the levels of fluoride in water, urine, milk and animal feeds and mineral salts from dairy farms in Kiambu and Thika, as well as to relate milk yield and fluoride intake. Samples were analyzed using electroanalysis technique. The overall mean fluoride concentration in feeds from societies was 60.9 + 132.0 mg F/kg. The mean fluoride concentration in feeds from Nderi, Kikuyu, Chania, Limuru, Kiambaa and Lari co-operative societies were: 19.5 +11.3 (n=19) 24.1+28.6 (n=22), 55.2+73.7 (n=18), 67.6+93.4 (n=15), 91.9+226.3 (n=24) and 203.4+ 243.2 (n=6) mg F/kg respectively. Individual dairy co-operative society and the type of sample significantly (

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Aqueous Extracts of Albizia antihelmintica and Maerua edulis against the nematode Heligmosomoides polgyrus Infection in Mice

Antihelmintic activity of the water extract of Albizia antihelmintica bark and Maerua edulis root was evaluated in mice that had been experimentally infected with the intestinal nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus. The mice were randomly allocated into six treatment groups and one control group. Group 1, 2 and 3 were given an oral dose of water extracts of A. antihelmintica at 5 gm/kg, 10gm/kg and 20 gm/kg bodyweight respectively in a divided dose on day 17 post-infection. Groups 4, 5 and 6 were given water extracts of M. edulis at a dosage of 5 gm/kg, 10 gm/kg and 20 gm/kg bodyweight respectively in a divided dose. Group 7 was the control and was concurrently given a double oral dose of 0.2 ml of physiological saline each. Mortality of some mice was observed in four groups after treatment. Five days after treatment, feacal worm egg count reduction was determined. The results showed a percentage feacal H. polygyrus egg count reduction of 72 %, 69%, and 42% in groups 2, 6, 3, and 1 respectively. Seven days after treatment, there was a reduction in worm counts at postmortem of 68%, 36%, 20%, 19%, 16%, and 14% in groups 1, 5,2,3,6, and 4. respectively compared to untreated controls. These results indicate that the plant extracts had antihelmintic activity and support the use of these plants as antihelmintics. The Kenya Veterinarian Vol. 28 2005: pp. 24-2

Pharmacokinetics of phenytoin following intravenous and intramuscular administration of fosphenytoin and phenytoin sodium in the rabbit

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare plasma phenytoin concentration versus time profiles following intravenous (i.v) and intramuscular (i.m) administration of fosphenytoin sodium with those obtained following administration of standard phenytoin sodium injection in the rabbit. Twenty-four adult New Zealand White rabbits (2.1 +/- 0.4 kg) were anaesthetized with sodium pentobarbitone (30 mg/kg) followed by i.v or i.m administration of a single 10 mg/kg phenytoin sodium or fosphenytoin sodium equivalents. Blood samples (1.5 ml) were obtained from a femoral artery cannula predose and at 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240 and 300 min after drug administration. Plasma was separated by centrifugation (1000 g; 5 min) and fosphenytoin, total and free plasma phenytoin concentrations were measured using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Following i.v administration of fosphenytoin sodium plasma phenytoin concentrations were similar to those obtained following i.v administration of an equivalent dose of phenytoin sodium. Mean peak plasma phenytoin concentrations (C-max) was 158% higher (P = 0.0277) following i.m administration of fosphenytoin sodium compared to i.m administration of phenytoin sodium. The mean area under the plasma total and free phenytoin concentration-time curve from time zero to 120 min (AUC(0.120)) following i.m administration was also significantly higher (P = 0.0277) in fosphenytoin treated rabbits compared to the phenytoin group. However, there was no significant difference in AUC(0-180) between fosphenytoin and phenytoin-treated rabbits following i.v administration. There was also no significant difference in the mean times to achieve peak plasma phenytoin concentrations (T-max) between fosphenytoin and phenytoin-treated rabbits following i.m administration. Mean plasma albumin concentrations were comparable in both groups of animals. Fosphenytoin was rapidly converted to phenytoin both after i.v and i.m administration, with plasma fosphenytoin concentrations declining rapidly to undetectable levels within 10 min following administration via either route. These results confirm the rapid and complete hydrolysis of fosphenytoin to phenytoin in vivo, and the potential of the i.m route for administration of fosphenytoin delivering phenytoin in clinical settings where i.v administration may not be feasible

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone in the donkey

Peer reviewe