Detection, Isolation and Confirmation of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus in Human, Ticks and Animals in Ahmadabad, India, 2010–2011

A nosocomial outbreak of CCHFV occurred in January 2011, in a tertiary care hospital in Ahmadabad, Gujarat State in western India. Out of a total five cases reported, contact transmission occurred to three treating medical professionals, all of whom succumbed to the disease. The only survivor was the husband of the index case. These results highlight the importance of considering CCHFV as a potential aetiology for Hemorrhagic fever (HF) cases in India. This also underlines the need for strict barrier nursing and patient isolation while managing these patients. During the investigation presence of CCHFV RNA in Hyalomma anatolicum ticks and livestock were detected in the village from where the primary case (case A) was reported. Further retrospective investigation confirmed two CCHF human cases in Rajkot village 20 kilometres to the west of Ahmadabad in 2010, and CCHFV presence in the livestock 200 kilometres to the north in the neighbouring State Rajasthan. This report shows the presence of CCHFV in human, ticks and animals in Gujarat, India. The fact of concern is the spread of this disease from one state to another due to trading of livestock

Prevalence of Bovine (Nematodes) Otitis in Kenya

A survey carried out to determine the prevalence of Prevalence of Bovine (Nematodes) Otitis in Kenya using physical, otoscopic and microscopic examination of ear swabs. Of 413 examined in Kajiado District (with a hot and dry climate), 241(58.4%) were affected and these 202 (83.8%) had worms in one ear or both ears. Rhabditis bovis alone was encountered in the hot dry areas, while Rh. Bovis and Rh Blumi either singly or in mixed infections were encountered in the cold humid areas. The disease varied from mild, moderate, severe to chronic forms in its manifestation. Where it occurred alone, Rh Blumi was associated with the mild and chronic forms of the disease. The Kenya Veterinarian Vol. 25 2002: pp. 32-3

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 (

Ante mortem Studies on Natural Caprine Besnoitiosis

Examination of 30 goats from Buchuma in Coast Province of Kenya, naturally infected with Besnoitia caprae, revealed that the acute disease was characterized with marked fever, dullness, anorexia, and oedema of the skin (anarsaca). In addition bucks had swollen painful testis. The chronic disease was characterized with alopecia, hyperkeratosis mainly of the face, carpus, hock and brisket. Eighty three percent of the goats in poor body condition had 100 or more cysts per eye. Those in fair and good body condition easily succumbed to pneumonia. This indicates that the number of cysts in the eye of chronically infected goats could be used as prognostic tool. Rhicephalus eversti and Amblyomma variegetum ticks were observed in all goats with besnoitiosis making them possible vectors of transmission. The Kenya Veterinarian Vol. 27 2004: pp. 22-2

Hatchability and fertility of indigenous chicken and duck eggs, and some causes of chick and duckling mortality in Kenya

Flocks under study are located in the suburbs of Nairobi province and Machakos district. They belonged to smallholder farmers. Twenty seven clutches of eggs given to indigenous chickens to seat on, and 10 clutches of eggs given to ducks to seat on were investigated for six months. The number of eggs in each clutch ranged from 6 to 19 with an average of12 eggs. Duck eggs had a hatchability of 82.3% and fertility of 89.5% while chicken eggs had a hatchability of 66.2% and fertility of 82.8%. Staphylococcus spp, Streptococcus spp., Enterococcus spp., Escherichia coli, Proteus spp., and other aerobic bacteria were commonly isolated from un-hatched eggs, dead embryos, dead chicks, and ducklings. These were comparable with bacterial isolates recovered from cloacal and pharyngeo-tracheal swabs taken from adult birds from these farms and cultured on blood and McConkey Agar base. The main causes of chick and duckling mortalities were yolk sac infections, colibacillosis, and nutritional deficiencies. Other causes of mortality encountered were ectoparasites {fleas (Echidnophaga gallinacea) and lice (Menopon gallinae)}; and predators like kites, hawks, mongoose, dogs, wild and domestic cats. Kenya Veterinarian Vol. 31 (1) 2007: pp. 6-1