The prevalence, pathogenesis and control of canine and human toxocariosis in Ibadan, Nigeria

Five hundred and sixty four dogs of under 3 years of age from a total of 1,620 that were presented at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital Clinic at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan between April and August 2003 were screened for Toxocara canis. Also a total of 128 children of below 11 years of age from some schools at the immediate vicinities of 5 playgrounds in Ibadan, from a total of 1,012 volunteers were clinically examined and scored on given guidelines for the diagnosis of Viscera Larva Migrans (VLM). They were again screened by the Toxocara-Elisa assay for VLM, while their area playgrounds were evaluated for T. canis eggs. Group prevalence for canine Toxocariosis was 64.9% by the flotation method, while VLM was 87.5% by the ELISA. Mean T. canis egg counts were significantly higher( p<0.05) than the 2.1 eggs/5.0 grams of soil recommended for human safety from ascariosis in the two unfenced playgrounds at Bodija and Ijokodo areas than in the other three that are fenced. The most susceptible group (2 – 5 yrs) had the highest titre for T. canis(1.62 – 3.10E) and also came from these high “risk” playgrounds at Bodija and Ijokodo. Dog faecal contamination of soils was observed to be higher in the same unfenced playgrounds than in the fenced. While all playgrounds are recommended for fencing, veterinarians are also challenged to intensify control efforts on dogs by using larvicidal anthelminthics to reduce environmental contamination. Children should be treated periodically,and also educated formally on the need to develop a good personal hygiene habits in order to avoid the dangers of both the VLM and the more serious OLM.Keywords: Faeces, Ibadan, Nigeria, Prevalence, Ibadan, Soil, Toxocariosi

The micro-minerals composition in serum of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) infected with Trypanosoma congolense

Sixteen (16) rabbits aged between 6 to 12 months were infected with fresh stock of Trypanosoma congolense (Gboko strain) intravenously at the rate of 1.0 × 106ml. Animals were classified into two groups; groups A were infected, while group B served as uninfected controls. Samples from the infected and the uninfected controls showed a significant increase in the levels of sodium (Na+), calcium (Ca2+), phosphate (PO4 2-) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (P < 0.05) and a significant decline in the levels of potassium (K+) and bicarbonate (HCO3 2-) (P < 0.05). Therefore, the alterations in the compositions of these micro-minerals in the serum of rabbits may suggest that, they could have a role in the pathogenesis of trypanosomosis due to T. congolense infection.Key words: Rabbits, micro-minerals, Trypanosoma congolense, pathogenesis

Identification and Characterization of Microsporidia from Fecal Samples of HIV-Positive Patients from Lagos, Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites that infect a broad range of vertebrates and invertebrates. They have been increasingly recognized as human pathogens in AIDS patients, mainly associated with a life-threatening chronic diarrhea and systemic disease. However, to date the global epidemiology of human microsporidiosis is poorly understood, and recent data suggest that the incidence of these pathogens is much higher than previously reported and may represent a neglected etiological agent of more common diseases indeed in immunocompetent individuals. To contribute to the knowledge of microsporidia molecular epidemiology in HIV-positive patients in Nigeria, the authors tested stool samples proceeding from patients with and without diarrhea. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Stool samples from 193 HIV-positive patients with and without diarrhea (67 and 126 respectively) from Lagos (Nigeria) were investigated for the presence of microsporidia and Cryptosporidium using Weber's Chromotrope-based stain, Kinyoun stain, IFAT and PCR. The Weber stain showed 45 fecal samples (23.3%) with characteristic microsporidia spores, and a significant association of microsporidia with diarrhea was observed (O.R. = 18.2; CI: 95%). A similar result was obtained using Kinyoun stain, showing 44 (31,8%) positive samples with structures morphologically compatible with Cryptosporidium sp, 14 (31.8%) of them with infection mixed with microsporidia. The characterization of microsporidia species by IFAT and PCR allowed identification of Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Encephalitozoon intestinalis and E. cuniculi in 5, 2 and 1 samples respectively. The partial sequencing of the ITS region of the rRNA genes showed that the three isolates of E.bieneusi studied are included in Group I, one of which bears the genotype B. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: To our knowledge, this is the first report of microsporidia characterization in fecal samples from HIV-positive patients from Lagos, Nigeria. These results focus attention on the need to include microsporidial diagnosis in the management of HIV/AIDS infection in Nigeria, at the very least when other more common pathogens have not been detected

Brucellosis as an Emerging Threat in Developing Economies:Lessons from Nigeria

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, has a large proportion of the world's poor livestock keepers, and is a hotspot for neglected zoonoses. A review of the 127 accessible publications on brucellosis in Nigeria reveals only scant and fragmented evidence on its spatial and temporal distribution in different epidemiological contexts. The few bacteriological studies conducted demonstrate the existence of Brucella abortus in cattle and sheep, but evidence for B. melitensis in small ruminants is dated and unclear. The bulk of the evidence consists of seroprevalence studies, but test standardization and validation are not always adequately described, and misinterpretations exist with regard to sensitivity and/or specificity and ability to identify the infecting Brucella species. Despite this, early studies suggest that although brucellosis was endemic in extensive nomadic systems, seroprevalence was low, and brucellosis was not perceived as a real burden; recent studies, however, may reflect a changing trend. Concerning human brucellosis, no studies have identified the Brucella species and most reports provide only serological evidence of contact with Brucella in the classical risk groups; some suggest brucellosis misdiagnoses as malaria or other febrile conditions. The investigation of a severe outbreak that occurred in the late 1970s describes the emergence of animal and human disease caused by the settling of previously nomadic populations during the Sahelian drought. There appears to be an increasing risk of re-emergence of brucellosis in sub-Saharan Africa, as a result of the co-existence of pastoralist movements and the increase of intensive management resulting from growing urbanization and food demand. Highly contagious zoonoses like brucellosis pose a threat with far-reaching social and political consequences

Clinical And Serological Evidences For The Presence Of Rabbit Encephalitozoonosis In Nigeria

A group of ten 8 to 15- week-old New Zealand white rabbits differently bought but communally acclimatized for over 5 weeks prior to their research use was reported sick with clinical signs including neurological derangements that were suggestive of encephalitozoonosis. Two of the 10 that died on the day of report were examined post mortemly and both the gross and micro pathological lesions were consistent with encephalitozoonosis. Immunoperoxidase test titres of the remaining 8 were very high and ranged from 626 to 2044 to confirm a definitive diagnosis of encephalitozoonosis. Treatment with oral fenbendazole, parenteral dexamethazone, injectable multivitamins and oxytetracycline did not achieve much, probably due to the chronic nature of the disease, other latent complications or the late treatment intervention as 5 most chronically affected of the 8 rabbits died late in the course of treatment. The zoonotic potentials of the disease and the hazard posed to veterinarians, farmers and laboratory animal and products handlers especially the immunocompromised were highlighted.Un groupe de 10 lapins blancs de la Nouvelle Zélande âgés de 8 à 15 semaines, achetés dans divers endroits mais acclimatés ensemble pendant plus de 5 semaines avant leur utilisation aux fins de recherche, ont été déclarés malades avec des signes cliniques et notamment des troubles neurologiques relatifs à l\'encephalitozoonose. Deux des lapins qui sont morts le jour de déclaration de la maladie étaient nécropsiés et ils avaient des lésions macroscopiques et microscopiques, qui correspondaient à l\'encéphalitozoonose. Les titres utilisés pour le test d\'immunoperoxidase des 8 autres lapins étaient très élevés et variaient entre 626 et 2044, ce qui confirme le diagnostic de l\'encéphalitozoonose. Le traitement au fenbendazole par voie orale, au dexaméthazone par voie parentérale, à l\'oxytetracycline et aux multivitamines par injection n\'ont pas permis de traiter l\'encéphalitozoonose, probablement à cause de l\'état chronique de la maladie et à d\'autres complications latentes, ou à cause du traitement tardif puisque 5 lapins les plus chroniquement affectés sur 8 sont morts au cours du traitement. On a souligné le potentiel zoonotique de la maladie et le risque qu\'elle représente pour les vétérinaires, les éleveurs, les animaux de laboratoire et les manipulateurs de produits, en particulier ceux qui ont une faible immunité.Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa Vol. 55 (2) 2007: pp. 82-8

Serological survey for antibody to Encephalitozoon cuniculi in horses in the USA

Encephalitozoon cuniculi is an obligate intracellular microsporidian parasite that can result in clinical and subclinical infection in many species. In the present study, a serological survey was conducted using samples from 105 horses in the state of New Jersey; 49 of the samples were obtained from clinically abnormal animals. Five or 4.8% of 105 serum samples were found to demonstrate reactivity by ELISA with titers of 1:64 to 1:1,024. One of the samples was obtained from a clinically normal horse. Clinical signs and diagnoses from the other animals included lameness, colic, osteochondritis dissecans, and fever. All clinical issues were resolved with hospitalization and treatment without the institution of E. cuniculi-focused therapy. This is the first report on the detection of E. cuniculi antibodies in horses in the USA