Experimental Yersinia pseudotuberculosis enteritis in laboratory animals

The course of in vivo pathogenicity of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in groups of rabbits and gunnea pigs were examined. One group of the animals was infected orally with 108 cfu/ml of test organism andthe second group with standard reference strains. The third group was dosed with clean water as negative control. Both controls and Y. pseudotuberculosis infected animals were closely monitored forclinical signs for three weeks during which loss of body weight, rise in temperature, ruffling of fur were noticed. Pure isolates of the organisms were re-isolated from the faecal samples of the infected rabbitsand guinea pigs. Animals orally fed with clean water showed no symptoms of yersiniosis. Rabbits infected with Y. pseudotuberculosis showed signs of illness while guinea pigs did not show any clinicalsign. Visceral organs of infected rabbits showed enteritis with necrotic lesions but no pathological changes were observed in all guinea pigs including the controls. In the clinically ill animals, tissuesanalyzed demonstrated polarized profile and inflammatory cell influx throughout the course of the test. These findings should assist the Veterinary Pathologist recognize suspected cases of enteritis due to Y.psuedotuberculosis in the field among similar animal species

The antimicrobial properties of Ocimum gratissimumextracts on some selected bacterial gastrointestinal isolates

The antimicrobial efficacy of cold and hot water, hexane and methanolic extracts of fresh and dried leaf of Ocimum gratissimum against Salmonella typhimurium, E. coli, Yersinia enterocolitica, Bacilluscereus, and Aeromonas hydrophila were determined using the Agar gel diffusion method. The zones of inhibition, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) andPhytochemistry of the extracts were also determined. Results obtained revealed that the cold water extracts of the fresh leaf was most potent, inhibiting all isolates with diameter zones of inhibition ranging from 5 mm to 18 mm, followed by hexane extract of the fresh leaf with zone range of 6mm to 14 mm, but E. coli showed no resistance to the hexane extract, methanol extract of the fresh leaf showed no inhibitory effect on all isolates. The extracts inhibited the growth of the bacterial isolates in a concentration dependent manner with MICs ranging between (12.5 - 150) mg/ml, while MBCs gave a range of (3.13 - 100) mg/ml. Phytochemical analysis of fresh and dried leaf extracts revealed thepresence of antimicrobial principles such as resins, tannins, glycosides, alkaloids, flavonoids saponin, anthraquinone, cardiac glycoside, steroidal ring, steroidal terpens and carbohydrates at differentconcentrations. The findings from this study seem to provide the in vitro evidence that might justify O. gratissimum as a good candidate medicinal plant for further investigations, and that the activeprinciples of the plant may be more polar in nature

The prevalence of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica among diarrhea patients in Jos, Nigeria

One hundred and fifty (150) stool samples from diarrhoeic children and adults seeking for medical attention (including hospitalized patients) in Vom Christain Hospital (VCH), Mandela Clinic (MC) Vom and Dagott Family Health Clinic (DFHC) Vom were screened for Yersinia enterocolitica infection between August 2005 and August 2006. The isolation methods adopted were direct plating on MacConkey Agar (MCA), Deoxycholate Citrate Agar (DCA) and cold enrichment method using phosphate buffered saline prior to subculture onto selective solid culture media (Cefsulodin Irgasan Novobiocin [CIN] agar). Out of the 150 samples screened, 6 (15%) were positive. The incidence of the infection was highest among those aged 1 - 10 years 3 (7.5%), followed by 21 - 31 years 2 (5%) and 11 - 20 years 1 (2.5%). Serotyped and biotyped, pathogenic Y. enterocolitica (2/O: 9. 4/O: 9) were susceptible to ciprofloxin, floxavid, streptomycin and tetracycline

Therapeutic Efficacy of Cervical Traction in the Management of Cervical Radiculopathy: A Control Trial

Background: Severe pain and disability from cervical disorder is second to that of low back pain in musculoskeletal practice. Methods: Forty eight patients who met the inclusion criteria were placed into experimental (n=24) and control (n=24) group randomly. Participants in both groups received massage, cryotherapy and active exercises. Cervical traction was administered to experimental group for 15 minutes, thrice per week for four weeks while the other group served as control. Verbal rating scale (VRS) and Neck Disability Pain Index (NDI) were used as outcome measures. Data were analyzed using descriptive, dependent –t-test and independent-t-test. Results: There was a significant improvement in the pretreatment and post treatment pain intensity (t=10.75, p< 0.001) and neck functional disability (t=2.42, p=0.03) of participants in experimental group. There was a significant difference (t=-3.98, p=0.006) in the post treatment pain intensity between the cervical traction and control group. Conclusion: It could be concluded that application of continuous cervical traction can significantly reduce pain intensity of patients with cervical  radiculopathy.Key words: Cervical traction, cryotherapy, neck disability index, and verbal rating scale

The antibacterial potentials of Nauclea latifolia

Herbal medicine is readily available in diverse African vegetation with the potentials of introducing new templates into medicine worldwide. Evaluating plants from the traditional African system of medicineprovides us with clues on how these plants can be used in the treatment of diseases. In vitro effect of Nauclea latifolia extract in hot water, cold water, petroleum ether and chloroform at concentrations of200, 150, 100, 50% were tested on some pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Using agar diffusion punch holemethod, both the aqueous and alcoholic extracts of the leaves and roots showed appreciable inhibitory effect when compared to the positive control on S. aureus and P. aeruginosa while S. typhi and E. coliwere resistant to the extracts. Using serial doubling dilution, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined. The minimum bacteria concentration was determined by plating variousdilutions of the extracts without turbidity. Aqueous and alcoholic extracts of N. latifolia showed inhibitory and bactericidal activity on the test organisms. The alcoholic extracts showed larger zone ofinhibition on the test organisms. The alcohol leaf extracts showed a higher percentage of growth inhibition when compared to the positive control. The MIC ranges from 6.25 – 150 mg/ml on S. aureusand 12.5 – 150 mg/ml for P. aeruginosa. The MBC ranges from 100 – 150 mg/ml. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of saponin, resins, alkaloids, and carbohydrate

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) among Children of Primary School Age in a Community, North-Central, Nigeria

Globally, Hepatitis B Virus has been identified as one of the most common infectious diseases and a major public health problem.This study was therefore carried out to assess the prevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection among primary school children attending LGE primary school, Sabon Pegi, Kuru, Nigeria. Three hundred and sixty (360) blood samples were collected from the pupils and sera separated and analyzed for HBsAg using one step Hepatitis B surface antigen test strip. Of the 360 samples screened, 35 (9.7%) were sero-positive. Pupils within the age 7-9 years had the highest prevalence of 3.9%. Male subjects recorded a prevalence of 6.1% compared to 3.6% for females. Risk factors such as blood transfusion recorded 1.6%. Furthermore, family history of HBV infection accounted for 3.6%, while male subjects that had traditional method of circumcision recorded a high prevalence of 3.3%. Unfortunately, the prevalence of this ravaging infectious agent appears to be high amongst the subjects studied. It is strongly suggested that public awareness be accorded urgent attention while socioeconomic development in these areas be given priority as a measure to preventing further spread of this virus amongst children, particularly the school age group. Key words: Children, HBsAg, Primary school, Seroprevalenc

Delivery of thermostable Newcastle disease (ND) vaccine to chickens with broken millet grains as the vehicle

The efficacy of treated broken millet grains as a carrier for delivery of thermostable Newcastle disease (ND) vaccine HRV4 to free-range chickens in three locations was assessed by haemagglutinationinhibition (HI) test and challenge experiment. Out of 256 birds fed with first dose of the vaccine, 130 (50.8%) produced detectable HI antibody but only 16 (6.3%) attained serum antibody level of log2 3.0adjudged protective. From the locations, Igumale (74 birds), Kuru (88 birds) Riyom (94 birds), only 1 (1.4%), 8 (9.1%) and 7 (7.4%) attained log2 titre 3.0, respectively. A booster vaccine dose 2 weeks lateron 236 of the birds led to 126 (53.4%) attaining HI (log2) titre 3.0 [Igumale (63 birds), Kuru (86 birds) Riyom (87 birds) had 33 (53.5%), 46 (53.5%) and 42 (48.3%) respectively attaining log2 titres of 3.0]. Out of a total of 70 buy-back chickens challenged, 49 (70.0%) survived. The break down showed that from Igumale (20 birds), Kuru (25 birds) Riyom (25 birds), the survivors were 13 (65.0%), 19 (76.0%) and 17 (68.0%), respectively. Out of 28 unvaccinated control birds challenged, only 4 survived. The overall results showed that millet, if properly treated, could be a good vaccine carrier and that the method of vaccination was relatively efficacious.

Serological studies on Newcastle Disease in Sera of local chickens in Plateau State

No Abstract

The Physiological Changes Associated with Coccidia Infected Rabbits Treated with Extract of Momordica Balsamina Fruit Bark

An extract of Momordica balsamina fruit bark used in plateau State, Nigeria by local poultry farmers for the enhancement of general conditions of birds was studied to verify local claims that the fruit bark is effective as anticoccidial agent in rabbits. Adult rabbits weighing between 1.2 - 1.5 kg were grouped 1 – 4, challenged with Eimeria stiedae oocysts and treated 7 days post challenge with 400 mg/kg body weight with the extract. Fecal oocysts counts, body weight and temperature were determined over a period of twenty days post manifestation of characteristic clinical signs and extract treatment. The decrease in the oocysts load in the treated groups (3 and 4), compared to the infected and untreated group 2 was statistically significant (p<0.05) by chi square analysis. Phytochemical analysis reveals highest concentration of resin and moderate presence of alkaloids, glycosides and flavinoids in the extract. The gross pathology of dead rabbits showed congested hepatomegaly, with circumscribed grayish diffused lesions, while surviving rabbits showed apparently normal liver post extract treatment. The rabbits regained body weights gradually, while the temperature remained normal with absence of oocyst in the feces. In conclusion, this finding shows that the extract enhances the clearing of oocysts with some potential anti-coccidial effect

Sero-prevalence of Peste des Petits ruminants virus antibodies in sheep and goats in Borno State, Nigeria

No Abstract.Animal Production Research Advances Vol. 4 (2) 2008: pp. 123-12