In Vivo Anti-Trypanosomal Activity of Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Carissa Spinarum (Wild Karanda) in Mice Infected with Trypanosoma Brucei Brucei Spp.

Carissa Spinarum plant has been implicated as a medicinal plant for joints, muscle, chest pains by the massai people of Kenya, also as an antiviral supplement for HIV treatment in Tanzania. Acute toxicity of the ethanolic leaf extract and minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) using four (4) microorganism (proteus, e.coli, staphylococcus aureus spp & enterobacter spp) was evaluated in mice using Lorke’s method & serial dilution method respectively. The ethanolic leaf extract was evaluated for in vivo anti-trypanosomal activity against federa strain of Trypanosoma brucei brucei in albino mice. Four days suppressive, curative effect against established infection and prophylactic models of anti-trypanosomal studies were carried out. The median lethal dose of the extract was determined to be ? 100mg ? kg body weight. The extract (12.5, 25, 50mg / kg) exerted some dose dependent suppressive effects at the different levels of infections tested, with no significant curative effects recorded. However, further antitrypanosomal property can be explored for the management of trypanosomiasis. Keywords: Carissa spinarum, antitrypanosomal, albino mice, trypanosome brucei brucei speci

Result of 2004 extended trypanosomosis survey of ruminants at Kachia Grazing Reserve, North Central Nigeria

Tsetse fly and trypanosome prevalence in ruminants were estimated in April and August, peak months of the dry and rainy seasons in the Kachia Grazing Reserve (KGR) of Kaduna State, North Central Nigeria. This study was subsequent to reports of seasonal outmigration of semi nomadic Fulani from the grazing reserve due to death of cattle from trypanosomosis. Result of blood samples showed an overall parasitological infection rate of 17.4%. Infection rates in cattle, sheep and goats were, 18.6%, 9.5% and 5.1% respectively. Over all higher infection rate in the rainy season was attributed to abundance of tsetse and other hematophagus flies. Infection rate in younger animals (21.9%) was higher compared to those of older animals (16.5%). Trypanosoma vivax was the dominant infecting trypanosome specie followed by T. congolense and T. brucei.It was concluded that tsetse fly and trypanosomosis constituted dual plagues limiting economic livestock production and settling of the pastoralists in the grazing reserve. This warrants application of sustainable integrated control measures to enhance utilization of abundant fodder at the reserve.Key words: Kachia grazing reserve, trypanosomosis, ruminants, infection rates, Nigeria. Resultat de l'enquete de trypanosomose extension de 2004 des ruminants a la reserve de piscine Kachia, Nigeria Centrale du NordLa prévalence de la mouche tsé-tsé et du trypanosome chez les ruminants a été estimée en avril et août, les mois de pointe des saisons secanes et pluvieuses dans la réserve de pâturage de Kachia (KGR) de l'État de Kaduna, dans le nord du centre du Nigeria. Cette étude a été postérieure à des rapports d'émigration saisonnière de Fulani semi-nomades provenant de la réserve de pâturage en raison de la mort de bovins de la trypanosomose. Le résultat des échantillons de sang a montré un taux global d'infection parasitaire de 17,4%. Les taux d'infection chez les bovins, les ovins et les chèvres étaient respectivement de 18,6%, 9,5% et 5,1%. Le taux d'infection plus élevé pendant la saison des pluies a été attribué à l'abondance de mouches tsé-tsé et d'autres mouches hématophobes. Le taux d'infection chez les animaux plus jeunes (21,9%) était plus élevé par rapport à ceux des animaux plus âgés (16,5%). Trypanosoma vivax était le trypanosome infectant dominant suivi de T. congolense et T. brucei.On a conclu que la mouche tsé-tsé et la trypanosomose constituaient des fléaux doubles limitant la production d'élevage économique et la colonisation des pasteurs dans la réserve de pâturage. Cela justifie l'application de mesures de contrôle intégrées durables pour améliorer l'utilisation de fourrages abondants dans la réserve.Mots clés: réserve de pâturage de Kachia, trypanosomose, ruminants, taux d'infection, Nigeri

Assessment of anti-trypanosomal drug resistance in cattle of the Ladduga Grazing Reserve, Kachia, Nigeria

A survey was conducted to determine the occurrence and magnitude of antitrypanosomal drug resistance in cattle of the Ladduga Grazing Reserve. The 310 cattle used in the study were randomly selected from each of the 6 blocks of the reserve. Blood samples obtained by venipuncture from the cattle were examined for trypanosomes by the Buffy Coat Technique and a PCR-based assay technique. Naturally occurring trypanosomal infections, diagnosed microscopically, in the cattle (No. detected parasitaemic/No. examined) were 11/71 (block I), 14/60 (block II), 39/54 (block III), 42/50 (block IV), 21/43 (block V) and 29/29 (block VI). In this study, we applied a protocol for rapid detection of anti-trypanosomal drug resistance hotspots which involved the monitoring of all the 156 cattle detected parasitaemic that were divided into two equal groups of 78 subjects each and treated on day 0 with diminazene aceturate (7.0 mg/kg, i.m.) or isometamidium chloride (0.5 mg/kg, i.m.). All treated cattle subsequently detected parasitaemic when re-examined on day 14 received treatment with the other “sanative pair” drug (i.e. diminazene in those previously treated with isometamidium, and vice versa). All the cattle treated on day 14 and subsequently detected parasitaemic on day 28 were treated with the other “sanative pair” drug. The infections included single infections with Trypanosoma brucei (8.9%), T. congolense (46.2%) and T. vivax (3.8%), and mixed infections of T. brucei /T. congolense (28.9%), T. congolense /T. vivax (7.1%), T. brucei /T. vivax (0.6%), and T. brucei /T. congolense /T. vivax (5.1%). Regardless of the Trypanosoma spp. found and nature (single/multiple) of the infection, the overall treatment failure rate determined on day 14 was 20.3% for isometamidium and 10.7% for diminazene. Data determined on day 28 indicated overall failure rates of 40.5% for treatment with isometamidium and 7.3% for that with the “sanative pair”. Based on response to questionnaire surveys, the herdsmen indicated that they readily purchased and self-administered diminazene or isometamidium to their cattle although only 20% of the respondents appeared to use the correct dosages of the two drugs. Data from the study would contribute to the mapping and control of animal trypanosomiasis in Nigeria and the West African cotton belt

Antioxidants in aqueous extract of Myristica fragrans (Houtt.) suppress mitosis and cyclophosphamide-induced chromosomal aberrations in Allium cepa L. cells

In this study, freeze-dried water extract from the leaves of Myristica fragrans (Houtt.) was tested for mutagenic and antimutagenic potentials using the Allium cepa assay. Freeze-dried water extract alone and its combination with cyclophosphamide (CP) (50 mg/kg) were separately dissolved in tap water at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 mg/kg. Onions (A. cepa) were suspended in the solutions and controls for 48 h in the dark. Root tips were prepared for microscopic evaluation. 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals’ scavenging power of the extract was tested using butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) as standards. Water extract of Myristica fragrans scavenged free radicals better than BHA, but worse than BHT. The extract alone, as well as in combination with CP suppressed cell division, and induced chromosomal aberrations that were insignificantly different from the negative control (P≤0.05). However, cytotoxic and mutagenic actions of CP were considerably suppressed. The observed effects on cell division and chromosomes of A. cepa may be principally connected to the antioxidant properties of the extract. The obtained results suggest mitodepressive and antimutagenic potentials of water extract of the leaves of M. fragrans as desirable properties of a promising anticancer agent