Evaluation of Post-vaccinal Antibody Response to Canine Distemper Virus Vaccine Following a Single Dose of Multivalent (DHLPPi) Vaccines to Nigerian Local Breeds of Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris)

The current level of morbidity and mortality among dogs due to canine distemper virus infection raise concerns about the effectiveness of commercially available DHLPPi vaccines. The prevalence of the disease despite vaccination warranted the evaluation of the potency of vaccines that are used for routine vaccination in Nigeria. This study was conducted to investigate antibody responses to the three common brands of DHLPPi vaccines for dogs and to recommend the best immunogenic brand for routine vaccination in dogs in Nigeria. Twenty local breed of dogs, age 8 -14 weeks were purchased from dog breeders in Ibadan, Oyo-State, Nigeria. The dogs were screened for heamoparasites and endoparasites. Those that were positive were treated appropriately and they were acclimatized for three weeks in the University of Ibadan Veterinary Teaching Hospital kernels. They were divided into four groups tagged A, B, C and D. They were fed with rice and meat and formulated rations and served fresh clean water ad-libitum. Groups A, B and C were vaccinated while Group D was not vaccinated and served as the control. Blood samples were collected before vaccination (day 0) and weekly for four weeks and 90 days post-vaccination. The sera of collected blood samples were subjected to ELISA test. Mean values of ELISA antibody titers were calculated and the mean values obtained were compared for significant differences using ANOVA test and student t-test. The antibody titres of the three groups A, B and C were observed to increase within a week of vaccination, and the three vaccinated groups showed variable antibody responses on different days of samplings.characterised with rising and waning of antibodies. Group D was observed to be low titres of antibody throughout the study period. From these findings, all the vaccines were potent, however, comparatively vaccine C was the best, vaccine B was better than A. Vaccine C is therefore strongly recommended for use in dogs for routine vaccination and a booster dose should be administered 4-5 weeks after first dose for optimum humoral immunity against canine distemper virus infection. Seromonitoring is essential in planning vaccination regimen for dogs. Other factors that can affect the effectiveness of vaccine during storage, transportation and administration should be considered for a desirable resul

Bethune round table 2012: 12th annual conference: filling the gap

Background: Our aim was to highlight the impact of collaboration between 2 linked tertiary hospitals in Nigeria and India. Methods: We conducted a review of a collaboration between the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre (AIMS), Kochi, India, and the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Ilorin, Nigeria, to exchange personnel for the purpose of further training from August 2007 and December 2011. Results: One neurosurgeon, 2 pediatric surgeons and 1 orthopedic surgeon had additional exposure at AIMS for periods of 3 months to 1 year. Four neurosurgery and 3 pediatric surgery perioperative nurses have also been trained at AIMS for periods of 3 months. A pediatric surgeon was invited as faculty for laparoscopic training at Ilorin in 2010. The collaboration has resulted in exposure to surgical procedures not usually done in our centre. Our pediatric surgery unit has commenced laparoscopic surgery and pyeloplasty for pelvic ureteric junction obstruction in children. The orthopedic surgeon has commenced interlocking nailing and joint replacement. The neurosurgeon has successful done endoscopic third ventriculostomy and microscopic resection of brain tumour. Conclusion: This international collaboration has led to capacity building with significant impact on surgical services at UITH. An international collaboration and exchange program is a feasible and desirable strategy for technology transfer between technology-advanced settings and resource-constrained centres

Selfdirected learning: Status of finalyear students and perceptions of selected faculty leadership in a Nigerian medical school – a mixed analysis study

Background. Self-directed learning (SDL) is the essential mechanism of lifelong learning, which, in turn, is required for medical professionals to maintaincompetency because of advancing technology and constantly evolving disease care and contexts. Yet, most Nigerian medical schools do not actively promote SDL skills for medical students.Objective. To evaluate the status of SDL behaviour among final-year students, and the perceptions of faculty leadership towards SDL in a Nigerian medical school.Methods. A mixed research method was used, with a survey consisting of a validated Likert-based self-rating scale for SDL (SRSSDL) to assess students’SDL behaviour. Focus group discussions with selected faculty leaders were thematically analysed to assess their perceptions of SDL.Results. The medical students reported moderate SDL behaviour, contrary to faculty, who considered their students’ SDL behaviour to be low. Faculty leadership further defined SDL as the self-motivated student demonstrating initiative in learning under the guidance of teachers, who use interactive forums for teaching. Furthermore, teachers and students should partner towards the goal of ensuring that student learning takes place. Teachers expressed concerns about SDL methods in medical schools owing to the fear that this will require medical students to teach themselves medicine without expert guidance from teachers.Conclusion. This study suggests that final-year students have a low to moderate level of SDL behaviour. The index faculty are willing to develop teacherguidedself-motivated learning for their students, rather than strict SDL. Faculty should be concerned about this behaviour and should encourage SDL in such a way that students realise its benefits to become lifelong learners. Further study of the perceptions about self-regulated learning are recommended

Congenital Corneal Opacity in a Nigerian Local Puppy (A case report)

A four-week old Nigerian local puppy was presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Ibadan with a history of bilateral corneal opacity. This was observed as the eyes opened at the age of seven days. General examination did not reveal any other abnormality. There was a gradual clearing of the opacity and by the age of eighteen weeks, it was completely resolved. Keywords: keCongenital corneal opacity, local dog Sahel Journal of Veterinary Sciences Vol. 5 (1) 2006 pp. 1-

Self-directed learning : status of final-year students and perceptions of selected faculty leadership in a Nigerian medical school – a mixed analysis study

CITATION: Nottidge, T. E. & Louw, A. J. N. 2017. Self-directed learning : status of final-year students and perceptions of selected faculty leadership in a Nigerian medical school – a mixed analysis study. African Journal of Health Professions Education, 9(1):29-33, doi:10.7196/AJHPE.2017.v9i1.708.The original publication is available at http://www.sajsm.org.za/index.php/ajhpeBackground. Self-directed learning (SDL) is the essential mechanism of lifelong learning, which, in turn, is required for medical professionals to maintain competency because of advancing technology and constantly evolving disease care and contexts. Yet, most Nigerian medical schools do not actively promote SDL skills for medical students. Objective. To evaluate the status of SDL behaviour among final-year students, and the perceptions of faculty leadership towards SDL in a Nigerian medical school. Methods. A mixed research method was used, with a survey consisting of a validated Likert-based self-rating scale for SDL (SRSSDL) to assess students’ SDL behaviour. Focus group discussions with selected faculty leaders were thematically analysed to assess their perceptions of SDL. Results. The medical students reported moderate SDL behaviour, contrary to faculty, who considered their students’ SDL behaviour to be low. Faculty leadership further defined SDL as the self-motivated student demonstrating initiative in learning under the guidance of teachers, who use interactive forums for teaching. Furthermore, teachers and students should partner towards the goal of ensuring that student learning takes place. Teachers expressed concerns about SDL methods in medical schools owing to the fear that this will require medical students to teach themselves medicine without expert guidance from teachers. Conclusion. This study suggests that final-year students have a low to moderate level of SDL behaviour. The index faculty are willing to develop teacherguided self-motivated learning for their students, rather than strict SDL. Faculty should be concerned about this behaviour and should encourage SDL in such a way that students realise its benefits to become lifelong learners. Further study of the perceptions about self-regulated learning are recommended.http://www.ajhpe.org.za/index.php/ajhpe/article/view/708Publishers' versio

Measuring the success of wildlife rehabilitation: Koalas and Brushtail possums

Native mammal populations in Southeast Queensland are under threat from habitat loss through land development, dog attacks and motor vehicle accidents. Animals that are not killed from these impacts are sometimes rescued, rehabilitated and later released back into the wild, usually in their area of origin. Although the release of these animals is a relatively common practice, little post release monitoring has been carried out and reported to assess the success of the animals in the wild. This paper discusses the results of three recent studies which have monitored the movements and health of rehabilitated and translocated koalas (Phascolarctos ciniereus) and common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecular): one conducted by Wildcare Australia in 1995- 1996, the other two in collaboration with the University of Queensland. The results indicate that the survival and health of the great majority of the released animals were good and that they were usually able to establish new home ranges during the tracking period. Such findings seem to contradict the results of studies conducted in southern Australia which have monitored the release of translocated possums and gliders, and suggest that there are some key factors which may be critical in determining the success of such releases. These factors include the age of admission and the duration of care, and in particular the selection of the release site. With both koalas and brushtail possums, the release site was found to be critical in determining both the survival and dispersal of the released animals. Consequently, while these studies confirm that the reintroduction of koalas and common brushtail possums may be a viable management strategy, the individual characteristics of the animals themselves and of their release areas must be carefully considered. It is recommended that further research of these key release factors be undertaken and that the work be extended for other species which are commonly released following rehabilitation

Sequential Hematological Study of Experimental Infectious Bursal Disease Virus Infection in Chickens, Turkeys and Ducks

Following experimental infectious bursal disease virus infections in four-weekold broiler chicks, turkey poults and ducklings, blood samples were chronologically collected and analyzed for postinfection (pi) changes. Although there was a net increase in packed cell volume values in chicks reaching a peak of 31% from 12 h to 144 h pi, there was, on the contrary, a general decline in the values in turkey poults and ducklings to minima of 26.5% at 12 h pi and 28.2% at 48 h pi, respectively. Leukocyte counts in chicks significantly increased (p < 0.05) to a peak of 66.83 x 103/μl at 120 h, while counts in poults decreased to a minimum of 26.75 x 103/μl at 96 h pi. Lymphocyte counts in chicks were reduced to a minimum of 5.9 x 103/μl at 48 h pi after an initial reduction between three and six hours postinfection. A similar decline occurred in poults with a minimum of 7.81 x 103/μl at 48 h pi. The trend of changes in heterophil counts for the three species was similar to those observed for leukocyte counts. While eosinophil counts in chicks initially increased to a peak of 1.93 x 103/μl at 6 h pi and subsequently declined, eosinophil values in poults declined to a minimum of 0.88 x 103/μl at 6 h pi, followed by an increase to a maximum of 5.7 x 103/μl at 72 h pi. However, all hematological values in ducklings remained relatively unchanged. These results showed that there was biphasic lymphopenia, eosinophilia and heterophilia in chicks, lymphopenia and delayed eosinophilia in poults, and relatively unchanged values in ducklings. This emphasizes the fact that different levels of susceptibility exist in the three poultry species studied

Motorcycle Road Traffic Injuries in Southern Nigeria: The Small Motorcycle as a Prevention Strategy

Background: The commonest mode of public transportation in Uyo is by motorcycle. There are two sizes of motorcycle in common use - the big one (Qlink or Skygo model, made in China) and the small one (C90, made in China). The study was carried out to determine if there is a lower risk of RTI severe enough to be brought to the hospital, attributable to using a small motorcycle. Methods: Motorcycle RTI victims admitted at the Accident and Emergency department of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), were reviewed prospectively over a 15 month period. Three community visual surveys of the proportion of small to large motorcycles were also conducted. Results: A total of 131 RTI victims were reviewed over 15 months. The visual surveys of motorcycles in Uyo revealed that the mean proportion of small to large is 38 to 62, a ratio of 1:1.6. Eighty-three (63.3%) of the 131 RTI′s involved motorcycles. 74 of these occurred in large motorcycles. There was a statistically significant relationship between motorcycle size and occurrence of an RTI severe enough to be brought to hospital. Conclusion: There is a lower risk of RTI severe enough to be brought to hospital, from using a small motorcycle