A case of pulmonary blastomycosis in a common eland (Taurotragus oryx)

This case report describes for the first time pulmonary blastomycosis in a captive common eland (Taurotragus oryx). The animal has been in captivity for over 14 years and the clinical signs observed before death were non-specific. The carcass was examined grossly and histologically using special stains. There were yellowish, firm and gritty nodules of varying sizes (0.5–2 cm in diameter) on the pleura, in the lung, mediastinal lymph nodes and pericardium. The nodules showed pyogranuloma-tous inflammation and broad based budding yeast (PAS, Giemsa positive and ZN negative) consistent with Blastomyces dermatitidis. Regular screening of soil and environment including animals in cap-tivity should be encouraged to avert possible spread of the mold in favourable conditions. Public awareness should be improved on fungal diseases

Association between erythrocyte Na+K+-ATPase activity and some blood lipids in type 1 diabetic patients from Lagos, Nigeria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Altered levels of erythrocyte Na⁺K⁺-ATPase, atherogenic and anti-atherogenic lipid metabolites have been implicated in diabetic complications but their pattern of interactions remains poorly understood.</p> <p>This study evaluated this relationship in Nigerian patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 34 consented Type 1 diabetic patients and age -matched 27 non-diabetic controls were enrolled. Fasting plasma levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol were determined spectrophotometrically and LDL-cholesterol estimated using Friedewald formula. Total protein content and Na+K+-ATPase activity were also determined spectrophotometrically from ghost erythrocyte membrane prepared by osmotic lysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Results indicate significant (P < 0.05) reduction in Na⁺K⁺-ATPase activity in the Type 1 diabetic patients (0.38 ± 0.08 vs. 0.59 ± 0.07 uM Pi/mgprotein/h) compared to the control but with greater reduction in the diabetic subgroup with poor glycemic control (n = 20) and in whom cases of hypercholesterolemia (8.8%), hypertriglyceridemia (2.9%) and elevated LDL-cholesterol (5.9% each) were found. Correlation analyses further revealed significant (P < 0.05) inverse correlations [r = -(0.708-0.797] between all the atherogenic lipid metabolites measured and Na⁺K⁺-ATPase in this subgroup contrary to group with good glycemic control or non-diabetic subjects in which significant (P < 0.05) Na⁺K⁺-ATPase and HDL-C association were found (r = 0.427 - 0.489). The Na⁺K⁺-ATPase from the diabetic patients also exhibited increased sensitivity to digoxin and alterations in kinetic constants Vmax and Km determined by glycemic status of the patients.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>It can be concluded that poor glycemic control evokes greater reduction in erythrocyte Na⁺K⁺-ATPase activity and promote enzyme-blood atherogenic lipid relationships in Type 1 diabetic Nigerian patients.</p

Presumptive diagnosis of Avian encephalomyelitis in Japanese quail in Ibadan, Nigeria

A report of Avian encephalomyelitis outbreak in two flocks of adult Japanese quail is presented. High mortalities, tremor, ataxia and lateral recumbency were the prominent clinical signs observed. Absence of gross pathology and microscopic lesions of gliosis, neuronal degeneration, meningitis, congested blood vessel with perivascular cuffing, suggestive of acute to subacute encephalitis gave a presumptive diagnosis of Avian encephalomyelitis. However, this outbreak in adult birds, being the first in Japanese quail in Nigeria, is at variance with previous reports on the disease occurring in young flocks. It is believed that the relative small body size of the Japanese quail is a contributory factor to their susceptibility even as adult birds. Routine vaccination is therefore recommended.Keywords: Avian Encephalomyelitis, Japanese quail, Clinical signs, Pathology, Nigeria

Point prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of game and captive wildlife in the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana

The ability to understand the ecological dynamics of parasites allows for a more wholistic insight into the application of the one health concept in wildlife medicine. Using this method, the ecological dynamics of shared gastrointestinal parasites of wildlife, humans and domestic animals in the Kumasi metropolis was determined. The study analyzed 102 faecal samples (59 from game and 43 from captive animals) from Kumasi Metropolis using the flotation and Mcmaster techniques. From the study, the pattern of prevalence for helminth parasites was same for both game and captive animals with Trichostrongyles being the most prevalent (49.2% in game animals and 44.2% in captive animals) followed by Ascarids, Stongyloides spp., and Trichuris spp. Capillaria spp. was least prevalent in captive animals at 23.3% and just a bit more prevalent in game animals (8.5%) than Trichuris spp. (5.1%). Protozoan parasite prevalence pattern differed between game and captive animals with Coccidia (45.8%) more prevalent in game animals than Entamoeba spp. (6.8%). In captive animals Entamoeba spp. (20.9%) was most prevalent followed by Coccidia (13.9%) and then Giardia spp. (11.6%). This confirmed the existence of shared gastrointestinal parasites between wildlife, humans and domestic animals with the potential to be spilled over into wildlife or spilled back to humans and domestic animals, emphasizing the need for more extensive studies in wildlife parasitology and ways in which to reduce the risks posed to humans, wildlife and our domestic animals.Keywords: Parasites; helminths; protozoan; wildlife; Ghana

Prevalence, distribution and pattern of gastric lesions in slaughtered pigs in south-western Nigeria

Gastric lesions, especially ulceration, cause significant economic losses in the swine industry worldwide. The study was designed to assess its prevalence, distribution and pattern in pigs in south-western Nigeria. Slaughter house surveys were conducted on three government-established abattoirs in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states. Stomachs from 480 pigs were assessed for gross lesions, which were graded using a modification of a standard technique. Tissues from different regions of the stomach were routinely stained to assess histopathologic changes. Data were presented as frequency counts and analysed using analysis of variance and chi-square technique. Significance was determined at p ≤ 0.05. Gastric lesions were encountered across the four regions of the stomach with a point prevalence of 57.29%. The prevalence of lesions in the non-glandular region was 32.9%, with severe hyperkeratosis (13.13%) being most frequently observed (p < 0.05). Erosions were significantly higher in the cardia (8.54%) (p < 0.05), followed by fundus (8.33%). Gastric ulcers were significantly higher in the fundus (19.58%) (p < 0.05). Scars of healed ulcers and lacerations were also observed in the fundus (5.42%) (p < 0.05). The gastric lesion distribution across the four regions of the stomach and the occurrence of ulceration in the fundus showed an unusual pattern, which is rarely reported in other parts of the world. The reason for these findings in pigs in Nigeria is not fully understood; therefore, further studies are required to identify and manage these factors for increased productivity, improved animal welfare and enhanced food security. Keywords: prevalence; gastric; lesions; fundic ulcers; pig

Pattern of pulmonary lesions in some wildlife rodents and duikers in Ghana

Respiratory disease has been presumed as a limiting factor in the domestication of some wild rodents; however, there is dearth of information on the pattern and burden of pulmonary lesions in these animals especially in West Africa where they are delicacies. A total of 96 rodents including 48 giant rats, 28 cane rats, 5 squirels and 15 duikers acquired from game meat market in Kumasi, Ghana were investigated for lung lesions. The lungs were observed macroscopically for distribution of consolidation and sections were further processed for microscopic evaluation using standard techniques. Results showed that 56 (58%) of lung samples had lesions with higher prevalence in giant rats than duiker. The young and male animals were observed to be more affected. Microscopic changes in the lung include pulmonary congestion, interstitial pneumonia, bronchopneumonia and atelectasis. The knowledge of the pattern of pneumonia in wildlife rodents and duikers calls for the need for a national surveillance on the nature of respiratory diseases of wildlife and it also may inform choices of conservational policies on these animals. .Keyword: Lung, Pneumonia, Rodents, Duiker, Ghana, Nigeri

Sokoto Journal of Veterinary Sciences Retrospective study of diseases and associated pneumonia type diagnosed in dogs at post-mortem at Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract The causes and types of pneumonia in dogs have not been accorded due attention in Nigeria. It is imperative to investigate the incidence and type of pneumonia commonly observed during post-mortem at the Department of Veterinary Pathology arm of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. This investigation was carried out on 397 archival canine samples for dogs presented for necropsy at the Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Ibadan, during the periods of 2000 -2012. The gross diagnosis was obtained from the postmortem records while the specific type of pneumonia was by histopathology of selected lungs tissues, using standard techniques. Descriptive statistics was employed to evaluate the effect of age, sex, breed and the type of pneumonia. Alsatian(29%) and Rottweiler(14.4%) breeds of dogs were the common breeds of dogs encountered at post-mortem, and the dogs above 3 year old (51.9%) were the most affected, with leptospirosis (38.5%) being the most prevalent disease diagnosed, followed by neoplasia (13.49%) while infectious canine hepatitis was the least prevalent (0.5%). The histopathological diagnosis revealed that the pneumonic patterns were that of suppurative bronchopneumonia (75%), fibrinous bronchopneumonia (10%) and interstitial pneumonia, (15%). The diseases associated with the different pneumonia seen during the histopathological examination were leptospirosis, canine distemper, and left sided heart failure. Findings has shown that pneumonia in dogs were commonly associated with leptospirosis. In the course of this study, the histopathological lesions and changes associated with the pneumonia seen in the leptospirosis cases include alveolar haemorrhages, edema, neutrophils and macrophages in the alveolar spaces and neutrophils in small pulmonary vessels. In lieu of this, pneumonia could be a major contributory factor to death associated with leptospirosis in the cases reviewed