Pathogenicity Of A Malaysian Fowl Adenovirus Isolate In Specific Pathogen Free Embryonated Chicken Eggs And Chicks

The pathogenic role of fowl adenoviruses (FAdVs) in disease outbreaks remained unestablished, as some findings showed that FAdVs are the primary infectious agents whilst others showed that these viruses can co-infect with other immunosuppressive agents to cause diseases. Thus, there is a need to establish the roles and characteristics of the virus in chicken to control and prevent the disease, especially by developing vaccine and introducing vaccination programme against the disease. The objective of the study was to isolate, identify and determine the pathogenicity of Malaysian isolate of FAdV in specific pathogen free (SPF) embryonated chicken eggs and chicks. Liver homogenate obtained from inclusion body hepatitis (IBH) field outbreaks in commercial broiler chicken was inoculated, passaged and titrated in SPF embryonated chicken eggs via chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) route and the FAdV was identified using electron microscopy. The virus inoculum with the titre of 1x 10 4.8 EID50/ 0.1 ml was then inoculated into 9-day-old SPF embryonated chicken eggs as well as 9-day-old SPF chicks. Control groups were included and remained non-inoculated. They were monitored for mortality and clinical signs. The eggs and chicks were either labeled for determination of the percentage of mortality or sacrificed at days 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 12, and days 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14 and 21 post inoculations (pi), respectively. On necropsy, samples of liver, CAM, yolk sac, kidney, spleen, heart and bursa of Fabricius from the embryos were collected for histological examination, whilst the liver and CAM were also examined for ultrastructural changes. Samples of liver, spleen, gizzard, proventriculus, kidney, pancreas, duodenum and bursa of Fabricius of the chicks were also examined for histological changes, whilst samples of liver were examined for ultrastructural changes as well. The study showed 100% embryo mortality within 4 to 11 days pi of the virus in SPF embryonated chicken eggs. The gross and histological lesions of the embryo were confined in the liver at days 5, 7, 9 and 11 pi. Grossly the liver was pale with multi-focal areas of necrosis, fibrosis and hemorrhages. Histologically, moderate to severe congestion and hemorrhage, severe diffused degeneration and necrosis of the hepatocytes with intranuclear inclusion bodies (INIB), and infiltration of inflammatory cells were recorded. Hemorrhage, congestion, degeneration, necrosis and hyperplasia of the chorionic epithelium of CAM with INIB were observed at days 5, 7, 9 and 11 pi. Varying degree of congestion, hemorrhage, degeneration and necrosis were also observed in the yolk sac, kidney, spleen, heart and bursa of Fabricius. Numerous viral particles in the nucleus of hepatocytes were recorded at days 7, 9 and 11 pi under ultrastructural examination, whereas at 5 days pi fine granular and filamentous materials of inclusion bodies were observed. The INIB in the ectoderm were either as fine granular and filamentous structures or as large viral inclusions. Neither clinical signs nor mortality and gross lesions were observed in the chicks in both groups; the FAdV inoculated and control groups. However, histologically mild to moderate degeneration with focal areas of necrosis, presence of INIB and mild infiltration of inflammatory cells in the liver and mild degeneration and necrosis in the proventriculus and pancreas were observed at days 5 to 14 pi. Ultrastructurally, fibrillar, granular and filaments particles of INIB of the hepatocytes were recorded at days 5 to 14 pi. It was concluded that the FAdV of Malaysian isolate is highly pathogenic to SPF embryonated chicken eggs, but low pathogenic to the chicks. The embryonic liver is the best organ to be used for adaptation and passaging of the virus since severe lesions and numerous viral particles were observed in the liver, the target organ of the virus. The failure of the virus particles to develop in the hepatocytes could result in the failure of disease development in the FAdV infection in the chicks. It appears that the FAdV of Malaysian isolate has high potential to be used as a viral vector to produce recombinant vaccine against poultry diseases

From Kingdom to Elitdom: Tradition and the Question of Relevant Education in Ethiopia

This study is a rigorous and critical analysis of the significance and relevance of tradition to modern education in Ethiopia. Based on the interpretation of empirical, historical and theoretical information, it demonstrates how the Ethiopian education system drew antagonistic relationship between education and tradition with the consequence of making the experience and interest of the majority of the population irrelevant to modernisation

The School Leadership Is a Key to Break the Higher Education Iron Triangle through Borderless Distance Education: The Case of UNISA in Addis Ababa Ethiopia

This paper examines the role of cross-border distance education institutions in providing access to quality postgraduate education in Ethiopia, using the South Africa University (UNISA) as a case study. It draws on the appropriate school leadership for the development of distance education, and it further explores the potential of a distance education program delivery system in an Ethiopian context. In addition, the study explores the policy gap between conventional and distance education in relation to international postgraduate distance education. Two instruments were used to gather relevant data, namely: interviews and document analysis. Theoretical framework developed through three key elements: access, cost and quality were used as tools of analysis

Preliminary Report: Conservation Concerns for the Lalibela Rock Hewn Churches

This report details preliminary findings on the damaging nature of conservation work being conducted on the rock hewn churches of Lalibela, Ethiopia. The report examines two works, namely the EU funded shelters over five churches and the American Embassy funded conservation works on the Gabriel-Rafael church

Prevalence of Cataract Blindness in Rural Ethiopia

Background: Over three-quarter of all blindness worldwide are preventable and usually caused by cataract and trachoma.Objective: To assess the prevalence of cataract blindness in rural Ethiopia in order to facilitate further health care planning.Methods: A Cross-sectional, community-based study of inhabitants over 40 years of age from villages in the Abeshge and Kebena Districts, south of Addis Ababa. A total of 1100 eligible participants were identified in the study. Visual acuity (VA) was measured using a Snellen’s E chart at 6 metres and eye examinations were performed using torch light, 2.5 X magnifying glasses and an ophthalmoscope. Cataract was defined as lens opacity identified as the cause of blindness and low vision after ruling out other causes. Unfortunately, there was no access to a refraction set and slit lamp to conduct thorough examinations.Results: The adjusted prevalence of bilateral cataract blindness (VA<3/60) was 2.4%, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8%–3.0%. Cataract is the major cause of bilateral blindness (66.7%) among the participants. The cataract surgical coverage was 28.9% for men and 18.1% for women. The adjusted prevalence of bilateral cataract and VA<6/60 was 3.6% (95% CI, 1.4%–5.8%). In this last group, the surgical coverage was 41.2% (persons) and 38.5% (eyes). Of all operated eyes, 30% could not see at 6/60. Inability to afford the procedure (64.5%) and poor knowledge of cataract (29.8%) were the reasons why surgery had not been performed.Conclusions: Cataract blindness is a major health problem in the study area with low surgical uptake. There is backlog of cataract blindness in the study area that will increase with ageing. This backlog was also reflected in other developing countries. Awareness campaigns, reducing cost, and expansion of surgical services may help to increase the cataract surgical rate, and women should be offered more cataract surgery. These results will enable health managers to plan effective interventions in line with Vision 2020. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2011;25(2):156-160

Unusual termination of the right testicular vein

The testicular veins are formed by the veins emerging from the testis and epididymis forming the pampiniform venous plexus. The right testicular vein drains into inferior vena cava and the left testicular vein to the left renal vein. Testicular veins display a great variability with regard to their number, course and sites of termination. Awareness of the possible variations of gonadal vessels is necessary for adequate surgical management.Keywords: Testicular vein, Termination, Inferior vena cava, Renal vei

CASE REPORT Leiomyoma Arising from Mullerian Remnant, Mimicking Ovarian Tumor in a Woman with MRKH Syndrome and Unilateral Renal Agenesis

BACKGROUND: Leiomyoma with secondary changes arising from Mullerian remnant may mimic ovarian  tumor in women with Mayer-Rockitansky-Kuster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome in patients with pelvic mass and urologic abnormalities. CASE DETAIL: The patient was a 40 years old known case of MRKH, presented with lower abdominal pain and swelling for over one year. On physical examination, large pelvic mass (about 15cm by 10cm) was found and a diagnosis of ovarian tumor was made by imaging which also showed absent right kidney. Finally, the mass  was found to be a big leiomyoma with areas of hyaline, edematous and cystic degenerations. CONCLUSION: Although leiomyoma arising from rudimentary Mullerian bulb is a rare condition, it should be considered in differential diagnosis of pelvic mass in patients with MRKH. Possibility of urologic abnormalities should also be considered in these patients and appropriate work up per local context should be made. KEYWORDS: Leiomyoma, Mayer-Rockitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome, Mullerian remnant, renal agenesi

Comparison of effects of isoniazid plus ART and ART only regimen on the incidence of tuberculosis and HIV progression in HIV positive patients: a retrospective cohort study at two hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Background: Tuberculosis is a major opportunistic complication of HIV-infection. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) lowers incidence of tuberculosis (TB) but may not be sufficient to control HIV-related tuberculosis, implying a need for additional interventions. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) plus ART and ART only regimens on the incidence of active TB and HIV progression in HIV positive patients.Methods: The retrospective cohort study was conducted at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital and Zewditu Memorial Hospital on 185 patients receiving IPT plus ART and 557 patients receiving ART only. Incidence rates (IR) were used to determine incidence rates of tuberculosis. Time to AIDS and TB event were compared using student t-test. Risks of the outcomes were identified using regression models.Results: The study showed a reduced tuberculosis incidence rate from 7.44 to 1.8 cases/100 person-years [PYs] by IPT plus ART compared to ART only. In reference to ART alone, the IPT plus ART significantly reduced risks of active TB (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.24; 95% CI 0.09–0.63; P=0.004) and had about 16 months of TB protection (P<0.001). In addition, the IPT plus ART delayed HIV progression to AIDS more significantly than the ART only (P=0.029). However, it increased risks of adverse events (AOR 3.33; 95% CI 1.35–8.19; P=0.01) more than the ART only.Conclusions: The wider use of IPT with ART impacts more on incidence of tuberculosis and time to AIDS while simultaneously increasing risks of adverse events than the ART only.