Anti-trypanosomal activity of secnidazole in vitro and in vivo

Purpose: To evaluate the anti-trypanosomal effect of secnidazole (SEC) in vitro and in vivo. Methods: The dose-response effect of SEC in Trypanosoma b. brucei infected rats was evaluated in five groups of rats (n = 5). Group A was infected but untreated; B was given diminazene aceturate (DA) (3.5 mg/kg) intraperitoneally, while groups C, D and E received orally 400, 800 and 1600 mg/kg of SEC, respectively. The effect of a combination therapy of SEC and DA was studied in 7 groups of rats (n =5). Group 1 was infected but untreated; groups 2 – 7 were treated with DA (3.5 mg/kg), while groups 3 – 7 received in addition to DA, increasing double doses of SEC (50 – 800 mg/kg).Results: The MIC of SEC and DA were 1.4 and 0.0021 mg/ml respectively. SEC dose-dependently and significantly (p < 0.05) lowered parasitemia from day 2 post-treatment (PT) compared with infected untreated rats. Parasitemia was cleared 3 days PT in all combination groups and 5 days PT in DA group. Relapse of infection occurred in Group 2, 13 days PT, and 16 and 27 days PT in Groups 3 and 4 respectively. There was no relapse of infection in Groups 5 – 7 up to 70 days PT.Conclusion: These results suggest that SEC possesses some degree of  anti-trypanosomal effect, and that combination therapy of SEC and DA was superior to DA alone.Keywords: Trypanosoma, Secnidazole, Diminazene aceturate, Anti-trypanosomal, Combination therap

Detection and antibiotic sensitivity pattern of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli strains among rural chickens in the arid region of north-eastern Nigeria

Aim: To know the prevalence of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) strains among adult apparently healthy rural chickens slaughtered in Maiduguri, north-eastern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Cloacal swabs were examined by Gram staining, biochemical tests such as indole, methyl red, Voges-Proskauer and citrate (IMVC) tests and serotype by standard slide agglutination test with antisera against somatic antigen using six monospecific “O” antisera to E. coli belonging to the avian pathogenic E. coli group namely O1, O2, O26, O78, O86 and O141. The sensitivity of the isolated APEC strains to 10 antibiotics of human and veterinary use was also determined. Results: Out of a total of 510 samples examined, 356 (69.8%) were positive for E. coli. Of this number 20 (5.6%) samples were positive for O1, 20 (5.6%) for O2, 0 (0%) for O26, 25 (7.0%) for O78, 25 (7.0%) for O86 and 24 (6.7%) for O141 serotypes. The remaining 242 (68.0%) E. coli isolates were non typable with the 6 sera of avian pathogenic E. coli strains used for the study. The sensitivity profile of the isolates showed complete resistance of all the isolates against ampicillin, tetracycline, nalidixic acid and cefuroxime, while on the other hand all the isolates showed very high susceptibility to oxofloxacin followed by ciprofloxacin and gentamycin. The result of this study suggests that multiple-antimicrobial-resistant APEC isolates are present in rural chickens in Maiduguri, north-eastern Nigeria. In addition to animal health problems created by the resistant strains, there may also be potential danger posed to human health because these strains could easily infect humans through the food chain. Conclusion: The result of this study suggests that multiple-antimicrobial-resistant APEC isolates are present in rural chickens in Maiduguri, north-eastern Nigeria. Consequently, introduction of surveillance programs to monitor antimicrobial resistance of pathogenic bacteria is strongly recommended in Nigeria. [Vet. World 2012; 5(6.000): 325-329

Anti-diarrhea activity of the aqueous root bark extract of Byrsocarpus coccineus on castor oil-induced diarrhea in Wistar rats

Aim: The use of traditional medicine as an alternative source of cure for many ailments has played an important role in health care delivery in both developing and developed countries. Byrsocarpus coccineus Schum and Thonn (Connaraceae) is used in traditional medicine for treatment of various disease conditions, including diarrhea. The anti-diarrhea activity of the root bark aqueous extract of B. coccineus was investigated in this study. Materials and Methods: Acute toxicity evaluation of the aqueous extract of B. coccineus root bark was performed in exposed rats. Diarrhea was induced in exposed rats with castor oil, and the effect of the extract on castor oil-induced gastrointestinal motility and enteropooling was consequently investigated. Results: In the acute toxicity study, the extract caused no death in treated rats nor produced signs of delayed toxicity, even at 5000 mg/kg. The aqueous root bark extract of B. coccineus also decreased the distance travelled by activated charcoal in the gastrointestinal tract of treated rats when compared to control rats. Results of castor oil-induced enteropooling revealed slight reduction in the weight of intestinal contents of treated rats compared to control rats. There was significant (p<0.05) decrease in the frequency of defecation as well as in the number of unformed feces produced by castor oil-induced diarrhea at 100 mg/kg dose with 74.96% inhibition of defecation. Conclusion: The study demonstrated the anti-diarrheic property of the aqueous extract of B. coccineus root bark as currently exploited in our traditional herbal therapy