International Journal of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health

International Journal of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health Vol. 8 (4), pp. 001-005, April, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Prevalence of bovine coccidia in Kombolcha district of South Wollo, Ethiopia

Alula Alemayehu¹*, Mohammed Nuru¹ and Timketa Belina²

¹School of Veterinary Medicine, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia.

²College of Veterinary Medicine Harar, Haromaya University, Ethiopia.

Accepted 08 January, 2017

Abstract

A cross sectional study was conducted from November 2011 up to April 2012 in Kombolcha town to determine the prevalence of coccidia infection in calves. Fecal samples were collected from a total of 288 calves with the age of 1 month to 1 year old which were included in the study purposively. After collection, the samples were transported to the laboratory and examined for the presence of Eimeria oocyst by flotation techniques. For positive sample, a solution of 2.5% potassium dichromate (K₂Cr₂O₇) was added to the feces containing the oocyst for sporulation and identification of the species. Out of 288 calves, 92 (31.9%) were found to be positive for Eimeria species. There was statistically significant difference (P< 0.05) in the prevalence of coccidia infection to different age of animals or fecal consistency. However, the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05) between coccidia infection and sex, breed, body condition, address or management system. Five species of Eimeria were identified in the study and the most prevalent species were Eimeria bovis (42.3%), Eimeria zuernii (28.3%) and Eimeria auburnensis (13.0%). The other species were E. ellipsoidalis (8.7%), E. alabamensis (4.3%) and unidentified oocyst (3.3%). In conclusion, the present finding has demonstrated that bovine coccidia are one of the important pathogens in calves in the study area. Further epidemiological investigations are required to determine the Eimeria species composition and different agro ecological risk factor on the occurrence of the disease.

Key words: Calves, coccidiosis, Eimeria, Kombolcha, prevalence, risk factors.

International Journal of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health Vol. 8 (3), pp. 001-009, March, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Expedited management of ulcer, colic and diarrhea in 209 horses: An open-labeled observational study of a potency-enhanced sucralfate-like elm phyto-saccharide

Ricky W. McCullough

Department of Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Providence Veterans Administration Hospital, Brown University Teaching Hospital, 830 Chaulkstone Avenue, Providence Rhode Island, United States. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: 401-397-6203. Fax: 401-397-8559.

Accepted 10 December, 2016

Abstract

A potency-enhanced polyanionic phyto-saccharide of elm mucilage (PEPPS) was prescribed in 209 horses in an open-labeled field trial. Clients provided informed consent to 32 equine veterinarians to prescribe PEPPS for low grade colic and diarrhea unresponsive to deworming. Most of the horses (n = 175/209) were presumed to have ulcers clinically, while 23/209 were confirmed by gastroscopy to have ulcers and 11/209 horses had colic related to diarrhea. A 4-day/7-dose response rate, determined by veterinarians’ consensus, provided the threshold for a significant clinical outcome, and data was collected through phone interviews over period of 3.5 years. 166/198 horses with ulcer associated colic and 10/11 horses with diarrhea-associated colic responded to PEPPS within 4 days or 7 doses. Using PEPPS alone was associated with positive outcomes in 81% (29/36) of horses. PEPPS added to failed regimens of omeprazole, ranitidine and antacids was associated with positive outcomes in 85% (137/162) of horses. Accelerated healing of ulcers occurred in 8 horses within 14 to 20 days using PEPPS alone and in 15 horses using PEPPS added to failed treatment regimens of omeprazole, ranitidine and antacid. PEPPS appears useful for managing equine ulcer, diarrhea and colic. As an electronegative polyanionic saccharide with substantial muco-adherence, PEPPS was compared to sucralfate. However, a randomized blinded placebo controlled trial is needed to quantify true clinical efficacy.

Key words: Equine, ulcer, diarrhea, colic, elm, sucralfate.

Key words: Quail, culture method, Listeria species.

International Journal of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health Vol. 8 (2), pp. 001-007, February, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Gastrointestinal helminthes of dogs and owners’ perception of dogs parasitic zoonoses in Hawassa, Southern Ethiopia

Berhanu Mekbib, Alemayehu Regassa and Desie Sheferaw*

Hawassa University School of Veterinary Medicine, P. O. Box 05, Hawassa, Ethiopia.

Accepted 30 October, 2016

Abstract

The prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthes in dogs was investigated by faecal examination from 860 dogs employing direct smear, simple flotation and sedimentation techniques. A structured questionnaire was also completed by 476 owners to assess the public awareness of zoonotic helminthes transmitted by dogs. Of the 860 dogs examined 768 (89.3%) were found to be positive for different types of helminth eggs. The following helminthes, with their respective prevalence, were diagnosed: Strongyloides species (60.1%), Ancylostoma species (52.2%), Dipylidium species (40.6%), Toxocara species (23.3%), Echinococcus species (5.8%) and Trichuris species (4.9%). The prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthes were significantly affected by age (P < 0.001), sub-city (P < 0.05) and confinement types (P < 0.001). Higher prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthes was recorded in younger dogs less than one year of age (95.6%, CI = 93.1 to 98.2). Free-roaming and semi-confined dogs were harboring significantly higher prevalence of helminthes (100%) than strictly confined dogs (62.6%, CI = 56.5 to 68.7). The present study reported that 99.2% of dog owners were not aware of the zoonotic parasite transmitted by dogs and 88.2% of them never used anthelmintics for treatment of their dogs. The high prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites of dogs and lack of owners’ awareness in Hawassa indicates a potential risk to human health. Thus, serious attention by the veterinarians, municipality of the town and public health service to increase awareness of their potential threat to human health is desirable.

Key words: Helminth, dogs, prevalence, zoonoses, Hawassa.

International Journal of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health Vol. 8 (2), pp. 001-005, February, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Comparison of reverse line blot and β-tubulin targeted nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques in the detection of Theileria and Babesia piroplasms in cattle in Uganda

Kalenzi David Atuhaire¹, Kokas Ikwap¹, Samuel Eyanu¹, Frank Norbert Mwiine^1*, Micheal Ocaido¹, William Olaho-Mukani², Margaret Saimo¹ and George William Lubega¹

¹College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P. O. 7062 Kampala, Uganda.

²OIE Regional Commission for Africa, Arusha, Tanzania.

Accepted 18 December, 2016

Abstract

Three hundred (300) blood samples from apparently healthy cattle were collected in areas around Lake Mburo National Park in Western Uganda. These were used in the comparison of the sensitivity and specificity of reverse line blot (RLB) and β-tubulin targeted nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the detection of tick-borne piroplasms in cattle. The sensitivity of RLB technique for the detection of Theileria and Babesia species was 71.25% (95% CI: 60.05 to 80.82%) and the specificity was 57.50% (95% CI: 40.89 to 72.960%) while the sensitivity of the beta-tubulin targeted nested PCR was 62.5% (95% CI: 50.96 to 73.08%) and the specificity was 72.5% (95% CI: 56.11 to 85.40%). The positive predictive value using RLB was 77.03% (95% CI: 65.79 to 86.01%) and the negative predictive value was 50% (95% CI: 34.90 to 65.10%) while the positive predictive value using β-tubulin targeted nested PCR was 81.97 % (95% CI: 70.02 to 90.64%) and the negative predictive value was 49.15% (95% CI: 35.89 to 62.50%). The Kappa statistic for level of agreement in detection of tick-borne piroplasms between RLB assay and β-tubulin targeted nested PCR was 0.7984 which indicated substantial agreement between the two tests. The RLB assay allowed the detection of individual species that simultaneously infected the cattle. However, it was not possible to identify the species with the β-tubulin targeted nested PCR.

Key words: Babesia, Theileria, β-tubulin, reverse line blot, sensitivity, specificity.

International Journal of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health Vol. 8 (1), pp. 001-008, January, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Hepatoprotective effect of Phyllanthus niruri aqueous extract in acetaminophen sub-acutec exposure rabbits

Micah S. Makoshi¹*, Isaac M. Adanyeguh² and Loveth I. Nwatu I.³

¹Drug Development Section, Biochemistry Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria.

²Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana.

³Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.

Accepted 16 August, 2016

Abstract

The hepatoprotective effect of the aqueous extract of Phyllanthus niruri was evaluated in an acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity study using 24 male rabbits of the New Zealand White breed. The rabbits were randomly divided into six groups of 4 rabbits each. Group I served as a negative control group and was given only distilled water. Group II received only acetaminophen at 300 mg/kg. Groups III, IV and V were all given 300 mg/kg of acetaminophen followed by varying concentrations of the extract of P. niruri at 100, 50 and 25 mg/kg body weight, respectively. Group VI was the positive control for P. niruri and was given 100 mg/kg of the extract. The treatment was given every other day for 28 days. The most significant healing or hepatoprotective effect of the extract of P. niruri was seen in the group administered the extract at 25 mg/kg which showed no significant change in the liver, both grossly and histologically. In most groups, the liver enzyme assay and serum albumins and globulins levels increased slightly, except the group administered 25 mg/kg extract of P. niruri. This study showed that P. niruri has hepatoprotective properties.

Key words: Acetaminophen, hepatotoxicity, Phyllanthus niruri, hepatoprotective, rabbits.