Therapeutic Evaluation of Neemazal® Against Experimental Eimeria Tenella Infection in Broiler Chickens, Jos - Nigeria

Coccidiosis in poultry is caused by protozoan parasites of the Eimeria species, which is responsible for worldwide economic losses. The aim of this study was to evaluated the therapeutic effect of NeemAzal® on Eimeria tenellain broiler Chickens as compared to Amprolium as a standard anticoccidial drug. A total of One Hundred and Sixty (160) broiler chicks were purchased, acclimatized and randomly divided into 4 groups (G1, G2, G3 & G4). G1 non-infected, non-treated (negative control), (G2) infected with 20000 E. tenella oocysts (positive control), (G3) infected and treated with Amprolium (Standard, 7 mg/kg b.w. for 5 days) and (G4) infected and treated with NeemAzal®200 mg/kg b.w. for 5 days). Evaluation was by clinical signs, performance data (weight gain, oocyst shed/gram faeces (OPG) and histopathology of the Caecum, Liver and Kidney. The data showed that birds infected with E. tenellahad an output of 1.3×105±3,333 oocysts per gram faeces on day 5 post inoculation. This output is significantly decreased to 0.37×105±3,111 oocysts in neem-treated birds. Infection with E. tenellainduced marked histopathological alterations in the caecum in the form of inflammation, vacuolation of the epithelium, and destruction of some villi. NeemAzal® decrease body weight loss of infected chickens. Moreover, the number of goblet cells stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) within the infected villi was significantly lowered (P≤0.05). The results revealed that chicks of G1 had the best performance data compared to G2, G3& G4. In G3 & G4 there were a remarkable improvement in the data on performance, clinical signs, gross and microscopically caecal lesions compared to G2. Amprolium (G3) was shown to be superior to NeemAzal® (G4) compared to G2. NeemAzal® could be a good alternative for use as a coccidiostat to supplement the expensive anti-coccidiostats in the market.

Incidence of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Zebu and N’dama Breeds from Cattle Ranches in Jos Plateau, Nigeria

The incidence of gastrointestinal parasites in Zebu and N’dama breeds known to be trypanotolerant cattle from some ranches in Jos Plateau was investigated at the peak of the raining season, August to October, 2018. A total of 150 cattle from some Ranches in Jos Plateau were randomly selected for faecal sampling out of which 85 were Zebu (Bos indicus) and 65 were N’dama (Bos taurus) breeds respectively. The samples were analyzed for ova of gastrointestinal parasites using the simple flotation and sedimentation techniques and the results were interesting. The strongyloids, Oesophagostomumradiatum had the highest incidence of 4.7% followed by the Trichostrongylus species with 4%. Fasciolagigantica and Haemonchusplacei both were 3.3%. Then Paramphistomumcervi 2%; bovine hook worm, Bunostomumphlebotomum 1.3%, Taenia saginata1.3%, Schistosoma bovis 1.3% and Nematodirusspathiger 0.7%. The incidence of nematodes, cestodes and trematodes in this study in the raining season was significant (p<0.05) and could pose production and economic threat to institutional farms and ranches in the development of livestock and dairy industries in Nigeria. There should be a strong policy on the control of gastrointestinal parasites in the country for farmers to benefit from their contribution in ensuring food security.

Domestic Pigeons As A Potential Hazzard For Transmission Of Some Human Protozoan Parasites

Domestic pigeons (Columba liviadomestica) of the order Columbiformes are ubiquitous birds and can be found in virtually every town and city around the globe. Their interaction with humans and domestic animals and wild birds makes them a potential carrier of zoonotic parasites. The present study aimed to detect the prevalence of different zoonotic protozoans that affect different-aged domestic pigeons in different localities in Assiut Governorate, Egypt. A total of 50 fecal samples from 20 young and 30 adult pigeons were collected and examined for identification and estimation of prevalence of Cryptosporidium sp. and Microsporidium sp. using modified Kinyoun acid-fast stain. For detection of the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, serum samples from 50 pigeons were examined serologically for the presence of Toxoplasma antibodies by using Latex Agglutination test. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium sp. infection was 20%; 6.7% in adult pigeons and 40 % in young pigeons while that of Microsporidium sp. was 40% both in adult and young pigeons. Mixed infection was detected in only two young pigeons (10%). Regarding Toxoplasma gondii detection, the number of seropositive cases detected by LAT was 29 out of 50 (58%). The positive agglutination titers, among 14 (48.27%) seropositive pigeons ranged between 1:2 -1:128. It was concluded that domestic pigeons may be considered as a reservoir host for Cryptosporidium, Microsporidium, and Toxoplasmagondii human infection which represents a serious human public health problem especially for high risk groups of population living in the same dwellings with pigeons. Moreover, the present pilot results provide a baseline data for planning future researches and control strategies against domestic pigeon's parasites.

Malaria and Typhoid Fever Coinfection in the Hospital University of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso

Malaria and typhoid fever are two endemic infectious diseases in developing tropical countries including Burkina Faso. There are two distinct infectious diseases with many similar clinical signs. In each sanitary area, it is important to describe the "typhomalaria" epidemiology to elaborate adequate diagnosis algorithm and efficient treatment protocol. A cross-sectional study was carried out from July to October 2014 in the lab department of University Hospital Souro SANOU, Bobo-Dioulasso. All microscopy positive malaria during the study period was included. Serodiagnosis of Widal and Felix was performed systematically in all Plasmodium spmalaria cases. Titers of antibodies anti-agglutinin O equal or higher than 1/400 and/or 1/800 for anti-agglutinin H antibodies were considered positive for Salmonella sp. A total of 283 malaria cases were included in this study, majority falciparum malaria. In this malaria cases, 91 patients were seropositive for Salmonella sp. "Typhomalaria" co-infection prevalence was 34.3% (CI 95% (28.8%; 40.1%)). The patient with the normal hemoglobin rate had the highest prevalence of co-infection (46.7% versus 30.9; p=0.02). Malaria and typhoid fever co-infection was high (approximately 1/3 of malaria cases) in University hospital of Bobo-Dioulasso. This study revealed the need to explore typhoid fever in malaria confirmed cases, especially in persistent fevers and non-anemic situation despite adapting antimalarial treatment.

A Prevalence Study of Intestinal Parastic Infections in Patient Attend to Elajcentre

Among 500 persons referred to laboratories for performing stool examinations samples (51.43%) were male and (48.57%) were female, all this personshad Abdominal pain and Diarrhea and 39% had a blood in their stool Among these numbers, 298 (59.6%) were positive for parasitic infections 90 (30.2%) Giardia lamblia and 208 (69.8%) Entamoeba histolytica .Also the higher infection rates were recorded in the age 10-19 the infection was (42 % Based on the reliable answers obtained from the interviewed patients or guardians using the pre-formatted questionnaires.The prevalence of intestinal protozoan according to drinking water materials the Plastic and brass have higher infection rate with (50.3%) and (30.2%).

Cytokines Level (Il8 and Il17) in Pregnant Women with Toxoplasmosis in Khartoum State

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most important zoonotic diseases worldwide caused by Toxoplasma gondii that leads to abortion or hydrocephalus during pregnancy. It’s a comparative cross-sectional one designed to assess immunoglobulins and cytokines in pregnant women. A total of 300 venous blood samples were collected from each pregnant woman and centrifuged to obtain serum. Patient’s information was recorded in a questionnaire previously designed for the purpose of analysis. In addition, 40 uninfected women were enrolled in the study as control group to assess the level of IL8 and IL17 cytokines. The overall seropositive rate of Toxoplasma gondii infection was 22.6%. Within the positive cases of study population, only 16 and 13 showed positive results of IL8, IL17 respectively. The results showed highly significant increase in the mean serum level of IL8 (210.25pg/ml) and IL17 (203.15 pg/ml) when compared to the control group who showed 68.9 pg/ml and 54.8 pg/ml respectively. The serum level of proinflammatory cytokines investigated in this study seems to be increased in patients with serological evidence of Toxoplasma gondii infection. Our study concludes that IL-17 and IL-8 involved in the induction of inflammation and toxoplasmosis disease.

Bancroftian Filariasis Still Endemic in Some Foci in Sohag Governorate, Upper Egypt

Bancroftian filariasis (BF) is a debilitating disease that has plagued Egypt since the time of the pharaohs. Egypt is the first large endemic country in the world to reach the five-year mark in its national campaign. Now that the mass treatments are completed, a follow-up epidemiological assessment will reveal whether this large-scale, pioneering campaign has been successful in finally eliminating the disease. Hence the aim of the present work was to detect the prevalence of bancoftian filariasis in Tema, El-Maragha, Akhmeem and Girga districts in Sohag Governorate, Upper Egypt. Finger prick thick blood films were randomly collected from 500 clinically suspected individuals representing different sexes and ages suffering from lower limb non-pitting edema and/or inguinal lymphadenitis from May 2015 to February 2017. Three patients (0.6%) were infected with microfilariae of Wuchereria bancrofti while one chronic case was detected with severe chronic elephantiasis that was amicrofilaraemic but was confirmed serologically. Results were discussed in regards of age, gender, occupation, locality and residence. It was concluded that bancroftian filariasis is still endemic in three districts (Tema, El- maragha and Girga). Although in sporadic few cases, the problem should be taken seriously as one microfilaramic patient could be a patent reservoir for spreading of the disease through infecting the prevailing Culex pipiense mosquito intermediate host.