Sahel Journal of Veterinary Sciences

Evaluation of low-grade In Vitro Oxidative Stress in Goat Erythrocytes ?Exposed to Hydrogen Peroxide and Dexamethasone ?

M. B. Monguno — 2021-06-30

Under conditions of oxidative stress, erythrocytes of goats could be predisposed to haemolysis. This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of oxidant exposure to goat erythrocytes using an in vitro model. Blood samples from 10 goats were incubated with 0.06 – 0.18 mM hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) either singly or in combination with 0.02 µM dexamethasone for 60 min, and erythrocyte parameters such as packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell count (RBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and percentage haemolysis in hypotonic sucrose solution (250 mOsmol/L) were determined thereafter. No significant changes in the mean values of all parameters were observed. The in vitro model indicated that erythrocyte parameters remained stable under low-grade oxidant exposure in goats. Therefore, plasma H₂O₂ concentration of ? 0.18 mM, whether in the presence or absence of 0.02 µM dexamethasone, may not induce apparent oxidative damage in goat erythrocytes that could be estimated by PCV, RBC, MCV and sucrose-based osmotic fragility at low hypotonicity.

Lead Levels in Tissues of Local Scavenger Chickens in Maiduguri, Nigeria

H. I. Gambo — 2021-06-30

Mineral mining activities with environmental pollution in Nigeria resulted in lead intoxication in humans and livestock. The likelihood of lead contamination of the environment from non-mining sources may exist in Maiduguri, Borno state, Nigeria. The study was carried out to evaluate the bioaccumulation of lead in extensively reared local scavenger chickens-LSC (Gallus gallusdomesticus) in Maiduguri. Two hundred samples each of the liver, kidney, intestine, muscle and blood were tested for lead using standard methods in toxicologic evaluation. There were significant (p<0.05) variations in lead levels in the kidney, liver, muscle, intestine and blood of local scavenger chickens. The highest mean lead level (17.0±12.0µg/kg) was observed in the liver, and the lowest leadlevel (4.0±7.0µg/kg) was in the blood. No significant (p>0.05) sex differences existed in the frequency of lead detection. Mean lead level in the liver of males was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of females with the highest and lowest mean lead levels occurring in the liver and kidney of male chickens, respectively. The highest lead level detected was 414 µg/kg; in the kidney of a female LSC. It was therefore concluded that environmental pollution with lead may be detected in LSCthat bioaccumulate lead; with the liver having the highest affinity.

Occurrence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of Staphylococcus ?aureus and Salmonella species in Fresh Milk and Milk Products Sold in Zaria ?and Environs, Kaduna State, Nigeria

D. O. Esonu — 2021-06-30

Staphylococcal infections and salmonellosis are important food-borne diseases affecting both humans and animals, and the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria to humans through the consumption of animal food products remains a challenge. To determine the occurrence and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella in fresh milk and milk products sold in Zaria and environs, Kaduna State, Nigeria, ninety samples were purchased comprising of 49 pasteurized milk, 20 ghee (Clarified butter) and 21 fresh milk samples in Zaria. The Samples were pre-enriched before plating on a suitable selective media. Biochemical and Sugar fermentation tests were used to detect S. aureus and Salmonella isolates; also, antimicrobial susceptibility test was carried out on positive isolates. The overall prevalence of S. aureus and Salmonella spp. in fresh milk and milk products (pasteurized milk and ghee) were 31.1% (28/90) and 6.7% (6/90), respectively. Higher prevalence of S. aureus was found in fresh milk (38.1%) than in ghee (35%) and pasteurized milk (26.5%). Also, a higher prevalence of Salmonella organism was found in fresh milk (9.5%) than in pasteurized milk (6.1%) and ghee (5%). Positive isolates of S. aureus showed the highest percentage of antibiotic resistance to oxacillin (100%), then tetracycline (64%) and vancomycin (57.1%), while positive isolates of Salmonella showed oxacillin (100%) and vancomycin (100%), followed by tetracycline (33.3%). Most of the isolates displayed resistance to more than three (3) different classes of antimicrobials, indicating multi-drug resistance. Therefore, there is a need for education and public awareness regarding hygienic processing, handling and storage of fresh milk and milk products; thus, the abuse and indiscriminate use of antibiotics in animals should be discouraged.

Comparative Durability of Common Stains Used for Exfoliative Vaginal ?Cytology

N. V. Ani — 2021-06-30

In a study to compare the durability of commonly used stains (Giemsa, Leishman, Wright, Eosin, Nigrosin and Gentian violet) for exfoliative vaginal cytology, vaginal smear was obtained from eleven apparently healthy West African Dwarf (WAD) female Goats and processed according to standard technique. Scores (0-3) were given on four parameters namely background of smears, overall staining pattern, cytoplasmic staining and nuclear staining. Quality index one (QI-I) was calculated from the ratio of score achieved to the maximum score possible (12), immediately post staining while quality index–II (QI-II) was obtained 35 days after. Calculation for durability index (DI) was self-derived and equalled to ratio of QI-II to QI-I. The data were presented as mean ± SEM. Multinomial logistic regression model was generated for the QI-I and QI-II using durability index as reference category. Giemsa, Leishman and Wright stains were more durable than others with their mean DI values significantly (P < 0.05) higher than Gentian violet, Nigrosin and Eosin.The model showed 89.2% overall model accuracy for the multinomial logistic regression model and 81.5% for the multinomial Bayes Naïve regression model. In conclusion, Giemsa, Leishman and Wright stains were more reliable and durable for exfoliative vaginal cytology compared to the other stains.

Antibacterial Activity of Aqueous and Ethanol Fruit Extracts of Cucumis ?sativus Linn. Against Selected Microorganisms at the University of ?Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri

A. O. Akanmu — 2021-06-30

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus Linn) [Cucurbitaceae] is a famous vegetable crop used for food since ancient times but little is known of its antibacterial potential. This study investigated the phytochemical constituents and antibacterial activities of the aqueous and ethanol fruit extracts of the plant against some clinical isolates (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Bacillus subtilis and Corynebacterium spp) using the disc diffusion method. The qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, cardenolites and flavonoids. Corynebacterium spp was the most susceptible (with maximum inhibition zone of 30.00±0.00 mm). The two extracts had varied antibacterial activity at the same level. At the concentration of 400mg/ml, aqueous extract inhibited S. aureus, Corynebacterium spp, E. coli and K. pneumoniae, while ethanol extract inhibited S. aureus, S. pyogenes, S. typhi and Corynebacterium spp. B. subtilis was inhibited only at the highest (significant) concentration of 600mg/ml (7.00±0.00 mm)[p<0.05]. The MIC value for both extracts against Corynebacterium spp was 25mg/ml. The MBC value against Corynebacterium spp was observed at 50mg/ml and 25mg/ml for the aqueous and ethanol extract respectively. The results suggest that the ethanol extract was bactericidal at low concentration while the aqueous extract was bacteriostatic at low concentration and bactericidal at high concentration against Corynebacterium spp. The difference between the MBC for the two extracts was significant (p<0.05). In conclusion, the results of this study showed that extract of C. sativus could be a potential source of natural antibacterial agent

Molecular Epidemiology of Tuberculosis in Cattle and Human Patients in ?Bauchi and Gombe States, Northeastern Nigeria

S. Ibrahim — 2021-06-30

Tuberculosis (TB) is recognized as the most important threat to human and animal health causing morbidity, mortality, and economic losses. A study was conducted to assess the epidemiology and zoonotic implications of TB in two states of northeastern Nigeria, using abattoir surveillance, culture, and molecular typing methods. The human sputum of in-patients from selected hospitals within the study areas was also collected, cultured, and subjected to molecular typing. Out of the 250 human sputa collected, 74 (29.6%) were positive for culture and 40(16%) were positive on Bioline^® analysis. Also, of the 200 tissues collected, 62(32.5%) were AFB positive and 25(12.5%) were positive on culture and 18(9.0%) were positive on Bioline^® analysis. All positive isolates on Bioline® analyses were further subjected to Genotype^® MBTC analysis. A total of (n = 58) isolates; sputum (n=40) and tissue (n=18), identified as MBTC were further subjected to Genotype MBTC^® Hain assay PCR analysis. in order to differentiate them into their various species. Of the MBTC isolates from the tissues, 8(4.0%) were found to be Mycobacterium bovis, 5(2.5%) were Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the remaining 5(2.5%) were unidentified using the standard banding patterns. The 40 MBTC from sputum showed 30 (75%) as Mycobacterium tuberculosis 6(15%) were Mycobacterium bovis, 3(7.5%) were Mycobacterium africanum and 1(0.4%) was unidentified using the standard banding patterns. In conclusion, the study revealed the public health importance of bTB in the study area. There is also the need for public health awareness programs on the zoonotic nature of bTB among the abattoir workers and the herdsmen.