Frequency and antimicrobial resistance of aerobic bacteria isolated from surgical sites in humans and animals in Nsukka, Southeast Nigeria

Chah¹, K. F., Eze², C. A. and Oluoha², B. N.

Department of ¹Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology

²Veterinary Surgery and Obstetrics

University of Nigeria, Nsukka

*Correspondence: [email protected] 

Summary

This study was carried out to evaluate the frequency of occurrence and antimicrobial resistance of aerobic bacteria isolated from surgical sites in human and animal patients in Nsukka, southeast Nigeria. Wound swabs from 132 patients (96 humans and 36 animals) were cultured for bacterial isolation. Antimicrobial resistance profile of the isolates was evaluated by the agar disc diffusion method. A total of 134 bacterial isolates were obtained from 114 samples that yielded growth. Staphylococcus aureus (26.1%) was the most prevalent agent isolated from humans, followed by E. coli (17.4%), Proteus spp (17.4%), Enterococcus spp (13.0%) and coagulase negative Staphylococcus [CNS] (10.9%). In animals, the most common agents isolated were E. coli (19.0%) and Proteus spp (19.0%), followed by S. aureus (14.3%), Enterococcus spp (14.3%) and CNS (9.5%). A high proportion of Gram-negative isolates were resistant to cephalexin (80%), cotrimoxazole (80%), ampicillin (73.3%), gentamicin (70%) and nalidixic acid (70%) while majority of the Gram-positive bacteria were resistant to streptomycin (40.5%) and erythromycin (40.5%). Isolates demonstrated low resistance rate to ciprofloxacin. This study has provided information that may be needed in designing empirical treatment regimens for post-operative infections in Nsukka area.

Key Words: Bacteria, isolation, surgical site, antimicrobial, resistance.

 

 

 

 

Water intake, feed consumption and milk production of intensively managed Savanna Brown doe during the early and late rainy season

Alemede, I. C., Fasanya, O. O. A. and Ayanwale, B. A.

Department of Animal Production,

Federal University of Technology,

Minna-Nigeria 

Summary

A study was designed to investigate the level of water intake, feed consumption and milk production of intensively managed Savanna Brown does during the early and Late rainy season.  Season was found to have significant effect (P<0.05) on the pattern of water intake and milk parameters measured.  However, feed consumption was not significantly (P>0.05) affected by season.

Key Words: Water, Feed, Milk, Savanna Does.

 

 

Mineral contents of extracellular fluids in camel and cattle in the North East Sahel region of Nigeria

Kamalu¹ T. N., Okpe*², G.C. and Williams³, A.

¹Dept. of Vet. Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Nigeria Nsukka; was a Visiting Lecturer in the Dept. of Vet. Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Maiduguri, During the Period of the Study.

²Dept. of Vet. Anatomy University of Nigeria Nsukka; Formally of the Dept. of Vet. Anatomy; University of Maiduguri.

³Dept. of Vet. Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Maiduguri.

*Corresponding author

Summary

The levels of some mineral elements in serum, urine, ruminal fluid and digesta of camels and cattle of the North East Sahel region of Nigeria were evaluated using apparently healthy animals presented for slaughter at the Maiduguri municipal abattoir during the months of November and December, 1993. Serum, urine, and rumen samples were obtained from the animals and analysed for calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and copper. The results showed that the concentrations of all the minerals studied, except sodium, were higher in the ruminal fluid of camels compared to cattle. However, serum concentrations were comparable in both species, with the exception of phosphorus which was lower in cattle, and potassium which was higher in cattle. For urine samples, all the minerals measured were higher in camel than in cattle. Analysis of solid rumen digesta showed that the concentrations of phosphorus, magnesium, copper and calcium, sodium, potassium were respectively higher in camels than cattle digesta.

Key Words: Cattle, Camel, Minerals, Sahel Region

 

 

 

Rainy season period prevalence of helminths in the domestic fowl (Gallus gallus) in Nsukka, Eastern Nigeria

Fakae*¹, B.B. and Paul-Abiade²  C.U.

¹Dept. of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology

University of Nigeria, Nsukka

²Dept of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology,

University of Nigeria,  Nsukka.

* correspondence

Summary

Eighty (80) gastrointestinal tracts of adult (>6 month old) domestic fowl (Gallus gallus) were examined for gastrointestinal helminths during the rainy season (April to August) in Nsukka, Nigeria. Monthly incidence of helminths in the chickens ranged from 94 to 100%. 96.3% of the birds were infected with at least one genus of helminth. Helminths observed were mainly of nematods species comprising Tetrameres americana (57.5%); Subulura brumpti (16.3%), Heterakis brevispi culum (8.8%), Dispharynx spiralis (7.5%), Ascaridia galli (1.25%) and Gongylonema species (1.25%). Only one cestode specie, Raillietina tetragona was observed and it had the highest prevalence rate of 92.5% of the screened birds. No cestode was recovered. Polyparasitism predominated more than monoparasitism. Male fowls carried significantly (p<0.5) more parasite burden than the females. The implications of the results are discussed with reference to the epidemiology, public health and control of helminthosis of the domestic fowl in Nigeria.

KEY WORDS: Helminth, Domestic fowl (Gallus gallus), , epidemiology.

 

 

 

Haematological studies of Oreochromis niloticus exposed to pig effluent

Onuoha, Grace C., Nwosu*, Chika I. and Amadi, J. N.

Department of Fisheries, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture

P.M.B.7267, Umuahia, Abia State

*National Veterinary Research Institute Laboratory Umudike

P.O. Box 2208 Umuahia Abia State

 

Summary

Studies on the haematological response of the fresh water fish Oreochromis niloticus exposed to pig effluent were conducted in 1998 to determine the effect of various concentrations of the effluent on haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (Ht), red and white blood cells (RBC and WBC). It was observed that as the concentration of the effluent increased beyond 25 ppt, the water become toxic resulting in hypoxia. There were increased fin/tail and opercular movements at high concentrations and low feed intake. The blood parameters initially increased but after the 25ppt concentration the value decreased significantly (P>0.05).

 

KEY WORDS: Haematology, Oreochromis niloticus, pig effluent, toxicology.

 

 

Isolation of a human serum-resistant Trypanosoma brucei from a naturally infected pig in the Nsukka area of Enugu State

*Onah, D. N. and Ebenebe, O. O.

Department of Veterinary Parasitology & Entomology

University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Enugu State, Nigeria

*Corresponding author. Phone: 042-770106, E-Mail: [email protected]

Summary

A strain of trypanosome was isolated from one of the trade pigs held at the Orie Orba market lairage in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State. It was identified by its motility in wet blood film and morphological characteristics in Giemsa-stained thin blood film as Trypanosoma brucei. To further characterize the parasite and identify to which of the brucei-type sub-species it belonged, it was subjected to the blood incubation infectivity test. Trypanosomes were incubated in phosphate-buffered saline glucose (PSG), normal pig serum or normal human serum for 4 hours at 37˚ C before aliquots of 200 μl containing 10⁶ trypanosomes were used to infect each mouse in three groups of 10 mice per group. The animals were monitored daily for parasitaemia for a period of 30 days using routine parasitological techniques. All mice infected with parasites incubated in PSG and pig serum became parasitaemic with a mean pre-patent period of 3 and 8 days respectively. In contrast, only one of the 10 mice infected with trypanosomes incubated in human serum did not become parasitaemic, indicating that the strain is resistant to human serum and potentially infective to humans. It was concluded that this isolate is possibly Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and that this study supports the epidemiological claim that domestic pigs may serve as reservoir hosts for human sleeping sickness due to T. b. gambiense.

Key Words: Trypanosoma brucei, Human serum resistance, Pigs, Reservoir host, T. b. gambiense

 

 

Bovine trypanosomosis in sedentary cattle at previously assumed trypanosoma-free Jos plateau, Nigeria

Anosike¹, J. C., Opara², M. N., Okoli², C.G., Kyakya³, A and Okoli², I. C.

¹School of Biological Sciences, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.

²Tropical Animal Health and Production Research Lab., Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, P M B 1526 Owerri, Nigeria.

³Nigeria Institute of Science and Technology, Ibadan, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author: Dr. M. N. Opara, [email protected] 

Summary

The occurrence of trypanosomosis was investigated in sedentary Bunaji (Bos indicus) cattle grazing at 5 different villages of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. Two hundred cattle was examined, 76 (38.0%) of which had trypanosome infection.  Three species, Trypanosoma vivax (78.9%), T. Congolense (15.8%), and T. brucei (5.3%) were encountered.  More males (42.9%) than females (31.8%) were affected while animals of 3-5 years age cohort had the highest infection rate of 46.7%.  The existence of trypanosome infections in sedentary cattle populations of the Jos Plateau seem to suggest that the area which was previously assumed to be Trypanosoma-free may have acquired infection status.

Key Words:    Trypanosomosis, Bovine, Sedentary, Plateau State, Nigeria.

 

Clinical manifestations of canine distemper in Nigerian dogs infected with local isolate of canine distemper virus

Ezeibe, M. C. O.

Department of Veterinary Medicine

University of Nigeria

Nsukka

Summary

Twenty dogs of local breeds found in Nigeria, experimentally infected with local isolate of canine distemper virus, manifested fever, conjunctivitis, photophobia salivation, anorexia, dermatitis, and diarrhoea. Apart from these clinical signs already described for the disease in other breeds of dogs,45% of the dogs showed enlargement of peripheral lymph nodes ( especially the prescapular lymph node). Significance of this new clinical sign of canine distemper in the clinical diagnosis of the disease has been discussed.

Key Words: Clinical signs, canine distemper

 

 

 

Recurring colisepticaemia in batches of birds in a poultry farm in Nsukka, Southeast Nigeria

Chah*, K. F. and Okwor, E. C.

Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology

University of Nigeria, Nsukka

*Correspondence: [email protected] 

Summary

Repeated outbreaks of Escherichia coli infection in pullets and laying birds in a poultry farm in Nsukka, southeast Nigeria are reported. The outbreaks were recorded in four batches of birds; the initial cases occurring in birds 12 – 16 weeks of age while subsequent outbreaks were in birds 28–31 weeks of age. The disease was characterized by depression, inappettence, mild cough and whitish diarrhoea; morbidity was 10% while mortality was about 5%. There was a 15% drop in egg production in laying birds. Post-mortem lesions included peritonitis, pericarditis, hydropericardium and perihepatitis. Pure cultures of E. coli were obtained from the organs cultured. The E. coli strains were sensitive to neomycin, streptomycin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, pefloxacin, ofloxacin and chloramphenicol but resistant to tetracycline, nalidixic acid, ampicillin and cotrimoxazole. Biosecurity measures are recommended for the control of avian colisepticaemia in Nigeria.

Key Words: Outbreaks, Escherichia coli, pullets, laying birds.