Evaluation of the modulatory effects of Piper guineense leaves and seeds on egg albumin-induced inflammation in experimental rat models.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Inflammation processes are implicated in many degenerative diseases. Piper guineense, a West African spice belonging to the Piperaceae family has been reported to contain anti-inflammatory agents. AIM OF STUDY: This study determined the modulatory effects of methanolic extracts of Piper guineense leaves and seeds on egg albumin-induced inflammation in rats. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Inflammation in the hind paw was induced by injecting 0.1ml egg albumin subcutaneously. Treatments including diclofenac were given orally. Rectal temperature and paw size were monitored hourly for the first 3 h' post-induction of inflammation and then at the 6th and 24th hour. Serum levels of CRP, MDA, LDH and GGT activities were determined at these hours. RESULTS: Results showed that egg albumin-induced inflammation caused a significant (p < 0.05) increase in paw size and rectal temperature. It further showed that treatment with the leaves and seed extracts reversed the effect of inflammation on serum levels of CRP and MDA, and on LDH and GGT activities similar to diclofenac in rats. CONCLUSION: Extracts of the Piper guineense seed and leaves have potentials of being used as an anti-inflammatory agent but further studies need to be done to determine their toxicity and effects on immunological markers of inflammation.

Comparative histopathology of the lymph nodes, spleen, liver and kidney in experimental ovine trypanosomosis.

The infection of Yankassa rams with three important trypanosome species affecting livestock, namely, Trypanosoma congolense, T. vivax and T. bruceiproduced both acute and chronic fatal conditions. Chronic infections were induced in the three infections by the application of subcurative doses of diaminazene aceturate (Berenil). Pathological changes in the infected animals included splenomegaly and hepatomegaly which were more pronounced in acute than in chronic T. congolense infection. However, these changes were more severe in chronic than in acute T. vivax infection. While splenomegaly was more pronounced in chronic T. bruceiinfection than in acute, hepatomegaly and lymphadenopathy were more severe in acute than in the chronic condition. The increases in size of the spleen, lymph nodes and liver were associated with congestion, increases in cell density related to increased immunological reactions in the spleen and lymph nodes as well as increase in numbers, size and activity of the phagocytic cells in these organs.

Oviductal volvulus in a Nera black chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) in Nigeria.

A case of oviductal volvulus, a rare disorder with oviductal cyst as a possible aetiology, is described in an 11-month-old Nera black chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus). The condition was observed during routine postmortem examination of 550 carcasses from a flock of 16,100 birds between September 2005 and June 2006. The affected portion of the oviduct and the cyst twisted almost 360 degrees clockwise around the dorsal ligament with severe congestion, hyperaemia, oedema, dilatation and devitalization. This is the first reported case of oviductal volvulus in a domestic chicken.

Leucocyte and thrombocyte responses in dogs experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei.

Three dogs were subcutaneously infected with Trypanosoma brucei strain ILRAD 1797. Artificial haemolytic anaemia was induced in 2 other dogs by phlebotomy, heat treatment and re-infusion of the blood, while 2 dogs were kept as control animals. The infected animals developed pan-leucopenia and thrombocytopenia, while the dogs with artificial haemolytic anaemia developed leucocytosis and thrombocytosis. These findings suggest that there was a bone marrow depressing factor in the plasma of T. brucei-infected dogs especially as it affected leucocyte production.

Erythrocyte response to Trypanosoma brucei in experimentally infected dogs.

Trypanosoma brucei infection produced an acute and fatal disease in Nigerian mongrel dogs due to a rapidly developing anaemia. Infected dogs responded with increased reticulocytosis, which was not sustained with chronicity. In comparison the response to artificially-induced haemolytic anaemia was progressive, marked and sustained. The anaemia of T. brucei infection of dogs was either normocytic normochromic in acute infection or microcytic normochromic in chronic infection. Artificially-induced haemolytic anaemia was either macrocytic normochromic or normocytic normochromic. The erythropoietic potential of plasma in vivo in mice increased in T. brucei-infected dogs except at the terminal parasitaemia. The anaemia in Trypanosoma brucei-infected dogs is therefore initially responsive but becomes poorly involved with chronicity.