Ultrasonographic spleen size and haematological parameters in children with sickle cell anaemia in Kano, Nigeria.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To determine spleen size using abdominal ultrasonography and haematological parameters in steady state children with sickle cell anaemia (SCA). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: An analytical case control study of 150 children with SCA in steady state aged 6 months to 15 years was undertaken. Children with HbAA matched for sex and age were used as controls. The spleen sizes of children with SCA and the controls were determined using abdominal ultrasonography. Haematological parameters (RBC, Hb, MCV, MCH, MCHC,WBC, Platelet and Reticulocyte counts) were also assessed. RESULTS: Fifty three children (35.3%) with SCA against 19 children (12.7%)with HbAA had splenomegaly defined as spleen index > 31cm². among the children with SCA who had splenomegaly, 17 (11.3%) were older than 10 years. None of those above 10 years with HbAA had splenomegaly. The mean values of RBC, Hb, MCV and MCH were significantly lower in children with SCA compared to age- sex matched HbAA controls (p = 0.001, 0.001, 0.15 and 0.016 respectively), while the mean values of MCHC, WBC, platelet and reticulocyte counts were significantly higher in children with SCA than in the HbAA controls (p = 0.022, 0.001, 0.013 and 0.001) respectively. Among the SCA subjects, as spleen index increased from grade II through grade V, the mean values of RBC, Hb, WBC and platelet count significantly decreased (p =0.001, 0.001, 0.032 and 0.007), while the mean value of reticulocyte count significantly increased (p = 0.001). However, with increasing spleen index from grade II to grade V, the mean values of MCV, MCH and MCHC were not significantly different (p = 0.077, 0.741 and 0.995). CONCLUSION: Splenomegaly persists in much older age group in children with SCA and is associated with mild cytopaenia. Spleen size in children with SCA should be assessed using a more sensitive and reliable method of ultrasonography.

Evaluation of a calculolytic diet in female dogs with induced struvite urolithiasis.

The calculolytic effect of a diet designed to reduce the urine concentration of urea, P, and Mg was evaluated in female Beagles with induced urease-positive urinary tract infections and struvite urolithiasis and in female Beagles with induced sterile struvite urolithiasis. The reduced-protein calculolytic diet induced urolith dissolution in 5 of 6 infected dogs with struvite urolithiasis in 2 to 5 months (means = 14.4 weeks). At the end of 6 months, uroliths in comparable control dogs fed a maintenance diet were 5 times larger and 14 times heavier than at the beginning of the study. The calculolytic diet induced urolith dissolution in 6 of 6 noninfected dogs with struvite uroliths in 2 to 4 weeks (means = 3.3 weeks). Four uroliths in noninfected dogs fed the maintenance diet dissolved over a period of 2 to 5 months (means = 14 weeks). Urolith dissolution in dogs fed the calculolytic diet was associated with diet-induced diuresis, reduction in urine pH, reduction in urine concentration of urea ammonia, P, and Mg, and increase in urine titratable acidity. Consumption of the calculolytic diet was also associated with significant (P = less than 0.01) reduction in the serum concentration of urea and albumin and a significant (P = less than 0.01) increase in serum hepatic alkaline phosphatase activity. Concomitant occurrence of hydropic degeneration of hepatocytes indicated that these biochemical and morphologic changes were associated with dietary protein restriction.

Medical dissolution of canine struvite uroliths.

Medical therapy is an effective method of canine struvite urolith dissolution. Recommendations include (1) eradication or control of urinary tract infection (if present), (2) use of calculolytic diets, and (3) administration of urease inhibitors to patients with persistent urinary tract infection caused by urease-producing microbes.

Pattern of childhood malignant tumors at a teaching hospital in Kano, Northern Nigeria: A prospective study.

Background: Childhood cancers represent an important global public health problem. Survival is still dismal in most low income countries. Materials and Methods: A prospective study of childhood cancers diagnosed at AKTH, Kano was undertaken from January 2003 to December 2009 to determine the pattern, socio-economic and geographical features. Results: Malignant lymphomas constituted 46.5% of all cases, of which 30.1% were Burkitt's lymphoma, 9.8% were Non-Hodgkin (non Burkitt's) lymphoma and 6.6% were Hodgkin lymphoma. Retinoblastoma was the second most common malignancy constituting 15.2% of all cases, followed by Nephroblastoma 12.5% and acute leukemia's accounted for 14.1% of all cases. Others were Neuroblastoma 5.5%, Rhabdomyosarcoma 1.9% and CNS and Hepatissc tumors 4.3%. About 80% of parents of these children are very poor and could not afford the cost of treatment. Fifty one percent of the patients were alive at 12 months and the mortality was 24%. Conclusion: Childhood cancer is common in Kano. Free treatment is what is required since majority of the parents could not afford the cost of treatment.

Phenol toxicity in a dog.

A case of mild phenol toxicity resulting from percutaneous absorption in a dog is reported. The clinical signs observed were transient and included anorexia, excessive salivation, muscular twitching and skin lesions which persisted. Following treatment, the skin lesions healed in 7 days.

Prevalence of salmonellae, shigellae and Plesiomonas shigelloides in dogs in Zaria, Nigeria.

The prevalence of salmonellae, shigellae and Plesiomonas shigelloides among 303 dogs in Zaria was determined. Salmonella serotypes including S. kofandoka, a new serotype, were recovered from three dogs giving a proportion of 1.0%. None of the dogs from which salmonellae were isolated was showing evidence of gastroenteritis at the time of presentation. Neither Shigella nor Plesiomonas shigelloides was isolated from any of the dogs.

Occurrence of Plesiomonas shigelloides in humans and water in Zaria, Nigeria.

A total of 1,171 human faeces and 269 water samples were examined for Plesiomonas shigelloides in Zaria. The rate of isolation for humans was 0.17% while the detection rates in pond and well water samples were 7.4% and 0.6% respectively. No recoveries were made from water samples taken from streams, dams, tanks and taps. Neither Shigella nor Salmonella was isolated from the water samples tested. It is concluded that water may play a role in the epidemiology of P. shigelloides but may not be a common vehicle for transmission of Shigella and Salmonella in Zaria, Nigeria.

Challenge study on infectious bursal disease in chicks derived from vaccinated hens.

Presence and levels of maternal antibody (MA) in broiler chicks derived from hens vaccinated with a live infectious bursal disease (IBD) vaccine were investigated by a quantitative agar-gel precipitin test. At day old 100% of the chicks tested had MA; by 17 days of age it was present in only 10%. The mean MA level at day old was 337.5 UK units/ml but decreased to 6.3 UK units/ml at 17 days of age. Randomly selected chicks from the pool studied were challenged at weekly intervals from day old for 29 days with an IBD virus obtained from a natural outbreak. Subclinical and clinical disease were observed in chicks challenged at eight and 29 days of age respectively.