RESUMO
The prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth infections of dog in Enugu State, South Eastern Nigeria was studied retrospectively and prospectively. In the retrospective study, records of all diagnosed helminth infections of dogs brought to the University of Nigeria Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Nsukka from January, 2006 to September 2013 were collated and analyzed. The prospective study was carried out between October 2013 and July 2014 by examination of 263 faecal samples collected per rectum from dogs presented to a purposively selected Veterinary Clinics in Enugu metropolis and the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The results of the 8 year retrospective prevalence study gave an overall prevalence of 56.1% and Ancylostoma species as the most prevalent helminth in the study area (33.2%). Mixed infections with more than one helminth parasite species were recorded in 8.6% of the cases. Annual breakdown of the prevalence data showed that the highest prevalence was recorded in 2009. Breed and age of the dogs were found to significantly influence the prevalence. In the prospective study, an overall prevalence of 51.7% was obtained. Ancylostoma spp. was also found most often in the study area, with a prevalence rate of 33.6%. Mixed infections with more than one helminth parasite species were found in 16.3% of the cases. A strong association was obtained between prevalence and breed of the dogs and also between prevalence and season. Due to the zoonotic nature of most of the encountered parasites and the close association between children and dogs, routine deworming, proper management of dogs and adequate personal hygiene is therefore recommended.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of combination therapy of methanolic leaf extract of Azadirachta indica (A. indica) and diminazene diaceturate (DDA) in the treatment of experimental Trypanosoma brucei brucei (T. brucei brucei) infection in rats. METHODS: Acute toxicity study of the drug and extract combinations were done. Selection of the best drug and extract combinations was carried out using fifty four rats of both sexes separated into 9 groups. Three dose combinations were derived from selection of the best drug and extract combinations used for the final study viz: 7 mg/kg bw DDA plus 125 mg/kg bw extract (group B), 3.5 mg/kg bw DDA plus 250 mg/kg bw extract (group C), and 1.8 mg/kg bw DDA plus 500 mg/kg bw extract (group D). The final study had in addition to the three groups derived from the dose response study, four other groups viz: uninfected untreated negative control (group F), infected and treated with 3 000 mg/kg bw extract alone (group E), infected and treated with 7 mg/kg bw DDA alone (group A), and infected untreated positive control (group G). The parameters assessed were onset of parasitaemia (OP), level of parasitaemia (LOP), clearance of parasites post treatment (COPPT), relapse infection period (RIP), post infection survival period (PIST). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in OP between the groups (P < 0.05). One day post treatment, the mean LOP of groups A, B, and C were found to be significantly lower than that of group D which in turn was lower than that of group E and G respectively. The mean LOP of group E was significantly lower than group G two days post treatment and this trend continued throughout the experimental period. Mean COPPT of group D was significantly longer than that of groups A, C and B. There was no significant difference in the mean COPPT among groups B, C and A. The mean RIP of group D was significantly shorter than group C, and that of group C was significantly shorter than that of group A. There was no relapse of infection in group B. The PIST of group E did not differ significantly from group G. CONCLUSIONS: This experiment stands to conclude that combination of 125 mg/kg bw extract and 7 mg/kg bw DDA is very effective in the treatment of trypanosomosis, caused by T. brucei. This combination therapy proved to be better than single therapy of DDA.
