Diagnostic Performance of a Rapid Immunochromatographic Test Kit for Detecting Canine Parvovirus Infection.

In dogs, canine parvovirus (CPV) enteritis is associated with high morbidity and fatality rates requiring early diagnosis to facilitate treatment and reduce its spread. In recent times, various commercial immunochromatographic (IC) test kits are available for its rapid diagnosis, which require an assessment of their accuracy. Therefore, precision of a point-of-care IC combination test kit for canine coronavirus (CCoV)/CPV faecal antigen detection was evaluated in this study. Multicentred random faecal samples from 115 dogs with gastroenteritis were checked for the presence of CPV antigens using the SensPERT IC combination test kit and the result was compared with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a reference test. Parvovirus was detected in 105 (91.3%) and 108 (93.9%) faecal samples by the point-of-care test kit and PCR, respectively. The point-of-care IC test kit showed 95.4% relative sensitivity, 71.4% specificity, 98.1% positive predictive value, 50.0% negative predictive value, and 93.9% accuracy comparable to conventional PCR in the samples tested. This point-of-care test kit also demonstrated a fair positive likelihood ratio (3.34), a very low negative likelihood ratio (0.07) and a moderate agreement (Kappa = 0.6) compared with conventional PCR. This test kit has shown to be very useful in the screening of dogs for CPV infection, and is a reliable alternative for diagnosing CPV both in conventional laboratories and remote areas without laboratories. Negative results in the IC testing with high suspicion of CPV infection should be further confirmed using superior test such as PCR.

Toxicological evaluations of methanolic extract of Moringa oleifera leaves in liver and kidney of male Wistar rats.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to investigate toxicological effects associated with prolonged consumption of Moringa oleifera leaves as a beverage. METHODS: Thirty rats were used in this study. They were grouped into five groups of six rats. Rats in group I received 2 mL/kg body weight (b.w.) of corn oil (vehicle). Animals in groups II, III, IV and V received 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w. of methanolic extract of M. oleifera (MEMO) for 8 weeks. Serum collected was analyzed for alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total protein, albumin, globulin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine. RESULTS: There was a significant (p<0.05) increase in serum total protein and globulin in a dose-dependent manner. Rats that received MEMO at 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w. showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in serum ALT, AST, BUN and creatinine which pointed to hepatic and kidney damage. All experimental animals that received MEMO had a significant (p<0.05) increase in body weight in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: This study therefore confirms for the first time that chronic administration of M. oleifera leaves might predispose to hepatic and kidney damage.

Craniofacial morphometrics and macro-neurometrics of the fruit bat (Eidolon Helvum)

This study involved the measurement of craniofacial indices and linear neurometrics in the fruit bat, Eidolon helvum, which are found abundantly in Nigeria. The mean head weight was 38.7±2.74g, while the rima oris length, distance between medial canthi, and the height of the philtrum were 48.9±7.59 mm, 14.1±0.49 mm, 8.67±0.48 mm respectively. The brain weight and length of brain were 3.22±0.50 g and 2.79±0.18 cm respectively. The males had consistently higher values for most craniofacial and all neurometric parameters measured, while the female values were higher only in the width of the left external nares (5.08±0.55 mm in the females, and 5.0±0.39 mm in the males). Correlation studies revealed negative correlation between the weight of the animal and the weight of the brain. Data obtained from this study will serve as baseline data for craniofacial anatomy and neuro-anatomy research for the fruit bat, Eidolon helvum, and also in comparative anatomy with other breeds of bats (AU)

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