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.

Clofibrate, a PPAR-α agonist, abrogates sodium fluoride-induced neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and motor incoordination via modulation of GFAP/Iba-1/anti-calbindin signaling pathways.

Fluoride is an environmental contaminant that is ubiquitously present in air, water, and soil. It is commonly added in minute quantity to drinking water, toothpaste, and mouth rinses to prevent tooth decay. Epidemiological findings have demonstrated that exposure to fluoride induced neurodevelopmental toxicity, developmental neurotoxicity, and motor disorders. The neuroprotective effect of clofibrate, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha agonist, was investigated in the present study. Forty male Wistar rats were used for this study and randomly grouped into 10 rats per group as control, sodium fluoride (NaF) alone (300 ppm), NaF plus clofibrate (250 mg/kg), and NaF plus lisinopril (10 mg/kg), respectively, for 7 days. NaF was administered in drinking water while clofibrate and lisinopril were administered by oral gavage. Markers of neuronal inflammation and oxidative stress, acetylcholinesterase activity, and neurobehavioral (hanging wire and open field) tests were performed. Immunohistochemistry was performed on brain tissues, and they were probed with glial fibrillary acidic protein, ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1, and cerebellar Ca2+ -binding protein calbindin-D28k. The results showed that NaF significantly increased of oxidative stress and neuroinflammation and inhibited AChE activity. Immunostaining showed reactive astrocytes, microgliosis, loss of dendritic spines, and arborization in Purkinje cells in rats administered only NaF. Neurobehavioral results showed that cotreatment of NaF with clofibrate improved muscular strength and locomotion, reduced anxiety, and significantly reduced astrocytic count. Overall, cotreatment of NaF with either clofibrate or lisinopril showed neuroprotective effects by mitigating neuronal inflammation and oxidative and motor incoordination. Hence, clofibrate could be seen as a novel drug candidate against neurodegeneration and motor disorders.

Pathology and molecular diagnosis of canine parvoviral enteritis in Nigeria: case report.

This report describes the clinical presentation, pathology and molecular diagnosis of canine parvovirus infection in male Boerboel and female Alsatian puppies. The history of the dogs was considered, examined clinically for vital parameters, haemogram changes and faeces screened for parasites and canine parvovirus faecal antigen. Tissue samples were taken at necropsy for confirmatory diagnosis using histopathology, immunohistochemistry, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequence analysis. There was a severe regenerative anaemia, leucopenia and lymphopaenia. The positive antigen faecal test and pathological findings of haemorrhagic enteritis suggested canine parvoviral enteritis disease. Polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis confirmed canine parvovirus-2a as the aetiology of the disease. Informed management is important to avoid complications resulting from secondary to severe dehydration, hypovolemia from marked gastrointestinal fluid and protein loss and sepsis from bacterial translocation and leukopenia.

The ethanol leaf extract of Andrographis paniculata blunts acute renal failure in cisplatin-induced injury in rats through inhibition of Kim-1 and upregulation of Nrf2 pathway.

Background Cisplatin (CP) is a novel drug of choice in the treatment of cancer but its major limitation is nephrotoxicity, which is dose limiting. Andrographis paniculata (AP) is a common Indian dietary component. It is well known for its medicinal properties. This present study investigated the nephroprotective effect of ethanol leaf extract of Andrographis paniculata (EEAP) on CP-induced nephrotoxicity. Methods CP was used to induce nephrotoxicity in male Wistar rats to study the effect of EEAP on renal damages using hematological parameters, biochemical parameters, histology, and immunohistochemistry studies. Results The effects of EEAP were determined by CP-induced changes in different kidney tissue on antioxidant enzymes, markers of oxidative stress, serum creatinine, and urine parameters. Administration of EEAP (200 mL/kg and 400 mg/kg orally), prior to and following a single dose CP treatment (10 mg/kg i.p), significantly mitigated the CP-induced decrease in antioxidant enzymes, and increase in markers of oxidative stress, serum creatinine, and urinary protein. On histopathological examination of the kidney tissue, there was severe glomerular degeneration and infiltration of inflammatory cells in CP only treated rats, mild glomerular degeneration, and infiltration of inflammatory cells in EEAP pre-treated rats. Furthermore, EEAP activated Nrf2 and mitigated Kim-1 pathways in CP-induced nephrotoxicity. Conclusions The results showed the protective effect of EEAP against CP-induced nephrotoxicity.

Cardioprotective Effects of Curcumin-Nisin Based Poly Lactic Acid Nanoparticle on Myocardial Infarction in Guinea Pigs.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is the most prevalent cause of cardiovascular death. A possible way of preventing MI maybe by dietary supplements. The present study was thus designed to ascertain the cardio-protective effect of a formulated curcumin and nisin based poly lactic acid nanoparticle (CurNisNp) on isoproterenol (ISO) induced MI in guinea pigs. Animals were pretreated for 7 days as follows; Groups A and B animals were given 0.5 mL/kg of normal saline, group C metoprolol (2 mg/kg), groups D and E CurNisNp 10 and 21 mg/kg respectively (n = 5). MI was induced on the 7th day in groups B-E animals. On the 9th day electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded, blood samples and tissue biopsies were collected for analyses. Toxicity studies on CurNisNp were carried out. MI induction caused atrial fibrillation which was prevented by pretreatment of metoprolol or CurNisNp. MI induction was also associated with increased expressions of cardiac troponin I (CTnI) and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) which were significantly reduced in guinea pig's pretreated with metoprolol or CurNisNp (P < 0.05). The LC50 of CurNisNp was 3258.2 µg/mL. This study demonstrated that the formulated curcumin-nisin based nanoparticle confers a significant level of cardio-protection in the guinea pig and is nontoxic.

Haemogregarine Genetic Diversity in Captive African Rock Pythons from Nigeria Suggests a Geographical Pattern.

OBJECTIVE: Understanding the processes that drive parasite diversification, distribution, and abundance is central to disentangle the dynamics and evolution of diseases. In this study, we screened African rock pythons from Nigeria for the presence of blood parasites to assess their distribution, diversity, and phylogenetic relationships. METHODS: A total of 21 captive African rock pythons collected from across 11 locations in Nigeria were sampled between August 2016 and January 2017. Samples were microscopically and genetically analyzed. RESULTS: From the blood smears analyzed, 10 (47.6%) snakes were found to be infected with haemogregarines. Eight of the infected samples were genetically assessed and confirmed as haemogregarines of the recently described Bartazoon group. Two haplotypes were retrieved, of which one was distributed in the northern-central sampled localities and the other in the southern localities. The two haplotypes were clustered in a clade of haemogregarines from snake, gecko, and rodent hosts, and among them, the haemogregarine species Hepatozoon ayorgbor was described from the ball python Python regius. CONCLUSIONS: Two haemogregarine haplotypes in Nigerian rock pythons, which appear to have a geographical pattern across the country, were detected in this study.

Polyphenol-Rich Fraction of Parquetina nigrescens Mitigates Dichlorvos-Induced Cardiorenal Dysfunction Through Reduction in Cardiac Nitrotyrosine and Renal p38 Expressions in Wistar Rats.

Parquetina nigrescens is commonly used to treat diseases in humans and animals in developing countries, including Nigeria. This study evaluates the effects of its polyphenol-rich fraction (prf) on dichlorvos-induced cardio- and renal toxicity. There were several factors assessed during this study, including cardiac and renal markers, serum myeloperoxidase and xanthine oxidase, and electrocardiograph (ECG) changes. The changes in electrocardiograph (ECG) were recorded. Immunohistochemistry of cardiac and renal p38 and nitrotyrosine was determined. Dichlorvos exposure caused a significant decrease in L-glutathione (reduced glutathione) and other antioxidant enzymes with increases in malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase, advanced oxidation protein products, and protein carbonyl levels. It also brought about alterations in microanatomy of the heart and kidneys accompanied by increases in serum creatinine and urea levels. Exposure to dichlorvos induced prolonged QRS interval and shortened QT durations in rats. Immunohistochemistry revealed lower expressions of cardiac nitrotyrosine and renal p38 (mitogen-activated protein kinase; MAPK) in rats treated with prf of P. nigrescens. Combining all, prf of P. nigrescens demonstrated antioxidant as well as protective properties in the heart and kidneys of rats exposed to dichlorvos. It ameliorated dichlorvos-induced cardio- and nephrotoxicity giving credence to its use in ethnomedicine.

Hematological and plasma chemistry values for the African rock python (Python sebae).

Hematology and plasma biochemistry parameters are useful in the assessment and management of threatened and endangered species. Although reference values are readily available for many mammalian species, reference values for snakes are lacking for most species. We determined hematology and plasma biochemistry values for captive African rock pythons (Python sebae) and studied the effects of age, sex, season and hemoparasites on these values. Blood (5 mL) was collected by venipuncture of ventral coccygeal vein from 19 African rock pythons in rainy season and 14 snakes from the same population in dry season. There was no significant statistical difference (P < .05) between males and females to any of the parameters measured except total calcium in the rainy season. Significantly higher values were obtained (P < .05) for the white blood cells (WBC), heterophils, lymphocytes, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the dry versus the rainy seasons while there were significantly lower values obtained for red blood cells (RBC), glucose and total protein. Statistically significant differences in lymphocyte and monocyte counts were however found between adult and juvenile snakes. Differences in parameters for hepatozoon positive and hepatozoon negative snakes were not statistically significant although parameters like the total WBC count, heterophils and lymphocytes were markedly higher for hepatozoon positive snakes while packed cell volume (PCV) was slightly lower. This is the first study on blood parameters of the African rock python and serves as first pilot values for clinical assessments and future studies of this species.

Chemopreventive effect of methanolic extract of Azadirachta indica on experimental Trypanosoma brucei induced oxidative stress in dogs.

INTRODUCTION: The medicinal properties of Azadirachta indica have been harnessed for many years in the treatment of many diseases in both humans and animals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five apparently healthy dogs weighing between 3 and 8 kg were randomly divided into five groups with five dogs in each group. Ameliorative effect of A. indica on erythrocyte antioxidant status and markers of oxidative stress were assessed. Liver and kidney function tests were also performed. RESULTS: Pre-treatment with methanolic extract of Azadirachta indica (MEAI) at different doses did not significantly alter the values of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activity in Trypanosoma brucei infection. Although, serum creatinine significantly (P < 0.05) decreased with pre-treatment with 50 mg/kg A. indica, after 2 weeks of T. brucei infection. However, the reduced glutathione (GSH) content of the erythrocyte increased significantly in animals pre-treated with 50 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg of A. indica respectively. Markers of oxidative stress such as malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide generated were higher in animals infected with T. brucei with no significant (P >0.05) difference compared to the values obtained in pre-treated animals. Pre-treatment with 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg of A. indica significantly (P < 0.05) decreased serum myeloperoxidase activity at 2 weeks post-infection with T. brucei. CONCLUSION: From this study, MEAI showed significant ability to attenuate oxidative stress and inflammation during experimental T. brucei infection.

Failure of recovery from lead induced hepatoxicity and disruption of erythrocyte antioxidant defence system in Wistar rats.

Lead acetate (PbA) is one of the major environmental contaminants with grave toxicological consequences both in the developing and developed countries. The liver and erythrocyte antioxidant status and markers of oxidative were assessed. Exposure of rats to PbA led to significant decline (p < 0.05) in hepatic and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and reduced glutathione (GSH) content. Similarly, malondialdehyde (MDA) and H(2)O(2) concentrations were significantly (p < 0.05) elevated. Histopathology and immunohistology of liver of rats exposed to PbA showed focal areas of necrosis and COX-2 expression after 6 weeks of PbA withdrawal. Taken together, hepatic and erythrocytes antioxidant defence system failed to recover after withdrawal of the exposed PbA for the period of the study. In conclusion, experimental animals exposed to PbA did not recover from hepatotoxicity and disruption of erythrocyte antioxidant defence system via free radical generation and oxidative stress.

A case of polydactyly in the hind-limbs of a West African Dwarf goat in South-West Nigeria.

This report describes a case of polydactyly in the hind-limb of a West African Dwarf goat kid in South West Africa. Physical examination revealed the presence of four digits in each of the hind limbs. Radiological examination and macerated bones of the animal showed a bifid shape of each metatarsal that was more prominent from the distal half of the diaphysis. This resulted in the presence of four articulating surfaces per limb at the distal extremity. Though this condition is rare in goats, we advise that continuous reporting by researchers can give a better prevalence statistics of these occurrences.

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)

No disponible