Ciência e Tecnologia Veterinária

Livestock production constitutes one of the principal means of achieving improved living standards in many regions of the developing world including Ethiopia. A cross sectional study was conducted from November 2013 to April 2014 to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes and coccidia parasites affecting cattle in west Arsi zone using flotation technique to investigate helminthes eggs. A total 384 fecal samples of cattle from different districts of west Arsi zone (Arsi-negele, Shashemene and Kofele) were collected and examined for incidence of gastrointestinal nematodes and coccidial infestation. Out of 384 animals examined, 188 (49%) animals were positive for gastro-intestinal nematodes and coccidian; and out of these positive animals 109 (57.97%) were infested with single genera of gastro-intestinal nematodes and coccidian, which include: ostertagia spp 7 (1.8%), oesophagostomum spp 5 (1.3%), strongloid spp 10 (2.6%), Emeria spp 11 (2.9%), Trychostrongylus spp 14 (3.6%), hemonchus spp 45 (11.7%), Bunostomum spp 17 (4.4%) and the rest 79 (42.02%) animals were infested with mixed genera of gastro-intestinal nematodes. These include oesophagostomum spp with Trychostrongylus spp 37 (9.6%), ostertagia spp with hemonchus spp 15 (3.9%), Trychostrongylus spp with hemonchus spp 17 (4.4%) and strongloid spp with Bunostomum spp 10 (2.6%). The prevalence of gastro-intestinal nematodes and coccidia was higher in adult and young animals as compared with calves, higher prevalence were also seen were communal grazing and watering areas are common.

Through the past five decades, significant phenotypic and genetic variabilities have been recognized and identified in various strains of Echinococcus granulosus isolated from different regions. Studies have revealed that the different strains of E. granulosus consist of heterogenous groups of genetic variants, which may display variations in morphology, host specificity, development rate, pathogenicity and geographical distributions. Thus identification of strain types is very important in strategizing and implementing an Echinococcus control and management program.

Nanocomposites exhibit high performance on antimicrobial activities and have the potential to be developed alternative antibiotics. In this study, antibacterial effects of chitosan silver nano composites (CAgNCs) were investigated using pathogenic Vibrio tapetis as a bacterial model. Agar disc diffusion and turbidimetric assay results showed that CAgNCs could inhibit the growth of V. tapetis in concentration depended manner. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of CAgNCs against V. tapetis were 50 μg/mL and 100 μg/mL, respectively. The field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) images analysis of V. tapetis showed severe structural damage to cells after treating CAgNCs at 75 μg/mL compared to un-treated bacteria. Moreover, CAgNCs induce the intracellular ROS level, leakage of nucleic materials (RNA and DNA), decrease the cell viability and protein level in V. tapetis cells. Herein, we demonstrate that CAgNCs as effective antibacterial agent with capability to disrupt cell membrane, de-stabilize the membrane permeability, induce the oxidative stress and inhibit the expression of protein or synthesis of macromolecules. Overall results from this study suggest that mode of action of CAgNCs may be associated with excessive generation of ROS, loss in membrane integrity and inhibiting protein synthesis that cause the bacterial cell death.

A cross sectional study was conducted on 384 horse and donkey in Hawassa town to determine the prevalence of gastro intestinal Nematode parasite and to identify infection association with species, sex, age and body condition of horse and donkey. Horse and donkey were examined for the presence of Nematode parasite. Floatation and McMaster Techniques were employed on feces to identify parasite eggs. Overall prevalence of horse and donkey was 72.7% (279/384) for gastro intestinal nematode parasite with the prevalence of 63.7% and 78.5 % in horses and donkeys respectively. The prevalence recorded for Strongyle parasite was 76% and 64.9% and for Parascaris equorum 26.2% and 4.6% in donkeys and horses respectively. Nematode parasite prevalence was influenced by species and age risk factors (p< 0.05) whereas sex and body condition were not (p>0.05). The mean egg count indicated the existence of significant difference in the mean of egg count with different risk factors; detected high in donkeys, females, less than four years age group and poor body condition score (p< 0.05). In conclusion, this study revealed that the occurrence of gastro intestinal nematode parasite in horse and donkey in Hawassa town is a common phenomenon. As a result, awareness to animal owners and proper deworming and prevention mechanisms should be implemented to reduce the economic burden of the disease in the country.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease, which is thought to be one of the major public health problems in the world. The pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis is the topic of contemporary research. For most satisfactory outcome rheumatoid arthritis should be treated in early stage. Nevertheless, in spite of new progresses in rheumatoid arthritis medical therapy, their treatment still denotes an unmet medical requirement because of safety and efficacy anxieties through presently prescribed medications. The Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and Glucocorticoids (GC) are employed respectively for the symptomatic and local therapy of rheumatoid arthritis. However the Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α), Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and B cells have received increased interest resulting in numerous novel therapeutics. B-cell depletion agent (rituximab), Tumor Necrosis Factor-α inhibitors (etanercept, infliximab, and adalimumab), Interleukin-6 receptor blocker (tocilizumab), and T-cell co-stimulatory blocker (abatacept) are current biologics which are used as Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) for the basic treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Future treatments are consist of biosimilars, alternative Tumor Necrosis Factor-α inhibitors (golimumab and certolizumab), and kinase inhibitors (tofacitinib and fostamatinib).

Thirty clinical cases of obstructive urolithiasis in cattle calves were managed by three surgical techniques i.e., tube cystostomy with polyvinyl chloride catheter (group AI), tube cystostomy with Foley’s catheter (group AII) and cystostomy with indwelling urethral catheterization (group B). All the animals were given litholytic agents, antiinflammatory drugs, antibiotics and urine acidifiers postoperatively. These surgical techniques were evaluated on the basis of time taken for each kind of surgery, initiation/free flow of urine, removal of catheters following free flow urination, postoperative complications and overall success rate. Tube cystostomy with Foley’s catheter was found the quickest and easiest technique. The median time of onset of free flow of urine from the external urethral orifice in the animals of group AI and AII was 9 days with the range of 4-12 and 5-13 days respectively. The main postoperative complications recorded include: catheter dislodgement (one animal each in all the groups), catheter loss (one animal each in group AI and B), catheter blockade (one animal each in group AI and B and 3 animals in group AII), and urethral rupture (one animal in group AI and 2 animals in group AII). The survival rate was higher in the animals of group A; however the recovery rate without post-operative complications was higher in the animals of group B.

As a delicate discipline, orthopedic surgery requires a mastery of the Topographic anatomy in order to get a quick access to the bone structure with the least risk and non-altering the vascular and nerve structures. Actually, 3D modeling offers a good representation of anatomical structures with a perfect transparency. The animal’s organs can be reconstructed in 3D anatomical forms from the anatomical 2D charts, or rebuilt from radiological imaging with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT) and ultrasound 3D. This study is interested with the training of the orthopedic surgery. In addition, the synthesis of 3D models allows creating an interactive system between learners and the computer ensured by an intermediary device which is in our case the mouse as an input device controller. This article can be considered as a contribution to the simulation of the orthopedic surgery in dogs by showing a 3D reconstruction of the osteosynthesis of the long bones with two methods; the intramedullary pining and the ordinary screwed plate as realized in our reel experiment. Certainly, because of the very significant similarities between simulation and clinical scenario of the orthopedic surgery, the used software can be recommended as an alternative tool for surgery teaching, especially in the developing countries wherein the deficiency of learning resources. Moreover, it is important to ensure the animal’s welfare and useful to minimize the rate of the euthanized animals after surgery training.

Leptospirosis is endemic to the Andaman Islands and is emerging as an important public health problem in many other parts of India. The ecology of the Andaman Islands is ideal for the disease to remain as an endemic in the warm and humid environment within the rodent population as reservoirs, wild and domestic animals as carriers and affecting humans as incidental hosts. Furthermore, there is a lack of studies regarding the serological and genetic affinities of leptospires infecting humans and animals in Andaman region. A modest study was undertaken to understand the leptospiral carrier state and seroprevalence among animals slaughtered in an abattoir in the Andaman. Serum samples were collected from 184 cattle and 202 goats slaughtered in the abattoir during a two-year period and tested for the presence of leptospiral antibodies. Isolation was also attempted from kidney samples of each of these animals. High seroprevalence of 37% was observed in cattle and 29% in goats slaughtered. Since animals brought from different parts of the Andaman Islands showed Icterohaemorrhagiae, Grippotyphosa and Hebdomadis as the commonest reacting serogroups that are also the commonest among human cases and these animals might have been playing an important role in spreading the disease. Four leptospires were isolated from cattle, belonging to the serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae. The study highlights the importance of a wide project involving animals and the environment for understanding the transmission dynamics of leptospirosis in the Islands which will help in devising of control and intervention strategies.

The study was carried out from November 2013-April 2014 with the aim of elucidating the prevalence, assess the risk factors and economic significance of hydatidosis in cattle slaughtered at Kara-alo abattoir, Addis Ababa, involving gross post mortem inspections of organs. Single proportion sample size determination was made to calculate the sample size and a total 768 cattle were randomly inspected. Cyst size, viability test, rate of calcification and fertility as well as sterility was done. In the current study 25.7% (197/768) prevalence of hydatidosis was recorded. The highest prevalence was observed in the lung (19.5%) followed by liver (12.6%) while the least was recorded in the kidney (0.7%). Small sized cysts contribute nearly 18% and the majorities were mixed (79.2%). Non calcified, fertile and viable cysts contributes 55.9%, 39.10% and 37.7%, respectively. Infection of hydatidosis was significantly higher (p<0.05, 0.002) in adults compared to the young cattle. Medium and good body sized cattle were protected from hydatidosis infection compared to poor body condition with a significant difference (P<0.05, 0.0001). Age and body conditions of the animals were found to be the risk factors for hydatidosis infections. The financial loss recorded in the current study was 22010 ETB (USD 1158.105). It can be affirmed that hydatidosis is one of the most economically important cattle disease in the area.

A seventeen years old lioness with history of emaciation, anorexia and respiratory distress since several days, finally the animal was died suddenly. On postmortem examination the carcass was very poor in appearance and slight swelling was noticed at neck region. The cervical part of esophagus was enlarged nearly 3-4 times than normal. Histopathologically, esophagus revealed pink stained edema fluid, neutrophils and mononuclear cells infiltration and fibroblast proliferation was noticed in mucosa and sub mucosa. The tunica muscularis was hypertrophied. The present case etiology was unknown. Hence this case was confirmed as an idiopathic megaesophagus in lioness.

Background: Gentamicin is commonly used to treat Haemorrhagic Septicemia (HS) and other respiratory tract infections in bovines. But no data on its doses and schedules optimized for therapeutic success against P. multocida using pharmacokinetics (PK) - pharmacodynamic (PD) integration and modeling is available in farm animals. We investigated PD of gentamicin against P. multocida isolates and optimized the dosage schedules in buffalo species using novel approach of PK-PD modeling.

Results: The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of gentamicin against P. multocida in Mueller Hinton Broth (MHB) and serum were similar. The MBC:MIC ratios were 1.23 and 1.27, respectively, for MHB and calf serum.. The mutant prevention concentration (MPC) =6 μg/mL of gentamicin was higher than MIC (0.75 μg/mL) and MBC (0.95 μg/mL). In vitro growth inhibition curves of gentamicin in MHB and serum were characteristic of bactericidal activity against P. multocida. Time kill kinetics demonstrated that killing activity of gentamicin is concentration andtime dependent.. The values of PK-PD indicators, Cmax/MIC and AUC24h /MIC were 21 and 61 h, respectively. Based on MPC, PK-PD indices, Cmax/MPC and AUC24h /MPC were 2.60 and 7.62 h, respectively. Using PK-PD modelling, the predicted gentamicin values of AUC24h/MIC for bacteriostatic bactericidal action and bacterial eradication were 32.13, 47.15 and 60.96 h, respectively.

Conclusions: The PK-PD indicespredicted therapeutic success of the gentamicin against P. multocida. Based on PK-PD modeling, optimum daily dosage of gentamicin was 2-2.5 mg/kg for treating infections caused by P. multocida (MIC90 ≤1.0 μg/mL) in buffalo calves. However, in difficult clinical infections associated with pathogens of MIC90≤4.0 μg/mL, a higher dosage of 7.5 mg/kg is recommended. Low MPC of gentamicin against P. multocida suggested low selection pressure for emergence and amplification of resistant subpopulation during treatment.

Praziquantel is a synthetic heterocyclic broad-spectrum anthelminthic agent effective against parasitic schistosome species as well as most other trematodes and adult cestodes. This article aims to present a comprehensive overview of studies concerning the drug history, structure, dosage, pharmacokinetics, side effects, toxicity, mechanism of action and resistance of praziquantel.

Giardiasis is an important protozoan disease caused by Giardia and manifested as life-threatening diarrhea in animals and humans worldwide. No study has performed to see zoonotic epidemiology and diversity of Giardia in animals in Bangladesh. Hence, there is a room to characterize Giardia protozoan parasite in animals to find out their roles as a source of human infection. To address this hurdle, fecal samples of 100 goat kids were genotyped by nested PCR amplification of β-giardin gene fragment followed by sequencing and analysis. The total prevalence of Giardia in goat kids was 3% (3/100) and the infection is more widespread in younger, Black Bengal breed and female goat kids. Further analysis of β-giardin gene locus has shown and clustered the Giardia in Assemblage E rather than Assemblages A and B. It suggests the low zoonotic transmission frequency from the goat kids and has least epidemiological significance to humans. Further study on this field is prerequisite in terms of broad geographical areas, age groups, sex and evaluates zoonotic significance along with genetic diversity in other host species as well.

A cross-sectional study aimed at determining the prevalence and cyst characteristics and estimating the financial loss due to cystic echinococcosis (hydatidosis) in cattle slaughtered at Bako municipal abattoir was conducted from November 2011 to April 2012. Out of 246 cattle examined, 29 (11.88%) were found to harbor visible hydatid cysts. Significantly higher infection was detected in cattle’s with poor body conditions (P<0.05) than animals with medium and good body condition score. No significant variation was observed with regard to sex of animals. Regarding organ distribution, infections of the lung, liver, kidney, and spleen and heart were 47.2%, 38.88%, 8.33%, and 2.77% respectively. Of the total 36 hydatid cysts counted, 17(47%), 14 (38.88%), and 5 (13.88%) were found to be small-sized, medium-sized, and large-sized, respectively. Likewise, out of 36 cysts assessed, 18 (50%) were fertile, 4 (11.11%) sterile, and 14 (38.88%) calcified. Of the 29 fertile cysts subjected for viability test, 12 (27.77%) were viable while 8 (22.22%) were nonviable. Moreover, assessment of annual economic loss due to bovine hydatidosis at Bako municipal abattoir from offal condemnation and carcass weight loss was estimated at 180,792 ETB (Ethiopian Birr). Despite the moderate magnitude of infection detected currently, there seems to be an existing socioeconomic situation favorable for hydatidosis, and hence, it remains one of the most important diseases warranting serious attention for prevention and control actions in Bako district. Hence, establishment of well-equipped standardized abattoirs, creation of public awareness, and control of stray dogs are of paramount importance.