Philip Mshelia - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Philip Mshelia

Research paper thumbnail of Occurrence of equine metabolic syndrome, clinical manifestations, and associated risk factors in Nigeria

Journal of Equine Science

Insulin dysregulation (ID) is central to the pathophysiology of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), ... more Insulin dysregulation (ID) is central to the pathophysiology of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), putting the horse at risk of laminitis. There is a paucity of information on the status of EMS in Nigeria. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of EMS, clinical manifestations, and associated risk factors in Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was carried out. Selected horses underwent an insulin 2-step response test to ascertain insulin dysregulation; a physical examination was carried out to diagnose laminitis and obesity. Risk factors were assessed using a questionnaire. The overall prevalence of EMS was 43.10%. Breed and sex were significantly associated with EMS, but age was not. Horses diagnosed with laminitis showed two signs of laminitis, namely, divergent hoof rings and widened white lines. Risk factors significantly associated with the prevalence of EMS were as follows: being a West African Barb horse (60.00%), being a stallion (67.86%), being a leisure horse (67.86%), only walking horses during exercise (68.00%), exercising horses once every 5 months (82.76%), tethering horses to a stake in the ground (67.86%), obesity (92.86%), and abnormal neck crest (83.33%). The risk of ID remains higher in obese horses. However, some of the horses with ID were not obese, indicating that there are other possible underlying causes of EMS.

Research paper thumbnail of Definition, Assessment, Health Consequences and Management of Equine Obesity: A Review

Folia Veterinaria

Obesity is a state of abnormal or excessive fat accumulation. Obesity in horses increases the ris... more Obesity is a state of abnormal or excessive fat accumulation. Obesity in horses increases the risk of developing a variety of health issues such as: insulin dysregulation (ID), reduced athleticism, colic, abnormal reproductive performance, laminitis, endotoxaemia, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipaemia, impaired thermoregulation, pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, and osteochondrosis. Obesity is a significant health and welfare issue in horses that may go unreported or unnoticed due to a caregiver’s (owner) neglect. Weight gain occurs when a horse’s energy consumption exceeds his or her physical energy needs. Obesity is best assessed via necropsy or upon in vivo assessment with deuterium oxide administration, although this is not feasible in a clinical environment. In practice, obesity is assessed by: body condition scoring, cresty neck scoring, ultrasono graphic assessment, morphometric measurements, or biochemical indicators in the blood. Dietary and exercise programs are the primar...

Research paper thumbnail of Welfare Assessment of Pack Donkeys in Amaru, Zaria Ancient City, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Folia Veterinaria

Donkey welfare is becoming a subject of much interest; for decades, people around the world have ... more Donkey welfare is becoming a subject of much interest; for decades, people around the world have voiced rising worry about it. There are no studies on donkey welfare in Nigeria. This study aimed to assess the welfare state of donkeys in Amaru, Zaria Ancient City, Kaduna State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was done to purposefully select 38 pack donkeys for welfare assessment based on the first level of the Animal Welfare Indicators (AWIN) for donkeys, which covered behaviour, health, feeding, and environment and housing. Information regarding age and sex was collected. The analysed data were reported in terms of frequencies and percentages. The prevalence of donkeys with no social contact, avoidance behaviour, and walking downside was 2.6 %, 5.36 %, and 40.56 %, respectively. The most common health problems are integumentary alterations, which include an unhealthy hair coat (86.8 %), skin lesions (86.6 %), alopecia (60.5 %), and deep wounds (47.4 %). Only 5.3 % of the donkeys we...

Research paper thumbnail of Seroprevalence of Equine Influenza and Its Associated Risk Factors in Northwest Nigeria

Pathogens

Equine influenza (EI) is a fast-spreading respiratory disease of equids caused by equine influenz... more Equine influenza (EI) is a fast-spreading respiratory disease of equids caused by equine influenza A virus (EIV), often resulting in high morbidity and a huge economic impact on the equine industry globally. In this cross-sectional study to determine the seroprevalence of EI and its associated risk factors, sera from 830 horses bled on a single occasion in Northwest Nigeria between October 2019 and January 2020 were screened for antibodies to A/equine/Richmond/1/2007 (H3N8) using the single radial haemolysis (SRH) assay. Antibodies were detected in 71.3% (592/830, 95% CI: 68–74%) of horses (SRH area ≥ 0.5 mm2). Although there were statistically significant univariable associations between seropositivity and age, sex, breed, purpose and coat colour, only age remained significant when included with each of the other variables in bivariable analyses. There was a clear trend for increasing odds of seropositivity with increasing age: OR 1.6, 95% CI: 1.05–2.40 (p = 0.03) for 5–14-year-old...

Research paper thumbnail of Erythrocyte Osmotic Fragility and Haematologic Parameters of Three Breeds of 9-Week-Old Broiler Chickens

International Journal of Poultry Science, 2013

The difference in Erythrocyte Osmotic Fragility (EOF) and haematologic parameters among two pure ... more The difference in Erythrocyte Osmotic Fragility (EOF) and haematologic parameters among two pure (Marshal and Ross) and a Hubbard-Anak cross breeds of 9-week-old broiler chickens were evaluated in this study. There was a statistically significant (P<0.05) decrease in EOF in Marshall breed at NaCl concentrations of 0.5% when compared to other breeds. However, Ross breed had the highest EOF at this NaCl concentration. Haematologic parameters of Packed Cell Volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration, Red Blood Cell (RBC) count, erythrocytic indices and differential leucocyte counts were not significantly different (P>0.05) among the three breeds. In conclusion, this result revealed a breed difference in EOF and that erythrocyte membranes are osmotically more stable in Marshal breed of broiler chickens.

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence of endoparasites in ostriches (Struthio camelus) raised in selected states of northern Nigeria

tropentag.de

Mohammed Wakawa a a Department of Veterinary Surgery and Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine... more Mohammed Wakawa a a Department of Veterinary Surgery and Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria b Department of Animal Sciences, Livestock Production Systems Group, Georg-August University Goettingen, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, ...

Research paper thumbnail of Erythrocyte Osmotic Fragility and Hematological Responses of Horses Administered Ascorbic Acid and Exposed to Road Transportation

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 2014

Carbamazepine (CBZ) as a drug used in the treatment of epilepsy and neuropathic pain has been sho... more Carbamazepine (CBZ) as a drug used in the treatment of epilepsy and neuropathic pain has been shown to facilitate the effects of free radicals. Resveratrol (RESV), known as 3,5,4′-trihydroxystilbene, is found in grapes and other plant products. It effectively scavenges free radicals and other oxidants. Vitamin E (Vit E) is a lipid soluble antioxidant present in all cellular membranes. The present study assessed the combined effect of vitamin E and resveratrol on hematological markers of carbamazepine-induced oxidative stress. Adult male Wistar rats (n = 25) were randomly allotted to five groups: Group I (control) received distilled water, Group II received CBZ (50 mg/kg), Group III received CBZ(500mg/kg) and Vitamin E (200 mg/kg); Group IV received of CBZ(50 mg/kg), and resveratrol (20 mg/kg); Group V received CBZ (50 mg/kg) and the coadministration of vitamin E (200 mg/kg) and resveratrol (20 mg/kg). Administration was done orally daily for 45 day after which animals were sacrificed and blood samples were used for biochemical analyses. Hematological parameters such as Red Blood Cell Count (RBC), White Blood Cell Count (WBC), Platelets Count (PC) and Osmotic Fragility (OF) were determined. Combination of RESV and Vit E significantly increased RBC, WBC PCV and decreased OF compared to the CBZ, RESV and Vit E treated groups respectively. In conclusion, co administration of RESV and Vit E resulted in better protective effect on CBZ induced hematological changes in rats than their respective doses of RESV and Vit E.

Research paper thumbnail of Ostrich Management practices in three states of Northern Nigeria

Research paper thumbnail of Resource Management and Rural Development Prevalence of endoparasites in ostriches (Struthio camelus) raised in selected states of northern Nigeria

Research paper thumbnail of Conference on International Research on Food Security, Natural Resource Management and Rural Development

Research paper thumbnail of Seroprevalence of African Horse Sickness Virus in Horses in Kaduna State, Nigeria

A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA... more A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN EQUINE MEDICINE

Research paper thumbnail of Imidocarb Dipropionate Lacks Efficacy Against Theileria haneyi and Fails to Consistently Clear Theileria equi in Horses Co-infected with T. haneyi

Control of Theileria equi, the primary cause of equine theileriosis, is largely reliant on acarac... more Control of Theileria equi, the primary cause of equine theileriosis, is largely reliant on acaracide use and chemosterilization with imidocarb dipropionate (ID). However, it is currently unknown if ID is effective against Theileria haneyi, the recently identified second causative agent of equine theileriosis, or if the drug maintains effectiveness against T. equi in the presence of T. haneyi co-infection. The purpose of this study was address these questions using ID treatment of the following three groups of horses: 1. Five T. haneyi infected horses; 2. Three T. haneyi-T. equi infected horses; and 3. Three T. equi-T. haneyi infected horses. Clearance was first evaluated using nPCR for each Theileria sp. on peripheral blood samples. ID failed to clear T. haneyi in all three groups of horses, and failed to clear T. equi in 2/3 horses in group two. For definitive confirmation of infection status, horses in groups two and three underwent splenectomy post-treatment. The T. equi-nPCR-pos...

Research paper thumbnail of Molecular detection of Theileria species and Babesia caballi from horses in Nigeria

Parasitology Research

Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is an infectious, tick-borne disease caused by the hemoprotozoan parasi... more Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is an infectious, tick-borne disease caused by the hemoprotozoan parasites, Theileria equi, Babesia caballi, and a recently reported new species, T. haneyi. Infections by these apicomplexan parasites limit performance and cause economic losses for the horse industry. Equine piroplasmosis is widespread in the northern regions of Nigeria, where an increasing portion of the animal population is composed of horses. This disease has remained epidemiologically challenging, especially as the movement of horses increases across Nigeria. In this study, blood samples from 300 horses were collected in three states of northwestern Nigeria. The presence of piroplasms was screened by nested PCR targeting 18S rDNA and positive samples were analyzed using species-specific-nested PCR-targeting genes including ema1 (T. equi), rap1 (B. caballi), and a gene coding a protein of unknown function (T. haneyi). Species-specific-nPCR results demonstrated that the prevalence of T. eq...

Research paper thumbnail of Antibacterial effects of crude extract of Azadirachta indica against Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp and Staphylococcus aureus

International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Jan 31, 2013

Most agents used by humans in the treatment of diseases are of plant origin. Azadirachta indica (... more Most agents used by humans in the treatment of diseases are of plant origin. Azadirachta indica (neem) is a tree which has been found to possess antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour properties and is also used as a pesticide. In this work, antibacterial effect of methanolic and aqueous extracts of the stem bark of A. indica was determined using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and Kill-time of extracts as indices. Clinical bacterial isolates such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp and Staphylococcus aureus were used as test organisms. For the aqueous extracts, a minimum concentration of 43.75 mg/ml was found to inhibit the growth of E. coli in nutrient broth. S. aureus was inhibited by 87.50 mg/ml and Salmonella spp by 175 mg/ml. Salmonella spp and S. aureus were killed by a minimum concentration of 175 mg/ml but at 1200 and 130 s respectively; while E. coli was killed at 87.50 mg/ml at 600 s. For methanolic extract, 43.75, 87.50 and 175 mg/ml concentrations inhibited the growth of E. coli, Salmonella spp and S. aureus respectively in nutrient broth. Both Salmonella spp and S. aureus were killed by 175 mg/ml at 600 and 60 s respectively in nutrient broth, while E. coli was killed by 250 mg/ml at 1200 s. A comparison of the effects of commonly used antibiotics and the extracts of A. indica at 1, 3 and 5 mg per disc on the bacterial isolates by disc diffusion method, showed that the extracts had similar effects on the bacteria as the fluoroquinolones. The crude extracts of A. indica were able to inhibit the growth of bacterial isolates in vitro, it therefore means that the plant has antibacterial properties. It is recommended that further work be done to identify the specific ingredient(s) responsible for the effect, purify it and standardize same as a drug against bacteria.

Research paper thumbnail of Ameliorative Effects of Resveratrol on Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Horses

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 2015

ABSTRACT

Research paper thumbnail of Imidocarb Dipropionate Lacks Efficacy against Theileria haneyi and Fails to Consistently Clear Theileria equi in Horses Co-Infected with T. haneyi

Pathogens

Control of Theileria equi, the primary cause of equine theileriosis, is largely reliant on acarac... more Control of Theileria equi, the primary cause of equine theileriosis, is largely reliant on acaracide use and chemosterilization with imidocarb dipropionate (ID). However, it is currently unknown if ID is effective against Theileria haneyi, the recently identified second causative agent of equine theileriosis, or if the drug maintains effectiveness against T. equi in the presence of T. haneyi co-infection. The purpose of this study was to address these questions using ID treatment of the following three groups of horses: (1) five T. haneyi infected horses; (2) three T. haneyi-T. equi infected horses; and (3) three T. equi-T. haneyi infected horses. Clearance was first evaluated using nPCR for each Theileria sp. on peripheral blood samples. ID failed to clear T. haneyi in all three groups of horses, and failed to clear T. equi in two of three horses in group two. For definitive confirmation of infection status, horses in groups two and three underwent splenectomy post-treatment. The T...

Research paper thumbnail of Occurrence of equine metabolic syndrome, clinical manifestations, and associated risk factors in Nigeria

Journal of Equine Science

Insulin dysregulation (ID) is central to the pathophysiology of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), ... more Insulin dysregulation (ID) is central to the pathophysiology of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), putting the horse at risk of laminitis. There is a paucity of information on the status of EMS in Nigeria. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of EMS, clinical manifestations, and associated risk factors in Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was carried out. Selected horses underwent an insulin 2-step response test to ascertain insulin dysregulation; a physical examination was carried out to diagnose laminitis and obesity. Risk factors were assessed using a questionnaire. The overall prevalence of EMS was 43.10%. Breed and sex were significantly associated with EMS, but age was not. Horses diagnosed with laminitis showed two signs of laminitis, namely, divergent hoof rings and widened white lines. Risk factors significantly associated with the prevalence of EMS were as follows: being a West African Barb horse (60.00%), being a stallion (67.86%), being a leisure horse (67.86%), only walking horses during exercise (68.00%), exercising horses once every 5 months (82.76%), tethering horses to a stake in the ground (67.86%), obesity (92.86%), and abnormal neck crest (83.33%). The risk of ID remains higher in obese horses. However, some of the horses with ID were not obese, indicating that there are other possible underlying causes of EMS.

Research paper thumbnail of Definition, Assessment, Health Consequences and Management of Equine Obesity: A Review

Folia Veterinaria

Obesity is a state of abnormal or excessive fat accumulation. Obesity in horses increases the ris... more Obesity is a state of abnormal or excessive fat accumulation. Obesity in horses increases the risk of developing a variety of health issues such as: insulin dysregulation (ID), reduced athleticism, colic, abnormal reproductive performance, laminitis, endotoxaemia, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipaemia, impaired thermoregulation, pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, and osteochondrosis. Obesity is a significant health and welfare issue in horses that may go unreported or unnoticed due to a caregiver’s (owner) neglect. Weight gain occurs when a horse’s energy consumption exceeds his or her physical energy needs. Obesity is best assessed via necropsy or upon in vivo assessment with deuterium oxide administration, although this is not feasible in a clinical environment. In practice, obesity is assessed by: body condition scoring, cresty neck scoring, ultrasono graphic assessment, morphometric measurements, or biochemical indicators in the blood. Dietary and exercise programs are the primar...

Research paper thumbnail of Welfare Assessment of Pack Donkeys in Amaru, Zaria Ancient City, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Folia Veterinaria

Donkey welfare is becoming a subject of much interest; for decades, people around the world have ... more Donkey welfare is becoming a subject of much interest; for decades, people around the world have voiced rising worry about it. There are no studies on donkey welfare in Nigeria. This study aimed to assess the welfare state of donkeys in Amaru, Zaria Ancient City, Kaduna State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was done to purposefully select 38 pack donkeys for welfare assessment based on the first level of the Animal Welfare Indicators (AWIN) for donkeys, which covered behaviour, health, feeding, and environment and housing. Information regarding age and sex was collected. The analysed data were reported in terms of frequencies and percentages. The prevalence of donkeys with no social contact, avoidance behaviour, and walking downside was 2.6 %, 5.36 %, and 40.56 %, respectively. The most common health problems are integumentary alterations, which include an unhealthy hair coat (86.8 %), skin lesions (86.6 %), alopecia (60.5 %), and deep wounds (47.4 %). Only 5.3 % of the donkeys we...

Research paper thumbnail of Seroprevalence of Equine Influenza and Its Associated Risk Factors in Northwest Nigeria

Pathogens

Equine influenza (EI) is a fast-spreading respiratory disease of equids caused by equine influenz... more Equine influenza (EI) is a fast-spreading respiratory disease of equids caused by equine influenza A virus (EIV), often resulting in high morbidity and a huge economic impact on the equine industry globally. In this cross-sectional study to determine the seroprevalence of EI and its associated risk factors, sera from 830 horses bled on a single occasion in Northwest Nigeria between October 2019 and January 2020 were screened for antibodies to A/equine/Richmond/1/2007 (H3N8) using the single radial haemolysis (SRH) assay. Antibodies were detected in 71.3% (592/830, 95% CI: 68–74%) of horses (SRH area ≥ 0.5 mm2). Although there were statistically significant univariable associations between seropositivity and age, sex, breed, purpose and coat colour, only age remained significant when included with each of the other variables in bivariable analyses. There was a clear trend for increasing odds of seropositivity with increasing age: OR 1.6, 95% CI: 1.05–2.40 (p = 0.03) for 5–14-year-old...

Research paper thumbnail of Erythrocyte Osmotic Fragility and Haematologic Parameters of Three Breeds of 9-Week-Old Broiler Chickens

International Journal of Poultry Science, 2013

The difference in Erythrocyte Osmotic Fragility (EOF) and haematologic parameters among two pure ... more The difference in Erythrocyte Osmotic Fragility (EOF) and haematologic parameters among two pure (Marshal and Ross) and a Hubbard-Anak cross breeds of 9-week-old broiler chickens were evaluated in this study. There was a statistically significant (P<0.05) decrease in EOF in Marshall breed at NaCl concentrations of 0.5% when compared to other breeds. However, Ross breed had the highest EOF at this NaCl concentration. Haematologic parameters of Packed Cell Volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration, Red Blood Cell (RBC) count, erythrocytic indices and differential leucocyte counts were not significantly different (P>0.05) among the three breeds. In conclusion, this result revealed a breed difference in EOF and that erythrocyte membranes are osmotically more stable in Marshal breed of broiler chickens.

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence of endoparasites in ostriches (Struthio camelus) raised in selected states of northern Nigeria

tropentag.de

Mohammed Wakawa a a Department of Veterinary Surgery and Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine... more Mohammed Wakawa a a Department of Veterinary Surgery and Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria b Department of Animal Sciences, Livestock Production Systems Group, Georg-August University Goettingen, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, ...

Research paper thumbnail of Erythrocyte Osmotic Fragility and Hematological Responses of Horses Administered Ascorbic Acid and Exposed to Road Transportation

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 2014

Carbamazepine (CBZ) as a drug used in the treatment of epilepsy and neuropathic pain has been sho... more Carbamazepine (CBZ) as a drug used in the treatment of epilepsy and neuropathic pain has been shown to facilitate the effects of free radicals. Resveratrol (RESV), known as 3,5,4′-trihydroxystilbene, is found in grapes and other plant products. It effectively scavenges free radicals and other oxidants. Vitamin E (Vit E) is a lipid soluble antioxidant present in all cellular membranes. The present study assessed the combined effect of vitamin E and resveratrol on hematological markers of carbamazepine-induced oxidative stress. Adult male Wistar rats (n = 25) were randomly allotted to five groups: Group I (control) received distilled water, Group II received CBZ (50 mg/kg), Group III received CBZ(500mg/kg) and Vitamin E (200 mg/kg); Group IV received of CBZ(50 mg/kg), and resveratrol (20 mg/kg); Group V received CBZ (50 mg/kg) and the coadministration of vitamin E (200 mg/kg) and resveratrol (20 mg/kg). Administration was done orally daily for 45 day after which animals were sacrificed and blood samples were used for biochemical analyses. Hematological parameters such as Red Blood Cell Count (RBC), White Blood Cell Count (WBC), Platelets Count (PC) and Osmotic Fragility (OF) were determined. Combination of RESV and Vit E significantly increased RBC, WBC PCV and decreased OF compared to the CBZ, RESV and Vit E treated groups respectively. In conclusion, co administration of RESV and Vit E resulted in better protective effect on CBZ induced hematological changes in rats than their respective doses of RESV and Vit E.

Research paper thumbnail of Ostrich Management practices in three states of Northern Nigeria

Research paper thumbnail of Resource Management and Rural Development Prevalence of endoparasites in ostriches (Struthio camelus) raised in selected states of northern Nigeria

Research paper thumbnail of Conference on International Research on Food Security, Natural Resource Management and Rural Development

Research paper thumbnail of Seroprevalence of African Horse Sickness Virus in Horses in Kaduna State, Nigeria

A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA... more A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN EQUINE MEDICINE

Research paper thumbnail of Imidocarb Dipropionate Lacks Efficacy Against Theileria haneyi and Fails to Consistently Clear Theileria equi in Horses Co-infected with T. haneyi

Control of Theileria equi, the primary cause of equine theileriosis, is largely reliant on acarac... more Control of Theileria equi, the primary cause of equine theileriosis, is largely reliant on acaracide use and chemosterilization with imidocarb dipropionate (ID). However, it is currently unknown if ID is effective against Theileria haneyi, the recently identified second causative agent of equine theileriosis, or if the drug maintains effectiveness against T. equi in the presence of T. haneyi co-infection. The purpose of this study was address these questions using ID treatment of the following three groups of horses: 1. Five T. haneyi infected horses; 2. Three T. haneyi-T. equi infected horses; and 3. Three T. equi-T. haneyi infected horses. Clearance was first evaluated using nPCR for each Theileria sp. on peripheral blood samples. ID failed to clear T. haneyi in all three groups of horses, and failed to clear T. equi in 2/3 horses in group two. For definitive confirmation of infection status, horses in groups two and three underwent splenectomy post-treatment. The T. equi-nPCR-pos...

Research paper thumbnail of Molecular detection of Theileria species and Babesia caballi from horses in Nigeria

Parasitology Research

Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is an infectious, tick-borne disease caused by the hemoprotozoan parasi... more Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is an infectious, tick-borne disease caused by the hemoprotozoan parasites, Theileria equi, Babesia caballi, and a recently reported new species, T. haneyi. Infections by these apicomplexan parasites limit performance and cause economic losses for the horse industry. Equine piroplasmosis is widespread in the northern regions of Nigeria, where an increasing portion of the animal population is composed of horses. This disease has remained epidemiologically challenging, especially as the movement of horses increases across Nigeria. In this study, blood samples from 300 horses were collected in three states of northwestern Nigeria. The presence of piroplasms was screened by nested PCR targeting 18S rDNA and positive samples were analyzed using species-specific-nested PCR-targeting genes including ema1 (T. equi), rap1 (B. caballi), and a gene coding a protein of unknown function (T. haneyi). Species-specific-nPCR results demonstrated that the prevalence of T. eq...

Research paper thumbnail of Antibacterial effects of crude extract of Azadirachta indica against Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp and Staphylococcus aureus

International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Jan 31, 2013

Most agents used by humans in the treatment of diseases are of plant origin. Azadirachta indica (... more Most agents used by humans in the treatment of diseases are of plant origin. Azadirachta indica (neem) is a tree which has been found to possess antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour properties and is also used as a pesticide. In this work, antibacterial effect of methanolic and aqueous extracts of the stem bark of A. indica was determined using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and Kill-time of extracts as indices. Clinical bacterial isolates such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp and Staphylococcus aureus were used as test organisms. For the aqueous extracts, a minimum concentration of 43.75 mg/ml was found to inhibit the growth of E. coli in nutrient broth. S. aureus was inhibited by 87.50 mg/ml and Salmonella spp by 175 mg/ml. Salmonella spp and S. aureus were killed by a minimum concentration of 175 mg/ml but at 1200 and 130 s respectively; while E. coli was killed at 87.50 mg/ml at 600 s. For methanolic extract, 43.75, 87.50 and 175 mg/ml concentrations inhibited the growth of E. coli, Salmonella spp and S. aureus respectively in nutrient broth. Both Salmonella spp and S. aureus were killed by 175 mg/ml at 600 and 60 s respectively in nutrient broth, while E. coli was killed by 250 mg/ml at 1200 s. A comparison of the effects of commonly used antibiotics and the extracts of A. indica at 1, 3 and 5 mg per disc on the bacterial isolates by disc diffusion method, showed that the extracts had similar effects on the bacteria as the fluoroquinolones. The crude extracts of A. indica were able to inhibit the growth of bacterial isolates in vitro, it therefore means that the plant has antibacterial properties. It is recommended that further work be done to identify the specific ingredient(s) responsible for the effect, purify it and standardize same as a drug against bacteria.

Research paper thumbnail of Ameliorative Effects of Resveratrol on Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Horses

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 2015

ABSTRACT

Research paper thumbnail of Imidocarb Dipropionate Lacks Efficacy against Theileria haneyi and Fails to Consistently Clear Theileria equi in Horses Co-Infected with T. haneyi

Pathogens

Control of Theileria equi, the primary cause of equine theileriosis, is largely reliant on acarac... more Control of Theileria equi, the primary cause of equine theileriosis, is largely reliant on acaracide use and chemosterilization with imidocarb dipropionate (ID). However, it is currently unknown if ID is effective against Theileria haneyi, the recently identified second causative agent of equine theileriosis, or if the drug maintains effectiveness against T. equi in the presence of T. haneyi co-infection. The purpose of this study was to address these questions using ID treatment of the following three groups of horses: (1) five T. haneyi infected horses; (2) three T. haneyi-T. equi infected horses; and (3) three T. equi-T. haneyi infected horses. Clearance was first evaluated using nPCR for each Theileria sp. on peripheral blood samples. ID failed to clear T. haneyi in all three groups of horses, and failed to clear T. equi in two of three horses in group two. For definitive confirmation of infection status, horses in groups two and three underwent splenectomy post-treatment. The T...