Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 12 (9), pp. 001-005, September, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Prevalence and seasonality of fowl typhoid disease in Zaria-Kaduna State, Nigeria

I. J. Mbuko, M. A. Raji*, J. Ameh, L. Saidu, W. I. Musa and P. A. Abdul

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, P. O. Box 1044, Samaru-Zaria, Kaduna State-Nigeria.

Accepted 9 April, 2018

Abstract

A five years retrospective study (2003 - 2007) of the prevalence of fowl typhoid (FT) and other poultry diseases diagnosed at the avian unit of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria-Kaduna State, Nigeria was conducted. A prevalence rate of 18.4% (129 cases) was recorded for FT out of 700 cases of poultry disease. The highest number of outbreaks of FT was recorded during the rainy season (July - September). 48 cases (29.1%) of FT were recorded in birds 15 weeks and above, 124 cases (18.4%) in layers and only two cases (16.7%) in turkeys. Outbreaks of FT were closely associated with age, type and poultry species of birds (P < 0.05). The outbreaks of FT were also observed to be 3.1 times more likely to occur in December, 2.4 and 1.3 times more likely to occur in birds of 15 weeks and above and 1 - 5 weeks of age respectively. It was concluded from the study that FT is more commonly reported in the chicken than other poultry species and adult birds (>15 weeks) are more susceptible to the disease in Zaria, Nigeria. This study recommends that poultry farmers should be encouraged to practice prompt and regular vaccination of layers against fowl typhoid disease.

Key words: Salmonella enterica serovars Gallinarium, chicken, Nigeria.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 12 (9), pp. 001-006, September, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P significantly influence coronary flow rate in gene knockout mice

Hongbao Ma^{1, 2}*, Jenny Young² and Shen Cherng³

¹Bioengineering Department, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China.

²Brookdale University and Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York 11212, USA.

³Department of Electrical Engineering, Chengshiu University, Niaosong, Taiwan 833, China.

Accepted 15 April, 2018

Abstract

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) which is potent vasodilator neuropeptides play a counter-regulatory role in several models of experimental hypertension. Langendorff-perfused mouse hearts (n = 328) were used to compare coronary flow rates among wild type (WT), a-CGRP gene knockout (KO) and NK1-KO mice under various pressure loading conditions (20, 30, 40 and 50 mmHg). The aorta of each heart was cannulated and all hearts were perfused with PBS at 37°C. Coronary flow rate was measured by pressure difference of both sides of a capillary. Perfusion was stopped 15 min for ischemia. Deletion of a-CGRP gene resulted in a significant reduction in coronary flow rate for both genders at all pressures. Deletion of NK1 gene resulted in a significant reduction in coronary flow rate for male mice at all pressures, but not for female mice. Coronary flow rate for both WT and a-CGRP-KO mice was consistently lower in female than in male mice, but not for NK1- KO mice. Coronary flow rate in a-CGRP mice was 19.2 and 15.4% lower than that of female and male WT mice, respectively. This effect seems to be gender related with less coronary flow noted in female WT and a-CGRP-KO mice, but not in NK1-KO mice.

Key words: Calcitonin gene-related peptide, flow rate, gene knockout, heart, mouse, neurokinin 1, substance P.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 12 (9), pp. 001-005, September, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Skin diseases among preschool children

Allma Koçinaj¹*, Dardan Koçinaj¹ and Merita Berisha²

¹University Clinical Center of Kosova, Prishtina, Kosova.

²National Institute of Public Health of Kosova, Prishtina, Kosova.

Accepted 06 May, 2018

Abstract

In developing countries skin diseases can affect more than 60% of the general population and usually are not well managed. Skin diseases are common in children. Epidemiologic studies of the general population, however, are still limited and missing for the region of Kosova. The aim of this study was to investigate disease prevalence in children under 6 years old of out- and in-patients at the department of Dermatological clinic - a tertiary health care center, a cross-sectional study was carried out during a period of one year. A total of 1,998 children 0 - 6 years old were examined. In the out-patients scabies presented in 18% of overall dermatoses, atopic dermatitis 7.9%, urticaria 7.9%, pyodermia 7.8%, tinea superificialis 5.9%, staphylodermia 5.5%, dermatitis amoniacalis 4.7%, eczema infantum 4%, impetigo contagiosa 3.5% and exanthema toxo-allergica 2.7%. While in the in-patients, acute urticaria presented in 26.1% of the overall dermatoses, scabies 20.7% and atopic dermatitis 10.8%, epidemiologic data are necessary for the monitoring of skin changes in school children and provides the basis of training programs for medical professionals in primary health care with the aim to reduce long-term morbidity and socioeconomic impact.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 12 (9), pp. 001-004, September, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Comparative efficacy of Rose Bengal plate test, standard tube agglutination test and Dot ELISA in immunological detection of antibodies to Brucella abortus in sera

Deepti Chachra, Hari Mohan Saxena*, Gurpreet Kaur and Mudit Chandra

Department of Veterinary Microbiology, College of Veterinary Science, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana, 141004 India.

Accepted 25 May, 2018

Abstract

Comparative efficacy of 3 serodiagnostic tests (RBPT, STAT and Dot ELISA) in detecting anti - Brucella antibodies in sera was evaluated on a total of 28 serum samples which included 18 samples from brucellosis suspected and 10 from normal healthy (brucellosis unaffected) cattle. Out of 18 sera from suspected cases, only 1 (5.55%) sample was found positive by STAT and 9 (50%) samples were positive by RBPT, whereas Dot ELISA could detect antibodies in all the 18 (100%) samples. Interestingly, RBPT could detect antibodies in 10 out of 17 (58.82%) samples found negative by STAT. The entire 9 samples positive by RBPT (100%) showed positive results with Dot ELISA also. Of the 9 RBPT negative samples, 11.25% showed positive and 88.88% showed negative results by STAT while all the 9 samples (100%) showed positive results with Dot ELISA. All the 10 sera from normal healthy animals were negative by RBPT, STAT and ELISA. Thus, Dot ELISA was found to be the most sensitive of the 3 tests used. It is, however, suggested that in order to get a fool proof diagnosis of Brucella infection, a combination of RBPT and Dot ELISA should be used, especially in case of samples found negative by either RBPT or STAT used alone or in combination.

Key words: Brucellosis, RBPT, STAT, Dot ELISA, Brucella.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 12 (9), pp. 001-005, September, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC): Prevalence among in and ambulatory patients and susceptibility to antimicrobial chemotherapeutic agents

O. J. Akinjogunla¹*, N. O. Eghafona², and O. H. Ekoi¹

¹Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Uyo, P.M.B 1017, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

²Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.

Accepted 19 June, 2018

Abstract

The prevalence of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli both in an ambulatory patients passing out loose stools with or without blood and/or mucus in Anua General Hospital, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital and University of Uyo Health Centre from June to September, 2008 were determined using standard microbiological techniques. Susceptibility to seven different conventional and commonly available chemotherapeutic drugs/antibiotics: ampicillin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, gentamycin, tetracycline, cephalothin and ofloxacin were assessed using a disc diffusion technique (DDT). The macroscopic analysis of the stool samples showed that 31 of the 100 cases (31%) were diarrhea bloody and 33% mucoid. Sixty-nine diarrheagenic E. coli were isolated from 100 stool samples collected and were more prevalent in females (69.4%) than in males (30.6%). The observed percentage prevalence of diarrheagenic E. coli among the age groups (in years) 1 -15, 16 - 30, 31 - 45, 46 - 60 and 61 and above were 95, 80, 55, 70 and 45%, respectively. The results of antibiotic susceptibility showed that the E. coli were highly resistant to ampicillin (73.9%), tetracycline (75.4%) and gentamycin (68.1%), and moderately resistant to chloramphenicol (46.4 %) and cephalothin (43.5%), but highly sensitive to ciprofloxacin (71.0%) and ofloxacin (66.7%). The findings of this study showed ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin to be drugs of choice for the treatment of diarrheagenic E. coli, while ampicillin, tetracycline and gentamycin should not be used without first performing culture and sensitivity tests.

Key words: Diarrheagenic, Escherichia coli, prevalence, chemotherapy, susceptibility.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 12 (9), pp. 001-005, September, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Amidase from plant growth promoting rhizobacterium

Sonia Chacko¹, Pramod W. Ramteke²* and Suchit A. John²

¹Department of Biotechnology, Allahabad Agricultural Institute – Deemed University, Allahabad – 211007, India.

²Department of Biological Sciences, Allahabad Agricultural Institute – Deemed University, Allahabad – 211007, India.

Accepted 24 June, 2018

Abstract

Ninety three cultures of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) isolated from rhizosphere of Pisum sativum, among them one isolate identified as Pseudomonas putida was found to be potential amidase producer. The organism exhibited a battery of PGPR traits including enhanced production of plant growth hormone indoleacetic acid (IAA) and siderophore. P. putida MTCC 6809 exhibited both intracellular and extra- cellular amidase activity. The organism produced maximum extracellular amidase enzyme at 30°C and pH 7.5 in shaking state. The organism hydrolyzed a wide range of aliphatic amides that included acetamide, propionamide, acrylamide and butyramide. Acrylamide is a known carcinogen, teratogen and neurotoxicant and utilization of acrylamide by P. putida MTCC 6809 assume great importance. The organism is also tolerant to number of heavy metals at higher levels. These characteristics make P. putida MTCC 6809 an excellent candidate for field application in contaminated soil.

Key words: PGPR, amidase, aliphatic amides, acrylamide, heavy metal tolerance.