Focus: Zoonotic Disease: New Series of Imidazoles Showed Promising Growth Inhibitory and Curative Potential Against Trypanosoma Infection

The Trypanosoma spp. cause animal and human trypanosomiasis characterized with appreciable health and economic burden mostly in developing nations. There is currently no effective therapy for this parasitic disease, due to poor drug efficacy, drug resistance, and unwanted toxicity, etc. Therefore, new anti-Trypanosoma agents are urgently needed. This study explored new series of imidazoles for anti-Trypanosoma properties in vitro and in vivo. The imidazoles showed moderate to strong and specific action against growth of T. congolense. For example, the efficacy of the imidazole compounds to restrict Trypanosoma growth in vitro was ≥ 12-fold specific towards T. congolense relative to the mammalian cells. Additionally, the in vivo study revealed that the imidazoles exhibited promising anti-Trypanosoma efficacy corroborating the in vitro anti-parasite capacity. In particular, three imidazole compounds (C1, C6, and C8) not only cleared the systemic parasite burden but cured infected rats after no death was recorded. On the other hand, the remaining five imidazole compounds (C2, C3, C4, C5, and C7) drastically reduced the systemic parasite load while extending survival time of the infected rats by 14 days as compared with control. Untreated control died 3 days post-infection, while the rats treated with diminazene aceturate were cured comparable to the results obtained for C1, C6, and C8. In conclusion, this is the first study demonstrating the potential of these new series of imidazoles to clear the systemic parasite burden in infected rats. Furthermore, a high selectivity index of imidazoles towards T. congolense in vitro and the oral LD₅₀ in rats support anti-parasite specific action. Together, findings support the anti-parasitic prospects of the new series of imidazole derivatives.     

Moringa oleifera leaf fractions attenuated Naje haje venom-induced cellular dysfunctions via modulation of Nrf2 and inflammatory signalling pathways in rats

Naja haje envenoming could activate multiple pathways linked to haematotoxic, neurological, and antioxidant systems dysfunctions. Moringa oleifera has been used in the management of different snake venom-induced toxicities, but there is no scientific information on its antivenom effects against Naja haje. This study thus, investigated the antivenom activities of different extract partitions of M. oleifera leaves against N. haje envenoming. Forty five male rats were divided into nine groups (n = 5). Groups 2 to 9 were envenomed with 0.025 mg/kg (LD₅₀) of N. haje venom while group 1 was given saline. Group 2 was left untreated, while group 3 was treated with polyvalent antivenom, groups 4, 6 and 8 were treated with 300 mg/kg^?1 of N-hexane, ethylacetate and ethanol partitions of M. oleifera, respectively. Groups 5, 7 and 9 were also treated with 600 mgkg^?1of the partitions, respectively. Ethanol extract and ethyl acetate partition of M. oleifera significantly improved haematological indices following acute anaemia induced by the venom. Likewise, haemorrhagic, haemolytic and anti-coagulant activities of N. haje venom were best inhibited by ethanol partition. Envenoming significantly down-regulated Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) with the consequent elevation of antioxidant enzymes activities in the serum and brain. Treatment with extract partitions however, elevated Nrf2 levels while normalising antioxidant enzyme activities. Furthermore, there were reduction in levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and interleukin-1β) in tissues of treated envenomed rats. This study concludes that ethanol partition of M. oleifera was most effective against N. haje venom and could be considered as a potential source for antivenom metabolites.     

A time course study on dose-response relationship between alcohol exposure and its effects on lipid profile and biomarkers of tissue damage

This present research investigated variations in lipid profiles and important biomarkers of tissue damage in response to graded concentrations of alcohol administration in male Wistar rats. Group A (control) received distilled water while group B, C and D received 30%, 40% and 50% (v/v) alcohol respectively. Five rats each from groups A-D were sacrificed after day(s) 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 of administration. A significant increase was observed at day 28 for serum cholesterol by 79% (group B), 78% (group C) and 47% (group D) together with serum phospholipid 58% (group B), 50% (group C) and 92% (group D). Serum triacylglycerol increased by 71% (group B), 43% (group C) and 16% (group D) at day 21, while concentration of serum albumin decreased at day 28 by 40.9% (group B), 50.2% (group C), 53.3% (group D) respectively when compared with control (group A). Serum aminotransferases and alkaline phosphatase specific activities, as well as creatinine and uric acid concentration increased in a concentration-dependent manner, following alcohol administration. Though most of these effects induced by alcohol were time- and concentration-dependent, 40% alcohol appear to be more stable, giving results consistent with alcohol-induced damages, with minimal mortality. This study therefore further validated dyslipidemia and imbalance in clinical biomarkers as hallmarks of tissue damage induced by excessive alcohol consumption with an insight on the time- and concentration-response relationship between alcohol consumption and its toxicity.     

Influence of processing and substrate variety on survival and development of Tribolium confusum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Tribolium confusum is a major pest of grains and grain products. Some legumes hitherto not used as major food are gaining interest due to increase in human population and the need of food and feeds. Susceptibility of fresh and processed Glycine max and Cajanus cajan flours, and white wheat flour (control) to T. confusum was studied towards effective storage techniques and cheap insect diet. Ten copulating pairs of the beetle were introduced into twenty grams of each flour. Number of eggs laid, emerged larvae, pupae, eclosed adults, and duration of development of each stage was used as indices of survival of T. confusum. Proximate composition, saponin; and α-amylase and protease inhibitors determined suitability of flours as insect diet. This work discusses the significance of proximate composition and anti-nutrient properties in fresh and roasted processed flours on the development and survival of T. confusum.     

Escherichia coli genes involved in resistance to pyrazinoic acid,the active component of the tuberculosis drug pyrazinamide

The natural resistance of Escherichia coli to pyrazinoic acid (POA), the active derivative of pyrazinamide, was investigated. The TolC mutant was found to be more susceptible to POA and other weak acids than the wild-type strain. Mutation in EmrB but not AcrB efflux protein slightly increased POA susceptibility. Two transposon mutants with increased susceptibility to POA were found to harbor mutations in acnA encoding aconitase-1 and ygiY encoding a putative two-component sensor protein. Complementation of the AcnA and YgiY mutants conferred resistance to POA, whereas the complemented TolC mutant became resistant to POA and other weak acids.     

Gastro-protective effect of methanol extract of Ficus asperifolia bark on indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats

The gastro-protective and antioxidant effects of methanol extract of Ficus asperifolia bark on indomethacin induced gastric ulcer were investigated in male rats. Thirty two male rats divided into 4 equal groups and were treated as follows: group1 (control), 0.5ml of 5% tween 80 (vehicle for the extract), groups 2 and 3, 100 and 500mg/kg of Ficus asperifolia extract respectively and group 4, cimetidine (100mg/kg). After two weeks of daily oral administration of vehicle, extract or cimetidine, gastric ulcer was induced in all rats with indomethacin (40 mg/kg, p.o). Gastric juice pH, gastric acid concentration, gastric ulcer score, percentage gastric ulcer inhibition, activity levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and malondiadehyde (MDA) were determined. Ficus asperifolia extract significantly increased gastric pH (p.     

Unusual recovery of animal staphylococci from septic wounds of hospital patients in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Two Staphylococcus species— Staphylococcus gallinarum and Staphylococcus sciuri —previously known to be of animal origin have been isolated from infected wounds of hospital patients in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. These organisms were non-typable at both RTD and 100×RTD and did not produce β-lactamase detectable by the normal methods. Their actual involvement in the infection is not immediately clear, but their resistance to most common antibiotics, in addition to the production of DNase and phosphatase, may be indicating that these species could become important skin contaminants in humans and opportunistic zoonotics.     

Sub-clinical mastitis and associated risk factors on lactating cows in the Savannah Region of Nigeria

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Sub-clinical mastitis limits milk production and represents an important barrier to profitable livestock economics worldwide. Milk production from cows in Nigeria is not at optimum levels in view of many factors including sub-clinical mastitis. RESULTS: The overall herd-level prevalence rate for SCM was 85.33% (256/300 heads of cows) while the quarter-level prevalence rate of SCM was 43.25% (519/1,200 quarters). The prevalence of SCM was 50.67%, 43.67%, 39.67% and 39.13% for the left fore-quarter, right hind-quarter, left hind-quarter and right fore-quarter, respectively. The Rahaji breed had the highest prevalence of SCM with 65.91% (29/44), Sokoto while the White Fulani breed had the least with 32.39% (57/176). A total of 32.33% (97/300) had only one mammary quarter affected, 30.33% (91/300) had two quarters affected, 16.00% (48/300) had three quarters affected while 6.67% (20/300) had all the four quarters affected. A total of 53.00% had SCM in multiple quarters (159/300). The risk of SCM decreased significantly among young lactating cows compared to older animals (OR = 0.283; P < 0.001; 95%CI = 0.155; 0.516). The Rahaji breed had significantly higher risk compared with the White Fulani breed (OR = 8.205; P = 0.013; 95%CI = 1.557; 43.226). Improved sanitation (washing hands before milking) will decrease the risk of SCM (OR = 0.173; P = 0.003; 95%CI = 0.054; 0.554). CONCLUSION: SCM is prevalent among lactating cows in the Nigerian Savannah; and this is associated with both animal characteristics (age, breed and individual milk quarters) and milking practices (hand washing).Good knowledge of the environment and careful management of the identified risk factors with improved sanitation should assist farm managers and veterinarians in implementing preventative programmes to reduce the incidence of SCM.