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Idika K Idika

University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty Member

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Dr. Idika Kalu Idika, a Veterinary Doctor and a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka was born on the 24th January, 1979 and hails from Akanu Ohafia, in Abia State. Dr Idika is also a Consultant Parasitologist to the University of Nigeria, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Nsukka. He holds a Masters Degree and Ph.D in Veterinary Parasitology from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He is a Fellow of the College of Veterinary Surgeons, Nigeria (CVSN). He is a Member of the Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) and the Parasitology and Public Health Society of Nigeria (PPSN). He is a recipient of many academic awards, including the 1st prize winner of the Vice Chancellor’s postgraduate award for PhD candidates, 2014/2015 Session and Best graduating student award in Veterinary Clinic, 2006/2007 session. Dr. Idika is interested in Basic and Molecular Parasitology research.
Phone: +2348036464810

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Macnissi Uchenna Chima

Ijeoma Chukwudi

University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Kogi state university

ijeoma joy ogbonna

Enugu State University of Science & Technology

Ikechukwu Chukwuemeka Eze

Hanaa Hassan Eid

Zagazig University

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Papers by Idika K Idika

Effective treatment of resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i> infection, with sulphadimidine stabilized in a synthetic Aluminium-Magnesium Silicate

Health, 2012

Comparative efficacy of graded doses of diaminazine aceturate and fixed doses of iron dextran and vitamin B complex in mice infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei

Comparative clinical pathology, May 23, 2016

Trypanosomosis is a disease of both domestic animals and man. Trypanosomosis continues to be a me... more Trypanosomosis is a disease of both domestic animals and man. Trypanosomosis continues to be a menace in the livestock industry in Nigeria despite the agelong attempt to control the disease. The comparative effects of graded doses of diaminazine aceturate (DA) and fixed doses of iron dextran and vitamin B complex were experimentally investigated in the treatment of Trypanosoma brucei brucei-infected albino mice. A total of 40 albino mice were used and were randomly divided into eight groups of five mice each. All the mice in all the groups except group H were infected with T. brucei brucei, but group H served as the negative control. Groups A and B were treated with graded doses of DA at 3.5 and 7 mg/kg body weight (bw), respectively, groups C, D, E and F were treated as follows: 3.5 mg/kg bw DA and 1 ml/10 kg bw iron dextran, 7.0 mg/kg bw DA plus 1 ml/10 kg bw iron dextran, 3.5 mg/kg bw DA, 1 ml/10 kg bw iron dextran and 1 ml/ 10 kg bw vitamin B complex and 7.0 mg/kg bw DA, 1 ml/ 10 kg bw iron dextran and 1 ml/10 kg bw vitamin B complex, respectively. Group G served as the infected untreated control. Parameters used to assess the effect of the drugs include rectal temperature, body weight changes, packed cell volumes, haemoglobin concentration, daily parasitaemia, clinical signs and survivability. By day 5 PI, all the infected mice had become parasitaemic but following treatment on day 7 PI, the parasites cleared from the blood of the mice in group B and D within 42 hours, groups A, C, E and F before 96 h. There was a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in the mean body weight, packed cell volume and haemoglobin concentration and an increase in rectal temperature following infection but these were reversed by the various treatments. Iron dextran and vitamin B complex were combined with DA, there were improvement in their values, suggesting that combining trypanosomosis therapy with iron dextran and vitamin B complex will help in restoring the physiology of the animal.

Therapeutic Efficacy of Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Juice in Experimental Eimeria Tenella Infected Broiler Chickens

The in vivo anticoccidial activity of Citrus aurantifolia juice (CAJ) against Eimeria tenella-inf... more The in vivo anticoccidial activity of Citrus aurantifolia juice (CAJ) against Eimeria tenella-infected broilers was evaluated in an effort to obtain scientific information for usage by the natives in Nigeria. C. aurantifolia fruits were collected, identified, cut transversely using a sterile knife and the lime juice extracted and stored airtight for further experiment in a refrigerator to reduce oxidation and fermentation. A total of 72, three-week-old experimentally E. tenella-infected broilers consisting of 6 groups, n = 12 (4 replicates with 3 birds each) were orally treated in drinking water with graded doses of (Group A - 20 ml/l, 10 ml/l for B, and 5 ml/l for C) of C. aurantifolia juice in the 7-day oocyst reduction and curative tests study. Group D - Amprolium (1.5 mg/ml) and group E – (infected/untreated) were used as positive and negative controls respectively while group F served as normal control. Results showed that CAJ highly suppressed the parasites irrespective of the...

Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth infections of dog in Enugu State, South Eastern Nigeria

Parasite Epidemiology and Control, Aug 1, 2017

The prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth infections of dog in Enugu State, South Eastern Niger... more

Accelerating towards human African trypanosomiasis elimination: Issues and opportunities

Journal of Vector Borne Diseases, 2020

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) has been an alarming global public health issue. The disease ... more Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) has been an alarming global public health issue. The disease affects mainly poor and marginalized people in low-resource settings and is caused by two subspecies of haemoflagellate parasite, Trypanosoma brucei and transmitted by tsetse flies. Progress made in HAT control during the past decade has prompted increasing global dialogue on its elimination and eradication. The disease is targeted by the World Health Organization (WHO) for elimination as a public health problem by 2020 and to terminate its transmission globally by 2030, along-side other Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD). Several methods have been used to control tsetse flies and the disease transmitted by them. Old and new tools to control the disease are available with constraints. Currently, there are no vaccines available. Efforts towards intervention to control the disease over the past decade have seen considerable progress and remarkable success with incidence dropping progressively, reversing the upward trend of reported cases. This gives credence in a real progress in its elimination. This study reviews various control measures, progress and a highlight of control issues, vector and parasite barriers that may have been hindering progress towards its elimination.

Effects of Trypanosoma brucei and Heligmosomoides bakeri infections on water consumption of lactating albino mice and the viability of their pre-weaned offspring

Nigerian Veterinary Journal, 2013

The effects of single and/or concurrent H. bakeri and T. brucei infections on water consumption ... more The effects of single and/or concurrent H. bakeri and T. brucei infections on water consumption of lactating and non-lactating mice were investigated. Pregnant mice were grouped into four (A, B, C and D) comprising of six animals per group. Groups A, B and C were either infected with H. bakeri or T. brucei alone or with both parasites together. Group D served as pregnant uninfected control while a different group (E) was used as non-pregnant and uninfected control. Packed cell volumes (PCV), faecal egg counts (FEC), worm burden and water consumption of the mice were determined. Mean live-weights of surviving offspring and their numbers were recorded. Infected animals had lower PCV compared to the controls. However, lactating mice infected with both parasites had the least PCV. Mortalities occurred in the dualinfected groups. Worm burden and FEC of mice with concurrent infections were significantly higher than that of the H. bakeri -only infected mice. Lactating mice consumed signif...

Uncommon Manifestation and the Treatment Outcome of Ancylostomosis in a 4-Month Old Caucasian Dog: A Case Report

A 4-month old Caucasian dog was presented recumbent, with a stiff neck and inability to control h... more A 4-month old Caucasian dog was presented recumbent, with a stiff neck and inability to control his head at the University of Nigeria, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Nsukka. No wound was found on the body. There was hyperesthesia and paddling of the limbs. The mucous membrane was slightly pale. Laboratory examinations indicated no hemoparasite but fecal sample revealed a very high hookworm egg count. The dog was first treated with a combination of Albendazole suspension at 10 mg/kg BWT and Pyrantel pamoate @ 9 mg/Kg BWT once. Subsequently, following the persistence of high FEC (264 EPG, 700 EPG), Albendazole was again given at the manufacturer’s highest recommended dose of 25 mg/Kg on day 4 (3 days after the initial treatment). The faecal hookworm egg count was monitored every other day during the course of the treatment. Thereafter, on day 13 as the high FEC persisted (13,400 EPG), Ivomec super® (Ivermectin and Colorosum) at 1 ml/50 kg was given to the dog. Fecal examination reveale...

In vitro anthelmintic activities of three ethnomedicinal plant extracts against Haemonchus contortus

Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research

Aim of study: To investigate the in vitro anthelmintic efficacies of three plants, Annona senegal... more Aim of study: To investigate the in vitro anthelmintic efficacies of three plants, Annona senegalensis (AS), Cochlospermum planchonii (CP), and Sarcocephalus latifolius (SL), used by livestock farmers in Northern Nigeria, to treat gastrointestinal nematode infections in ruminants. Area of study: Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. Materials and methods: The plants were selected through a structured questionnaire administered to livestock farmers in Northern Nigeria. Aqueous and acetone leaf (AS and SL) and root (CP) extracts of these plants were investigated for their anthelmintic activity against Haemonchus contortus using the egg hatch inhibition assay at concentration levels of 0.3125 to 10 mg/mL in 2.5% dimethyl sulfoxide. Main results: A probit log-dose response analysis showed that acetone extract of CP achieved 100% egg hatch inhibition similar to the commercial drug at all tested concentrations after 48 hours of incubation, while AS demonstrated 88.7% egg hatch inhibition. Aceton...

Evaluation of the anti-coccidial effect of aqueous Sacoglottis gabonensis (Magnoliophyta, Humiriaceae) stem bark extract in broilers experimentally infected with mixed Eimeria species

Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 2022

Aim of the study: The aqueous Sacoglottis gabonensis stem bark extract (SGSBE) was evaluated for ... more Aim of the study: The aqueous Sacoglottis gabonensis stem bark extract (SGSBE) was evaluated for its anti-coccidial effects and toxicity in broiler chickens Area of the study: Nsukka, Nigeria Materials and methods: A hundred and nineteen, four-week old, broiler birds were used for this study. The toxicity of SGSBE was evaluated by administering graded doses of the extract once and for 21 days. The anticoccidial effect of SGSBE was determined using 25 birds arbitrarily divided into five groups (A-E) of five birds each. Groups A-D were orally infected with 200,000 sporulated mixed Eimeria oocysts while group E served as the uninfected control. Groups A and B birds were treated orally with SGSBE (200 mg/kg) once and daily for five consecutive days respectively while group C birds were treated with amprolium daily for five days. Birds in group D remained infected-untreated. The birds were observed for clinical signs, body weight changes, oocyst output, and some haemato-biochemical param...

Epidemiology of infections with zoonotic pig parasites in Enugu State, Nigeria

Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports, 2020

Pig production is an important component of animal agriculture in Nigeria but zoonotic parasites ... more Pig production is an important component of animal agriculture in Nigeria but zoonotic parasites constrain the production and make pork unsafe for human consumption. This epidemiological study was therefore conducted, to ascertain the prevalence and determinants of Taenia solium cysticerci and Ascaris spp infections in pigs in Enugu State. Presence of cysticerci was determined by post-mortem examination of pig carcasses while pig faeces were coprologically examined for presence of Ascaris spp egg, according to standard parasitological protocol. Structured questionnaire was used to elicit information on pig farmers' involvement in practices predisposing to parasitic infections and deworming progammes in 107 piggeries surveyed. Cysticerci were detected in 3.51% (12/342) of pig carcasses inspected. Overall prevalence of Ascaris spp. infections were 38.3% (41/107) and 14.3% (63/441) at farm and individual pig levels respectively. Major determinants of the infection and the percentage of farmers involved were: eating on duty (66.4%), open defecation (35.5%) and semi-extensive husbandry system (62.3%). Others are non-availability of deworming programme (54.4%), rearing pigs of different ages together (41.9%), non-disinfection of feeding or water troughs (41.2%) and early weaning (54.3%). Cognizant of the zoonotic potentials of Ascaris spp and Taenia solium cysticerci, the prevalence found for the parasites are significant from public health and food safety points of view. This underscores the need for costeffect control measures against the parasites, using a coordinated One Health approach; in order to boost pig production, limit spread of the zoonoses and hence, the public health consequences thereof.

Evaluation of the anthelminthic potential of Duranta erecta L. (Verbenaceae) fruits used in Nigerian ethnomedicine as a vermifuge

Journal of ethnopharmacology, Jan 24, 2018

Duranta erecta L. fruits have been reported to have in vitro anthelminthic properties. People liv... more Duranta erecta L. fruits have been reported to have in vitro anthelminthic properties. People living in the tropical South-Eastern part of Nigeria use the plant in folk medicine for the treatment of malaria, abscesses and as a vermifuge. Although there are a few reports about its in vitro anthelminthic activity against different worm categories, scientific reports regarding its in vivo anthelminthic activity are limited. This study was designed with the aim of determining the potential of the plant as an anthelminthic and to verify the claims made by its local users. Acute toxicity of the plant extract was determined using Lorke's method. Anthelminthic activity was investigated using adult male albino mice experimentally infected with Heligmosomoides bakeri infective L. Graded ascending doses of the plant extract and Albendazole respectively were orally administered to the mice in the infected groups. Corprological and haematological parameters were recorded within the study per...

The effects of oral administration of monosodium glutamate (msg) The effects of oral administration of monosodium glutamate (msg) on the testicular morphology and cauda epididymal sperm reserves on the testicular morphology and cauda epididymal sperm reserves of young and adult male rats of young...

Azithromycin and Diminazene Aceturate Combination Therapy in Experimental Multidrug-resistant Trypanosoma brucei brucei Infection in Albino Rats

Veterinary Parasitology, 2020

Azithromycin and diminazene aceturate combination therapy in experimental multidrug-resistant Try... more Azithromycin and diminazene aceturate combination therapy in experimental multidrug-resistant Trypanosoma brucei brucei infection in albino rats was evaluated. A total of forty-five female albino rats were used. These rats were randomly assigned to nine groups of five rats each. Group 1 was the uninfected-untreated group while groups 2 - 6 were infected with 1 × 106 trypanosomes suspended in 0.3 ml of normal saline intraperitoneally. Following infection and parasitaemia, group 2 was untreated while group 3 was treated once with 7 mg/kg diminazene aceturate. Groups 4 - 6 were treated with 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg azithromycin respectively for 7 days. Groups 7 - 9 were treated with combination of 7 mg/kg diminazene aceturate (DA) once and 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg azithromycin (AZT) respectively for 7 days. Level of parasitaemia, haematological indices (packed cell volume, total erythrocyte count, total leukocyte count, haemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration), survivability, body weight and rectal temperature were used to assess the effectiveness of the combination therapy. A significant reduction in parasitaemia levels was observed in the DA-treated group and AZT-treated group 6 while clearance of parasitaemia was observed in the DA-AZT treated groups 7 - 9 for periods between 1 and 5 days post treatment. The haematological indices and survivability of the DA-AZT treated groups were better than the DA-treated group despite the relapse recorded in those groups. One rat each in the DA-AZT combination groups survived till the end of the experiment. In conclusion, the DA-AZT combination treatment can be used as a possible adjunct to DA in the treatment of multidrug-resistant T. brucei brucei. The combination also enhanced survivability and decreased the effect of the disease in rats.

Histopathological Detection of the Larval Stage of Taenia Taeniaeformis (Strobilocerci) and Its Associated Lesions in Liver of Laboratory Rats: Case Report

Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University o... more Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka,Nigeria. Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. *Corresponding author. e mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT: Histopathological examination of liver tissues of rats maintained in laboratory condition showed the presence of strobilocerci of Taenia taeniaformis. Infiltration of mononuclear cells such as plasma cells, lymphocytes, macrophages and occasional eosinophils were seen. Active fibroplasia was found in the surrounding tissues. The finding is having importance in zoonatic effects and also for possibility of alteration of result of biomedical research works.

Efficacy of piperzine citrate, stabilized with Aluminium-Magnesium Silicate, against <i>Helignosomoides bakeri</i&gt

Health, 2012

Effects of Trypanosoma brucei infection and diminazene aceturate therapy on testicular morphology and function of Nigerian local dogs

Veterinary Parasitology, 2013

The effects of Trypanosoma brucei infection on testicular morphology and function and the changes... more The effects of Trypanosoma brucei infection on testicular morphology and function and the changes associated with treatment of infected dogs with diminazene aceturate were studied using fifteen Nigerian adult male dogs. The dogs were randomly assigned into three groups A, B and C consisting of five dogs each. Groups A and B were infected with 1 × 10(6) trypanosomes and group C was the uninfected control. Following infection, parasitaemia levels were monitored daily whereas the rectal temperature, body weight, packed cell volume, scrotal circumference and serum testosterone levels were monitored weekly. At parasitaemia peak, dogs in group A were orchidectomised while dogs in group B were treated with 7.0mg/kg body weight of diminazene aceturate (DA). Dogs in groups B and C were later orchidectomised on day 73 of the experiment. The harvested testes and epididymides were weighed and the epididymal sperm reserves of all the dogs determined. Also the sperm quality (mass activity, sperm motility and sperm morphology) were determined. The testes were sectioned after processing and studied histomorphologically. Acute trypanosomosis was observed following infection. The low serum testosterone levels observed from day 14 post infection (pi) gradually improved following treatment. Testicular weight, epididymal weight and sperm quality were significantly low (p&lt;0.05) in the infected dogs when compared to the control group but gradually improved following treatment. Histomorphological studies revealed testicular degeneration characterized by depopulation of seminiferous tubules and depletion of spermatogenic cells in dogs of group A whereas the tissue sections of the testes of dogs in group B were similar to those of the control group. It was therefore concluded that infection of dogs with T. brucei adversely affected testicular morphology and function. Treatment with diminazene aceturate reversed the reproductive abnormalities caused by the parasite.

Efficacy of levamisole and ivermectin in the control of bovine parasitic gastroenteritis in the sub-humid savanna zone of southeastern Nigeria

Parasitology Research, 2012

Faecal egg count reduction test was used to evaluate the efficacy of levamisole and ivermectin in... more Faecal egg count reduction test was used to evaluate the efficacy of levamisole and ivermectin in the control of bovine parasitic gastroenteritis in a part of Nigeria not previously surveyed. Ninety (90) randomly selected N&#39;dama cattle from two herds in Nsukka, Enugu State of Nigeria, were studied. The animals were divided into two groups, namely, levamisole and ivermectin treatment groups. Faecal samples were collected prior to the administration of the respective anthelmintic and faecal egg count/gram of faeces determined. Post-treatment faecal samples were collected after 10 and 14 days of levamisole and ivermectin administration, respectively, and faecal egg count (FEC) determined. Thereafter, the faecal egg count reduction was calculated based on the formula [Formula: see text]. Pooled faecal samples for the respective treatment groups were cultured for larval identification and count. Pre-treatment FEC showed that the animals were readily infected with gastrointestinal nematodes with mean FEC of 233.0 ± 35.13 and 302.0 ± 19.94, respectively, for the levamisole- and ivermectin-treated groups. Post-treatment FEC of 0 was recorded for both groups, showing a 100% reduction of the pre-treatment faecal egg count. We concluded that the anthelmintics used in this work were very effective in the control of bovine parasitic gastroenteritis in the study areas, and no resistance was detected.

Evaluation of anaemia in Nigerian goats using FAMACHA© eye colour chart: a preliminary study

Comparative Clinical Pathology, 2012

ABSTRACT A preliminary study was carried out on the possibility of using the FAMACHA eye colour c... more ABSTRACT A preliminary study was carried out on the possibility of using the FAMACHA eye colour chart to predict the level of anaemia in 280 Nigerian goats of varied ages slaughtered at the Nsukka abattoir, in Enugu State, Nigeria. Three indices of anaemia, namely packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC) counts and haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations were compared with the colour of the ocular membranes of the goats. The colours of the ocular conjunctiva of all animals were scored on a 1–5 scale using the FAMACHA© card, and blood samples were collected from each animal for determination of PCV, RBC counts and Hb concentration. Correlations between eye colour scores and the duo of PCV and Hb concentrations were highly significant and negative. Haemonchus contortus was the most predominant gastrointestinal nematode parasite observed in the study with average larval recovery of 70.18 %. Age has no effect on the predictability of anaemia by the FAMACHA© technique. It was concluded that the FAMACHA method can be used by farmers in Nigeria to identify anaemic goats particularly in conditions of haemonchosis which is one of the main causes of anaemia in goats and the most predominant gastrointestinal nematode in small ruminants in the study area. It is, therefore, believed that these preliminary findings will form a basis for further work on validating the use of FAMACHA© in Nigerian goats.

Gastrointestinal helminth parasites of local chickens from selected communities in Nsukka region of south eastern Nigeria

Journal of Parasitic Diseases, 2015

ABSTRACT

In vitro Efficacy of Albendazole against Strongyle eggs recovered from Trade Goats slaughtered at the Nsukka Abattoir: A Preliminary Survey of Resistance to Albendazole

Nigerian Veterinary Journal, 2021

The efficacy of Albendazole against trichostrongyle nematode parasites in goats presented for sla... more The efficacy of Albendazole against trichostrongyle nematode parasites in goats presented for slaughter at the Nsukka municipal abattoir was evaluated using the In vitro Egg hatch assay (EHA) model. The abattoir was visited once every week for 4 consecutive months during which a total of 240 goats were sampled. Fecal samples were collected per rectum from a minimum of 15 goats on each day of the visit. Egg Hatch Assay was performed on strongyle eggs recovered from pooled faecal sample on each day of sampling with a 2.5% W/V Albendazole. Faecal culture was also set up from the pooled faecal sample on each sampling day to recover and identify the nematode parasites present in the goats. Among the 240 goats sampled, the prevalence of trichostrongylosis as observed by the presence of strongyle eggs was 94.6% (227/240). Faecal culture and larval identification revealed 69.8% of the strongyles as Haemonchus contortus, while 25.5 and 4.8% were Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Oesophagost...

Effective treatment of resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i> infection, with sulphadimidine stabilized in a synthetic Aluminium-Magnesium Silicate

Health, 2012

Comparative efficacy of graded doses of diaminazine aceturate and fixed doses of iron dextran and vitamin B complex in mice infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei

Comparative clinical pathology, May 23, 2016

Trypanosomosis is a disease of both domestic animals and man. Trypanosomosis continues to be a me... more Trypanosomosis is a disease of both domestic animals and man. Trypanosomosis continues to be a menace in the livestock industry in Nigeria despite the agelong attempt to control the disease. The comparative effects of graded doses of diaminazine aceturate (DA) and fixed doses of iron dextran and vitamin B complex were experimentally investigated in the treatment of Trypanosoma brucei brucei-infected albino mice. A total of 40 albino mice were used and were randomly divided into eight groups of five mice each. All the mice in all the groups except group H were infected with T. brucei brucei, but group H served as the negative control. Groups A and B were treated with graded doses of DA at 3.5 and 7 mg/kg body weight (bw), respectively, groups C, D, E and F were treated as follows: 3.5 mg/kg bw DA and 1 ml/10 kg bw iron dextran, 7.0 mg/kg bw DA plus 1 ml/10 kg bw iron dextran, 3.5 mg/kg bw DA, 1 ml/10 kg bw iron dextran and 1 ml/ 10 kg bw vitamin B complex and 7.0 mg/kg bw DA, 1 ml/ 10 kg bw iron dextran and 1 ml/10 kg bw vitamin B complex, respectively. Group G served as the infected untreated control. Parameters used to assess the effect of the drugs include rectal temperature, body weight changes, packed cell volumes, haemoglobin concentration, daily parasitaemia, clinical signs and survivability. By day 5 PI, all the infected mice had become parasitaemic but following treatment on day 7 PI, the parasites cleared from the blood of the mice in group B and D within 42 hours, groups A, C, E and F before 96 h. There was a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in the mean body weight, packed cell volume and haemoglobin concentration and an increase in rectal temperature following infection but these were reversed by the various treatments. Iron dextran and vitamin B complex were combined with DA, there were improvement in their values, suggesting that combining trypanosomosis therapy with iron dextran and vitamin B complex will help in restoring the physiology of the animal.

Therapeutic Efficacy of Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Juice in Experimental Eimeria Tenella Infected Broiler Chickens

The in vivo anticoccidial activity of Citrus aurantifolia juice (CAJ) against Eimeria tenella-inf... more The in vivo anticoccidial activity of Citrus aurantifolia juice (CAJ) against Eimeria tenella-infected broilers was evaluated in an effort to obtain scientific information for usage by the natives in Nigeria. C. aurantifolia fruits were collected, identified, cut transversely using a sterile knife and the lime juice extracted and stored airtight for further experiment in a refrigerator to reduce oxidation and fermentation. A total of 72, three-week-old experimentally E. tenella-infected broilers consisting of 6 groups, n = 12 (4 replicates with 3 birds each) were orally treated in drinking water with graded doses of (Group A - 20 ml/l, 10 ml/l for B, and 5 ml/l for C) of C. aurantifolia juice in the 7-day oocyst reduction and curative tests study. Group D - Amprolium (1.5 mg/ml) and group E – (infected/untreated) were used as positive and negative controls respectively while group F served as normal control. Results showed that CAJ highly suppressed the parasites irrespective of the...

Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth infections of dog in Enugu State, South Eastern Nigeria

Parasite Epidemiology and Control, Aug 1, 2017

The prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth infections of dog in Enugu State, South Eastern Niger... more

Accelerating towards human African trypanosomiasis elimination: Issues and opportunities

Journal of Vector Borne Diseases, 2020

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) has been an alarming global public health issue. The disease ... more Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) has been an alarming global public health issue. The disease affects mainly poor and marginalized people in low-resource settings and is caused by two subspecies of haemoflagellate parasite, Trypanosoma brucei and transmitted by tsetse flies. Progress made in HAT control during the past decade has prompted increasing global dialogue on its elimination and eradication. The disease is targeted by the World Health Organization (WHO) for elimination as a public health problem by 2020 and to terminate its transmission globally by 2030, along-side other Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD). Several methods have been used to control tsetse flies and the disease transmitted by them. Old and new tools to control the disease are available with constraints. Currently, there are no vaccines available. Efforts towards intervention to control the disease over the past decade have seen considerable progress and remarkable success with incidence dropping progressively, reversing the upward trend of reported cases. This gives credence in a real progress in its elimination. This study reviews various control measures, progress and a highlight of control issues, vector and parasite barriers that may have been hindering progress towards its elimination.

Effects of Trypanosoma brucei and Heligmosomoides bakeri infections on water consumption of lactating albino mice and the viability of their pre-weaned offspring

Nigerian Veterinary Journal, 2013

The effects of single and/or concurrent H. bakeri and T. brucei infections on water consumption ... more The effects of single and/or concurrent H. bakeri and T. brucei infections on water consumption of lactating and non-lactating mice were investigated. Pregnant mice were grouped into four (A, B, C and D) comprising of six animals per group. Groups A, B and C were either infected with H. bakeri or T. brucei alone or with both parasites together. Group D served as pregnant uninfected control while a different group (E) was used as non-pregnant and uninfected control. Packed cell volumes (PCV), faecal egg counts (FEC), worm burden and water consumption of the mice were determined. Mean live-weights of surviving offspring and their numbers were recorded. Infected animals had lower PCV compared to the controls. However, lactating mice infected with both parasites had the least PCV. Mortalities occurred in the dualinfected groups. Worm burden and FEC of mice with concurrent infections were significantly higher than that of the H. bakeri -only infected mice. Lactating mice consumed signif...

Uncommon Manifestation and the Treatment Outcome of Ancylostomosis in a 4-Month Old Caucasian Dog: A Case Report

A 4-month old Caucasian dog was presented recumbent, with a stiff neck and inability to control h... more A 4-month old Caucasian dog was presented recumbent, with a stiff neck and inability to control his head at the University of Nigeria, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Nsukka. No wound was found on the body. There was hyperesthesia and paddling of the limbs. The mucous membrane was slightly pale. Laboratory examinations indicated no hemoparasite but fecal sample revealed a very high hookworm egg count. The dog was first treated with a combination of Albendazole suspension at 10 mg/kg BWT and Pyrantel pamoate @ 9 mg/Kg BWT once. Subsequently, following the persistence of high FEC (264 EPG, 700 EPG), Albendazole was again given at the manufacturer’s highest recommended dose of 25 mg/Kg on day 4 (3 days after the initial treatment). The faecal hookworm egg count was monitored every other day during the course of the treatment. Thereafter, on day 13 as the high FEC persisted (13,400 EPG), Ivomec super® (Ivermectin and Colorosum) at 1 ml/50 kg was given to the dog. Fecal examination reveale...

In vitro anthelmintic activities of three ethnomedicinal plant extracts against Haemonchus contortus

Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research

Aim of study: To investigate the in vitro anthelmintic efficacies of three plants, Annona senegal... more Aim of study: To investigate the in vitro anthelmintic efficacies of three plants, Annona senegalensis (AS), Cochlospermum planchonii (CP), and Sarcocephalus latifolius (SL), used by livestock farmers in Northern Nigeria, to treat gastrointestinal nematode infections in ruminants. Area of study: Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. Materials and methods: The plants were selected through a structured questionnaire administered to livestock farmers in Northern Nigeria. Aqueous and acetone leaf (AS and SL) and root (CP) extracts of these plants were investigated for their anthelmintic activity against Haemonchus contortus using the egg hatch inhibition assay at concentration levels of 0.3125 to 10 mg/mL in 2.5% dimethyl sulfoxide. Main results: A probit log-dose response analysis showed that acetone extract of CP achieved 100% egg hatch inhibition similar to the commercial drug at all tested concentrations after 48 hours of incubation, while AS demonstrated 88.7% egg hatch inhibition. Aceton...

Evaluation of the anti-coccidial effect of aqueous Sacoglottis gabonensis (Magnoliophyta, Humiriaceae) stem bark extract in broilers experimentally infected with mixed Eimeria species

Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 2022

Aim of the study: The aqueous Sacoglottis gabonensis stem bark extract (SGSBE) was evaluated for ... more Aim of the study: The aqueous Sacoglottis gabonensis stem bark extract (SGSBE) was evaluated for its anti-coccidial effects and toxicity in broiler chickens Area of the study: Nsukka, Nigeria Materials and methods: A hundred and nineteen, four-week old, broiler birds were used for this study. The toxicity of SGSBE was evaluated by administering graded doses of the extract once and for 21 days. The anticoccidial effect of SGSBE was determined using 25 birds arbitrarily divided into five groups (A-E) of five birds each. Groups A-D were orally infected with 200,000 sporulated mixed Eimeria oocysts while group E served as the uninfected control. Groups A and B birds were treated orally with SGSBE (200 mg/kg) once and daily for five consecutive days respectively while group C birds were treated with amprolium daily for five days. Birds in group D remained infected-untreated. The birds were observed for clinical signs, body weight changes, oocyst output, and some haemato-biochemical param...

Epidemiology of infections with zoonotic pig parasites in Enugu State, Nigeria

Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports, 2020

Pig production is an important component of animal agriculture in Nigeria but zoonotic parasites ... more Pig production is an important component of animal agriculture in Nigeria but zoonotic parasites constrain the production and make pork unsafe for human consumption. This epidemiological study was therefore conducted, to ascertain the prevalence and determinants of Taenia solium cysticerci and Ascaris spp infections in pigs in Enugu State. Presence of cysticerci was determined by post-mortem examination of pig carcasses while pig faeces were coprologically examined for presence of Ascaris spp egg, according to standard parasitological protocol. Structured questionnaire was used to elicit information on pig farmers' involvement in practices predisposing to parasitic infections and deworming progammes in 107 piggeries surveyed. Cysticerci were detected in 3.51% (12/342) of pig carcasses inspected. Overall prevalence of Ascaris spp. infections were 38.3% (41/107) and 14.3% (63/441) at farm and individual pig levels respectively. Major determinants of the infection and the percentage of farmers involved were: eating on duty (66.4%), open defecation (35.5%) and semi-extensive husbandry system (62.3%). Others are non-availability of deworming programme (54.4%), rearing pigs of different ages together (41.9%), non-disinfection of feeding or water troughs (41.2%) and early weaning (54.3%). Cognizant of the zoonotic potentials of Ascaris spp and Taenia solium cysticerci, the prevalence found for the parasites are significant from public health and food safety points of view. This underscores the need for costeffect control measures against the parasites, using a coordinated One Health approach; in order to boost pig production, limit spread of the zoonoses and hence, the public health consequences thereof.

Evaluation of the anthelminthic potential of Duranta erecta L. (Verbenaceae) fruits used in Nigerian ethnomedicine as a vermifuge

Journal of ethnopharmacology, Jan 24, 2018

Duranta erecta L. fruits have been reported to have in vitro anthelminthic properties. People liv... more Duranta erecta L. fruits have been reported to have in vitro anthelminthic properties. People living in the tropical South-Eastern part of Nigeria use the plant in folk medicine for the treatment of malaria, abscesses and as a vermifuge. Although there are a few reports about its in vitro anthelminthic activity against different worm categories, scientific reports regarding its in vivo anthelminthic activity are limited. This study was designed with the aim of determining the potential of the plant as an anthelminthic and to verify the claims made by its local users. Acute toxicity of the plant extract was determined using Lorke's method. Anthelminthic activity was investigated using adult male albino mice experimentally infected with Heligmosomoides bakeri infective L. Graded ascending doses of the plant extract and Albendazole respectively were orally administered to the mice in the infected groups. Corprological and haematological parameters were recorded within the study per...

The effects of oral administration of monosodium glutamate (msg) The effects of oral administration of monosodium glutamate (msg) on the testicular morphology and cauda epididymal sperm reserves on the testicular morphology and cauda epididymal sperm reserves of young and adult male rats of young...

Azithromycin and Diminazene Aceturate Combination Therapy in Experimental Multidrug-resistant Trypanosoma brucei brucei Infection in Albino Rats

Veterinary Parasitology, 2020

Azithromycin and diminazene aceturate combination therapy in experimental multidrug-resistant Try... more Azithromycin and diminazene aceturate combination therapy in experimental multidrug-resistant Trypanosoma brucei brucei infection in albino rats was evaluated. A total of forty-five female albino rats were used. These rats were randomly assigned to nine groups of five rats each. Group 1 was the uninfected-untreated group while groups 2 - 6 were infected with 1 × 106 trypanosomes suspended in 0.3 ml of normal saline intraperitoneally. Following infection and parasitaemia, group 2 was untreated while group 3 was treated once with 7 mg/kg diminazene aceturate. Groups 4 - 6 were treated with 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg azithromycin respectively for 7 days. Groups 7 - 9 were treated with combination of 7 mg/kg diminazene aceturate (DA) once and 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg azithromycin (AZT) respectively for 7 days. Level of parasitaemia, haematological indices (packed cell volume, total erythrocyte count, total leukocyte count, haemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration), survivability, body weight and rectal temperature were used to assess the effectiveness of the combination therapy. A significant reduction in parasitaemia levels was observed in the DA-treated group and AZT-treated group 6 while clearance of parasitaemia was observed in the DA-AZT treated groups 7 - 9 for periods between 1 and 5 days post treatment. The haematological indices and survivability of the DA-AZT treated groups were better than the DA-treated group despite the relapse recorded in those groups. One rat each in the DA-AZT combination groups survived till the end of the experiment. In conclusion, the DA-AZT combination treatment can be used as a possible adjunct to DA in the treatment of multidrug-resistant T. brucei brucei. The combination also enhanced survivability and decreased the effect of the disease in rats.

Histopathological Detection of the Larval Stage of Taenia Taeniaeformis (Strobilocerci) and Its Associated Lesions in Liver of Laboratory Rats: Case Report

Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University o... more Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka,Nigeria. Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. *Corresponding author. e mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT: Histopathological examination of liver tissues of rats maintained in laboratory condition showed the presence of strobilocerci of Taenia taeniaformis. Infiltration of mononuclear cells such as plasma cells, lymphocytes, macrophages and occasional eosinophils were seen. Active fibroplasia was found in the surrounding tissues. The finding is having importance in zoonatic effects and also for possibility of alteration of result of biomedical research works.

Efficacy of piperzine citrate, stabilized with Aluminium-Magnesium Silicate, against <i>Helignosomoides bakeri</i&gt

Health, 2012

Effects of Trypanosoma brucei infection and diminazene aceturate therapy on testicular morphology and function of Nigerian local dogs

Veterinary Parasitology, 2013

The effects of Trypanosoma brucei infection on testicular morphology and function and the changes... more The effects of Trypanosoma brucei infection on testicular morphology and function and the changes associated with treatment of infected dogs with diminazene aceturate were studied using fifteen Nigerian adult male dogs. The dogs were randomly assigned into three groups A, B and C consisting of five dogs each. Groups A and B were infected with 1 × 10(6) trypanosomes and group C was the uninfected control. Following infection, parasitaemia levels were monitored daily whereas the rectal temperature, body weight, packed cell volume, scrotal circumference and serum testosterone levels were monitored weekly. At parasitaemia peak, dogs in group A were orchidectomised while dogs in group B were treated with 7.0mg/kg body weight of diminazene aceturate (DA). Dogs in groups B and C were later orchidectomised on day 73 of the experiment. The harvested testes and epididymides were weighed and the epididymal sperm reserves of all the dogs determined. Also the sperm quality (mass activity, sperm motility and sperm morphology) were determined. The testes were sectioned after processing and studied histomorphologically. Acute trypanosomosis was observed following infection. The low serum testosterone levels observed from day 14 post infection (pi) gradually improved following treatment. Testicular weight, epididymal weight and sperm quality were significantly low (p&lt;0.05) in the infected dogs when compared to the control group but gradually improved following treatment. Histomorphological studies revealed testicular degeneration characterized by depopulation of seminiferous tubules and depletion of spermatogenic cells in dogs of group A whereas the tissue sections of the testes of dogs in group B were similar to those of the control group. It was therefore concluded that infection of dogs with T. brucei adversely affected testicular morphology and function. Treatment with diminazene aceturate reversed the reproductive abnormalities caused by the parasite.

Efficacy of levamisole and ivermectin in the control of bovine parasitic gastroenteritis in the sub-humid savanna zone of southeastern Nigeria

Parasitology Research, 2012

Faecal egg count reduction test was used to evaluate the efficacy of levamisole and ivermectin in... more Faecal egg count reduction test was used to evaluate the efficacy of levamisole and ivermectin in the control of bovine parasitic gastroenteritis in a part of Nigeria not previously surveyed. Ninety (90) randomly selected N&#39;dama cattle from two herds in Nsukka, Enugu State of Nigeria, were studied. The animals were divided into two groups, namely, levamisole and ivermectin treatment groups. Faecal samples were collected prior to the administration of the respective anthelmintic and faecal egg count/gram of faeces determined. Post-treatment faecal samples were collected after 10 and 14 days of levamisole and ivermectin administration, respectively, and faecal egg count (FEC) determined. Thereafter, the faecal egg count reduction was calculated based on the formula [Formula: see text]. Pooled faecal samples for the respective treatment groups were cultured for larval identification and count. Pre-treatment FEC showed that the animals were readily infected with gastrointestinal nematodes with mean FEC of 233.0 ± 35.13 and 302.0 ± 19.94, respectively, for the levamisole- and ivermectin-treated groups. Post-treatment FEC of 0 was recorded for both groups, showing a 100% reduction of the pre-treatment faecal egg count. We concluded that the anthelmintics used in this work were very effective in the control of bovine parasitic gastroenteritis in the study areas, and no resistance was detected.

Evaluation of anaemia in Nigerian goats using FAMACHA© eye colour chart: a preliminary study

Comparative Clinical Pathology, 2012

ABSTRACT A preliminary study was carried out on the possibility of using the FAMACHA eye colour c... more ABSTRACT A preliminary study was carried out on the possibility of using the FAMACHA eye colour chart to predict the level of anaemia in 280 Nigerian goats of varied ages slaughtered at the Nsukka abattoir, in Enugu State, Nigeria. Three indices of anaemia, namely packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC) counts and haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations were compared with the colour of the ocular membranes of the goats. The colours of the ocular conjunctiva of all animals were scored on a 1–5 scale using the FAMACHA© card, and blood samples were collected from each animal for determination of PCV, RBC counts and Hb concentration. Correlations between eye colour scores and the duo of PCV and Hb concentrations were highly significant and negative. Haemonchus contortus was the most predominant gastrointestinal nematode parasite observed in the study with average larval recovery of 70.18 %. Age has no effect on the predictability of anaemia by the FAMACHA© technique. It was concluded that the FAMACHA method can be used by farmers in Nigeria to identify anaemic goats particularly in conditions of haemonchosis which is one of the main causes of anaemia in goats and the most predominant gastrointestinal nematode in small ruminants in the study area. It is, therefore, believed that these preliminary findings will form a basis for further work on validating the use of FAMACHA© in Nigerian goats.

Gastrointestinal helminth parasites of local chickens from selected communities in Nsukka region of south eastern Nigeria

Journal of Parasitic Diseases, 2015

ABSTRACT

In vitro Efficacy of Albendazole against Strongyle eggs recovered from Trade Goats slaughtered at the Nsukka Abattoir: A Preliminary Survey of Resistance to Albendazole

Nigerian Veterinary Journal, 2021

The efficacy of Albendazole against trichostrongyle nematode parasites in goats presented for sla... more The efficacy of Albendazole against trichostrongyle nematode parasites in goats presented for slaughter at the Nsukka municipal abattoir was evaluated using the In vitro Egg hatch assay (EHA) model. The abattoir was visited once every week for 4 consecutive months during which a total of 240 goats were sampled. Fecal samples were collected per rectum from a minimum of 15 goats on each day of the visit. Egg Hatch Assay was performed on strongyle eggs recovered from pooled faecal sample on each day of sampling with a 2.5% W/V Albendazole. Faecal culture was also set up from the pooled faecal sample on each sampling day to recover and identify the nematode parasites present in the goats. Among the 240 goats sampled, the prevalence of trichostrongylosis as observed by the presence of strongyle eggs was 94.6% (227/240). Faecal culture and larval identification revealed 69.8% of the strongyles as Haemonchus contortus, while 25.5 and 4.8% were Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Oesophagost...