ABSTRACT
Aims: Determine percentage positive by the Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) stain; detect 245 base pair fragment of the IS6110 gene for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex using INS1 and INS2 primers and 500 base pair fragment of the RvD1Rv2031c gene for M. bovis using the JB21 and JB22 primers by a multiplex PCR (M-PCR);compare number of positive samples detected by ZN stain and M–PCR; determine prevalence rates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex between the two animal species studied and estimate the rates of detecting agents of tuberculosis using Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) technique and a Multiplex- Polymerase Chain Reaction (M-PCR) in lung samples of slaughtered cattle and goats in the study area. Place and Duration of Study: Samples were analyzed at the Central Diagnostic Laboratory and Molecular Biology Departments of the National Veterinary Research Institute Vom. This work was carried out between July-October 2010. Study Design: Experimental. Methodology: Our PCR amplified the 245 base pair (bp) fragment which is specific for this group of Mycobacterium while ZN exploited the acid-fast nature of the organisms. We examined one hundred lung samples, of cattle and goats, fifty for each. Results: Out of the lung samples from cattle, 15 (30%) were positive by ZN while 9 (18%) were positive by PCR. Among the ZN negative samples from cattle, one was positive by M-PCR. All the 50 samples from goats were negative by the two diagnostic tools used in this study. Results obtained in this study showed 0% TB infection in goats and 18% in cattle. Conclusion: The study showed a high infection rate of tuberculosis among cattle sampled in the area of study, as such, preventive and curative measures have to be stepped up in controlling the zoonosis.
ABSTRACT
Aim: To evaluate the level of safety of water sources in a rural settlement in Nigeria with reference to parasitic infections and to make appropriate recommendations to the government and the community dwellers. Study Design: Investigative study. Place and Duration of Study: Samples were collected in Heipang, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria between October-December, 2012. They were processed at the General Laboratory of National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Nigeria. Methodology: 100 water samples were collected from domestic water sources. 10 of the samples were from streams, 60 from ponds, 20 from wells and 10 were from bore holes. Samples were investigated for presence of parasites using standard World Health Organisation approved laboratory techniques. Each sample was subjected to macroscopy, filtration, centrifugation and microscopy. Results: It revealed that 59 out of 100 water sources investigated had parasitic infestation. Ponds had the highest degree of parasitic contamination (78.3%), streams followed closely with 50%, while wells and bore holes had 35% and 0% in that order. Helminths were the leading parasitic genera encountered with Ascaris species accounting for 33.9% of the parasites. Hookworm was the second most common helminth with the prevalence of 20.3%. Strongyloides species accounted for a paltry prevalence of 3.4%. Protozoan cysts of Balanditium coli and Entamoeba histolytica accounted for 18.6% of parasites each. Conclusion: These findings clearly show that most water sources in the study area constitute grave epidemiological threat to public health. Inhabitants of such communities should boil or treat their water before consumption while government authorities should provide safe drinking water to the rural dwellers.