Safety of fenbendazole in common peafowl [Pavo cristatus]

The present study was undertaken to find out the safety levels of fenbendazole in common peafowl. This bird, raised on aviaries and zoos, can be severely parasitized with Ascaridia galli [enteric worms] and Syngamus trachea [gapeworm] along with other parasitic worms. Fenbendazole is a highly effective benzimidazole-class anthelmintic in animals. The objective of this work was to provide target animal safety data in young peafowl and to demonstrate reproductive safety in adult birds. During the experimental study, diets containing fenbendazole at 0, 100, 200 and 300 ppm were fed for 21 days [three times the normal treatment duration]. Data for feed consumption, feed conversion rate, and body weights were recorded for each bird in each group. Drug concentrations in different tissues of birds were determined to correlate concentrations with clinical observations, clinical pathology, and histologic findings. There were no morbidities or mortalities after study day 21. Additionally, there were no statistically significant treatment-related differences among above mentioned parameters. Analysis of fenbendazole concentrations in kidney, liver, leg/thigh, and breast muscle and skin with associated fat revealed that, even at the highest dose level used and with no feed withdrawal, fenbendazole concentrations were relatively low in these tissues. These findings indicate that fenbendazole has a relatively wide margin of safety in young peafowl and that the proposed dose of 100 ppm in the feed for 7 consecutive days is well within the margin of safety. In the reproductive safety study, five breeder peafowl farms fed fendbendazole at 100ppm for 7 days and collected data on hatching percentage of peahen eggs before and after treatment. Reproductive performance in peahen was not adversely affected

Clinical spectrum and outcome of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in children

Objective: To determine clinical spectrum, neuroimaging finding and outcome of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis [CVST] in children. Study Design: Descriptive and cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Paediatric Neurology, Children's Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Lahore, from 2015 to 2016

Methodology: Data was collected in a predesigned proforma by non-probability purposive sampling technique from all enrolled 32 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria. We analysed descriptively the clinical presentation, neuroimaging findings, associated risk factors and outcome. Chi-square test was used to check the association between demographic variables and findings at five percent level of significance

Results: Out of 32 patients enrolled, 75% [24] patients were male; median age was 2.5 years. Fever was found the most common presentation followed by headache and lethargy. Neuroimaging showed superior sagital sinus thrombosis in all [100%], while 25% [8] have additional thrombosis of internal cerebral veins. Ischemic infarction was found in 11 [35%], while hemorrhagic infarction was found in 9 [29%] patients. Death occurred in 6.25% of children

Conclusion: Infections were the common cause of CVST in children followed by anemia and dehydration. Mortality trend was low with earlier diagnosis and aggressive treatment. Anticoagulant treatment along with adequate hydration, antibiotics and correction of anemia can lead to a better outcome. A large local and regional prospective multicenter studies for pediatric cerebral venous sinus thrombosis is suggested to evaluate the risk factors and plan guidelines for managing this condition in children

Phytochemicals, in vitro antioxidant, total phenolic contents and phytotoxic activity of Cornus macrophylla Wall bark collected from the north-west of Pakistan

Plants are one of the precious creatures of Allah, producing a verity of useful bioactive compounds having definite pharmacological actions on human body. Keeping in view this idea, the methanolic extract from the bark of Cornus macrophylla was investigated for phytochemicals, antioxidant, total phenolic contents [TPC] and phytotoxic activities. Phytochemical analysis of Cornus macrophylla revealed the presence of tannins, anthraquinones, glycosides, reducing sugar, saponins and flavonoids. The percent free radicals scavenging potential of DPPH at 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 micro g/ml was 72.69%, 73.32%, 73.51, 73.83% and 74.33% respectively and were compared to ascorbic acid [84.6%, 92.83%, 95.36%, 96.40% and 98.03%], gallic acid [85.49%, 92.47%, 95.14%, 98.22% and 98.03%] and quercetin [95.35%, 96.30%, 97.16%, 98.02% and 98.28%] as standards. The IC[50] value of Cornus macrophylla was 14.5/ micro g/ml. The TPC of the methanolic bark extract was 2.916 mg gallic acid equivalents/g of extract. The extract have shown excellent phytotoxic activity against the tested plant Lemna minor and inhibited the growth at 1000 micro g/ml. Our findings revealed that the crude methanolic extract of Cornus macrophylla is a potential source of natural antioxidants and herbicidal

Seroprevalence of antibodies to toxoplasma gondii, with particular reference to obstetric history of patients in Rawalpindi-Islamabad, Pakistan

Six hundred and forty blood samples were obtained from Rawalpindi-Islamabad to determine the frequency of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies using indirect immunofluorescent antibody [IFA] test. Two hundred and forty samples were from suspected cases of Toxoplasmosis. Forty [17%] cases were positive for IgG antibody. Seven [3%] of these cases showed antibody titre greater than 1:320. Of 65 children tested, 8 [12.30%] were positive. Four [6%] children had a rising titre from 1:160 to 1:1025. Prevalence of Toxoplasma antibodies was correlated to mode of living, maternal obstetric history, their animal contact and age of the children