Comparative studies on genital infections and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of isolates from camels (Camelus dromedarius) and cows (Bos indicus) in Maiduguri, north-eastern Nigeria.

A total of 160 genitalia of Camels and cows were investigated in Maiduguri, north-eastern Nigeria to compare bacterial isolates and the antibacterial susceptibilities of some of the isolates. Streptococcus (Str.) pyogenes (31%), Escherichia (E.) coli (24%) and Staphylococcus (S.) aureus (20%) were the most common vaginal bacterial isolates in camels; while E. coli (73%), Str. pyogenes (18%) and S. aureus (11%) were the most frequent isolates in the cows. Of the 78 uterine isolates recovered in this study, E. coli was the most prominent in camels (8%) and cows (54%). The overall weight of genital infection in all camels and cows examined was highest (P < 0.05) with E. coli (79%), but there was no difference (P > 0.05) between vaginal and uterine bacterial isolates from camels and cows in this study. The Relative Risk (RR) for an infection of the vagina with E coli (3.04, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 2.104 to 4.398, P < 0.0001) is more in cows compared to the camel, but the RR for vaginal infection with S. aureus and Str. pyogenes were lower in cows compared to Camels. The E. coli and S. aureus isolates were highly susceptible to the antimicrobial agents tested. Therefore effective management of reproductive disorders associated with these pathogens can be achieved with proper use of these antimicrobial agents in these animal species.

The prevalence of bovine venereal campylobacteriosis in cattle herds in the Lake Chad basin of Nigeria.

The prevalence of bovine venereal campylobacteriosis (BVC) was investigated in the Lake Chad basin of Nigeria. Preputial washings and cervico-vaginal mucus samples were obtained from 270 cattle presenting a history of abortion and lowered fertility, kept in traditional and institutional farms. All the samples investigated were cultured using standard bacteriological technique. Campylobacter fetus was isolated from six bulls and four cows. In all cattle sampled, the isolation rates were 2.2% for C. fetus subsp. venerealis and 1.5% for C. fetus subsp. fetus; the herd and within-herd prevalence rates for C. fetus were 22.2% and 3.4%, respectively, while the overall active infectivity rate was 3.7%. BVC probably contributes to lowered fertility and abortions found in cattle in the Lake Chad basin of Nigeria, associated more with C. fetus subsp. venerealis than C. fetus subsp. fetus.

The effect of vitamin C at varying times on physiological parameters in rabbits after xylazine anaesthesia.

The effects of vitamin C administration at varying time intervals on rectal temperature, respiratory rates, heart rates and sleeping time following xylazine anaesthesia was evaluated in rabbits. A total of 36 rabbits placed in six groups (A-F) with 6 animals per group each were used. Groups A and B were used as controls for vitamin C (120 mg/kg, oral) and xylazine (4 mg/kg, intramuscular) treatments, respectively, while groups C-F received vitamin C at four intervals prior to xylazine anaesthesia. The result of the study showed that vitamin C pre-medication prior to xylazine anaesthesia induced depression in respiratory and heart rates and a slight increase in rectal temperature. It also significantly increased sleeping time in rabbits (p<0.05). The lengthiest duration of sleep was observed among rabbits that received vitamin C 60 min prior to xylazine anaesthesia. Vitamin C administration 10 min prior to xylazine anaesthesia in rabbits induced a sleeping time three times the value compared to those animals that had received xylazine anaesthesia alone. However, the study did not observe a significant difference (p>0.05) in temperature between groups either before or after xylazine administration. It was concluded that vitamin C alters the clinical parameters as well as the sleeping time in rabbits under xylazine anaesthesia.