First report of co-infections of Marek's disease virus and chicken infectious anaemia virus in poultry flocks in Nigeria.

Marek's disease (MD) and chicken infectious anaemia (CIA) are viral immunosuppressive diseases of poultry caused by the MD virus (MDV) and CIA virus (CIAV) respectively. Despite vaccination against MD, the incidence of the disease in vaccinated poultry flocks in Nigeria persists. However, underlying factors like co-infection with CIAV have not been investigated in the country. This study was designed to investigate possible co-infections of MDV and CIAV in poultry flocks in Nigeria. In 2016, tumorous tissue samples were collected from suspected cases of MD at necropsy in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. The samples collected were fixed in formalin for histopathological examination, genomic DNA was extracted from a second part and analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), targeting the meq and VP1 genes of the MDV and CIAV, respectively. The histology results revealed that the cutaneous and proventricular lymphomas were characterized by large numbers of mononuclear cellular infiltrates admixed with heterophils. The PCR results revealed that MDV was detected in 66.7% (16/24), CIAV in 45.8% (11/24), and co-infections of MDV and CIAV were detected in 45.8% (11/24) of the samples analysed. In addition, co-infections of MD and CIA were recorded in 100% (6/6) and 27.7% (5/18) of broilers and layer/pullet' samples respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of the meq gene sequences revealed that the Nigerian MDV clusters with very virulent MDV from Egypt and Italy. While, CIAV sequences were genotype II and genotype III and clustered with CIAVs from Cameroon and China. This is the first report of co-infections of MD and CIA in Nigeria.

Phylogenetic analysis of Newcastle disease viruses isolated from asymptomatic guinea fowls (Numida meleagris) and Muscovy ducks (Cariana moscata) in Nigeria.

Four Newcastle disease virus isolates were recovered from asymptomatic guinea fowl (Numida meleagris galeata) and Muscovy ducks (Cariana moscata). For the purpose of molecular identification and phylogeny, phylogenetic characterization was performed to identify the pathotypes. All four viruses had a cleavage motif (112)RRQKRF(117) which is characteristic of virulent strains. The isolates grouped with viruses previously reported as sub-lineage 5 g from chickens in Nigeria. This study report for the first time the identification of the virulent sub-lineage 5 g Newcastle disease virus from apparently healthy guinea fowl and domestic ducks in Nigeria, and since infections were sub-clinical, it suggest that these species could play a role in the spread and transmission of virulent Newcastle disease virus that can infect other poultry. The isolation and identification of virulent Newcastle disease virus in these unusual hosts and the high sequence similarity (99.3-100 %) between viruses in this study with strains reported for Niger and Cameroun gives insights into the ecology of virulent Newcastle disease viruses and suggests some cross-border movement and trade in live poultry.

Seroprevalence of fowl pox antibody in indigenous chickens in jos north and South council areas of plateau state, Nigeria: implication for vector vaccine.

Fowl pox is a viral disease of domestic and wild birds. The large size of the genome makes it a useful vector for recombinant DNA technology. Although the disease has been described in both commercial and indigenous chickens in Nigeria, data are limited on seroprevalence in free range chickens. Such data are, however, important in the design and implementation of fowl pox virus vector vaccine. We surveyed current antibody status to fowl pox virus in free range chickens by testing 229 sera collected from 10 villages in Jos North and Jos South LGA of Plateau State Nigeria. Sera were analyzed by AGID against standard fowl pox antigen. Fifty-two of the 229 (23%) tested sera were positive for fowl pox virus antibody, and the log titre in all positive specimen was >2. Thirty (21%) and twenty-two (27%) of the samples from Jos South and Jos North, respectively, tested positive. This was, however, not statistically significant (P = 0.30). Generally the study showed a significant level of antibody to fowl pox virus in the study area. This observation may hinder effective use of fowl pox vectored viral vaccine. Fowl pox control is recommended to reduce natural burden of the disease.

Antimalaria Effect of the Ethanolic Stem Bark Extracts of Ficus platyphylla Del.

The antimalarial effect of the ethanolic stem bark extract of Ficus platyphylla Del was evaluated against Plasmodium berghei infection in mice. Nontreated, experimental control mice died of fulminant parasitemia from day 7 to 9 post-infection but mice treated with the extract at 300 mg/kg showed markedly reduced parasitaemia bouts of 43.50% and a mean survival time of 28 days postinfection. The plant extract prevented a drastic reduction in PCV showing its efficacy in ameliorating anaemic conditions in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. Histological examination of liver tissues of treated and untreated mice further supports the antimalaria potential of this plant. This observation validates the traditional use of this plant for the treatment of malaria.