Muhammad Lateef

In vivo anthelmintic activity of Azadirachta indica A. Juss seeds against gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep

This paper describes the in vivo anthelmintic activity of Azadirachta indica seeds to justify their use in South-Asia by traditional animal healers. Seeds of A. indica were administered as crude powder (CP), crude aqueous (CAE) and crude methanolic extracts (CME) at the doses of 1 and 3g/kg of body weight to sheep naturally infected with mixed species of gastrointestinal nematodes. The study design also included untreated as well as treated controls. Faecal egg count reduction and larval counts from coprocultures were performed pre- and post-treatments to assess the anthelmintic activity. Crude powder and CME did not show significant activity (P>0.05) at the lower dose used but were found effective at 3g/kg and the maximum anthelmintic effect was observed at the 15 days post-treatment with both crude powder and CME (P<0.01) with a maximum reduction of 29.3% and 40.2%, respectively in eggs per gram of faeces. Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus species were found susceptible (P<0.01) to higher doses of CP and CME of A. indica. However, CAE did not exhibit any considerable reduction in EPG as well as larval counts. Levamisole (7.5mg/kg), a standard anthelmintic agent, exhibited 99.2% reduction in EPG (P<0.001). Though of low efficacy compared with levamisole, the use of A. indica seeds against gastrointestinal nematodes may be justified in some situations, depending on the nature and intensity of the helminth infections.

Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum and Brucella abortus in Dairy Cattle Herds with High Abortion Rates

abstract:u2003 The protozoan Neospora caninum and the bacterium Brucella abortus are well-recognized causes of abortion in dairy cattle. Serum samples (n u200a=u200a 240) from aborting (n u200a=u200a 141) and at-risk (n u200a=u200a 99) animals from 5 herds with high abortion rates in Punjab Province, Pakistan, were tested for antibodies to N. caninum using monoclonal antibody–based ELISA and for antibodies to B. abortus using the serum agglutination test. Antibodies to N. caninum and B. abortus were detected in 105 (43.8%) and 135 (56.3%) cattle, respectively. Prevalences of antibodies to N. caninum and B. abortus were higher in aborting cows (46.8% and 76.6%, P < 0.05) than in animals at risk (39.4% and 27.3%, P > 0.05). Sixty-six animals (27.5%) were seropositive to both N. caninum and B. abortus, and results showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) with respect to geographical district, breed, and age. This is the first report of N. caninum infection among dairy cattle herds in Pakistan.

Entamoeba infections in different populations of dogs in an endemic area of Lahore, Pakistan.

Entamoeba histolytica, a protozoan parasite that affects humans and other primates all over the world. It is a common waterborne pathogen in endemic areas that have fecal oral transmission cycle. The aim of the present study was to examine the prevalence of E. histolytica and other Entamoeba species cysts in three different dog populations. Fecal samples from 600 dogs were collected and processed to detect Entamoeba cysts using the triple fecal test (light microscopy) and fecal antigens of E. histolytica were detected using a fecal antigen ELISA (TechLab E. histolytica II). Because it is impossible to differentiate E. histolytica from Entamoeba dispar and E. moshkovskii, using light microscopy we referred to all cysts morphologically consistent with E. histolytica as E. histolytica/dispar/moskovskii to reflect this uncertainty. Samples from 197 household dogs without clinical signs, 122 samples from household dogs exhibiting clinical signs of diarrhea, dysentery and vomiting and 281 stray dogs with no specific clinical signs were examined. Entamoeba histolytica-like cysts were observed in 94 (15.6%, 95% CI=±3.88) by triple fecal test microscopy and E. histolytica antigens were demonstrated in 66 (11%, 95% CI=±4.41) by fecal antigen ELISA in 600 fecal samples. Significant differences (P≤0.05) in prevalence were found between the three populations. Twenty (10.1%, 95% CI=±7.86) and 11 (5.6%, 95% CI=±7.70) of 197 fecal samples from household dogs without clinical signs were positive by microscopy and by antigen ELISA, respectively. Twenty-nine (23.8%, 95% CI=±6.58) and 23 (18.8%, 95% CI=±7.81) of 122 the fecal samples from household dogs with clinical signs were positive by microscopy and by antigen ELISA, respectively. Forty-five (16.01%, 95% CI=±5.62) and 32 (11.3%, 95% CI=±6.38) of 281 fecal samples from stray dogs were positive by microscopy and by fecal antigen ELISA, respectively. Dogs from the youngest age group (6 months to 1 year) were more likely to be E. histolytica antigen positive than were dogs from the other two older age groups, with a significant difference (P≤0.05) between all age groups. Statistically, no significant (P≥0.05) difference of prevalence was seen in male and female dogs. The local dogs had the highest prevalence rate of E. histolytica antigens (36 of 246, 14.2%, 95% CI=±6.32) followed by imported breeds (11 of 115, 9.5%, 95% CI=±10.4) and crossbred (19 of 239, 8.3%, 95% CI=±7.47), indicating a significant (P≤0.05) trend of positivity between various breeds of dogs. These findings suggest that dogs may play an important role in the epidemiology of this pathogen.

Prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica-Like Cysts Compared to E. histolytica Antigens Detected by ELISA in the Stools of 600 Patients from Three Socioeconomic Communities in the Metropolitan City of Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract:u2003 Amoebiasis, caused by Entamoeba histolytica, has a worldwide distribution and is of public health significance in many developing countries. It has a fecal–oral transmission cycle and is most prevalent in developing countries in regions where substandard sanitary conditions exist due to poverty. Little is known about the epidemiology of E. histolytica infection and its presence in different socioeconomic communities in developing countries. We undertook the present study in the city of Lahore, Pakistan, and our prediction was that the prevalence of E. histolytica-like cysts and E. histolytica stool antigen would be lower in patients from upper socioeconomic levels than in individuals from middle or lower socioeconomic levels. We investigated the prevalence of E. histolytica in humans from 3 socioeconomic communities in territories of Lahore, Pakistan. Six hundred fecal samples were collected and examined using both microscopy (triple fecal test) to detect cysts of E. histolytica-like amoeba and ELISA (stool antigen ELISA) to demonstrate diagnostic stool antigens of E. histolytica. Samples were from individuals living under conditions deemed to be upper socioeconomic class (n = 287), middle socioeconomic class (n = 172), and lower socioeconomic class (n = 141). The total prevalence of positive samples was 22.5% (135/600) by triple test and 16.8% (101/600) by stool antigen ELISA in the 600 fecal samples. Statistically, significant (P < 0.05) differences in prevalence were seen between the 3 socioeconomic class groups. Forty-four (15.3%) and 32 (11.1%) of 287 in the fecal samples from the upper socioeconomic class were positive by triple test and by antigen ELISA, respectively. Thirty-nine (22.6%) and 29 (16.8%) of 172 in the fecal samples from the middle socioeconomic class were positive by the triple test and by antigen ELISA, respectively. Fifty-two (36.8%) and 40 (28.3%) of 141 in the fecal samples from the lower socioeconomic class were positive by the triple test and by antigen ELISA, respectively. We accept our hypothesis based on these findings. We also demonstrated that fecal samples collected from the youngest age group (1 mo–5 yr) were more likely to be positive for E. histolytica antigens than were samples from the other 3 age groups, and that prevalence was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the summer than in the other 3 seasons. These results highlight the importance of surveillance of this relatively ignored pathogen in this developing metropolitan city in Pakistan.