T. A Ngatia

Sarcocystis-like organisms in musculature of a domestic dog (Canis familiaris) and wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) in Kenya

Three of six wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) which died of rabies, and one Alsatian dog which died of adenocarcinoma, were found to harbour sarcocysts in their cardiac and/or skeletal muscles. The bradyzoites and metrocytes of the cysts were smaller than those seen in a lion infected with Microbesnoitia leoni and the common Sarcocystis spp. found in ruminants. It is proposed that Lycaon pictus is the natural intermediate host of the unidentified Sarcocystis-like species.

Comparative parasitological and haematological changes in two breeds of sheep infected with Fasciola gigantica.

Twelve each of Red Masai and Dorper sheep, aged between 6 and 9 months, were acquired from a Fasciola-free area of eastern Kenya. Each breed was divided into two groups of 6. The sheep in one group of each breed were experimentally infected with 400 viable metacercariae of Fasciola gigantica. The other group of 6 sheep of each breed remained as uninfected controls. The animals were monitored regularly for any evidence of disease. Blood samples taken weekly revealed a general reduction in red cell counts and packed cell volume, which was much faster in the infected Dorper sheep than in the Red Masai. This reduction started from the tenth week after infection and persisted to the end of the experiment 18 weeks post infection (PI). The absolute eosinophil counts rose in all the infected animals, but the values were higher among the Dorper than among the Red Masai. Patency occurred at weeks 12 and 13 PI in the Red Masai and Dorpers, respectively, with the latter shedding significantly more fluke eggs. The worm recovery rates were higher among the Dorpers than among the Red Masai, though not significantly so. On the basis of egg counts and clinicopathology, the Dorper sheep were considered to be more susceptible to F. gigantica infections.

Changes in the bovine udder quarters naturally infected by Corynebacterium bovis

Of 272 bovine udder quarters studied for mastitis, 19 of them naturally infected with Corynebacterium bovis alone, were compared with 16 others infected by C. bovis together with other bacteria and another 36 non-infected quarters. While there was no significant difference in milk somatic cell counts between the quarters infected by C. bovis alone and those affected by C. bovis together with other bacteria (33.37 +/- 20.28 X 10(3) and 33.86 +/- 23.18 X 10(3)/ml of milk, respectively), there was a significant difference between these and the non-infected quarters (5.60 +/- 3.23 X 10(3)/ml of milk). Microscopically, quarters infected by either C. bovis alone or C. bovis in combination with other bacteria had inflammatory changes in the teat cisterns, Furstenbergs rosettes and/or mammary parenchyma. The non-infected quarters had no changes. In all 82 quarters no pathological changes could be seen in the teat canals.

Donkey klossiellosis in Kenya

Out of eight donkeys examined, two had gametogonic and sporogonic stages of Klossiella equi in their kidneys. Gametogonic stages included microgametocytes and macrogametocytes, some of them in syzygy. They were found in enlarged parasitophorous vacuoles situated in epithelial cells of the renal tubules. Sporonts were seen in the epithelial cells protruding into the tubular lumen while sporoblasts, sporocysts and sporozoites were found freely in the tubular lumen. Entire sporocysts were rarely encountered but sporozoites liberated from the ruptured sporocysts could be seen. No inflammatory reaction could be attributed to the presence of these parasites.

A Case of Trichoepithelioma in a Cow

A six year old Friesian cow from the Faculty farm was referred to the University of Nairobi’s Large Animal Clinic with an ulcerated and infected mass below the left ear. On its dorsal aspect was a smaller mass measuring 2 cm. in diameter. The growth was surgically excised, the tissues fixed in 10 % formalin and submitted for histopathological characterization. The histopathological findings of increased number of hair follicles and increased numbers of keratinized cells were consistent with a trichoepithelioma. The cow was subsequently euthanized due to regrowth of the tumor and sent for postmortem examination. This report describes the clinical, necropsy and histopathological characteristics of this rare type of tumor in cattle.

Some Causes of Poor Performance and Chick Mortality in Farmed Ostriches in Alabama (USA) and Kenya

Commercial ostrich farming is rapidly becoming a desirable alternative source of profitable meat production among smallholder farmers. However, ostrich ranching, particularly, ostrich production is severely constrained by a very high chick mortality rate (up to 40 %). To help rural farmers including those in the developed countries such a s United States of America gain a successful foothold in this potentially lucrative farming enterprise, the causes of chick mortality must be identified and controlled. The present collaborative study was designed to characterize and compare disease causes of mortality in chicks in smallholder ratite farms in Macon and adjoining Counties of Alabama and some selected localities in Kenya. The study established that, in both Alabama (USA) and Kenya, ostrich farmers incur losses of considerable magnitude from a wide range of causes, some of which could not be established. Losses are experienced right from the embryonic stages whereby embryos may develop poorly causing death before hatching. In USA, hatchability was 72 % while in Kenya; hatchability was only 56 % on average. In Kenya, a high mortality rate in the early weeks of life ( The Kenya Veterinarian Vol. 28 2005: pp. 6-10