Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease

519-522

Authors: Idika Kalu Idika, Ugochinyere Juliet Njoga, Ikenna Onyema Ezeh , Chijioke Nwabueze Iheagwam, Ekene Vivienne Ezenduka, Emmanuel Njoga, Denchris Nnabuike Onah

Objective: To re-evaluate the status of Taenia solium (T. solium) cysticercosis in slaughter pigs due to the great economic and public health implication of the parasite and the increasing pig production and pork consumption in the area. Methods: The prevalence of porcine cysticercosis in Nsukka area of Enugu State, Nigeria was evaluated using structured questionnaires and postmortem examination of pigs slaughtered in three major slaughter slabs in the area, namely, Orba, Ibagwa and Nsukka slaughter slabs. Questionnaires were distributed to willing butchers and pig marketers and completed copies were retrieved and analysed. The slabs were visited every other week during which a total of 379 pigs were examined. Pig carcasses were examined in accordance with standard meat inspection procedures. Briefly, carcasses were examined visually under natural light and palpated before longitudinal incisions were made in the heart, tongue, masseter, neck, intercostal, shoulder and thigh muscles. Carcasses containing cysticerci were recorded as positive for cysticercosis. The sex, age and breed of all animals examined were recorded. Results: T. solium cysticercosis prevalence of 3.3% (4/120), 4.3% (5/117) and 0% (0/142) were recorded for Ibagwa, Orba and Nsukka slaughter slabs respectively with an overall prevalence of 2.4% in the three study areas. The type of pig husbandry practiced was the most important factor influencing the prevalence of the infection. Analysis of the questionnaire responses showed that the majority of the respondents were not aware of the zoonotic implication of porcine cysticercosis irrespective of their educational background nor were they aware that epilepsy in the family could be associated with the infection in man. Conclusions: T. solium cysticercosis remains endemic in Nsukka area and is a potential major health hazard that must be addressed by an expanded and coordinated study, and control programs.

527-530

Authors: Panchavarnam Vigneshwaran, Showendrarjan Vigneshkumar, Samuthirapandian Ravichandran , Narayanasamy Veerappan

Objective: To investigate the occurrence, seasonal prevalence and histopathological effect of the Philometra piscaria (P. piscaria) infestation in ovaries of orange-spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides (E. coioides) from the southeast coast of India. Methods: The normal and infected gonads of orange-spotted grouper were collected from Parangipettai and Pazhayar landing center. Prevalence, mean intensity of nematode infection and percentage of gonadal somatic index (%GSI) of normal and infected gonads was examined. The histopathological abnormalities of nematode infected gonads were studied. Results: In this study, among 452 fishes examined, 200 were infected with the nematode. The maximum prevalence (53% and 65%) of P. piscaria on E. coioides was observed in post-monsoon season 2015 from Parangipettai and Pazhayar landing center respectively. The mean intensity of nematode infection was found higher in post-monsoon season (4.62 ± 0.40) and average intensity of nematode infections was (2.42 ± 0.60). Values of %GSI showed increasing trend from April with a peak in June in both infected and uninfected fishes. The histopathological studies of infected fish gonads revealed tiny ovary wall with ruptured oocytes, necrosis of gonad cells and nuclei scattered in early and late yolk stage. Conclusions: The varying degrees of gonadal damage caused by P. piscaria reveal a severe threat to the reproductive success of E. coioides.

536-538

Authors: Mehdi Tavalla, Masoumeh Mardani-Kateki, Forough Kazemi

Objective: To evaluate microsporidia species in pigeons of Ahvaz city, southwest of Iran by the staining and multiplex/nested PCR methods. Methods: Initially, 131 stool specimens were randomly collected from pigeons. The specimens were stained by the modified trichrome (Weber) and were microscopically examined. The DNA was extracted by DNA stool extraction kit (Bioneer) and was examined by the multiplex/nested PCR method. For differentiating the species of Encephalitozoon, the products of PCR were explored by the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) using the Mnl1 restriction enzyme. Results: Of 131 specimens, 22 and 18 cases were positive by the staining and the multiplex/ nested-PCR methods, respectively. Of 18, 7 and 11 samples were detected as Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon spp., respectively. In addition, 2 Encephalitozoon cuniculi and 9 Encephalitozoon intestinalis were Encephalitozoon species. Of 7 Enterocytozoon bieneusi samples, 5 and 2 cases were detected as genotype M and L, respectively. Also, all Encephalitozoon cuniculi samples were identified as genotype II. Conclusions: Our findings showed a relatively high prevalence of microsporidia at pigeons and these birds can be a significant and important source of microsporidiosis. It is essential that the high-risk individuals including patients with immunodeficient diseases should be receiving the accurate and valid information about the risk of direct and indirect contact with the infected pigeons.

544-547

Authors: Dhananjay Kumar, Surajit Baidya, Ruma Jas, Soumitra Pandit, Pradip Kumar Das

Objective: To investigate the sero-prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection in backyard poultry birds in three blocks of Tarai Zone of West Bengal during the period from January to June, 2015. Methods: A total of 600 serum samples from Rhode Island Red poultry birds maintained by backyard system were collected and tested for anti-T. gondii antibodies using indirect ELISA standardized in the present study. Results: The overall sero-prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in backyard poultry birds of Tarai Zone was 20.33%. The prevalence of anti-T. gondii circulating antibodies ranged from 15% to 27.5% in backyard poultry birds in selected places of Tarai Zone of West Bengal. Conclusions: Presence of such high level of anti-T. gondii antibodies in serum of backyard poultry birds maintained for egg and meat production poses a potential threat to the human population of getting infected with T. gondii and also suggests for general awareness about this disease to the local people of Tarai Zone of West Bengal, India.

553-559

Authors: Chinwe Juliana Iwu, Ishmael Festus Jaja, Benson Chuks Iweriebor, Larry Chikwelu Obi, Anthony Ifeanyi Okoh

Objective: To conduct antimicrobial resistance profile of Escherichia coli (E. coli) serogroups isolated from swine that are regularly exposed to clinically important antibiotics in the farms, calculate multiple antibiotic resistance index and determine the presence of resistance determinants. Methods: Identification of the E. coli isolates (n = 169), delineation into serogroups, and resistance genes determination were done using PCR technique. Antibiotic susceptibility testing against 16 antibiotics was done using the disk diffusion method. Results: The susceptibility test showed that most of the isolates were highly resistant to tetracycline (long-acting counterpart), oxytetracycline and also to ampicillin (84%–100%). On the other hand, a relatively high susceptibility to norfloxacin (83%–100%), ciprofloxacin (63%–100%), gentamicin (77%–100%), and chloramphenicol (77%–100%) was observed among the isolates. The multiple antibiotic resistance indices ranged from 0.2 to 0.7 while genes encoding resistances to tetracycline, streptomycin and ampicillin were detected in 48%, 22%, and 78% of all the E. coli isolates, respectively. Conclusions: Findings from this study revealed that swine from this area can be reservoirs of multiple antibiotic resistances. There is need for regular surveillance of antimicrobial usage in swine industries and the use of sub-therapeutic doses of these agents should be discouraged.

564-568

Authors: Essraa Adel Aly Aly Hegazy, Somaia Abdellatif Eissa, Ashraf Elsayed Abdel Hamid Sorour, Hanan Hassan Fouad, Dalia Abdel Hamid Omran

Objective: To assess the diagnostic value of the protein markers in both cirrhotic patients on top of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients on top of HCV in comparison to normal controls. Methods: A total number of 100 subjects including HCC, cirrhotic patients on top of HCV and normal controls were subjected to serum protein markers analysis for alpha-fetoprotein, apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein A2, insulin like growth factor 1 and insulin like growth factor 1 receptor by western blotting technique. Results: It was found that alpha-fetoprotein alone could not be used as a screening test while apolipoprotein A2 as a serum marker could be used as a non invasive screening test to differentiate a case of HCC from cirrhotic HCV patient. The all four markers were able to discriminate normal persons from HCC and cirrhotic HCV patients effectively. Conclusions: We concluded that proteomics analysis being non invasive, rapid and sensitive is a novel gate that can serve in early diagnosis and screening of HCC and cirrhotic HCV patients.

572

Authors: Beuy Joob, Viroj Wiwanitkit

No