Surveillance of enteric parasites in an infectious diseases hospital, Kolkata, India
A hospital-based laboratory surveillance was conducted to study the prevalence and intensity of enteric parasites in India, with a special emphasis on West Bengal. The survey was conducted among the patients admitted between January 2010 and December 2015 to the Infectious Diseases (ID) Hospital with diarrhoeal complaints. The present study reports the occurrence and prevalence of 3 most abundant enteric parasites, viz. Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica and Cryptosporadium sp. in Kolkata and surrounding. Of the 4208 samples screened during the study period from ID Hospital, 297 (7.05%) were positive for Giardia lamblia, 20 (0.475%) were positive for Entamoeba histolytica and 94 (2.23%) were positive for Cryptosporidium sp.
Human Gait identification System
Few biometrics can be used to recognize a person from distance without need for direct sharing or cooperation of that person, gait (walking behavior) is one of them. Walking behavior (gait) recognition includes specifying person identity by analyzing his walking style (walking manner). In this paper, a human gait identification system depending on extracted features, which are vertical hip, horizontal hip angle and slop of thigh. The first step of the proposed system is detecting the binary silhouette of a walking individual from the uploaded videos. Then, the gait cycle is allocated using aspect ratio method. Finally, the required features from each frame in gait cycle are extracted. Different image processing operation have been performed to extract the required features. The outcome of the proposal system reflects flexibility in term of inserting, searching, updating, deleting and matching. The proposed system is tested in terms of offered functions, human recognition and noise effects. The obtained results show the efficient performance of the system and high ability of covering the error caused by surrounding conditions. The system is evaluated using the matching rate with the threshold of 70%. The adding noise can degrade the matching rate, particularly for high variance values. This is because of the increasing of noise values that might be the reason of moving the object irregularly while capturing or unexpected changing in the effected surrounding conditions.
Incidence of Clostridium perfringens in Intestinal Contents of Domestic Livestock Detected by PCR
Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) is a Gram-positive anaerobic spore-forming bacterium that is widespread in environmental soil and sewage, as well as in animal intestines. C. perfringens is an important pathogen in both human and veterinary medicine. The incidence and numbers of C. perfringens in the intestinal contents of 100 cattle, 86 turkey and 177 chickens from September 2015 to April 2016 were determined. C. perfringens was found in 26%, 22% and 40% of intestinal contents of cattle, turkey and chickens, respectively. In this research samples were tested for isolation of C. perfringens by culturing and biochemical method and then they were confirmed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. We suggest that PCR assay could be a replacement of the culture method for quantifying C. perfringens in the intestinal tracts. These research helping us to establish the role of each C. perfringens toxin in animal disease, to investigate the in vivo mechanism of action of these toxins, and to develop more effective vaccines against diseases produced by these microorganisms.
Preliminary Phytochemical Screening and In Vitro Anthelminthic Activity of Detarium Senegalense J.f Gmel (Fabaceae) Leaf Methanol Extract
Detarium senegalense is an importance medicinal plant used in North-east Nigeria and some African countries in traditional medicine. This present study evaluated the preliminary phytochemical screening and anthelminthic activity of methanol leaf extract. Phytochemical screening was carried out by solvent-solvent partitioning of leaf extract in chloroform, n-hexane, dioxane, ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol. The results showed that methanol fraction contained alkaloids, tannins, saponins, and cardiac glycosides while the ethyl acetate fraction contained only flavonoids with no anthracenes. Ethanol fraction demonstrated the highest anthelminthic activity with a decreased time of paralysis and death in the various groups of earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris) in dose-dependent manner at concentrations of 10 mg/mL, 20 mg/mL, 30 mg/mL, and 40 mg/mL. The time for paralysis and death for Group VII 400 mg/mL of extract were 5.0 ± 0.3min and 10.0 ± 1.02 min respectively. This result was compared with that of a standard anthelminthic drug piperazine citrate (USP) whose values were 12 ±1.01 min and 16 ± 1.02 min respectively for time of paralysis and death at p≤0.05 (one-way ANOVA). The results showed that D. senegalense leaf methanol extract possessed anthelminthic activities by osmotic shock at the clitellum portion of the earthworms, and this justifies the use of the plant extract in herbal medicine for the eradication of worms.
Development of Novel Mineral Licks (Toka) and the Livestock Industry Boom in North-eastern Nigeria
Conventional mineral licks used in livestock production in tropical Africa, are usually imported, highly expensive and their cost/benefit ratio is often questionable. The broad objective of the study is to survey the production technique, utilization and marketing process of novel mineral licks (toka) in Adamawa State, North-Eastern Nigeria. Fifty (50) household producers of novel mineral licks (toka) were purposively selected for oral interviews, discussions and on-field observations. The results indicate that, ninety percent (90%) of novel mineral licks producers are between the ages of 20 and 50 years. Hundred percent (100%) of the people engaged in the business in the study area are women. Ninety percent (90%) of them are married with eighty percent (80%) of them having attended adult education. They had enough experience in the business with seventy percent (70%) having 5 – 15 years and all (100%) of them from minority tribes who are mostly Muslims. The common raw materials used for the production of novel mineral licks in Adamawa State include twelve (12) different plants and fifteen (15) different animal parts. The findings show that, novel mineral licks are utilized by livestock and humans in 6 different ways and, there is no elaborate and well developed marketing structure in the study area. The results indicate that, all the producers (100%) are responsible for retailing and selling of their products to earn additional income to augment the family revenue from sale of their annual farm products.
Isolation, Identification and Antimicrobial resistance profile of staphylococcus aureus and occurrence of methicillin resistant S. aureus isolated from mastitic lactating cows
A cross – sectional study was conducted from November 2016 to May 2017 in Dairy cattle in and around Asossa town in order to estimate the prevalence of mastitis, to identify S. aurues from mastitic lactating cows, to evaluate its antimicrobial resistance pattern and to identify risk factors associated with mastitis. A total of 384 Dairy cows milk samples were collected using purposive sampling techniques. The overall prevalence of mastitis at cow level was 39.32 % with 11.45 % and 27.86 % of clinical and subclinical mastitis, respectively. In this study, the subclinical mastitis was significantly higher than clinical mastitis. For all except Age and parity, the multivariable logistic regression analysis for intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors showed significant difference in the prevalence of mastitis in the study area (P˂0.05). From 151 mastitis infected lactating cows, 436 milk samples were cultured and 22.14% S.aureus were isolated. Presumptively identified S. aureus isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility test and 63(74.11%) MRSA have been identified from a total of 85 S. aureus using cefoxitin through disk diffusion method. The present result showed a significant association of resistance pattern with S.aureus isolates, particularly to penicillin G (95.55%), Cefoxitin (77.19%), Tetracycline (63.41%), Streptomycin (60.78%), Gentamycin (59.37%), Vancomycin (56.75%), Clindamycine (54.35%) and Bacitracin (53.65%). In this study, 77.19 % S.aureus isolates were found resistant against Cefoxitin. There were also observed multidrug resistance, mainly to Penicillin G, Streptomycin and Tetracycline. The present study revealed higher prevalence of mastitis and occurrence of multidrug resistance S.aureus specifically which belongs to the MRSA which are dependent on multiple associated risk factors. Hence, regular resistance follow-up, using antimicrobials sensitivity tests helps to select effective antimicrobials and to reduce the problems of drug resistance developments towards commonly used antimicrobials.
Socio-cultural, Herd Structure and Reproductive Practices of Pastoral Cattle Producers in Adamawa State, Nigeria
The objectives of the study were to investigate the socio-cultural, herd structure and reproductive practices of pastoralist cattle producers in Nigeria. The study was carried out with the aid questionnaires, oral interview and field observations on 300 respondents spread across the three study LGAs. Pastoral cattle production in Adamawa state was predominated by highly experienced (80 – 85%), married (75 – 88%), male (75 – 90%) Fulani (95 – 65%) Muslims (75 – 80%) aged mostly 31 – 40 years (48 – 55%) and having limited western education. White Fulani (50.00%) was the most common breed in Gombi LGA, while Red Bororo (53.00%) and Adamawa Gudali (50.00%) were the most predominant breeds in Mubi North and Jada LGAs respectively. Most of the pastoralist (40 – 50%) maintained herd size of 41 to 50 heads and reared cattle for multiple purposes such as breeding, milk, meat and traction. Farmers practiced uncontrolled breeding, with bull to cow ratio of 1:10 (75.00% at Mubi north LGA). First mating (50 – 60%) was done between 4 and 5 years, while age at first calving (73 -75%) was mostly 5 – 7 years indicating serious reproductive life wastage. Most pastoralists (55 – 65%) use ethno-veterinary practices to enhance cattle reproductive performance. Calving rates (75 – 85%) were more during late rainy season (LRS), while (90.00%) depended on natural pastures for feeding their cattle. Cattle graze 21 different species of grasses and 19 legumes during the wet periods, while 12 crop residues, 7 by-products and 10 browse plants were offered during dry periods as supplements. Most of the pastoralists (70.00 – 90.00%) depended solely on natural flowing streams and rivers for the supply of water to their cattle. The major production constraints (43.33%) identified was diminishing natural resources characterized by shrinking land and vegetal resources. The…
Soluble fibrin as a biomarker for intrahepatic microthrombosis in acute-on-chronic liver failure
Background: There is a lack in finding the precipitating factor in acute –on chronic liver failure (ACLF)insult in large number of patients and either this factor is hepatic or extra hepatic origin. Aim of the work : Our study aiming to evaluate the potential usefulness of a new plasma soluble fibirin polymer (SF) assay for diagnosing the possibility of occurrence of intrahepatic microthrombosis as a cause of ACLF in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus. Patients & Methods: The study was carried out in Zagazig University Hospital, internal medicine department in collaboration with microbiology department from February 2015 tell November 2015. 50 patients having chronic hepatitis c virus was enrolled in this study with ACLF developing new onset ascitis in 15 patient encephalopathy in 12 patients, jaundice in12 and elevated INR in 11 patients all having regular follow-up in hepatology clinic in Zagazig university Hospital with stable clinical course in the previous three months. Control subject was classified as normal subject 20 and 30 patients with compensated chronic hepatitis C virus infection. All patients and control groups were subjected to full history, complete clinical examination and laboratory tests including CBC, INR, serum albumin, serum bilirubin, liver enzymes, ascitic fluid examination and culture, blood culture, alpha-fetoprotein, d D-dimer, thrombin generation and soluble fibrin polymer., abdominal ultrasound, Doppler ultrasound for portal vein. Results: Our results showed significant difference between patients group and both control groups regarding SF and D-dimer, also there were significant differences in patients group and other groups regarding ALT, total bilirubin especially direct bilirubin. There were marked reduction in portal flow mean velocity in patients group and other groups and we recorded further reduction in the portal flow mean velocity in patients group after 2 weeks from the starting time. There is significant positive correlation between SF and D-dimer…
Assessing the Methods in Identifying Rural Food Deserts: A Quantitative Systematic Review
It has been around two decades that the food desert concept was introduced to assess the geographic accessibility of healthy food stores in deprived urban and rural communities. Despite the contribution of this strong tool in evaluating food insecurity, the methodological aspects especially in rural areas have been less discussed in the literature. The aim of this study is to explore and compare different methodologies in identifying rural food deserts based on the related major elements. A systematic review was conducted on published English language studies that used quantitative methods to identify rural food deserts up to December 2015. Twenty studies met the criteria and were included in this study. The results from these studies indicated the four major key elements (food availability, geographic accessibility, deprivation indicator(s), and geographic unit of analysis) were used and quantified by researchers in their methodology to identify rural food deserts. We also found out that measuring food deserts involves a high degree of sensitivity, as any changes in quantifying the elements may significantly impact the final results. Thus, the advantages and disadvantages of quantifying each element is discussed in a greater detail in this study. This will help researchers to develop a better food desert methodology which produce more comprehensive and accurate results in future.
