The tick, Dermacentor reticulatus is a vector for Babesia caballi and Theileria equi which cause equine babesiosis and theileriosis respectively. This study aimed to develop a real-time PCR screening test for Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in ticks. Adult D. reticulatus were collected from De Panne, Belgium. Nested PCR was used with B. caballi and T. equi specific adjacent hybridisation FRET probes to develop a qualitative real-time PCR. The test was used to screen DNA extracts from collected ticks. Probe sequences were based on differences in the 18S rRNA gene of the pathogens. DNA extracts from known Theileria and Babesia spp. were used as positive controls. Using melting curve analysis probes were able to detect and distinguish the B. caballi and T. equi positive controls. None of the tick samples tested positive for T. equi and B. caballi but one sample was positive for T. parva. This test is suitable for application in epidemiological surveillance of equine babesiosis and theileriosis.Keywords: Dermacentor reticulatus; Babesia caballi; Theileria equi; real-time PCR; FRET probe
A total of 246 faecal samples were collected between October 2015 to February 2016, 154 from stray dogs in Harare and 92 from rural dogs in Arcturas, Goromonzi and Christon Bank. The samples were examined by flotation and sedimentation methods and helminth eggs identified and EPG counted. Of the 246 samples, 157 (63.8%) were positive for helminths. Urban stray dogs (58.4%) had a significantly (p = 0.03) lower prevalence compared to rural dogs (72.8%). Nine species were identified and Ancylostoma species (55.7%), Dipylidium caninum (15.0%) and Toxocara canis (8.1%) had the highest prevalences. The other species were Toxascaris leonina (1.6%), Alaria species (1.6%), Spirocerca lupi (0.8%), Trichuris vulpis (0.8%), Capillaria species (0.4%) and Ascaris suum (0.4%) and were all found only from rural dogs. This is the first report documenting presence of Alaria species in Zimbabwe. Public education on control of zoonotic canine helminthosis is recommended.Keywords: Intestinal helminths, urban stray dogs, rural dogs, Harare
A case of imperforate anus in a 3-day old male Friesian-Holstein calf was presented and treated in Bugesera district, Rwanda. The condition has rarely been reported in Africa. A brief review of the etiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, surgical and post-surgical management and classification of anorectal malformations (ARM) as they occur in man and domestic animals with emphasis on imperforate anus is hereby presented. We focus on the usage of the terms imperforate anus , atresia ani and make a distinction between these terms and other ARMs. With emphasis placed on the nomenclature of ARMs and the distinction between usage of the terms imperforate anus and atresia ani, we propose that the two terms be viewed as different and standard scientific nomenclature of Type I –IV ARM be used consistently to avoid confusion. If the terms atresia ani and imperforate anus should be used, they must be used correctly and consistently.
A five year old peacock presented with complete lameness of the right hind limb was diagnosed of having a compound oblique comminuted fracture of distal one-third of right tibiotarsal bone based on radiographic findings. The fracture was first managed with plaster cast device. However, the bird was presented three weeks later due to lamness on the same leg. Open reduction and internal fixation with a bone plate was done. The bird was premedicated with intramuscular injection of butorphanol (0.5mg/kg) and Xylazine (2mg/kg), while general anaesthesia was induced and maintained with midazolam (0.3mg/kg) and Ketamine (5mg/kg) intramuscularly. Following open reduction, the fracture was reduced and immobilized with improvised paediatric reconstruction plate. Post reduction radiograph revealed adequate reduction and proper implant position. The fracture healed without any complication. Although materials used for canine practice could be adapted for use in birds, the smaller size of some avian patients is a major limitation.
Strains of Lactobacillus plantarum recently isolated from artisanal fermented milks and milk products include L. plantarum AMA-K, L. plantarum KLDS1.0391, L. plantarum ST27, L. plantarum LL441, L. plantarum ST8K and L. plantarum BR12. The isolates exhibited in vitro antimicrobial activity against saprophytic and enteropathogenic bacteria which include Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Clostridium difficile, Clostridium perfringens, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella enterica and Shigella flexneri. The broad antimicrobial spectrum affords ample opportunity for use of L. plantarum strains as food preservatives and probiotics in dairy products. In vivo, health benefits of L. plantarum reported in humans include increased fermentation in the hindgut, reduced intestinal load of diarrhoea-causing Enterobacteriacea, predominance of ingested L. plantarum over enteric pathogens in the intestinal microflora and reduced incidence of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea.
Prevalence of infection and level of anthelmintic resistance (AR) of strongyle nematodes to ivermectin (IV), albendazole (AB) and levamisole (LV) in Dorper lambs were determined. The overall prevalence was 67.0% and mean eggs per gram (EPG) of faeces was 357. Infection was light in 92.5%, moderate in 4.5% and high in 3.0% of animals. Proportion of L3 in coproculture was: H. contortus 92.0%, Trichostrongylus spp. 4.0%, O. columbianum 3.0% and Cooperia spp. 1.0%. Anthelmintic resistance was assessed through faecal egg count reduction (FECR %) and identification of pre- and posttreatment L3 strongyles on 28 lambs, in four equal groups. Anthelmintics were administered at recommended dose rates. FECR% in IV group was 19.6%, in AB group 22.8%, and in LV group 53.7%. H. contortus was the main resistant species to all tested anthelmintics. Farm management should practice new strategies against the emerged AR situation to limit the spread of resistant strongyles in Zimbabwe.Keywords: Prevalence, anthelmintic resistance, strongyle nematodes, Dorper lambs
A number of presence-only models can be used in the prediction of the geographic distribution of diseases and/or their vectors. The predictive performance of these models differs depending on a number of factors but primarily the modeled species’ ecological traits. In this study, the performance of GARP and Maxent, two of the most commonly used modelling methods were compared in predicting presence and absence of anthrax in Zimbabwe using accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, Kappa statistic and the Jaccard coefficient as measures of model performance. The results showed that GARP had higher accuracy than Maxent (GARP = 0.70, Maxent = 0.67). Both methods had equal sensitivity (sensitivity = 0.71), but GARP had higher specificity (GARP=0.70, Maxent=0.67). Both Kappa and the Jaccard coefficient were also higher for GARP (0.335; 0.36) than for Maxent (0.295; 0.34). The results imply that GARP has superior performance over Maxent and is recommended for modelling species habitat suitability.Keywords: ENMs, GARP, Maxent, Anthrax
A survey was conducted to investigate the prevalence of trypanosome species in donkeys in a tsetse-endemic district in north western Zimbabwe. A total of 153 donkeys were conveniently selected from three wards in the district. Blood samples were collected for microscopic and molecular detection. All samples were negative for trypanosomes by Giemsa staining. Three samples (1.96%) were positive on the buffy coat smears. Using the PCR assay, only T. congolense was detected with a point prevalence of 18.3% (28/153), with 0% (0/153) detection of both T. brucei and T.vivax. The mean PCV (24.53±3.4) of infected donkeys was insignificantly lower than that of non-infected donkeys (25.44±4.2), (p>0.05). The results show the presence of trypanosome infection in donkeys in Zimbabwe, a higher sensitivity of the ITS1 PCR assay for the detection of trypanosomes compared to the other detection methods, and the potential role of donkeys as reservoirs of trypanosomes.Keywords: Prevalence, Trypanosomosis, Donkeys, PCR, Zimbabwe
African Animal Trypanosomosis is one of the most significant diseases to threaten livestock production in Zimbabwe. The objective of this study was to determine spatial and temporal distribution of trypanosomosis from 1995 to 2011. A retrospective assessment was done and the results indicated a general increase in the number of trypanosomosis outbreaks and cases over the study period. The sub-period 2003-2011 recorded a significantly (P < 0.01) higher mean annual number of outbreaks (39.4; CI, 28.9-49.9) than the sub-period 1995-2002 (6.8; CI, 5.5-8.1). The number of cases showed an increase with the last sub-period (2003-2011) recording a significantly (P < 0.01) higher mean annual number of cases (245.5; CI, 179.4-311.6) than the sub-period 1995-2002 (22.8; CI, 13.6-32.0). Increase in outbreaks and cases could be attributed to the inadequate resources for vector control from about the year 2002. Professional intervention and revision of current control methods and policies are therefore imperative.Keywords: African Animal Trypanosomosis, vector-borne disease, spatial - temporal distribution, Zimbabwe
An outbreak of Psoroptic mange infestation and its management in re-introduced foot and mouth disease-free African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer) at a safari area in Zimbabwe is described. Between 2012 and 2013, 170 buffaloes were re-introduced into Umfurudzi Safari Area, Shamva District of Zimbabwe. One cow exhibited non-pruritic, widespread alopecia all over its body and appeared to recover after being treated with injectable ivermectin acaricide. Subsequently, an outbreak of severe non-pruritic alopecia ensued in the buffalo herd at the onset of winter May 2013. Laboratory diagnosis confirmed Psoroptes mites infestation in one of five animals tested. Clinical mange was evident in 103 (81.7%, n= 126) of the animals captured and treated. The buffalo herd responded well to two treatment regimes. This incident highlights the need to include mange in the screening and prophylactic treatment regimes of translocated wildlife.
A cross sectional study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of lameness and determine the risk factors for its occurrence in three commercial pig farms in and around Harare. During routine health checks, the sows were examined for lameness and foot lesions present recorded. Culling records from 2005 to 2007 were viewed and the reason for culling recorded. Prevalence for lameness ranged from 0.26% to 17.14% with sows in parities four and five having higher occurrence of lameness (P value = 0.001). Sows with hoof cracks, dew claw damage, foot rot and soft tissue injury were more predisposed to lameness compared to those without the lesions (OR 7.7 - 15.4). From this study it was concluded that management factors such as type of flooring, resulted in higher prevalence of lameness by increasing the frequency for the occurrence of risk factors. Keywords: Lameness, Prevalence, Risk Factors, Pigs
The aim of this study was to determine the presence and concentration levels of aflatoxin M 1 (AFM 1 ) in raw milk from commercial and small-scale dairy farms in Harare, Zimbabwe. The screening for AFM 1 was performed using the High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and the limit of detection was 0.05μg/kg, this is the acceptable limit for aflatoxins in milk as set by the EU so any sample is considered positive if above this limit. Overall, 79.2% (38/48) of the samples were positive, with the commercial sector recording a higher percentage (92.1%, 35/38) of positive samples compared to the small scale sector (30.0%, 3/10). The overall mean concentration of AFM 1 levels for positive samples from the commercial sector was 1.9 and there was a significant difference (p < 0.003) in mean concentration levels between the two commercial farms. In contrast the mean concentration level for the small-scale was 0.9. The mean concentration levels of AFM 1 for commercial farm 1, commercial farm 2 and the small-scale sector were 46, 26 and 38 times above the limit, respectively. The results of the study showed the presence of aflatoxin M 1 in raw milk from commercial and small-scale dairy farms. Aflatoxin M 1 concentration levels in the sampled raw milk could have negative impacts on public and animal health. Hence, further studies are required to ascertain the extent of the problem and the factors associated with high aflatoxin M 1 levels in raw milk in the studied areas. Keywords: Aflatoxin M 1
A study was conducted at two veterinary surgeries to investigate the common aerobic bacteria associated with dog bite wounds in dogs, and to determine their antimicrobial susceptibilities. From each wound, two swabs were collected for bacterial culture and cytology. A total of 50 wounds from 50 dogs were examined, with 78% (39/50) lacerations classified as; contaminated (52%) and infected (26%) while 22% (11/50) were puncture wounds classified as; contaminated (18%) and infected (4%). All the wounds yielded 91 different isolates with 61.5% and 38.5% Gram-positive and Gram negative bacteria, respectively. Staphylococcus aureus (22.0%), Staphylococcus pseuintermedius (17.6%), Streptococcus spp. (12.1%) and Klebsiella spp. 9.9% were predominant. None of the isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin, with low resistance to gentamicin, kanamycin and amikacin. For S. aureus and S. pseudintermedius , multiple drug resistance to ampicillin/cloxacillin and cotrimoxazole was dominant. Thus, it is prudent to carry out antimicrobial susceptibility testing prior to antimicrobial treatment. Keywords: Dog bite wounds, aerobic bacteria, antimicrobial susceptibility, multi-drug resistance
A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the level of exposure to the South African Territories (SAT) serotypes (SAT1, SAT2 and SAT3) of the foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) of apparently healthy, unvaccinated indigenous goats from four selected districts of Matabeleland South Province in Zimbabwe. A total of 538 serum samples from the four districts were tested using the solid phase blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The overall seroprevalence was 1.5% (8/538; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 0.7 – 3.03) and it varied from 0% (Beitbridge district) to 7.3% (Bulilimamangwe district). A significant p value (p = 0.012) was obtained between Bulilimamangwe and Gwanda districts only. The other values among the rest of the districts were not significant (p > 0.05). Of the sero-positive samples; 3 were positive to SAT1, 3 to SAT2 and 2 to SAT3. Our results provide the first serological indication of the presence of antibodies against FMDV in goats in Zimbabwe. Keywords: Foot-and-mouth disease, Goats, Seroprevalence, Zimbabwe
A study was conducted to evaluate the extent and causes of mortality and diseases affecting goats in Wedza Communal Area. Mortality ranged from 16% in adult stock to 40% in pre-weaned kids. Kid mortality was higher during the rainy season than the dry season, but this pattern was not evident in adult animals. Mortality was from unknown causes (47.4%), infectious diseases (17.1%), predation (17.1%), diarrhoea (5.2%), starvation (3.4%), and other causes (9.8%). Diseases identified included pneumonia, orf, pulpy kidney, heartwater and foot rot. Infection by helminths showed a distinct seasonal pattern. It was high during the rainy season and low during the dry season. The main ectoparasites found were Rhipicephalus evertsi, Amblyomma hebraeum, Demodex caprae, Sarcoptes scabiei and Ctenocephalides felis. It is inferred that poor health management of goats in Wedza Communal Area negatively affects productivity because of high kid mortality. It is concluded that pre-weaned kids need more veterinary attention during the rainy season than the dry season. (Zimbabwe Veterinary Journal, 2000, 31(1): 21-28)
An updated list of helminth parasites of impala (Aepyceros melampus), blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), sable antelope (Hippotragus niger), waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus), common duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia), eland (Taurotragus oryx), tsessebe (Damaliscus lunatus) and bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) is given based on the results of a study of helminths of antelope reared with cattle. The helminths are listed according to host species. The list will constitute an update of the helminth checklist reported by Jooste (1989). New helminth species were recorded in impala, tsessebe, sable antelope, waterbuck, common duiker and bushbuck. Zimbabwe Vet. J. Vol.33(2) 2002: 109-115
Fluorogold, a neurotracer was applied to horn-bases of two calves and two 15-month-old heifers. The neurotracer was taken up by cut nerves, and was then transported in a retrograde manner along the nerves. The inspection of nerve sections under the fluorescence microscope revealed Fluorogold granules in the zygomaticotemporal and infratrochlear nerves of all four animals, as well as in the frontal nerve of a single animal. Fluorogold granules were not present in either the frontal sinus nerve or the cervical nerves. These preliminary results suggest that, in cattle, the zygomaticotemporal nerve is not the only nerve supplying the horn base. (Zimbabwe Veterinary Journal, 2000, 31 (2&3): 65-72)
