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Helminthosis is one of the greatest causes of parasitic disease and loss in animal productivity. As such, the control of helminth parasites is of critical importance. This study was aimed to investigate the in vitro anthelmintic activity of Dennettia tripetala G. Baker (Annonaceae) fruits against Haemonchus contortus. Using in vitro techniques, the anthelmintic activity of extracts and fractions of D. tripetala G. Baker (Annonaceae) was evaluated for ovicidal (Egg hatch inhibition test) and larvicidal (larval mortality test) activity. Besides, the maximum tolerated dose was determined in adult albino rats administered, 300, 400, and 500 mg/kg body weight of the CME fraction, and observed over a period of 48 h for signs of toxicity and mortality. Phytochemical screening uncovered the occurrence of flavonoids, steroids/triterpenes, cardiac glycosides, saponins, tannins, carbohydrates, and alkaloids in the crude methanol extract (CME), the ethyl acetate fraction (EAF), and butanol fraction. The maximum tolerated dose of the CME of D. tripetala did not produce observable signs of toxicity or death in all the rats given up to 500 mg/kg. The CME and EAF of D. tripetala fruits produced a significant ( $$p < 0.05$$ ) reduction in the hatchability of H. contortus eggs in a concentration-dependent manner, while the CME at concentrations between 12.5 and 100 mg/ml completely inhibited the hatching of H. contortus eggs. Similarly, EAF at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/ml completely inhibited the hatching of H. contortus eggs. The CME and EAF of D. tripetala fruits produced significant ( $$p < 0.05$$ ) larvicidal activity against L3 of H. contortus in a concentration-dependent manner while the CME at concentrations between 6.25 and 100 mg/ml caused larval mortality of H. contortus L3 larvae completely. This study suggests that methanol extract and fractions of D. tripetala fruits possess beneficial anthelmintic (ovicidal and larvicidal) activity against H. contortus, and may be a suitable alternative anthelmintic candidate for the control of nematodes.

Laboratory studies were conducted in order to assess the ability of Euphorbia balsamifera Aiton, Lawsonia inermis L., Mitracarpus hirtus (L.) DC and Senna obtusifolia (L.) Irwin and Bemeby in the protection of stored sorghum grains against damages caused by Sitophilus zeamais Motsch. Ten adult S. zeamais were introduced in 20 g of freshly harvested sorghum grains treated with 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 × 104 ppm of powders and ethanolic extracts of the botanicals separately. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) and replicated four times. The weevils were removed after 14 days leaving the grains only. All emerged adults were sieved and grain damage was assessed 84 days after treatment (DAT) while seed viability was determined after 6 months post treatment. Highest (10.00 ± 2.04 %) grain perforations (GP) was recorded in 2.5 × 104 ppm S. obtusifolia powder while 2.50 ± 1.44 % was the least GP recorded in 10.0 × 104 ppm E. balsamifera ethanolic extracts. Weight loss (WL) caused by the weevils due to their internal feeding as well as exit holes among the botanical treatments was high (4.16 ± 1.10 %) in 2.5 × 104 ppm S. obtusifolia powder, while it was low (0.89 ± 0.52 %) in 10.0 × 104 ppm E. balsamifera ethanolic extracts. Germination of treated sorghum varied between 77.50 ± 4.79 and 92.50 ± 2.50 %. The selected botanicals have shown considerable protectant ability to sorghum grains against S. zeamais infestations and could therefore be used while storing sorghum grains for seeds

Experiments were conducted in postgraduate laboratory of the Department of Biology of Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina (UMYUK) Nigeria, to analyze phytochemical properties and assess insecticidal effects of acetonic leaf extracts of Euphorbia balsamifera, Lawsonia inermis and Mitracarpus hirtus against Rhyzopertha dominica F. To analyze the phytochemicals of the test plants, preliminary tests were conducted to determine secondary metabolites while Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrum (GC-MS) was carried out to identify various active compounds present in the botanical extracts. Effects of the treatments on adult mortalities against R. dominica, adult emergence and grain weight losses were also determined. To determine percentage mortalities of R. dominica at 7 days after treatment (DAT), acetonic extracts of the botanicals at the concentrations of 6.25, 12.50, 25.00, 50.00, 100.00 mgml-1 and permethrin powder at 11.20 mg/20 g were applied to 20 g of sorghum grains in different plastic bottles. None of the extracts or permethrin powder was added to the control. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) and replicated three times. Findings of the study revealed the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrate, phytesterols, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and cardiac glycosides in the botanical extracts. The plant extracts resulted in adult mortality of R. dominica which ranged from 16.67 to 63.33% within 7 days after treatment (DAT). No adult emergence was observed in all the treated grains. Also, grain weight losses of the treated sorghum varied from 3.92 to 6.63%. Acetonic extracts of the botanicals could therefore be utilized to reduce R. dominica infestations in stored sorghum.

BackgroundAzadirachta indica,Khaya senegalensis,Anogeissus leiocarpusandTamarindus indicaare important ethnomedicinal plants used for health mitigation since the history of mankind. They are used discretionarily in folkloric medicine on the premise that they are natural products devoid of synthetic preservatives. However, nature endows plants with metabolites for warding off potential attacks from animals and the environment. Some of these metabolites are responsible for toxicity of some plants. Furthermore, drug-induced liver injuries and nephrotoxicity are the leading causes of pharmaceutical attrition of promising drug candidates in clinical trials. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the safety of four ethnomedicinal plants in short-, medium- and long-term usage.MethodsRats dosed once with 5000 mg/kg extracts of each of these plants served as acute study (AS) while rats dosed daily with 2000 mg/kg for 2, 12 and 14 weeks served as sub-acute (SAS), sub-chronic (SCS) and chronic (CS) studies, respectively. Rats administered distilled water served as the negative control (NC).ResultsA. leiocarpusandT. indicasignificantly reduced percentage weight gain in the SCS compared to the NC.A. leiocarpussignificantly (PK. senegalensissignificantly (PPA. indica and T. indicasignificantly (PA. leiocarpusandK. senegalensissignificantly (P+and K+were significantly higher in the SCS and CS studies compared to the NC. The histological lesions seen ranged from cellular degeneration, congestion, fibrosis to necrosis.ConclusionThus, nonlethal, reversible toxic insults occur in short-term usage (AS); while, insidious lethal toxic effects occur in medium-term (SAS) and long-term usage (SCS and CS). The ability of these plant to maintain adequate hematological parameters, bodyweight and absence of mortality may explain free usage of preparations made from these plants in folkloric medicine.

Stomach ulcer is an endemic gastrointestinal disorder which constitutes a major public health problem all over the world. Stomach ulcer results when there is an imbalance between the protective factors (mucus and bicarbonate) and aggressive factors (acid and pepsin) in the stomach. Dried powdered leaves and stem of the phytomedicine Euphorbia hirta (E. hirta) (1000 g) was extracted with methanol using a soxhlet apparatus. The evaluation of the phytochemical constituents of E. hirta and acute toxicity (to ascertain the safety of using the phytomedicine over a short period of time) was carried out. The antiulcer and gastroprotective effects of crude extract of E. hirta combined with honey in rats were evaluated. The study model using 0.6 M HCl model of ulceration was used to evaluate the antiulcer and gastroprotective activities of the phytomedicine. The soxhlet extraction of E. hirta gave a yield of 54.5 g of crude extract (5.45%). Phytochemical screening of E. hirta showed that the extract contains alkaloids, tannins, saponins, glycosides, flavonoids, and unsaturated steroids. Acute toxicity studies showed that LD50 was greater than 5000 mg/kg. The study showed that the crude extract of E. hirta at 200 mg/kg when administered alone had 54% inhibition of ulceration while when administered together with honey increased to 94% inhibition of ulceration, but honey alone had 89.47% inhibition of ulceration. This implied that E. hirta when combined with honey had a synergistic effect and enhanced the inhibition of ulceration, and this could be seen by the protection of the gastric mucosa. The study of the phytomedicine E. hirta combined with honey revealed that the phytomedicine has antiulcer activities against 0.6 M HCl-induced gastric ulcer in rats. This therefore validates usage and claim by the Igbo people of the southeastern part of Nigeria that the phytomedicine of E. hirta combined with honey has good antiulcer potential.

Graphical abstract, Highlights • The oral toxicity effect of crude methanolic extract (CMX) of Diospyros mespiliformis hochst ex a. Dc (ebenaceae) was studied. • Crude methanolic extract of D. mespiliformis has an LD50 higher than 5 g/kg post oral treatment in rats, thus relatively safe. • The leaf and bark ethyl acetate fractions of D. mespiliformis were relatively safe post 28-days repeated treatment in rats., Diospyros mespiliformis, commonly called Jackal berry or African ebony, belongs to the plant family, Ebenaceae. The roots, barks and leaves have been used traditionally to treat wide varieties of conditions, however, there is limited information and literature reports concerning the toxicity and safety of this plant. The present study was conducted to evaluate the acute and sub-chronic toxicity of the crude methanolic extract of Diospyros mespiliformis and its fraction in Wistar rats. Diospyros mespiliformis was extracted by methanol 96 %. The crude methanolic extract was then fractionated into low, average and high polar compounds using hexane, ethyl acetate and butanol respectively. For the acute toxicity study, the revised limit Dose Test of “Up and Down” procedure according to the OECD guideline was used to determine the median lethal dose (LD50) of the crude methanolic leaf and bark extracts using a single fixed dose (5 g/kg) of the extracts administered by oral-gavage sequentially to 5 female Wistar rats. The rats were observed for instant death and toxicity signs for 24 h and then daily for 14 days. In the sub-chronic toxicity study, the bark and leaf ethyl acetate fractions (extract) was administered orally at doses of 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg bw /day respectively for 28 days to healthy Wistar rats. At the end of the experimental period, body weight, certain haematological, serum biochemical and histopathological parameters were evaluated. Results showed that acute oral administration of crude methanolic extract of Diospyros mespiliformis (5 g/kg bw) produced neither mortality nor visible changes in behavior or any other physiological activities and indicated that the LD50 of crude methanolic leaf and bark extract was greater than 5 g/kg bw in Wistar Rats. In the 28-days repeated dose oral toxicity study, no significant toxic effects was detected in any of the parameters evaluated. In conclusion, the crude methanolic extract was found safe in the acute toxicity study and the ethyl acetate fraction of Diospyros mespiliformis in the sub chronic study in rats could be safe for therapeutic purposes over a period not exceeding 28 days.

The peels of Eichhornia crassipes were evaluated for its proximate and anti-nutritional composition. The results show that the moisture, ash, crude protein, crude lipid, crude fibre, available carbohydrate and energy value were 89.20 ± 0.23% weight wet, 18.20 ± 0.21 %, 8.2 ± 0.18 %, 2.20 ± 0.03 %, 21.56 ± 0.10 %, 49.98 ± 0.48 % and 252.52 ± 0.50 kcal/100g dry weight respectively. The result of minerals analysis showed that the grass is a good source of both macro and micro elements with calcium as predominant. The result shows that the hydrocyanic acid, nitrate, oxalate and phytate were 0.56 ± 0.01 mg/100gDW, 0.38 ± 0.01 mg/100gDW, 0.33 ± 0.05 mg/100gDW and 4.06 ± 1.69 mg/100gDW. The results indicate that if the grass is properly exploited and processed, they could be a high quality and cheap source of carbohydrates and minerals supplement in the formulation of animal feeds.

Entomocidal activity of ethanolic leaf extracts of four plant species namely Euphorbia balsamifera Aiton, Lawsonia inermis L., Mitracarpus hirtus (L.) DC. and Senna obtusifolia L. were evaluated in order to assess their protectant ability to stored sorghum against Sitophilus zeamais Motsch. The botanicals were applied to 20 g of sorghum grains at the rate of 25, 50 and 100 mgml-1, while no extracts was added to the control. Percentage repellency was recorded at 24 h after exposure (HAE) while adult mortalities of the weevils were obtained at 3 days after treatment (DAT). Adult emergence and grain perforations were recorded at 49 and 84 DAT, respectively. Repellency levels of the botanicals against S. zeamais ranged from 87.05 ± 0.45 to 100.00 ± 0.00%. Also, the ethanolic extracts resulted in high adult mortalities of the weevils in the treated sorghum grains. No adult emergence was recorded in grains treated with the botanical extracts. Highest (10.00 ± 2.04%) grain perforations among the treatments were observed in 25 mgml-1 of S. obtusifolia, while 2.50 ± 1.25% was the least in the highest concentration of E. balsamifera. Findings of the study have revealed that the selected botanicals could serve as stored sorghum protectants against S. zeamais infestations. Key words: Adult mortality, adult emergence, grain perforations, plant extracts, repellency levels, Sitophilus zeamais.

This study was to assess the anthelminthic potential of Sterospermum kunthianum leaf extract against Ascaridia galli in experimentally infected broiler chickens. The extract and fractions were evaluated for in vitro inhibition and in vivo anthelmintic effects. Acute toxicity studies of extract revealed no sign of toxicity or death in birds at oral dose range of 1000–5000 and was considered safe. There was a concentration dependent decrease on inhibition of A. galli egg embryonation and deparasitization. At 100 mg/ml, albendazole (ALB) caused the highest inhibition of embryonation (195.3 ± 0.9) which was not significantly different from the decrease caused by crude methanol extract (CME) (188 ± 0.9), hexane fraction (HF) (177 ± 1.2) or ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) (168.3 ± 0.9). The highest inhibition rates (%) were 97, 94, 88 and 85 for ALB, CME, HF and EAF, respectively. The deparasitization obtained at day 21 in ALB (95.62%) treated birds was not significantly (P > 0.05) different from the 81.27% and 89.24% obtained from the crude methanol treated birds. The deparasitization caused by CME at 400 mg/kg (89.24%) was significantly higher than the one caused by EAF at the same dose (50.19%). Day 21 post treatment, significantly (P

Surgeons in resource-limited settings have adapted to overcome the challenges of the limitations of resources using different available methods and inventions from the local environment. We report four cases of oesophageal cancer palliatively treated with improvised gastrostomy feeding tubes by using 24Fr urinary catheters, to optimize their nutritional status to withstand chemotherapy/radiotherapy. Two patients managed to begin chemo and radiotherapy, but only one out of the four survived. The aim of this report is to appraise the methods used by surgeons to overcome the challenges they face in clinical practice.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Pastoralists in Nigeria mix barks of Anogeissus leiocarpus (AL) Khaya senegalensis (KS) and potash (Pt) to treat animal African trypanosomosis. Aim To evaluate antitrypanosomal potential of A. leiocarpus, K. senegalensis and potash for insights into the traditional claim of antitrypanosomal combination therapy (ATCT). Materials and methods Fifty microliter each of six different concentrations of AL, KS, Pt, AL + KS, AL + KS + Pt and diminazene aceturate (DA, positive control) was incubated with 50 μL of parasite-laden blood containing 108 Trypanosoma congolense cells in a 96-well microtitre plate. Negative control wells were devoid of the extracts and drug but supplemented with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Efficacy of treatment was observed at 1 h interval for complete immobilisation or reduced motility of the parasites. Each incubated mixture was inoculated into mouse at the point of complete immobilisation of parasite motility or at the end of 6-h observation period for concentrations that did not immobilise the parasites completely. For in vivo assessment, thirty-five parasitaemic rats were randomly allocated into seven groups of 5 rats each. Each rat in groups I–V was treated with 500 mg/kg of AL, KS, Pt, AL + KS and AL + KS + Pt, respectively, for 7 days. Rats in groups VI and VII were treated with diminazene aceturate 3.5 mg/kg once and PBS 2 mL/kg (7 days), which served as positive and negative controls, respectively. Daily monitoring of parasitaemia through the tail vein, packed cell volume and malondialdehyde were used to assess efficacy of the treatments. Results The AL + KS + Pt group significantly (p Conclusion The combination of A. leiocarpus and K. senegalensis showed better antitrypanosomal effects than single drug treatment and offers prospects for ATCT. Our findings support ethnopharmacological use of combined barks of A. leiocarpus and K. senegalensis by pastoralist in the treatment of animal African trypanosomosis in Nigeria.

Repellency of Euphorbia balsamifera, Lawsonia inermis, Mitracarpus hirtus and Senna obtusifolia along with permethrin powder against Sitophilus zeamais was evaluated in the laboratory at 28-32°C and 60-75% RH. The botanicals were applied as powders, methanolic, ethanolic and aqueous extracts at the rate of 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 x 104 ppm per 20 g of sorghum grains, while the permethrin powder was applied at 0.056 x 104 ppm. Percentage repellency was recorded at 1, 6, 12 and 24 hours after exposure (HAE). All the botanicals were found to have a repellent effect against Sitopholus zeamais at all three concentrations. The highest (82.22 ± 2.22%) repellency among the botanical powders was exhibited by 10.0 x 104 ppm of Euphorbia balsamifera within 24 HAE. Methanolic leaf extracts were found to be more effective than the other formulations, causing total repellency against the weevils at 10.0 x 104 ppm of all the botanicals, while the activities of the aqueous extracts were the least repellent (41.37 ± 7.39 to 60.14 ± 1.64%) after 24 hours of exposure. The repellent activities of the botanicals decreased with increasing exposure periods for powders and aqueous extracts, and increased with increasing duration for methanolic and ethanolic extracts. The results showed that the botanicals were good repellents against Sitopholus zeamais and could serve as stored sorghum protectants against maize weevil infestation. Grains protected with these botanicals could be used as seeds for planting. Meanwhile, studies on the toxicity of these botanicals against higher animals are recommended.

Due to the shortcomings associated with modern synthetic antidiarrhoeal drugs, it is important to find newer, safer and cheaper antidiarrhoeal agents from natural sources. The study was conducted to evaluate the anti-diarrhoeal activity of the fractions of the stem-bark of Terminalia avicennioides in laboratory animal models. The effect of different concentrations (1.0 × 10−3, 2.0 × 10−3, 4.0 × 10−3 and 8.0 × 10−3 mg/mL) of the aqueous methanol (AMF), ethyl acetate (EAF) and hexane (HXF) fractions of T. avicennioides were tested against spontaneous and acetylcholine-induced contractions of rabbit jejunum as well as on histamine-induced contraction of guinea pig ileum. Similarly, the effects of the AMF on gastro-intestinal transit time, castor oil-induced diarrhoea and castor oil-induced enteropooling were evaluated. The AMF, EAF and HXF at concentrations of 1.0 × 10−3, 2.0 × 10−3, 4.0 × 10−3 and 8.0 × 10−3 mg/mL attenuated the contractile effects of both the spontaneous and acetylcholine-induced contractions of rabbit jejunum and that of histamine-induced contraction of guinea pig ileum in a concentration-dependent manner. The AMF at doses of 200, 300 and 500 mg/kg produced significant (p

Borneo is the centre of diversity of the genus Durio (family: Malvaceae; local name: durian). Durian fruit is known to contain high amounts of the major bioactive compounds (as antioxidants) such as anthocyanins, carotenoids, polyphenols and flavonoids. Two types of wild durian species, namely Durio kinabaluensis Kosterm. & Soegeng (durian tupoloh) and Durio oxleyanus Griff. (durian sukang) were studied. The 80% methanolic extracts of flesh, seed and peel (mesocarp and exocarp) were analysed for antioxidant activities, total phenolic and total flavonoid content. The antioxidant activities were determined using three parameters; 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical assay (DPPH), 2,2’-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical cation assay, and Ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP). Durio kinabaluensis mesocarp extract displayed the highest antioxidant properties and total phenolic content. The non-edible parts of both durians (seed and peel) exhibited higher phytochemical contents and antioxidant properties compared to the flesh parts. This data may contribute to the pharmaceutical applications, health benefit information of wild durians and helps in popularising the potential of these fruits in international markets and ultimately protects them from extinction.

Background: The study was aimed at determining the anti-inflammatory activity of fractions and extracts obtained from Strychnos spinosa leaves on a mediator of inflammation nitric oxide (NO). Materials and Methods: Leaves were extracted with acetone and separated into fractions with different polarities by solventsolvent fractionation. The Griess assay was used to determine the nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activity. Cellular toxicity was determined by "using the MTT reduction assay". Results: With the exception of the ethyl acetate fraction which had an IC50 >750 μg/mL, all extracts and fractions had significant nitric oxide-inhibitory activity. The most active being the water fraction, chloroform fraction and the dichloromethane/methanol extracts with IC50 values of 88.43 μg/mL, 96.72 μg/mL and 115.62 μg/mL, respectively. The extracts and fractions had low cytotoxicity on macrophage U937 cell lines. Conclusion: Extracts and fractions of Strychnos spinosa leaves may be promising sources of natural anti-inflammatory agents. Findings obtained from this study showed that Strychnos spinosa leaves possess promising anti-inflammatory action and could be used in the treatment of inflammation-related conditions.

Background: Pleomorphic adenoma is a common benign salivary gland neoplasm characterized by neoplastic proliferation of parenchymatous glandular cells along with myoepithelial components, having a malignant potentiality is the commonest benign tumor to arise in the minor salivary gland. Simian virus 40 (SV40), is a highly oncogenic DNA tumor virus (polyomaviridae) which was recently found to be associated with various human tumors including pleomorphic adenoma. The virus is a monkey virus which was believed to be transmitted to humans only under exceptional situations. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of SV40 DNA among Sudanese patient with pleomorphic adenoma of the salivary glands. Material and Method: This is a case control study was conducted at Khartoum state, during period 2006-2012. Thirty study samples represents as cases that had salivary gland pleomorphic adenoma and ten normal salivary gland tissues represent as controls. Qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to evaluate the presence of SV40 DNA. Results: In this study, human pleomorphic adenoma (PA) of salivary gland specimens and normal salivary gland tissues used as control were analyzed by qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for SV40. All sample (case and control) Tissue specimens were SV40 negative. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed the absence of SV40 DNA in salivary and did not indicate any role among patients with PA.

This is a literature survey of the genus Terminalia, a member of the family Combretaceae with emphasis on Terminalia avicennioides. T. avicennioides is a plant of medicinal importance common in Africa and Asia. The plant has been reported to be used by traditional medical practitioners to treat a variety of conditions including inflammation, oxidative stress and cytotoxicity in both humans and animals.

The Igbo people of the South-eastern part of Nigeria claims that a combination of Ehirta and honey has therapeutic effect for Ulcer. The study was designed to scientifically evaluate the phytochemical composition of E. hirta and the safety of the phytomedicine. Nine hundred gram (900 g) of E. hirta gave an average yield of 49.05 g of the extract and this gave percentage yield of 5.45% when extracted with continuous extraction process of Soxhlet apparatus. Phytochemical screenings of E. hirta showed that the extract contains alkaloids, Tannins, Saponins, Glycosides, Flavonoids and Unsaturated steroids. Acute toxicity studies showed that LD50 was greater than 5000 mg/kg. The phytomedicine of E. hirta combined with did not produce significant changes in the blood biochemical and haematological parameters. Though slight reductions were witnessed in blood ALT the phytomedicine drugs has no significant effect on the liver and other vital organs like the kidney, the heart, spleen, intestine and the brain except the lungs that witnessed slight alveoli congestion. The study revealed that E. hirta combined with honey is safe for consumption.

Summary Objectives The acquisition of carbapenemases by Acinetobacter baumannii is reported increasingly worldwide, but data from Lebanon are limited. The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of imipenem-resistant A. baumannii in Lebanon, identify resistance determinants, and detect clonal relatedness. Methods Imipenem-resistant A. baumannii were collected from nine Lebanese hospitals during 2012. Antimicrobial susceptibility, the cloxacillin effect, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) synergy were determined. Genes encoding carbapenemases and insertion sequence IS Aba1 were screened via PCR sequencing. IS Aba1 position relative to genes encoding Acinetobacter-derived cephalosporinases (ADCs) and OXA-23 was studied by PCR mapping. Clonal linkage was examined by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus PCR (ERIC-PCR). Results Out of 724 A. baumannii isolated in 2012, 638 (88%) were imipenem-resistant. Of these, 142 were analyzed. Clavulanic acid–imipenem synergy suggested carbapenem-hydrolyzing extended-spectrum β-lactamase. A positive cloxacillin test indicated ADCs, while EDTA detection strips were negative. Genotyping indicated that 90% of isolates co-harbored bla OXA-23 and bla GES-11 . The remaining strains had bla OXA-23 , bla OXA-24 , bla GES-11 , or bla OXA-24 with bla GES-11 . IS Aba1 was located upstream of bla ADC and bla OXA-23 in 97% and 100% of isolates, respectively. ERIC-PCR fingerprinting revealed 18 pulsotypes spread via horizontal gene transfer and clonal dissemination. Conclusion This survey established baseline evidence of OXA-23 and GES-11-producing A. baumannii in Lebanon, indicating the need for further surveillance.

Summary Objectives To detect, characterize, and assess the genetic clonality of carbapenem-non-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae in 10 Lebanese hospitals in 2012. Methods Selected Enterobacteriaceae isolates with reduced susceptibility to carbapenems were subject to phenotypic study including antibiotic susceptibility, cloxacillin effect, modified Hodge test, and activity of efflux pump inhibitor. Carbapenemase genes were detected using PCR; clonal relatedness was studied by pulsed field gel electrophoresis. Results Out of 8717 Enterobacteriaceae isolated in 2012, 102 (1.2%) showed reduced susceptibility to carbapenems. Thirty-one (70%) of the 44 studied clinical isolates harbored bla OXA-48 , including 15 Klebsiella pneumoniae , eight Escherichia coli , four Serratia marcescens , three Enterobacter cloacae , and one Morganella morganii . The majority of OXA-48 producers co-secreted an extended-spectrum beta-lactamase, while one had an acquired AmpC of the ACC type. In the non-OXA-48 producers, carbapenem resistance was attributed to the production of acquired AmpC cephalosporinases of MOX or CIT type, outer membrane impermeability, and/or efflux pump overproduction. DNA fingerprints revealed that OXA-48 producers were different, except for clonal relatedness among four K. pneumoniae , two E. coli , two E. cloacae , and three S. marcescens . Conclusions Nosocomial carbapenem-non-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae are moderately spread in Lebanon and the predominant mechanism is OXA-48 production.

The aim of this study was to determine the Clinical observations (Visually and via Laboratory analysis) and haematological changes induced by subchronic administration of methanolic leaf extract of Crotalaria lachnosema ( C. lachnosema ) leaf (MLECL) on male Wistar rats. Four groups designated as Groups 1(control), 2, 3 and 4, of ten rats each, which were exposed to the extract in feed at dose levels of 0, 40, 200 and 1000 mg/kg for 42 days respectively. The clinical observations were recorded. At the end of the study period, the surviving rats were sacrificed following light ether anaesthesia and blood was collected from each rat via jugular venesection. The extract was found to cause impairment in both the body weight and relative organ weights of the exposed rats at termination of the experiment (P < 0.05) compared to the control group. The extract was found to affect the erythron only in group 2 with total red blood cell count (7.72 ± 0.25 × 10 12 /L), haemoglobin concentration (127.00 ± 2.66 g/L) and packed cell volume (48.44 ± 2.11 %) being significantly (P < 0.05 ) lower relative to those of the control (8.86 ± 0.32 × 10 12 /L, 150.80 ± 6.03 g/L and 48.44 ± 2.11 %, respectively). It was concluded from these studies that exposure to MLECL caused toxic effects in male Wistar rats (toxic effect like the decreased erythron; haematopoietic system is one of the most sensitive targets of toxic compounds, and thus considered an important index in pathophysiological status in man and animal). Human food or animal feed products contaminated with the plant C. lachnosema , even at very low concentrations, with the LD 50 of 1300 mg/kg should be discouraged. Keywords: Crotalaria lachnosema , Haematology, LD 50 , Toxicity, Weight changes

Aim: The study was designed to evaluate the antidiarrhoeal property of the methanol extract of the fruit of Adansonia digitata using laboratory animal models. Materials and Methods: The acute oral toxicity (LD50) of the extract was determined in mice, while the antidiarrhoeal effect of different doses of the extract was evaluated in both mice and rats. The effect of the extract at doses of 300, 700 and 1000 mg/kg were tested against intestinal transit time, magnesium sulphate-induced gastrointestinal motility test and castor oil-induced diarrhoea, respectively in mice. Similarly, the extract at the doses mentioned above was evaluated against castor-oil induced enteropooling in rats. Results: The methanol extract of A. digitata was shown to have no toxic effect in mice at doses up to 5000 mg/kg. At doses of 300 and 700 mg/kg the extract significantly (p

Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the anthelmintic activity of the stem-barks of Cassia occidentalis and Guiera senegalensis which are used traditionally to treat gastrointestinal helminth infections in goat. Materials and Methods: Phytochemical analysis using standard techniques was used to detect secondary metabolites contained in the plants. In vitro anthelmintic activity of the crude methanol extracts of the plants was determined using egg hatch inhibition test (EHIT) and larval development inhibition assay (LDIA). Results: The extracts of C. occidentalis and G. senegalensis inhibited hatching of eggs and larval development of Haemonchus contortus in a concentration-dependent manner. At concentrations of 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 mg/ml, the extract of C. occidentalis produced significant (p < 0.05) inhibition of egg hatching of H. contortus eggs when compared with the untreated (distilled water) control group. C. occidentalis inhibited, by up to 86%, the larval development of H. contortus. Similarly, the extract of G. senegalensis at concentrations of 10 and 100 mg/ml produced significant (p < 0.05) inhibition of egg hatching of H. contortus eggs and inhibited larval development by up to 85% of the parasite. C. occidentalis (EC50 = 4.23 mg/ml) was found to be more efficacious than G. senegalensis (EC50 = 88.24 mg/ml) against H. contortus eggs. However, G. senegalensis (EC50 = 0.0012 mg/ml) was more effective than C. occidentalis (EC50 = 0.11 mg/ml) against the larvae of H. contortus. Conclusion: The crude methanol extracts of C. occidentalis and G. senegalensis possess in vitro anthelmintic activity against H. contortus that requires detailed in vivo pharmacological and toxicological trials to justify their use in clinical veterinary practice.

Studies were carried out to determine the efficacy of three spices (Allium sativum L., Capsicum frutescens L., and Zingiber officinale Rosc.) against S. zeamais reared on sorghum grains. Doses of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 g of each of A. sativum, C. frutescens and Z. officinale and 0.12 g of permethrin were applied to 20 g of sorghum grains infested with S. zeamais under constant conditions of 30 ± 2°C and 65 ± 5% R.H. In all the treatments, 100% mortality among adult of S. zeamais reared on sorghu treated with all the powders was obtained. The effect of the spices on adult mortality was significant (p

OBJECTIVE: To determine the phytoconstituents of Mangifera indica kernel and its antibacterial activity against Aeromonas caviae. METHODS: Methanol extract of mango kernel was used to identify secondary metabolites of mango kernel. Aqueous and methanol extracts of mango kernel were tested in-vitro for antibacterial activity. Colony of pure culture of A. caviae was inoculated onto sterile plate of Muller-Hinton agar. Five wells (6mm in diameter) were made in circular pattern equidistance in each of the plates using a sterile cup borer. One hundred microliters of different concentrations of both aqueous and methanol extracts of mango kernel were placed into the wells using sterile pipettes and 100μl of sterile distilled water in a given well as negative control. The test was performed in triplicates (3 plates for every extract), the plates were incubated at 37oC for 24 hours. RESULTS: Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of Carbohydrates, Triterpenes, Unsaturated sterols, Cardiac glycosides, Saponins, Tannins and Flavonoids. Methanol extract used at different concentrations showed varying degrees of inhibition against A. caviae (ranging from 16 ± 2.41 mm to 24 ± 0.58 mm) except that the aqueous extract was found to be slightly active against the organism at lower concentrations with zones of inhibition ranging from 8 ± 1.22 mm to 11 ± 1.23 mm with measurable zones of inhibition at higher concentrations. CONCLUSION: Methanol extract of mango kernel at different concentrations inhibited the growth of A. caviae.

A range of derivatives of sulfonyl-substituted nitrogen-containing heterocyclic systems has been extended by synthesis of 2N (R)-5R1-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl-arylsulfonamides and N-(diethylsulfamoyl)-N-(5-ethyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)benzamides. It was established that acylation of 5-ethylsulfanyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-amine by heteryl-substituted acid chlorides allowed for obtaining not reported in the literature heterocyclic compounds, which structure contained two cycles of 1,3,4-thiadiazole. The structure and purity of the obtained compounds was confirmed by 1? NMR-spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and thin-layer chromatography. Pharmacological studies on antimicrobial and antifungal activity have shown that all the compounds tested have sensitivity to both Gram-positive, and Gram-negative bacteria. In addition, the obtained substances have exhibited antifungal activity against Candida albicans. The studies have identified compound 4-butoxy-N-{5-[({[5- (ethylsulfanyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl] carbomoyl} methyl) sulfanyl] -1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl} benzamide with high antimicrobial activity further studies of which are promising.

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Ehrlichia ruminantium (causative agent of heartwater disease) in ruminants in Al Gezirah State (central Sudan) using PCR technique. A total of 170 blood samples spotted on filter paper were collected, 100 from sheep, 40 from goats, 20 from cattle and 10 from camels. DNA was extracted and amplified using the specific primers (HH1F and HH2R) for amplification of the target sequence (980 bp fragment) of pCS20 gene, the conserved gene region of all E. ruminantium strains. The study revealed a prevalence rate of 3.0% (3/100) among sheep and no one of goats, cattle and camels was positive for E. ruminantium. Two of the three positive sheep had shown clinical signs of heartwater while the third was apparently healthy. This study concluded that the heartwater disease exists in the central Sudan but may be of a low prevalence. More investigations of the disease in other regions of the Sudan using pCS20-PCR are recommended.

Plant powders prepared from five plant species were tested under constant conditions at 30 ± 2℃ and 60 - 65% r. h. for their ability to protect sorghum grains against Sitophilus zeamais in storage. Doses at 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0g and 0.12g of the check (permethrin (0.6%) were applied for assessments of adult mortality, emergence and damage. Leaf powders of E. balsamifera, J. curcas and L. inermis gave the highest adult mortality (60.0 - 100%), while peel powder of C. sinensis and leaf powder of L. hastata recorded 47.50 - 82.50% adult mortality. Least adult emergence (0.00%) was observed when 2.0g of J. curcas was applied, while the highest (57.82%) was obtained from 0.5g L. hastata. All the plant powders showed sig- nificant (p < 0.05) adult mortality against S. zeamais with weevil perforation index (WPI) of < 50.00. This study was de- signed to observe the possibility of using plants parts to reduce grain damage caused by insect pests during storage.

ObjectiveTo assess if microhaematuria and proteinuria as measured by reagent strips could estimate intensity of Schistosoma haematobium (S. haematobium) infection in endemic areas and evaluate their screening performance among children in Benue State, Nigeria.MethodsA total of 1 124 urine samples were collected, screened for microhaematuria and proteinuria using reagent strips (Combi 9) and results were compared to filtration technique, the gold standard method.ResultsA significant correlation was observed between microhaematuria (rho= 0.66, P

Given the increasing importance of organic produce, a study was carried out to find out how organic production methods affect postharvest and storage quality of ‘Conference’ pears (Pyrus communis). When fruit were taken out of cold storage and artificially infected either with Monilinia fructigena or Penicillium expansum disease development was significantly slower in organic pears than in conventional pears. The effects were more marked for M. fructigena which is the more aggressive pathogen (about 20% inhibition of lesion growth rate), compared with a smaller, but significant effect on P. expansum (5-10% inhibition of lesion growth rate). Organic pears had higher dry matter content (15.6% compared with 14.7%) and were firmer than conventionally-produced fruit, which may affect the rate of pathogen growth. Analysis of total phenols indicated an increase induced by infection by either pathogen, but no significant differences either before or after infection between organically and conventionally-produced pears.

The antifungal and antibacterial effects of the stem bark extracts of Harungana madagascariensis Lam. ex Poir. (Clusiaceae) were examined against nine microbial pathogens causing infections in both man and animals. Hexane (H), dichloromethane (D), chloroform (C), ethyl acetate (E), acetone (A), methanol (M), and water (W) extracts were tested in vitro through bioautography and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) determination using the serial micro-dilution assays. Bioautographic results revealed the presence of eight different spots. Extract A exhibited the lowest MIC of 0.04 mg/mL against Microsporum canis, while water extract (W) and methanol (M) showed the highest MIC of 2.5 mg/mL against at least one of the tested fungi when compared to amphotericin B with 0.0625–1 g/mL. Sporotrichum schenckii was the most susceptible fungal pathogen with average MIC of 0.06 mg/mL, while the acetone extract (A) was the most active against three fungal organisms when compared with other extracts. Similarly, extrac...

The effect of different doses of the aqueous extract of Vitex doniana. Sweet (Verbenaceae) on acetylcholine and histamine-induced contractions on isolated guinea pig ileum was evaluated. The effect of the extract on intestinal peristalsis and castor oil–induced diarrhea in mice was also studied. The results showed that the extract possess a concentration-dependent inhibition of both acetylcholine and histamine-induced contractions. The extract (at doses of 150–650 mg/kg) also inhibited gastric peristalsis in mice fed charcoal meal and significantly protected mice against castor oil–induced diarrhea. Phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of anthraquinones, flavonoids, saponins, sterols, and tannins. The findings in this study indicate that the aqueous extract of V. doniana. fruits may contain some pharmacologically active components that perhaps will be useful as antidiarrheal agents. The findings have also validated the use of this plant in traditional cure of diarrhea.

Terminalia avicennioides is used commonly in Nigeria and other countries worldwide in traditional medicine for the treatment of various ailments including gastroduodenal ulcers. The dark-brown methanol extract obtained from the bark of the plant was tested to determine its antisecretory gastric acid activities using rats. The extract at the dose rates of 350,420, and 504 mg/kg, inhibited significantly (P < 0.05) gastric acid secretion in normal rats. The extract at the highest dose (504 mg/kg) used also significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited gastric acid secretion in rats pre-treated with histamine, which may indicate that the extract inhibits HCl secretion by interacting with H2-receptors. This finding undoubtedly validates the folkloric use of T. avicennioides in the control of gastroduodenal ulcers.

Extract of Terminalia avicennioides root were evaluated for anthelmintic activity in experimental nippostrongylosis of rats. The extracts, obtained by solvent partitioning of a crude methanol extract of T. avicennioides, were given orally for three days to rats purposely infected with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis orally. Anthelmintic activity was assessed by comparing the number of worms recovered from treated rats with those recovered from infected rats not treated with T. avicennioides extract. The butanol, but not aqueous methanol, chloroform or petroleum ether extracts, produced a significant (P > 0.05), dose dependent deparasitization.

The efficacy of stem-bark extracts of Securidaca longipedunculata against Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected rats was investigated. For curative study, forty adult Wistar rats of both sexes were randomly divided into 8 groups of 5 rats each. Each rat was infected with 10 6 cells of trypanosomes per ml of blood intraperitoneally (ip). Rats in groups 1 and 2 received the crude methanol extract (CME) at 0.7 and 0.35 mg/kg, respectively. Similarly, rats in groups 3 and 4 received ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) at 0.7 and 0.35 mg/kg, respectively; while 5 and 6 were treated with 0.9 and 0.45 mg/kg of aqueous methanol fraction (AMF), respectively. Rats in groups 7 and 8 were treated with diminazene aceturate (3.5 mg/kg) and phosphate buffered saline, PBS (2 ml/kg), respectively. Four rats (group 9) were neither infected nor treated and served as neutral control. In the prophylactic studies, 25 rats of both sexes were randomly divided into V groups of 5 rats each. Rats in groups I, II, and III were pre-treated with CME at 0.7 mg/kg i.p. for 3, 5 and 7 days, respectively; while group IV received PBS for 7 days and served as negative control. The rats were then individually infected with 10 6 parasites per ml of blood on days 3, 5 and 7 for groups I, II and III, respectively. Rats in group V were neither treated nor infected and served as neutral control. CME of S. longipedunculata suppressed level of parasitaemia and prolonged the survival period of rats when compared to other groups (P

Biological control potential of Metarhizium anisopliae and Paecilomyces species against Culex quinquefasciatus was evaluated. M. anisopliae and Paecilomyces spp was isolated from soil using soil suspension method with selective isolation media. Bioassay was made to determine their efficacy against 4th instar larvae of C. quinquefasciatus. Three different concentrations; 1x106, 1x107 and 1x108conidia/ml were made and tested. Results showed that, mortality increased as the period of exposure increased and also increased as the conidia concentration increased. The mortality recorded in lowest dose of 106 conidia/ml was 60% and 50% in M. anisopliae and Paecilomyces spp respectively, and again 80% and 70%mortality was recorded at dose of 107 conidia/ml. whereas highest dose level of 108conidia/ml caused high mortality of up to 90% and 80% respectively. The lethal concentration causing 50% mortality (LC50) of 4th instars larvae of C. quinquefasciatus was also varied according to concentration of spores and duration of exposure. The result showed that LC50 values of M. anisopliae isolate were 3.8×108, 2.5 x 106, 2.0 x 105 and 1.7x107conidia/ml after 24, 48, 72 and 96 Hours exposure respectively. Similarly, LC50 values Paecilomyces Spp isolate were 5.3×108, 3.8 x 107, 2.0 x 106 and 2.3 x 107conidia/ml after 24, 48, 72 and 96 Hours exposure respectively. the These results indicated that M. anisopliae and Paecilomyces Spp isolated is pathogenic to immature stage of C. quinquefasciatu and could be suggested for development as a biological control for mosquitos’ management.

In a random screening of antimicrobial activity of tree leaves, Loxostylis alata (Spreng.) f. ex Reichb had shown activity against the pathogenic fungi; Cryptococcus neoformans. This stimulated further interest to investigate its antimicrobial activity. Extracts and compounds isolated from leaves of Loxostylis alata by bioassay-guided fractionation were evaluated for their in vitro antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory (Cyclooxygenase-1 and -2) activities and for their potential toxic effects using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and Salmonella typhimurium tester strains TA98 and TA100. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated using a serial dilution microplate assay. The bacterial strains used were Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC29213), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922). While the fungal strains used were isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans, Sporothrix schenckii, Aspergillus fumigatus, Microsporum canis and Candida albicans. A bioassay guided fractionation of the crude extract yielded two antimicrobial compounds namely, Lupeol 1 and β-sitosterol 2. In addition β-sitosterol exhibited selective inhibition of COX-1 (IC 50 = 55.3 ± 2) None of the compounds isolated were toxic in the Salmonella typhimurium/microsome assay and MTT cytotoxicity test. The isolation of these two compounds is reported for the first time from Loxostylis alata.

Background The poultry industry due to intensive methods of farming is burdened with losses from numerous infectious agents, of which one is the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. In a preliminary study, the extracts of Loxostylis alata A. Spreng, ex Rchb. showed good activity in vitro against A. fumigatus with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.07 mg/ml. For this study crude, a crude acetone extract of L. alata leaves was evaluated for its acute toxicity in a healthy chicken model and for efficacy in an infectious model of aspergillosis (A. fumigatus). Results At a dose of 300 mg/kg, the extract induced some toxicity characterised by decreased feed intake and weight loss. Consequently, 100 and 200 mg/kg were used to ascertain efficacy in the infectious model. The plant extract significantly reduced clinical disease in comparison to the control in a dose dependant manner. The extract was as effective as the positive control ketoconazole dosed at 60 mg/kg. Conclusions The results indicate that a crude extract of L. alata leaves has potential as an antifungal agent to protect poultry against avian aspergillosis.

The aqueous methanol extract from the stem-bark of Combretum molle was evaluated for anthelmintic activity in lambs infected with Haemonchus contortus using faecal egg count (FEC) reduction assay. The extract showed a dose-dependent reduction in FEC in infected animals. At doses of 500, 1000 and 2000 mg kg –1 , the extract caused FEC reduction of 63%, 69.25% and 96.23%, respectively. Similarly, the standard anthelmintic (albendazole) at a dose of 200 mg kg –1 produced FEC reduction of 99.24%. FEC reduction produced by the extract at doses of 500 and 1000 mg kg –1 is below the minimum standard of 90% FEC recommended by the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP). However, there was no significant ( P > 0.05) difference between the means of groups treated with 1000 mg kg –1 and 2000 mg kg –1 compared to that of albendazole. In this study, C. molle has shown a promising anthelmintic activity against experimental haemonchosis. Nonetheless, further studies to evaluate its detailed toxicity are required for the plant extract to be developed into a useful anthelmintic drug. There is also the need to evaluate other parts of the plant (root, leaves, fruits, etc.) for the same effect.

The antioxidant, antiplatelet, and cytoxoxic effects of seven South African plant extracts, namely, Combretum vendae A.E. van Wyk (Combretaceae), Commiphora harveyi (Engl.) Engl. (Burseraceae), Khaya anthotheca (Welm.) C.DC (Meliaceae), Kirkia wilmsii Engl. (Kirkiaceae), Loxostylis alata A. Spreng. ex Rchb. (Anacardiaceae), Ochna natalitia (Meisn.) Walp. (Ochnaceae), and Protorhus longifolia (Bernh. Ex C. Krauss) Engl. (Anacardiaceae), were evaluated using established in vitro assays. All the extracts showed comparably low toxicity except for the extract of C. harveyi that showed high hemagluttination assay titer value, which indicates toxicity. The extracts of P. longifolia, K. wilmsii, O. natalitia, L. alata, C. harveyi, and C. vendae exhibited antioxidant properties in the qualitative assay using DPPH. In the quantification of antioxidation using ABTS, only the extracts of P. longifolia, L. alata, and C. vendae showed antioxidant activity with respective TEAC values of 1.39, 1.94, and 2.08. Similarly, in the quantitative DPPH assay, L. alata (EC50, 3.58+/-0.23 microg/mL) and K. wilmsii (EC50, 3.57+/-0.41 microg/mL) did not differ significantly (por=0.05) from the control. K. anthotheca showed a higher EC50 (176.40+/-26.56 microg/mL) value, and differed significantly (por=0.05) from all the other extracts and control. In addition, the extracts of C. vendae and C. harveyi showed significant (por=0.05) antiplatelet activity and did not differ from the control (aspirin) with EC50 of 0.06+/-0.01 microg/mL and 0.19+/-0.00 microg/mL, respectively. Lower EC50 values in the antioxidant and antiplatelet studies are indicative of superior activity of the plant extract against oxidation and platelet aggregation.

A 24 year-old patient presented with an adverse reaction to phenytoin therapy associated with drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome, suggesting a relationship to a reactivation of human herpesvirus 6. The investigation of viral infection was done by antiHHV-6 IgM, IgG serology and PCR. The sequence was analyzed and it was identified as HHV-6 variant B. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17525/vrr.v14i2.32

In vivo experiments conducted to determine the anti-schistosomal potency of Bauhinia rufescens (L), Erythrina senegalensis (D) and Jatropha curcas (L) revealed varoius levels of potency. Twenty-five male albino mice aged between 4-5 weeks and weighing between 15-20 grammes obtained from National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom, Plateau State, were challenged each with 130-150 cercariae by tail immersion technique. At day 40 post infection, the mice were divided into five groups of five animals each. Praziquantel was administered orally to group 1 consisting of 5 mice at the rate of 200 mg/kg body weight (bw). Groups 2, 3 and 4 were administered orally with 2 mg each of methanolic leaf extracts of B. rufescens, E. senegalensis and Jatropha curcas over 5 consecutive days at a daily rate of 0.1 ml (0.4 mg) per animal. Group 5 (untreated control) was administered with 0.5 ml of liquid paraffin. Experimental infected mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation 10 days post treatment and their liver harvested, weighted and scored based on the number of granulomata. Average liver weight of 2.4, 2.8, 2.8 and 3.2 gm and a mean liver score of 2.09, 2.13, 2.06 and 2.18 were recorded for mice treated with extracts of B. rufescens, E. senegalensis, J. curcas and the blank control respectively. No statistical difference were observed at p Keywords : plants, extracts, liver conditions, mice, Schistosoma mansoni . Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol. 28 (2) 2007: pp. 73-78

To investigate the antidiarrhoeal properties of the stem-bark extract of Annona senegalensis, using both in vivo and in vitro models.Swiss albino mice were used to investigate the acute oral toxicity of the extract. The extract was administered orally to mice fed with charcoal meal in order to investigate intestinal transit time. The effect of the extract on contraction of isolated rabbit jejunum and the responses of the tissue to acetylcholine and histamine were also investigated.The extract was safe at doses up to 5000 mg/kg. The extract at the dose of 10mg/kg significantly (p0.05) decreased intestinal transit time at concentrations of 0.2-3.2 mg/ml, the extract attenuated spontaneous contractions of the isolated rabbit jejunum, and those induced by acetylcholine in a concentration-dependent fashion.The extract decreased intestinal transit time by attenuating the spontaneous contractions of the intestine, thus the study provided a scientific basis for the use of Annona senegalensis stem bark extract in the treatment of diarrhoea.

Mice aged between 4-5 weeks infetected with Schistosoma mansoni were treated with 20 mg/kg of methanolic leaf extracts of Jatropha curcas per day for five days using praziquantel as positive control.. The untreated control group was administered with 0.5ml of liquid paraffin. The extract of J. curcas produced a worm reduction of 8.33% while praziquantel gave a 97% reduction in worm burden showing that the extract possess little or no antischistosomal activity.

Six chicks (3-6 weeks of age) were taken randomly from each of 200 broiler farms in northern Jordan, these chicks were submitted for post-mortem and parasitological examinations. Seven Eimeria spp. were identified: E. acervulina, E. brunetti, E. maxima, E. necatrix, E. mivati, E. mitis, and E. tenella. Half (50%) of the farms surveyed had all six chicks infected, 23% of the farms were free of the infection. E. tenella was the most prevalent species (39%) followed by E. necatrix (12%), E. brunitti (12%), and E. maxima (10%). Prevalences did not vary by flock size. Also, neither the use of coccidiostat nor previous coccidiosis clinical outbreaks was associated with the prevalence of coccidiosis.