A review of aeropalynology research in Nigeria: implication on public health and environmental research collaboration.

Background: Aeropalynology is a branch of palynology that studies the content of atmospheric pollen grains and spores. The amount, concentration, and distribution of these aerospora are influenced by the seasonal flowering of parent plants and variations in climatic conditions as well as local and regional variabilities. Atmospheric pollen grains and spores are diverse and have been identified as major biological particles that trigger immune cells to release inflammatory chemical mediators, inducing respiratory-linked and allergic conditions, such as pollinosis, among susceptible individuals.

Prevalence and risk factors associated with spp. infection in local breed of dogs in Enugu State, Nigeria.

Aims: Cryptosporidiosis is an important zoonotic disease of major public and veterinary concern. The disease affects humans and a variety of animal species including the domestic dog. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with spp.

Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth infections of dog in Enugu State, South Eastern Nigeria.

The prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth infections of dog in Enugu State, South Eastern Nigeria was studied retrospectively and prospectively. In the retrospective study, records of all diagnosed helminth infections of dogs brought to the University of Nigeria Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Nsukka from January, 2006 to September 2013 were collated and analyzed. The prospective study was carried out between October 2013 and July 2014 by examination of 263 faecal samples collected per rectum from dogs presented to a purposively selected Veterinary Clinics in Enugu metropolis and the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Efficacy of repeated doses of diminazene aceturate (Dinazene) in the treatment of experimental infection of Albino rats.

The efficacy of repeated doses of Dinazene in Albino rats experimentally infected with (Gboko strain) was investigated. A total of 30 adult female Albino rats weighing 130-190 g were used for the study. They were assigned to six groups (groups A-F) of five rats each.

Efficacy of levamisole and ivermectin in the control of bovine parasitic gastroenteritis in the sub-humid savanna zone of southeastern Nigeria.

Faecal egg count reduction test was used to evaluate the efficacy of levamisole and ivermectin in the control of bovine parasitic gastroenteritis in a part of Nigeria not previously surveyed. Ninety (90) randomly selected N'dama cattle from two herds in Nsukka, Enugu State of Nigeria, were studied. The animals were divided into two groups, namely, levamisole and ivermectin treatment groups.

The effect of dietary protein on the productivity of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats infected with Haemonchus contortus.

The effects of increased dietary protein on the performance of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats infected with Haemonchus contortus were investigated. 28 pubertal 9-12-month-old female goats were divided into two equal groups A and B and fed on high and low protein diets, respectively, from day 1 of pregnancy (day of mating) to 6 weeks post-partum. Each animal was trickle infected with a total of 2400 infective larvae of H.

The effect of dietary protein supplementation on the pathophysiology of Haemonchus contortus infection in West African Dwarf goats.

The effect of dietary protein on the pathophysiology of Haemonchus contortus infection in reproducing first pregnancy West African Dwarf (WAD) goats was studied. Eighteen 10-12-month-old pubertal female WAD goats divided into two equal groups were used and confined separately. One group was maintained on high-protein diet (HPD) while the other was maintained on low-protein diet (LPD) from day 1 of pregnancy up to week 6 post-partum.

Mucosal mast cell-derived chondroitin sulphate levels in and worm expulsion from FcRgamma-knockout mice following oral challenge with Strongyloides venezuelensis.

Mucosal mast cell-derived chondroitin sulphates (sulphated proteoglycans) were assayed in gut washings and homogenate of FcRgamma-knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice challenged with Strongyloides venezuelensis in order to assess their possible role in secondary immunity against enteric nematodes. Groups of immune KO and WT mice were challenged by oral gavage with 300 infective larvae (L3). Establishment of infection was assessed by daily faecal analysis to determine the number of eggs per gram of faeces (EPG) and by adult worm recovery on days 5 and 13 post challenge.

Enhanced survival of rats concurrently infected with Trypanosoma brucei and Strongyloides ratti.

The interaction between the blood protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma brucei and the gastrointestinal nematode parasite, Strongyloides ratti was studied in outbred white albino rats. Rats were grouped and given either single infection with T. brucei or S.

Clinical features and parasite-specific IgM/IgG antibodies of paragonimiasis patients recently found in Japan.

Clinical features of a total of 30 paragonimiasis westermani patients referred to and diagnosed in our laboratory in 1999 were analyzed retrospectively. Most patients were middle-aged (average: 48 years, range: 13-72 years) with the male/female ratio of 19/11. Over 70% of the patients had respiratory symptom and over 80% had peripheral blood eosinophilia and high serum IgE level.

Clinical features of paragonimiasis cases recently found in japan: parasite-specific immunoglobulin M and G antibody classes.

We retrospectively analyzed clinical features in 30 patients who were referred to our laboratory and given a diagnosis of Paragonimus westermani infection in 1999. Our results indicate that pleurisy with eosinophilia and dominant immunoglobulin (Ig) M antibody are characteristic features of the early stage of paragonimiasis, whereas IgG antibody is dominant in the late stage. Thus, in addition to tests for parasite-specific IgG antibody, tests for IgM-class antibody should always be considered for patients with pleurisy in whom paragonimiasis is suspected.

Drug resistance in pathogenic African trypanosomes: what hopes for the future?

Trypanosomosis is a serious threat to both man and animals mostly in Africa. Although the first pathogenic trypanosome was discovered over a hundred years ago, there is still no prospect for effective control or eradication of the disease through the development and use of vaccines because of the phenomenon of antigenic variation. Control continues to rely heavily on chemotherapy and vector control strategies.

Mucosal immunity against parasitic gastrointestinal nematodes.

The last two decades witnessed significant advances in the efforts of immunoparasitologists to elucidate the nature and role of the host mucosal defence mechanisms against intestinal nematode parasites. Aided by recent advances in basic immunology and biotechnology with the concomitant development of well defined laboratory models of infection, immunoparasitologists have more precisely analyzed and defined the different immune effector mechanisms during the infection; resulting in great improvement in our current knowledge and understanding of protective immunity against gastrointestinal (GI) nematode parasites. Much of this current understanding comes from experimental studies in laboratory rodents, which have been used as models of livestock and human GI nematode infections.

Mucosal defense against gastrointestinal nematodes: responses of mucosal mast cells and mouse mast cell protease 1 during primary strongyloides venezuelensis infection in FcRgamma-knockout mice.

A possible role for the gamma subunit of immunoglobulin Fc receptors (FcR) in mucosal defenses against intestinal nematode parasites was studied using age-matched FcRgamma-knockout (FcRgamma(-/-)) and wild-type (FcRgamma(+/+)) C57BL/6 mice. Mice were infected subcutaneously with 3,000 infective larvae of Strongyloides venezuelensis, and the degree of infection was monitored by daily fecal egg counts and adult worm recovery on days 8 and 13 postinfection. Mucosal mast cell (MMC) responses were assayed by in situ intestinal mast cell counts in stained histological sections of the jejunum and by measuring mouse mast cell protease 1 (MMCP-1) release in serum using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Effects of the depletion of CD8(+) T cells and monocytes on the proliferative responses of peripheral blood leucocytes from Trypanosoma evansi-infected sheep.

Sheep peripheral blood mononuclear cells and those depleted of CD8(+) T cells and/or monocytes were stimulated with polyclonal mitogens and specific antigens, and analysed by means of cell proliferation assay procedure to examine whether these cell populations are involved in Trypanosoma evansi-induced immunosuppression. The removal of CD8(+) T cells failed to normalize the proliferative responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from infected sheep to concanavalin A stimulation while the depletion of monocytes resulted in full and enhanced response, showing that macrophages are mainly responsible for the suppression. Although the depletion of CD8(+) T cells, monocytes or both restored the responses of the cells to lipopolysaccharide stimulation, the responsiveness of the undepleted cells to this mitogen was significantly higher from day 24 post infection (p<0.

Murine model study of the practical implication of trypanosome-induced immunosuppression in vaccine-based disease control programmes.

The relevance of trypanosome-induced immunosuppression in relation to the efficacy of vaccine-induced immunity was studied in mice. Mice were immunised with crude Trichinella spiralis muscle larvae homogenate vaccine and infected with T. spiralis and/or Trypanosoma brucei.

Trypanosome-induced suppression of responses to Trichinella spiralis in vaccinated mice.

Mice vaccinated against the gastro-intestinal (GI) nematode Trichinella spiralis by injection of muscle larval homogenate antigen express a strong immunity to subsequent infection, reflected in earlier expulsion of adult worms from the intestine and reduced female worm fecundity. Infection with Trypanosoma brucei at the time of vaccination, or at the time of infection with T. spiralis, significantly reduced the level of immunity expressed, the effect being greatest when vaccination and T.

Changes in peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations and parasite-specific antibody responses in Trypanosoma evansi infection of sheep.

This paper reports on changes in the lymphocyte composition of the peripheral blood in sheep infected with Trypanosoma evansi. In addition, parasite-specific IgG1 and IgM antibody responses were monitored using a double-sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Eight sheep were infected with 2 x 10(6) T.

Proliferative responses of peripheral blood leucocytes of sheep infected with Trypanosoma evansi.

The effects of Trypanosoma evansi on the proliferative responses of ovine peripheral blood leucocytes (PBL) were examined in in vitro cell culture systems. Sheep were vaccinated against pneumonic pasteurellosis with a monovalent Pasteurella haemolytica vaccine and then infected with T. evansi TREU 2143.

Increase in CD5+ B cells and depression of immune responses in sheep infected with Trypanosoma evansi.

The effects of Trypanosoma evansi on the cellular and humoral immune responses of sheep to Pasteurella haemolytica vaccine were studied. Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from the sheep were analysed using single and double-colour indirect immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry to monitor changes in circulating B and T cell subsets. Serum antibody responses were assayed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique (ELISA), in addition to measuring local skin reactions at the site of vaccine administration.

Induction of CD4+CD8+ double positive T cells and increase in CD5+ B cells in efferent lymph in sheep infected with Trypanosoma evansi.

The effects of Trypanosoma evansi on efferent lymphocyte phenotypes draining from a lymph node primed with Pasteurella haemolytica vaccine were studied in sheep. The prefemoral efferent lymphatic ducts of the infected sheep along with those of two uninfected sheep were surgically cannulated. Lymph was collected and lymphocytes recovered from it analysed by two-colour indirect immunofluorescence staining and cytofluoremetry in a fluorescence activated cell analyser (FACSCAN).

Effects of Trypanosoma evansi on the output of cells from a lymph node draining the site of Pasteurella haemolytica vaccine administration.

The prefemoral efferent lymphatics of sheep infected with Trypanosoma evansi and inoculated with P. haemolytica vaccine and of those given only the vaccine, were surgically cannulated to study the effects of the infection on the total cellular output and output of blast cells from the node in response to the vaccine. T.

Haematological changes in sheep experimentally infected with Trypanosoma evansi.

Sheep were infected with 2 x 10(6) Trypanosoma evansi TREU 2143 through the external jugular vein. The parasite kinetics as well as the effects on body temperature, packed cell volume (PCV), erythrocyte counts and total and differential white blood cell counts were monitored twice weekly for 3 months. The results showed that T.

Taenia solium cysticercosis and human taeniasis in the Nsukka area of Enugu State, Nigeria.

The prevalence of Taenia solium cysticercosis in slaughter pigs and of taeniid ova in hospital patients were determined in the Nsukka area of Enugu State, Nigeria, in March 1986-September 1988 and May 1986-May 1988, respectively. Cysticercus cellulosae were detected in the pigs by ante-mortem examination of the pigs' tongues and detailed post-mortem examination of the dressed pig carcasses using standard meat-inspection procedures. Human infection was assessed by examining iodine-stained stool samples collected from patients from one selected hospital in the study area.

Porcine trypanosomosis in Nigeria: infections in local and exotic pigs in the Nsukka area of Anambra State.

A twelve-month survey in three Local Government Areas (LGA) in Nsukka zone, Anambra State, Nigeria revealed that out of 150 local and exotic breeds of pig examined, 46 (30.7%) were infected with trypanosomes. Both single and mixed infections of Trypanosoma brucei and T.