Browsing by Author "Ndossi, D. G."

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Comparison of analgesia and cardio-pulmonary effects of epidural injection of pethidine and lidocaine in small East African goats
(RESEARCH OPINIONS IN ANIMAL & VETERINARY SCIENCES (ROAVS), 2013) Mpanduji, D. G.; Ndossi, D. G.
Analgesic and cardiopulmonary effects of epidural injections of 2% lidocaine (4mg/kg, n=6) and pethidine (2.5mg/kg, n=6) were compared in healthy goats weighing 18-25 kg. All drugs were injected at lumbosacral epidural space. Mean heart rate, respiration rate, rectal temperature, analgesia effect (response to pinprick stimuli), sedation and motor incoordination were determined. Results were recorded before and at various times (every 5 minutes for the first 10 minutes and every 10 minutes upto 2 hrs) after the epidural injection. Onset of analgesia was after 5 minutes following injection of either lidocaine or pethidine. Duration of analgesia was over 120 minutes and 60 minutes after epidural injection of lidocaine and pethidine respectively. Hind limb paralysis was observed in goats that received lidocaine while only mild incoordination was observed in pethidine treated goats except for one goat that remained recumbent for the entire observation period. Significant increase in body temperature was recorded in 10 minutes after pethidine injection but did not change following lidocaine injection. There was no significant change in heart rate following epidural injection of lidocaine but significantly decreased following pethidine injection. Respiration rate significantly increased in lidocaine group but did not change in pethidine treated goats. Results of this study indicate that epidural injection of pethidine at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg produce analgesia of a shorter duration compared to lidocaine, but is sufficient and safe for short duration surgeries of the perineal region in goats.
An in vitro investigation of endocrine disrupting effects of trichothecenes deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 and HT-2 toxins
(Elsevier Ltd., 2012) Ndossi, D. G.; Frizzell, C.; Tremoen, N. H.; Fæste, C.K.; Verhaegen, S.; Dahl, E.; Eriksen, G. S.; Sørlie, M.; Connolly, L.; Ropstad, E.
Trichothecenes are a large family of chemically related mycotoxins. Deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 and HT-2 toxins belong to this family and are produced by various species of Fusarium. The H295R steroidogenesis assay, regulation of steroidogenic gene expression and reporter gene assays (RGAs) for the detection of androgen, estrogen, progestagen and glucocorticoid (ant)agonist responses, have been used to assess the endocrine disrupting activity of DON, T-2 and HT-2 toxins. H295R cells were used as a model for steroidogenesis and gene expression studies and exposed with either DON (0.1–1000 ng/ml), T-2 toxin (0.0005–5 ng/ml) or HT-2 toxin (0.005–50 ng/ml) for 48 h. We observed a reduction in hormone levels in media of exposed cells following radioimmunoassay. Cell via- bility was determined by four colorimetric assays and we observed reduced cell viability with increasing toxin concentrations partly explaining the significant reduction in hormone levels at the highest toxin concentration of all three trichothecenes. Thirteen of the 16 steroidogenic genes analyzed by quantitative real time PCR (RT-qPCR) were signifi- cantly regulated (P < 0.05) by DON (100 ng/ml), T-2 toxin (0.5 ng/ml) and HT-2 toxin (5 ng/ml) compared to the control, with reference genes (B2M, ATP5B and ACTB). Whereas HMGR and CYP19 were down- regulated, CYP1A1 and CYP21 were up-regulated by all three trichothecenes. DON further up-regulated CYP17, HSD3B2, CYP11B2 and CYP11B1 and down-regulated NR5A1. T-2 toxin caused down-regulation of NR0B1 and NR5A1 whereas HT-2 toxin induced up-regulation of EPHX and HSD17B1 and down-regulation of CYP11A and CYP17. The expressions of MC2R, StAR and HSD17B4 genes were not significantly affected by any of the trichothecenes in the present study. Although the results indicate that there is no evidence to suggest that DON, T-2 and HT-2 toxins directly interact with the steroid hormone receptors to cause endocrine disruption, the present findings indicate that exposure to DON, T-2 toxin and HT-2 toxin have effects on cell viability, steroidogenesis and alteration in gene expression indicating their potential as endocrine disruptors.
Prophylactic antibiotics in augmenting Surgical wound healing
(TANZANIA VETERINARY ASSOCIATION, 2017) Werema, C. W.; Ndossi, D. G.
Antibiotics are widely used in treatment of bacterial and protozoan diseases in both human and animals. In production animal systems, the overuse and abuse of antibiotics have contributed to the widespread of antimicrobial resistant bacterial strains and drug residues in food chain. Oxytetracycline for example is a common antibiotic employed for treating various bacterial diseases and wound infection. This study aimed at investigating the use of prophylactic antibiotics in augmenting surgical wound healing in animals. Sixty-four adult guinea pigs were employed in this study and randomly divided into four equal groups (n=16). Animals were fully anaesthetized using Xylazine 5.0 mg/kg and Ketamine 44.0 mg/kg. Laparotomy incisions (3 cm long) were made on aseptically prepared sites on the ventral abdomen. The abdominal muscles and peritoneum were sutured by Catgut® while Silk® was used to suture the skin. Animals in group one received Oxytetracycline intramuscular injection two hours before the operation; group two were injected with OTC immediately after the operation; group three received OTC spray on the wound immediately after the procedure; and group four animals were left untreated to serve as the control group. Animals were monitored for two weeks where general appearance and wound contraction was recorded. The wounds in pre-operative group healed faster (7 days), followed by topical group (10 days). Wounds in post-operative and control groups had delayed healing and showed evidence of infection. The study showed that prophylactic antibiotics administration pre-operatively minimize post-operative wound infection and promotes healing.
Studies on canine transmissible venereal tumour of dogs in Mvomero and Morogoro municipality, Tanzania
(Tanzania Veterinary Association, 2018) Ishengoma, V. L.; Ndossi, D. G.; Nonga, H. E.
Canine transmissible venereal tumour (CTVT) is a contagious tumour that is naturally transmitted between dogs by the allogeneic transfer of living tumour cells during coitus. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Mvomero and Morogoro Municipality between September and November 2017 in order to determine the prevalence of CTVT and level of people’s awareness on the disease. The knowledge and interventions in reference to CTVT were evaluated using a structured questionnaire, whereas the status of the disease in animals was investigated through clinical examination. A total of 200 respondents were interviewed and 300 dogs were examined. Results on questionnaire showed that, most of the respondents had their dogs managed freely as stray dogs. Majority of the dog owners had one to five dogs and with no controlled breeding. It was further established that majority of the respondents knew CTVT as a disease of bleeding in dogs and had seen dogs affected by the disease suggesting that the disease is common in the study areas. Nevertheless, the real cause and treatment was not clear to most of the dog keepers. Based on clinical examination of dogs, the prevalence of CTVT in dogs was 12%, with Mvomero district having more cases of CTVT, 23 (15.4%) than Morogoro Municipality which had 13 (8.6%). In Mvomero district, Dakawa ward had the highest number of CTVT cases 12 (8.1%). Furthermore, it was found that male dogs were more affected by CTVT (15.3%) as compared to female dogs (8.7%). This study shows that magnitude of CTVT is high in the study area and insufficient knowledge and misconception on clinical presentation, spread, and treatments of the disease prevail. Therefore deliberate measures aimed at minimizing the problem need to be taken.
Surgical sterilization of the African Giant Pouched Rats
(Tanzania Veterinary Journal, 2015-08-25) Werema, C. W.; Samson, R.; Ndossi, D. G.; Kashoma, I. P.; Mwakijungu, E.
Surgical sterilization of rodents is increasing as a result of increased biomedical research centers which employ rodents. In order for them to perform their duties effectively, the rodents have to be sterile to avoid interference from estrus, pregnancy and lactation. Other reasons include control of breeding, treatment of diseases or conditions such as tumors cysts, pyometra, pyometritis, and endometritis. In this study three surgical procedures were performed to African Giant Pouched Rats; 6 females were ovariectomized, 6 females were ovariohysterectomized, and 6 males were Orchidectomized. All eighteen (18) animals in the study recovered well and have returned to APOPO to continue with the training on smelling and detecting landmines and tuberculosis in human sputum samples without any difficulties. Complications from these surgical procedures are rare but comprise anesthetic overdose, dehydration, hypothermia, pulmonary hypostatic congestion, hemorrhage, eviscerations, wound dehiscence, and infections. However, many of these complications can be prevented by careful physical examination and selection of health animals fit for the intended surgical procedure, as well as adherence to all principles of surgery. This study has demonstrated the three surgical procedures for African Giant pouched rats as being useful to veterinarians in public/private practice and/or in biomedical research facilities.