Socio-economic factors influencing control of vector-borne diseases in the pastoralist system of south western Uganda

Research in control of tick-borne diseases and trypanosomosis, and their vectors, namely, ticks and tsetse flies respectively, has been on going for decades. However, very little attention has been paid to the socio-economic factors that are likely to influence the outcome of the interventions in the control of these diseases. Thus, this study was designed to investigate these factors, mainly the intra-household factors influencing decision-making in the control of Vector-borne diseases in the pastoralist areas of Uganda. These factors included: indigenous technical knowledge, household economic factors, and gender. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used in the collection and analysis of data. The tools used for data collection included among others, participatory learning and action (PLA), and Case studies. The findings included the following: In pastoralist households, a big proportion of the household budget was allocated to vector-borne diseases control. In the male-headed households, men dominated decision-making on vector-borne diseases control, although the goals and priorities of men and women in these households were not the same. Also, vector-borne disease control was predominantly by use of modern veterinary drugs, and pastoralists treated sick cattle by themselves even in situations where there were veterinary personnel.     

Pelvic lymphoma as a cause of urethral compression in a mare

A 6-year-old mare was presented for evaluation of dysuria and pollakiuria. A pelvic mass, which caused obstruction of urinary outflow, was identified. Evidence of renal failure was also present. Due to poor prognosis the mare was euthanized. A postmortem examination revealed a pelvic lymphoma that surrounded and compressed the urethra.     

Micro-environmental conditions modulate protein secretion and infectivity of the Trichinella spiralis L1 larva

After digestion of infected meat the free L1 of Trichinella spp. penetrate the intestinal mucosa where they moult to the mature adult stage. We have used proteomics to identify changes in protein secretion during in vitro culture of free T. spiralis muscle larvae under different environmental conditions, and to correlate these changes with their infectivity in mice. Muscle larvae were cultured in different media (RPMI-1640, C-199 and HBSS) under conditions of anaerobiosis, microaerobiosis and in 5% CO₂ at 37 °C. Following incubation the larval excretory/secretory proteins were analysed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and the larvae were used to orally infect naïve CD1 mice. For all culture media tested, infectivity of the L1 was preserved following incubation in anaerobic conditions. In contrast, the infectivity of worms cultured in nutrient-rich media was almost completely abolished in both microaerobiosis and in the presence of 5% CO₂. Some infectivity was retained in poor or reduced culture media. Comparative analysis of larval infectivity and protein secretion showed that loss of infectivity correlated with the appearance of non-tyvelosylated proteins that in turn may be related to the onset of moulting.     

Contribution of family labour to the profitability and competitiveness of small-scale dairy production systems in central Mexico

The objective of this work was to determine the effect of family labour on the profitability and competitiveness of small-scale dairy farms in the highlands of Central Mexico. Economic data from 37 farms were analysed from a stratified statistical sampling with a Neyman assignment. Three strata were defined taking herd size as criterion. Stratum 1: herds from 3 to 9 cows plus replacements, Stratum 2: herds from 10 to 19 cows and Stratum 3: herds from 20 to 30 cows. The policy analysis matrix was used as the method to determine profitability and competitiveness. The coefficient of private profitability (CPP) when the economic cost of family labour is included in the cost structure was 8.0 %, 31.0 % and 46.0 %. When the economic cost of family labour is not included, CPP increase to 47.0 %, 57.0 % and 66.0 % for each strata, respectively. The private cost ratio (PCR) when family labour is included was 0.79, 0.51 and 0.42 for strata 1, 2 and 3, respectively. When family labour is not included, the PCR was 0.07, 0.25 and 0.26. Net profit per litre of milk including family labour was US$0.03 l^-1 for Stratum 1, US$0.09 for Stratum 2 and US$0.12 l^-1 for Stratum 3; but increased to $0.12, 0.14 and 0.15, respectively, when the economic cost of family labour is not included. It is concluded that family labour is a crucial factor in the profitability and competitiveness of small-scale dairy production.     

The muscular dystrophic chicken is hypernatremic

1. The E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1 (WWP1) gene, the mutation of which causes muscular dystrophy in chickens, is expressed not only in the pectoral muscle, but also in a number of tissues such as the kidney. Therefore, this study examined some parameters related to kidney function in muscular dystrophic (MD) chickens.

2. Plasma osmolality, Na⁺ and K⁺ concentrations, aldosterone levels, and the expression of aquaporin (AQP) 2, AQP3, and α subunits of the amiloride-sensitive epithelial sodium channel (αENaC) were analysed in the kidneys of 5-week-old MD chickens and White Leghorn (WL) chickens under physiological conditions or after one day of water deprivation.

3. Plasma osmolality, Na⁺ concentrations, and plasma aldosterone levels were significantly higher in MD chickens than in WL chickens. αENaC mRNA expression levels were lower in MD chickens than in WL chickens. AQP2 and AQP3 mRNA expression levels were similar in the two strains of chickens.

4. Plasma osmolality correlated with aldosterone levels and AQP2 and αENaC mRNA levels in WL chickens. In MD chickens, plasma osmolality correlated with AQP2 mRNA levels, but not with plasma aldosterone or αENaC mRNA levels.

5. These results suggest that neither water reabsorption nor the expression of AQP2 and AQP3 is impaired in MD chickens and that a WWP1 gene mutation may or may not directly induce an abnormality in Na⁺-reabsorption in the kidneys of MD chickens, potentially through αENaC.     

Dermatographism in a horse,responsive to cetirizine treatment

Dermatographism is a common condition in man that occurs when pressure is applied to the skin and mast cells are triggered to release histamine, causing local urticarial lesions. This case report concerns a 4-year-old Quarter Horse gelding that was presented with pressure induced urticaria. Moderate pressure on the skin induced nonpruritic urticaria-like swelling after approximately 3–5 min, which lasted for approximately 2–3 h. Initial treatment with cyproheptadine gave an incomplete response and unacceptable sedation as a side effect. On the second generation antihistamine cetirizine (0.2 mg/kg bwt twice daily), dermatographism was no longer present and no side effects occurred. Treatment was continued for 4 months, with at least three attempts to discontinue therapy resulting in recurrence of lesions within 24 h. Lesions resolved each time within 24 h of recommencing therapy. Dermatographism did not recur after the horse was moved to another location despite discontinuation of therapy. This report describes a case of equine dermatographism responsive to cetirizine.