Veterinary Archives, Vol. 83 No. 3, 2013.
Original scientific paper
A report on biochemical changes in the cerebrospinal flfuid of Zebu cattle experimentally infected with Clostridium chauvoei.
Nicodemus M. Useh
; Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Department of Population Medicine & Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
Andrew J. Nok
; Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
Najume Ibrahim
; Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
King A. N. Esievo
; Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
Abstract
The mechanisms by which blackleg occur need to be thoroughly investigated for effective treatment, prevention and control. A study was conducted to investigate the biochemical changes in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of Zebu cattle experimentally infected with Clostridium chauvoei, in an attempt to determine the role of neuraminidase in the pathogenesis of blackleg. The experimental design specified the use of a total of 14 Zebu bull-calves. These were allocated into 4 experimental groups namely: C. chauvoei-infected (n = 4), toxin-administered (n = 3), neuraminidase-administered (n = 4) and control (n = 3) groups respectively. Mean neuraminidase activity was very high in the C. chauvoei-infected and neuraminidase-administered groups, compared to the toxin-administered and control groups (P<0.05). Mean free sialic acid concentrations in the CSF also followed a similar pattern to the neuraminidase activity. The variation in mean total protein concentration in the CSF and mean pyruvic acid levels and the significance of these findings in the pathogenesis of blackleg and the effect of the disease on food security are discussed.
Keywords
biochemical changes; cerebrospinal fluid; Zebu cattle; Clostridium chauvoei
Hrčak ID:
101900
URI
Publication date:
17.5.2013.
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