Browsing by Author "Mbuthia, P.G."
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Item Gross and Histo-Pathologic Findings in Goats with Plastic bags in the Rumen(Science and Development, 2017) Otsyina, H.R.; Mbuthia, P.G.; Nguhiu-Mwangi, J.; Mogoa, E.G.M.The objective of this study was to investigate the gross and histo-pathological changes caused by the presence of plastic bags in the rumen of goats. Sixteen castrated one-year old small East African goats were used for the study. The animals were divided into 4 groups, of 4 goats (n=4). Three groups were implanted with 129g, 258g and 387g of plastic bags, respectively, introduced into the rumen through rumenotomy, while the fourth group without implants served as control. All goats with or without plastic bags were observed daily for 6 weeks following implantation. Dead and surviving goats euthanized after the 6-week period were subjected to postmortem and histopathological examination. Gross pathological lesions observed were atrophy of the muscle and body fat, and atrophy and fibrosis of the spleen, liver, kidneys and hydropericardium. Lesions on the rumen epithelium included stunting, atrophy, thinning and loss of ruminal papillae, erosion, ulcerations and nodular formations on the ruminal mucosa. The histopathological examination revealed atrophy, erosion, ulceration, and disruptions of the stratified epithelial layer of the papillae. Other changes included parakeratosis, hyperkeratosis, prominent rete pegs, oedema and severe hydrophic degeneration of different parts of the mucosal layer. There were areas of increased mononuclear cell infiltration, increase in the number of lymphatic vessels and lymphangiectasis in the submucosa, and oedema in the muscularis and serosal layers. The pathological changes observed may interfere with the digestion and absorption of nutrients, resulting in poor animal condition, overall productivity and production.Item Knowledge, attitude, and practices on usage, disposal, and effect of plastic bags on sheep and goats(Springer Netherlands, 2018-06) Otsyina, H.R.; Nguhiu-Mwangi, J.; Mogoa, E.G.M.; Mbuthia, P.G.; Ogara, W.O.The objective of this study was to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practices of people in the Nairobi and Kajiado Counties, Kenya, on the usage, disposal, and effect of plastic waste on sheep and goats (shoats). A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 384 respondents in four communities in the two counties. Most of the people irrespective of their age, occupation, and educational status used plastic bags of some type on a daily basis. A high proportion of the respondents (37.0%, 142) used plastic bags because of the low cost. Approximately, 79.1% (304) disposed used plastic bags in open dumps. A total of 147 (38.3%) households kept shoats. Out of these, 38.1% (56) purchased feed and also allowed their animals to roam. Most of them (45.3%, 174) thought that lack of feed for the animals was the main reason why shoats roam and scavenge at refuse dump sites and road sides. A large proportion of the respondents (44.5%, 143) mentioned death of animals as the ultimate consequence of ingestion of waste plastic bags. Though, the respondents were aware that indiscriminate disposal of used plastic bags could result in death of the animals from which they derive their livelihoods, they nevertheless continued with the practice. There is a need for a paradigm shift in the way and manner plastic bags are used and disposed. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media B.V., part of Springer Nature.Item Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths and management practices for dogs in the Greater Accra region of Ghana(Heliyon, 2015-09) Johnson, S.A.M.; Gakuya, D.W.; Mbuthia, P.G.; Mande, J.D.; Maingi, N.Toxocariosis and ancylostomosis remain the most important parasitic infections affecting companion animals worldwide and pose a risk to animal and human health. Information on these infections in dogs in Ghana is inadequate. A cross sectional study was undertaken to determine the occurrence of gastrointestinal helminths infections and management practices of dogs in the Greater Accra Region (GAR) of Ghana. Faecal samples were obtained from 380 dogs from communities in 11 out of 16 districts in the GAR. Coprological examination of the samples was performed using the modified McMaster technique. Management practices for control of helminths in dogs were assessed through questionnaire interviews of the dog owners. Most dogs (70.7%) were kept for security reasons and were not housed (61.8%). Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths was 62.6%. Hookworm eggs were found in 178 (46.8%) dogs, Toxocara canis eggs in 22 (5.8%) and mixed infections of hookworms and T. canis in 38 (10.0%). Dipylidium caninum was found in 51 (13.4%) dogs, while Isospora species was in 33 (8.5%) dogs. Most households (68%; 133/194) of the sampled dogs had at least a child below the age of 5 years. Hookworm, T. canis and D. caninum were the zoonotic gastrointestinal helminths prevalent in dogs in the study area. Lack of housing for dogs creates ideal conditions for infection and spread of the zoonotic parasites. © 2015 The Authors.Item Prevalence ofgastrointestinal helminths andmanagement practices fordogsinthe Greater Accraregionof Ghana(Elsevier, 2015-08) Johnson, M.A.S.; Gakuya, D.W.; Mbuthia, P.G.; Mande, J.D.; Maingi, N.Toxocariosisandancylostomosisremainthemostimportantparasiticinfections affectingcompanionanimalsworldwideandposearisktoanimalandhuman health.InformationontheseinfectionsindogsinGhanaisinadequate.Across sectionalstudywasundertakentodeterminetheoccurrenceofgastrointestinal helminthsinfectionsandmanagementpracticesofdogsintheGreaterAccra Region(GAR)ofGhana.Faecalsampleswereobtainedfrom380dogsfrom communitiesin11outof16districtsintheGAR.Coprologicalexaminationof the sampleswasperformedusingthemodifiedMcMastertechnique.Management practicesforcontrolofhelminthsindogswereassessedthroughquestionnaire interviewsofthedogowners.Mostdogs(70.7%)werekeptforsecurityreasons and werenothoused(61.8%).Prevalenceofgastrointestinalhelminthswas62.6%. Hookwormeggswerefoundin178(46.8%)dogs, Toxocaracanis eggsin22(5.8%)andmixedinfectionsofhookwormsand T. canis in 38(10.0%). Dipylidiumcaninum wasfoundin51(13.4%)dogs,whileIsosporaspecieswas in 33(8.5%)dogs.Mosthouseholds(68%;133/194)ofthesampleddogshad atleastachildbelowtheageof5years.Hookworm, T.canis and D. caninum werethezoonoticgastrointestinalhelminthsprevalentindogsinthestudy area.Lackofhousingfordogscreatesidealconditionsforinfectionandspread of thezoonoticparasites.