1. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in cats in Grenada, West Indies
- A. Baffa, DVM student
- D. Doherty, DVM student
- J. Sakari, DVM student
- L. Parke, DVM student
- Dr C.N.L. Macpherson, faculty
- Dr R.N. Sharma, faculty
- Dr A. Chikweto, faculty
- Dr J. P. Dubey, Animal Parasitic Disease Lab, ARS, Maryland, USA.
It is an ongoing project. Until now 144 cats were tested and a seroprevalence of 30% has been recorded.
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2. Isolation, tissue distribution and molecular characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in chickens in Grenada, West Indies
- Dr M.I. Bhaiyat, faculty
- Dr C. DeAllie, Pathologist, Min. of Agriculture and part-time faculty, SVM
- Dr C.N.L. Macpherson, faculty
- Dr R.N. Sharma, faculty
- Dr J.P. Dubey, Parasitic Disease Lab, ARS, Maryland, USA.
Antibodies for Toxoplasma gondii was found in 53 (52%) of 102 free range chickens examined. T. gondii was isolated from 35 of 43 seropositive chickens. On genotyping, majority of the isolates were type III, which were different from the isolates of United States. This is the first report of isolation of T. gondii from free range chickens from Grenada, West Indies. Findings with appropriate preventive measures to prevent human infections were communicated to the appropriate Ministries of the Government of Grenada. A seminar for health workers was also organized to disseminate the results of this research for the benefit of the Grenadian population.
Published in Journal of Parasitology (Kindly refer to the publications and conference presentations listed below).
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3. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in rats in Grenada, West Indies
- Dr R.N. Sharma, faculty
- Dr M.I. Bhaiyat, faculty
- Dr C. Macpherson, faculty
- Dr A. Chikweto, faculty
- Dr C. DeAllie, Pathologist Min. of Agriculture and Part-time Faculty SVM
- Dr J P. Dubey, Animal Parasitic Disease Lab. ARS, Maryland, USA.
Antibodies to T. gondii was detected in 2 (0.8%) of 238 rats. T. gondii was isolated from one rat. Genetically the isolate was genotype III. The results indicate that rats are not important in the natural history of T. gondii in Grenada.
Published in Journal of Parasitology (Kindly refer to publications and conference presentations listed below).
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4. Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum antibodies in dogs from Grenada, West Indies
- Dr D. Stone, faculty
- Dr R.N. Sharma, faculty
- Dr J.P. Dubey, Animal Parasitic Disease Lab, ARS, Maryland, USA
Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 52 (48.5%) of the 107 dogs and to Neospora caninum in 2 of 107 dogs.
Published in Journal of Parasitology (Kindly refer to publications and conference presentations listed below).
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5. Seroprevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in free-range chickens in Grenada, West Indies
- Dr. R.D. Pinckney, faculty
- C. Coomansingh, Technician
- Dr M.I. Bhaiyat, faculty
- Dr A. Chikweto, faculty
- Dr. R.N. Sharma, faculty
- Dr. C.N.L. Macpherson, faculty
Study was conducted to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in 106 free- range chickens from 13 households in Grenada. Four nematodes (Gangylonema ingluvicola 29.2%, Ascaridia galli 10.3%, Hetrakis gallinarum 4.7% and Capillaria contorta 2.83%) and one tapeworm (Raillietina tetragona 38.6%) were identified.
This is the first report on the gastrointestinal parasites in free- range chickens in Grenada.
Manuscript in press- West Indian Veterinary Journal (Kindly refer to publications and conference presentations list).
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6. Prevalence of parasites in wild rats in Grenada
- C. Coomansingh, Technician
- Dr R.D. Pinckney, faculty
- Dr M.I. Bhaiyat, Faculty
- Dr A. Chikweto, faculty
- Dr R.N. Sharma, faculty
- S. Bitner, DVM student
- A. Baffa, DVM student
Study was conducted in 242 rats (Rattus norvegicus) . Three nematodes, two cestodes and one acanthocephalon were identified: Strongyloides ratti (28.1%), Nippostrongylus brasiliens (76.4%), Trichosomoides crassicauda (1.2%), Hymenolepis diminuta (16.1%), Taenia taeniformis (6.6%) and Moniliformis sp. (3.7%).
Significant parasite burdens were detected in the captured rats, some of which are of public health significance because of their zoonotic potential.
Manuscript Under publication in West India Veterinary Journal.
( Kindly refer to publications and conference presentations listed below)
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7. Prevalence of Angiostrongylosis in rats (Rattus norvegicus) in Grenada, West Indies
- Dr A. Chikweto, faculty
- Dr R.N. Sharma, faculty
- Dr M.I. Bhaiyat, faculty
- Dr C.N.L. Macpherson, faculty
- Dr R.D. Pinckney, faculty
- Dr C. DeAllie, part-time faculty
- C. Richards
We conducted a cross sectional study to determine the prevalence of Angiostrongyliasis in Rattus norvegicus rats in all the six parishes of Grenada. Out of 192 rats, 45 (23.6%) were found to have angiostrongyliasis. Grossly there was consolidation with multifocal petechiae and congestion of lungs in 2 rats whereas 7 rats showed mild to moderate petechiation and congestion. In one rat, numerous adult round worms resembling Angistrongylus contonensis were seen in the cardiopulmonary system. Histopathology revealed lesions of pulmonary thrombosis, hypertrophy of pulmonary arteries, granulomatous pneumonia with intralesional adults, larvae and morulated eggs.
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8. Enterobacteriaciae from chicken ceca in Grenada and susceptibility of E. coli isolates to fluoroquinalones
- Dr H. Hariharan, faculty
- Dr A. Chikweto, faculty
- S. Sharma, Volunteer, SOM graduate
- Dr C. DeAllie, part time faculty
- V. Matthew, technic
Ceca from 207 chickens in Grenada were examined by culture for the presence of E. coli and Salmonella. The isolates were tested for susceptibility to fluoroquinolone drugs, ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin. Of a total of 203 isolates of E. coli, 199 isolates including a nonlactose fermenting strain were susceptible to both drugs. The four fluoroquinolone resistant isolates showed multiple resistance, with one strain being resistant to six different drugs: ampicillin, amoxicillin- clavulanic acid, chloramphenicol, gentamycin, streptomycin, and tetracycline. The lone Salmonella isolate was susceptible to both fluoroquinolone drugs.
(Paper published West Indian Veterinary journal 2007, 7 (1), 8-11;
Another article submitted to West Indian Veterinary Journal: Kindly refer to publications and conference presentations listed below)
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9. Campylobacteriosis in chicken ceca in Grenada, West Indies.
- Dr H. Hariharan
- Dr. S. Sharma, volunteer, SOM graduate
- Dr A. Chikweto, faculty
- Dr C. DeAllie, part-time faculty
- V Matthew, technician
One hundred twenty five chickens from Grenada consisting of 77 broilers and 48 layers were examined for carriage of thermophilic campylobacters in their ceca by culture. Seventy nine percent of chickens were positive for campylobacters, with an isolation rate of 93.5% for broilers and 56.3% for layers. Sixty four pure cultures comprising 39 campylobacter coli, 21 Campylobacter jejuni and 4 Campylobacter lari isolates were tested for their resistance against 7 antibiotics using the E -test. None of the isolates were resistant to cholamphenicol and gentamycin. Resistance rates to other drugs were: ampicillin, 9.4%, ciprofloxacin, 12.5%, erythromycin 3.1%, metronidazole 9.4% and tetracycline, 50%. There was no significant difference in resistance rates between C. coli and C. jejuni. Multiple resistance to > 2 drugs was seen in 15.6% of the total isolates. All C. lari isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin and 3 of 4 isolates had multiple drug resistance. Overall erythromycin which is drug of choice fro treatment of campylobacter infection in humans, is effective in vitro against 97% of chicken isolates in Grenada.
(Published in Comparative Immunology Microbiology and Infectious diseases 2008)
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10. Seroprevalence of Equine Infectious Anemia and West Nile Virus in Donkeys and Equines in Grenada and Carriacou, West Indies
- Dr A. Chikweto, faculty
- Dr A. Pensick, Provost
- Dr R. Sharma, faculty
- L. Parke, DVM student
- K. Thorne, DVM student
- D. Dummer, DVM student
- G. Stratton, farm manager
West Nile virus infection is an emerging zoonosis characterized by encephalitis. It has so far caused significant mortality and morbidity in both animals and humans.
The purpose of this study was to determine the seroprevalence rate of West Nile virus in donkeys in Grenada and Carriacou Islands. The results indicate no evidence of antibodies for West Nile virus in the 45 donkey sera (30 from Carriacou and 15 from Grenada) tested by IgM ELISA.
(Manuscript submitted for publication in West Indian Veterinary Journal)
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11. Isolation of avian pox virus in Grenada, West Indies
- Dr R.N. Sharma, faculty
- Dr D.N. Tripathy, Professor emeritus, Uni. Of Illinois, VP in Virology
- Dr M.I. Bhaiyat, faculty
- Dr A. Chikweto, faculty
- V. Matthew, technician
Poxvirus isolation from a female pigeon was made. Clinically, the pigeon was apparently ill and unable to fly. Gross lesions were seen on the comb, eyelids and bills and consisted of severe raised crusts. Histologically, eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies typical of pox virus infection were noted in the epithelial cells and in cutaneous lesions. Virus isolation in the embryonated chicken egss was successfully done. This forms the first report of pox virus isolation.
Findings presented in Association American Avian Pathologists meeting (AVMA convention) New Orleans Louisiana, USA, 19th- 23rd July, 2008.
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12. Correlation between cytology and histopathology in evaluation of cutaneous, subcutaneous and deep masses
- Dr S. Kumthekar, faculty
- Dr H. Larkin, faculty
- Dr A. Chikweto, faculty
- Dr R. Kabuusu, facult
Conditions like arthritis, peritonitis, pleuritis, chronic and acute inflammatory lesions, carcinomas, sarcomas and round cell tumors were successfully diagnosed using cytological techniques. Of 65 specimens on which both histopathological and cytological results were available, 42 out of 65 were diagnosed as neoplastic (42 true positives and 2 false positives compared with histopathology, and 21 diagnosed as nonneoplastic (20 true negatives and one false negative, compared with histopathology. The overall cytological diagnosis was in agreement with the hitopathological diagnosis in 95.3% of cases.
Examination of cytological specimens is a valuable, simple and economical test in veterinary medicine. If applied systematically, to the speed with which results may be obtained is very rewarding.
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13. The use of doxycycline in asymptomatic dogs with positive Ehrlichia antibody titers
- Dr M. Lanza-Perea, faculty
- Dr R.D. Pinckney, faculty
- Dr S. Kumthekar, faculty
- Dr H. Larkin, Faculty
- R. Strickland
Goal of the Research: to ascertain whether doxycycline treatment in asymptomatic dogs, positive for the Ehrlichia SNAP test, is indicated.
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14. A serologic survey of naturally occurring Dirofilaria immitis infection among the feral cat population in Grenada, West Indies
- Dr C. Fernandez, faculty
- Dr S. Mofya, faculty
- Dr R.N. Sharma, faculty
- Dr J. Burnett, faculty
- Dr P. Flynn, faculty
- D. Doherty, DVM student
The goal of the study is to determine the antigen and antibody seropositivity for Dirofilaria immitis infection in a sample population of feral cats on the Island of Grenada. This information will be used to determine the relative risk of infection to cats living out doors on the Island. The result of this study will serve an indicator for recommending heartworm preventive therapy in cats.
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15. Bacteria associated with mucous membranes, skin wounds and ears of feral cats in Grenada
- Dr H. Hariharan, faculty
- Dr R.N. Sharma, faculty
- D. Doherty, DVM student
- B. King, DVM student
- E. Shemer, DVM student
Research Goal: This research will identify and characterize the bacterial isolates from feral cats. This would help to identify the normal commensals, and potential pathogens, including zoonotic bacteria, and those serving as reservoir of antibiotic resistance like methicillin resistant staphylococci and vancomycin resistant enterococci which are of serious threat to human health.
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16. The gross morphology and histopathology of individual polyps from the scleractinan coral Montastrea cavernosa with signs of black band disease
- T.E. Eurell, faculty
- J.C. Eurell, faculty
- B.W. Fouke, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
Black Band disease (BBD) is a wide spread disease that is considered an important factor in the recent world wide decline in coral reefs. Although BBD has been described in the literature since mid1970, controversies regarding the identification of a primary pathogen or a mechanistic description of the disease process are currently unresolved. BBD is grossly characterized by a circumferential dark colored band that is between several mm to several cm wide and can advance very rapidly (several mm/day) across a coral colony, Killing coral polyps in its wake. Most investigators believe that BBD is caused by a polymicrobial infection with several species of Cyanobacteria emerging as a key component in the process. Mechanistic description of the disease process affecting the coral polyps range from release of Cyanobacterial toxins (e.g. Microcystins) to an anoxic, sulfide rich microenvironment produced by the advancing polymicrobial mat.
In the present study, we used a surgical method to isolate individual polyps from both healthy and diseased areas of a coral colony with BBD. We propose that this new approach is superior to existing fragmentation procedures because it minimizes disruption of the coral colony and allows precise sampling of individual polyps relative to the advancing polymicrobial mat. The histopathology of individual coral polyps within the black band region revealed a massive invasion of the polyp tissue by Cyanobacteria. The morphology of the Cyanobacterial polyp interaction suggested that tissue invasion occurred over a relatively short time frame. This finding correlates with the rapid progress of the black band migration and suggests that Cyanobacterial tissue invasion contributes to the pathogenic mechanism of BBD.
Findings presented in: The international Association of Aquatic Animal Medicine (AAAM) meeting Rome, Italy, May 13, 2008.
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