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Key words: Streptococcus canis; Lancefield Group G; apparently healthy bitches, Public Health risks Streptococcus species are common colonisers of urogenital tracts in dogs. While their involvement is becoming evident in clinical infections like foetal abortion and pathology of multiple organs in dogs, there is a paucity of information on the pathogenicity of the organism in apparently healthy dogs in Nigeria. In this study, 154 samples were obtained from 154 apparently healthy fertile and infertile bitches in Lagos State, Nigeria. Using the Lancefield classifications, 14 Streptococcal isolates were found to belong to the pathogenic Group G. Biochemical characterization was studied, Haemolysis on blood agar showed all isolates to be haemolytic Streptococcal canis and antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed their susceptibility pattern. Eight (57.14%) of the isolates were from infertile bitches compared with 6 (42.86%) from fertile bitches. Regular contact of the dog owners with their vaginal discharge may constitute a potential source of higher risk of disease of streptococcal origin of public health importance.

A three year old nulliparous Boerboel bitch presented with complaints of fever and inappetence six weeks after an elective caesarean section was diagnosed with an extrauterine foetus. A per-cutaneous abdominal ultrasound revealed a foetal sac showing a well-developed skeletal structure and the absence of foetal movement or heartbeat. During laparotomy, a foetal sac containing a dead foetus was located between the spleen and the stomach. The foetal sac was excised following ligation of its mesenteric attachment to the spleen. The previously operated uterus was observed to have involuted but revealed a small bud observed on the middle portion of the left uterine horn. The histological findings of the foetal sac revealed fibro-adipose tissue with numerous congested vessels. It was concluded that the Boerboel bitch had a secondary abdominal ectopic pregnancy and recommended that owing to the difficulty of diagnosing the condition before or during routine elective caesarean surgery, post-operative abdominal ultrasound would have been instructive.

African animal trypanosomosis (AAT) is one of the major constraints to the development of effective livestock production systems. Dogs are human companion and are believed to be sentinels for infection with the human species. This study was to detect subclinical and clinical infection of trypanosomes among hunting dogs in Abeokuta and its environs using molecular technique. A total of 87 dogs comprising of 49 males and 38 females were ramdomly screened for trypanosomes by polymerase chain reaction technique. Among 87 dogs screened, 17.2% were positive for Trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma brucei. Prevalence of trypanosomosis in males was 14.3% while the females accounted for 21.1%.Hematological examination revealed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in mean white blood cells (20.9 ± 2.11) and monocyte counts (5.9 ± 0.62) of the infected dogs compared to uninfected dogs. Packed Cell Volume (36.0 ± 3.73) and haemoglobin concentration (13.9 ± 2.10) decreased insignificantly, while, red blood cells (7.1 ± 0.87), lymphocyte (60.9 ± 9.63), neutrophil (33.3 ± 9.16) and eosinophil (1.4 ± 0.42) counts increased insignificantly (p > 0.05) in infected dogs compared to uninfected dogs. In conclusion, trypanosomosis is prevalent in hunting dogs, in Abeokuta.

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Bacterial resistance to antibiotic in food animals is an emerging public health concern as a result of increasing multi-resistant bacteria found in Abeokuta. Therefore, occurrence rate and resistant profile of the emerging enteric pathogens were determined in food animals in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Fecal and rectal samples of 82 were randomly collected from food animals such as sheep (30), chicken (37) and pigs (15) in three major farms located in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Enteric bacteria isolates obtained were cultured and identified according to standard protocol. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by disc diffusion method and standard micro-tube dilution assay and resistance profile was carried out. Among the food animals surveyed for resistant enteric pathogens, 46% and 36% were chicken and sheep respectively while 18% were pigs. Complete resistance of 100% was shown by all the enteric bacteria obtained to metronidazole, tetracycline and penicillin while highest rate of Proteus mirabilis (33.5%) and Escherichia coli (20.1%) were multi resistant strains. Uncontrolled use of antimicrobial agents in food animals is shown to be associated with increasing emergence of antimicrobial resistance in food-borne pathogens which could enhance treatment failure and increase morbidity or death among the populace.

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