Author/Authors :
Useh, Nicodemus M. Ahmadu Bello University - Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Nigeria , Useh, Nicodemus M. Cornell University - College of Veterinary Medicine - Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases, Department of Population Medicine Diagnostic Sciences, USA , Arimie, Deborah I. Ahmadu Bello University - Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Nigeria , Balogun, Emmanuel O. Ahmadu Bello University - Department of Biochemistry, Nigeria , Balogun, Emmanuel O. University of Tokyo - School of Medicine - Laboratory of Biomedical Chemistry, Japan , Ibrahim, Najume D.G. Ahmadu Bello University - Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Nigeria , Nok, Andrew J. Ahmadu Bello University - Department of Biochemistry, Nigeria , Esievo, King A. N. Ahmadu Bello University - Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Nigeria
Abstract :
Blackleg, which was known for many decades as an animal disease has been confirmed to be fatal to human beings. The present study was conducted to investigate the role of sialidase (neuraminidase) and toxins produced by the bacteria in the surge in plasma alkaline phosphatase activity that is usually associated with C. chauvoei infection. Fourteen Zebu cattle were allocated into four experimental groups. They were administered C. chauvoei (n=4), toxins (n=3), neuraminidase (n=4) and a control group (n=3) respectively. Results obtained indicate that mean alkaline phosphatase level was highest in the bacteriainfected group, followed by the neuraminidase and toxin-administered groups. The mean alkaline phosphatase activities of the four groups were significantly different ((P 0.05) and this suggest liver and intestinal mucosal cell damage. The possible role of neuraminidase and toxins produced by the bacteria in the pathogenesis of blackleg is discussed. This is the first study to demonstrate that neuraminidase and toxins produced by C chauvoei either cleaved sialic acids or caused necrosis to liver hepatocytes and intestinal mucosal cells, leading to increased alkaline phosphatase activity in these organs. The current study also provides baseline data on the pattern of variation of alkaline phosphatase activity in Zebu cattle experimentally infected with C chauvoei
Keywords :
Alkaline phosphatase activity , neuraminidase , toxins , Clostridium chauvoei , Zebu cattle , desialylation
