Faculty of Veterinary Science
Department of Production Animal Studies
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
The most interesting research which commenced in 2006 in the Poultry Section was the MSc project by Dr. Folorunso Fasina to perform a phylogenetic analysis on isolates of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza from Nigeria in collaboration with the OVI with a view to developing a better understanding of the disease in that country. We hope to publish preliminary findings during 2007. 2006 also saw the completion of two projects by Masters level students looking at the practicalities of Newcastle disease vaccination in Free Ranging Village chickens in the North West Province. The results of this work showed once again that the social dynamics of rural communities in South Africa are very different from those in neighbouring countries where chickens are seen as a valuable resource towards household survival. In the North West Province small scale poultry owners were not willing to put much effort into participating in vaccination campaigns, even when vaccine was made available free of charge. Commercial research efforts during the year focused on the evaluation of alternate coccidiostat products
Contact person: Dr SPR Bisschop.
Pigmented serum, usually due to free haemoglobin and/or bilirubin, is a common finding in dogs with babesiosis, resulting in interference with all biochemical tests that rely on photochemistry. This is particularly true of urea and creatinine determinations, complicating the diagnosis of acute renal failure, which is a serious complication of babesiosis.
A disproportionately raised serum urea concentration of unknown origin occurs in severely anaemic canine babesiosis patients and gives rise to an increased serum urea:creatinine ratio.
The assay for cystatin-C, an excellent measure of glomerular filtration rate is unaffected by free serum haemoglobin, and due to its different intrinsic origins free of influence by the metabolic derangements and organ pathology, other than renal disease, encountered in canine babesiosis. Serum cystatin-C was used to compare the concentrations of serum urea and serum creatinine in dogs with the severely anaemic form of canine babesiosis as well as a canine babesios-free reference group.
Mean serum urea and mean serum urea:creatinine ratio were significantly elevated in the babesia-infected group relative to the reference population in this study. Mean serum creatinine and mean serum cystatin-C were within the reference ranges.
Therefore an elevated urea:creatinine ratio in canine babesiosis in the presence of a normal serum creatinine concentration is considered to be caused by an elevated serum urea concentration and is most likely of non-renal origin.
Serum creatinine was therefore as specific a measure of renal function as serum cystatin-C in canine babesiosis in this study. The sensitivity of serum creatinine as a measure of renal function was not established by this study. Serum urea, however, proved to be of little use compared to serum cystatin-C and serum creatinine. Serum urea should therefore not be used to diagnose renal failure in canine babesiosis.
Contact person: Prof PN Thompson.
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