The effects on haematological parameters of Sprague-Dawley rats infected (challenged) by the injection of pathogenic Pasteurella multocida and the administration of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus (ATCC™ 1534) as therapy, occasioned by the consideration of its use as an alternative to antibiotics, due to the high rate of bacterial resistance to current clinically used antibiotics was investigated. A total of 60 rats, divided into 5 groups (4 experimental groups and 1 control group) of 12 rats each were used in this study. The first group of 12 rats were injected subcutaneously with one millilitre of 1 x 108/ml B. bacteriovorus (ATCC™ 1534). The second group of 12 rats were injected with one millilitre 108/ml of P. multocida in saline. One millilitre each of 108/ml of both P. multocida and B. bacteriovorus (ATCC™ 1534) were injected into another set of 12 rats in the third group. The third group of 12 rats were injected once intra-muscularly, in the hind flank muscle, with 2 mg/kg of Ketamine Hydrochloride. And lastly, one set of 12 rats were not injected with any bacteria served as control. In all cases, observed haematological data were analysed from the experimental rats after 168 hours (except rats which were injected with 2mg/kg ketamine hydrochloride, used as anaesthetic, (at sacrifice), and compared with the haematological profiles of the 12 control rats. Results shows a reduction of mortality from 9 to 1 (88.8%) of rats challenged with P. multocida over those inoculated with B. bacteriovorus and P. multocida was observed. WBC counts were higher (4.12 x 103/µL) in B. bacteriovorus and P. multocida over WBC counts in control rats which served as WBC reference values. Though, not statistically significant (ANOVA = p >0.05). In a similar comparison, RBC counts (6.5 x 103/µL) were lower than observed in control rats, while platelet counts (1138 x 103/µL) were higher than values in controls, however, this was statistically significant. Moreover, haemoglobin concentrations were lower (11.7 g/dL) than in control rats. Though there were slight variations in haematological profiles from reference values, it was concluded that B. bacteriovorus seems to have no life-threatening effect on haematology of rats. However, evaluations such as observed platelet increases on inoculations of B. bacteriovorus, need to be addressed before the promise of its in vivo use in controlling Gram-negative infection in animals and humans can be tapped. Sar, T. T. | Department of Biological Sciences, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

To determine effects of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus on some serum chemistry parameters, and evaluate its ability to regulate in vivo damage and control pathogen activity, twelve Sprague Dawley rats were injected subcutaneously, once daily, with 1 x 108/ml B. bacteriovorus (ATCC™ 1534) in saline and some serumchemistry parameters measured. Another set of 12 Sprague Dawley rats were also injected once daily with 108/ml of the pathogen P. multocida. Further, 12 other rats were injected with 1 x 108/ml each of B. bacteriovorus and then with P. multocida. All injections were for 168 hours. A group of 12 rats were injected intramuscularly once, at collection of blood samples, with 2 mg/kg of Ketamine Hydrochloride, used as anaesthesia. A final group of 12 rats, not injected with any of the bacteria or anaesthetic served as controls. Blood was collected from all rats for analysis by cardiac puncture. Though there were instances when serum chemistry concentrations were higher on injections with both B. bacteriovorus and P. multocida, compared with rats injected with only P. multocida or the controls, findings showed that B. bacteriovorus injected into rats which had previously been injected with P. multocida led to lower levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and creatinine when compared with concentrations in rats injected with only P. multocida. Mortality was reduced by 88% in rats injected with P. multocida and B. bacteriovorus compared with those injected with only P. multocida. It is concluded that B. bacteriovorus effectively mitigated damage caused by P. multocida in rats.

Epidemiological outcome studies have shown that infections caused by drug-resistant P. aeruginosa are associated with significant increases in morbidity. To determine resistance pattern of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from asymptomatic bacteriuric women attending antenatal clinic in a tertiary hospital in Makurdi, Central Nigeria. Twenty eight(28) Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from a total of 277different bacterial organisms,were plated on Mueller Hilton agar following standard microbiological protocols. And the disc diffusion method of Kirby Bauer was adopted for susceptibility testing. Results showed that most of the isolates were not susceptible to the inhibitory activities of clindamycin (96.4%), ceftriaxone (89.3%) and clarithromycin (89.3%) and susceptible at 100% to ofloxacin, perfloxacin and ciprofloxacin generally classified as the quinolones. Quinolones possess excellent activity invivo against enterobacteriaceae like P. aeruginosa amongst others.