AjuoguNew

et al
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/ New Sciences 1 (2011)1 84-87
in Sciences (2011) 84-87

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Comparative study of Serum cholesterol status of Dermatophilosis

Resistant and Susceptible (healthy and infected) cattle breeds in Vom
Plateau State Nigeria.

AJUOGU P.K., EKINE O.A. and AJAYI F.O.

Department of Animal Science and fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, East west road, Rivers State,
Nigeria.

A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T
Article history: A study was conducted to compare serum cholesterol status of Dermatophilo-
Accepted: sis Resistant and susceptible (healthy and infected) cattle breeds, in National
Available online: 5 October 2011 Veterinary research institute, Animal health and production Technology Bio-
chemistry Laboratory. Different cattle breeds comprising 14 susceptible (7
healthy and 7 infected) and 12 resistant cattle breeds were used for the study.
Blood samples were collected through the jugular vein with 18 gauge hypo-
dermic needle and syringe and decanted into a sterile well labeled sample
bottles, and sent to the laboratory for serum total cholesterol analysis. Statisti-
Keywords: cal analysis of the mean values of serum total cholesterol observations indi-
cated significant (P<0.05) variations amongst the susceptible and resistant
Dermatophylosis, groups and between healthy and infected groups. It was therefore concluded
serum cholesterol, that serum cholesterol (Status of dermatophilosis infections) is an important
susceptible, biochemical component to be considered in the treatment of dermatophilosis
resistant, disease.
cattle breeds
© 2011 woaj Ltd. All rights reserved

1. INTRODUCTION
Dermetophilosis is a contagious exudative der-
matitis in a variety of domestic species which affects
animals of all ages and sexes (Barbara et al 2010). It
* Corresponding author.
email address: ajuogukelechi@yahoo.com
2011 woaj Ltd. All rights reserved
affects mainly cattles, sheep, horses and goats, but has
also been reported in other species including man
(Servet et al 2002, Zaria 1993, Shaibu et al 2007).
This infection affects the cutaneous tissues and
the bacteria penetrates into keratinized epithelium
through epithelial distortion (Barbara et al 2010).
All indigenous Zebu breeds of cattle of North-
ern Nigeria (Bunji Rahaji Wadara and Gudali) and their

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 Ajuogu et al/ New Clues in Sciences 1 (2011)
crosses and all exotic breeds are susceptible to dermato-
philosis. Ndama and Muturu cattle however are resistant
(tolerant) (Shuibu et al 2007). Their crosses are suscep-
tible, and indigenous breeds of cattle in Southern Sudan
are also reported to be resistant (Orberd 1976). Kelly et
al (1964) observed greater susceptibility among short
horns and suggest hereditary predisposition.
Cholesterol is a lipid compound that belongs to the
steroid family and occurs either or as esters of fatty ac-
ids in all animal tissues. It is an essential structural com-
ponent of all membranes and of outer layer of the
plasma lipoprotein. Jeremy (2010) reported that choles-
terol is not just mere waste product of metabolism but
serves as one of the cells protective barriers to dehydra-
tion and infection. He reported that Cholesterol is es-
sential to the proper function and structure of cell mem-
branes. In fact, cholesterol keeps membranes from fal-
ling apart. This property of cholesterol is so vital that
each cell has the capability of manufacturing cholesterol
if necessary
Daniela et al (2010) reported that cholesterol drug
simvastatin negatively impact the immune systems abil-
ity to clear infection and control inflammation in the
presence of bacteria. It also impairs the ability of spe-
cialized immune cells called macrophages to kill patho-
gens, enhances production of molecules called cytokines
which triggers and sustain inflammation. The impreg-
nation of the membrane with cholesterol is also found in
the reduction of fatty acids in the skin (skin sebum)
(Banerjee 1998).
William and Edwin (1977) reported that there are
disease in which levels of serum cholesterol are abnor-
mally elevated or reduced example Hemolytic jaundice
produces low cholesterol level, also pernicious anemia
lowers cholesterol levels.
Scanty reports abound on the role of some structural
components of lipids, like cholesterol in skin diseases
like dermatophilosis implicated in health problems.
Daniala et al (2010) who implicated simvastatin (drug
used to lower cholesterol level in humans) to expose
man to skin infection, when used to reduce cholesterol
levels,is suggestive of the fact that reduce cholesterol in
man or animal may predispose them to skin infection.
This research, therefore is aimed to establish the role of
cholesterol in dermatophilosis infection and its status in
dermatophilosis resistant and susceptible cattle.
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Twenty six (26) cattles comprising 14 susceptible
(7 infected – 4 white Fulani and 3 Sokoto Gudali ); 7
healthy (4 White Fulani and 3 Sokoto Gudali) and 12
84-87
Resistant (6 N’Dama and 6 Muturu) breeds belonging to
Federal College of Animal Health and Production Tech-
nology, National Veterinary Research Institute Vom
Plateau were used for the study.
Blood samples of these animals were collected
through their jugular vein using 18 gauge hypodermic
needle and syringes and decanted into a well labeled
sample bottle for easy identification. They were sent to
the Biochemistry laboratory for serum cholesterol analy-
sis as determined by the calorimetric method of Abell et
al (1958) using acetic acid / analydride reaction.
The mean values of serum cholesterol expressed as
mg/100ml were further subjected to statistical analysis
using T – Test of an unpaired observation and their
mean separated using LSD according to Wahua (1999).
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The results of the serum cholesterol levels of Resis-
tant and susceptible (healthy) cattle breeds and compara-
tive serum cholesterol status of infected and healthy
(susceptible) cattle are presented in the tables 1,2,3,
4 ,and 5 below.
From the results, statistical analysis of serum cho-
lesterol levels of resistant and susceptible cattle (table 1)
revealed highly significant difference (P<0.05) amongst
the groups. The resistant breeds, have significantly
higher (P<0.05) serum cholesterol than the susceptible
healthy group((tables 1,2 3 ). Also, there was signifi-
cantly higher (P<0.05) serum cholesterol levels of
healthy (susceptible) groups than the infected groups.
No significant difference (P>0.05) was noticed amongst
Resistant breeds (Muturu and N”Dama) table 3. Healthy
susceptible (Sokoto Gudali and White Fulani) and in-
fected breeds (Sokoto Gudali and White Fulani), were
not significantly different between the breeds (P>0.05)
see table 4 and 5 above.
Cholesterol is essential to the proper function and
structure of cell membranes. In fact, cholesterol keeps
membranes from falling apart (Jeremy 2010). This prop-
erty of cholesterol is so vital that each cell has the capa-
bility of manufacturing cholesterol if necessary. The
increased levels of serum cholesterol of the resistant
breeds (Table 1 and 3) may be suggestive of the fact that
the increase level of cholesterol status of these animals
may be responsible to the resistance or tolerance to der-
matophilosis infection amongst these breeds together in
association to other lipid structural components like
fatty acids, (Ajuogu and Ekine 2010), lecithin, and phos-
pholipids etc.
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Table 1: Serum cholesterol levels of resistant and susceptible (Healthy Cattle)

No. of cattle Tolerance Age (Years) Mg cholesterol/100ml

12 Resistant 3.46 + 0.96 792.25 + 24.32a

6 Susceptible 4.01+ 1.31 238.70 + 14.516b

Mean + SD in the same column with different superscript differs significantly (P<0.05)

Table 2: Serum cholesterol levels of resistant and susceptible Cattle breeds (Healthy and Infected)

No. of cattle Health status Age (Years) Mg cholesterol/100ml

6 Infected 3.84 + 0.51 176.20 + 42.46a
6 Healthy 4.14+ 1.0 238.70 + 14.39b

Mean + SD in the same column with different superscript differs significantly (P<0.05)

Table 3: Serum cholesterol levels of dermatophilosis resistant Cattle breeds

No. of cattle Breed Age (Years) Mg cholesterol/100ml

6 Muturu 3.14 + 0.69 804.00 + 13.4
6 N’dama 3.78+ 0.42 780.5 + 15.64

Mean + SD in the same column with different differs significantly (P<0.05)

Table 4: Serum cholesterol levels of healthy (susceptible) Cattle breed superscript

No. of cattle Breed Age (Years) Mg cholesterol/100ml

4 White Fulani 4.04 + 0.5 222.8 + 12.3
3 Sokoto Gudali 3.99+ 0.92 198.8 + 18.25

Mean + SD in the same column with different superscript differs significantly (P<0.05)

Table 5: Serum total cholesterol levels of different infected cattle breeds

No. Breed Age Mg cholesterol/100ml

4 White Fulani 3.28 + 0.93 176.5 + 3.82
3 Sokoto Gudali 3.41+ 0.39 184.7 + 9.23

Mean + SD in the same column with different superscript differs significantly (P<0.05)

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This was earlier explained by Daniela et al (2010)
that cholesterol improves the immune system’s ability to
clear infection and control inflammation in the presence
of bacteria. It also improves the ability of specialized
immune cells called macrophages to kill pathogens, en-
hances production of molecules called cytokines which
triggers and sustain inflammation. The observed varia-
tions between susceptible and resistant breeds’ tenden-
cies to dermatophilosis infection (table 1,2,3 and 4) may
be their natural or genetic ability as a result of increased
cholesterol and other structural lipid constituents like
fatty acid of the animals (Ajuogu and Ekine 2010).
Coleman (1967); Servet et al (2002) reported that
N’dama and Muturu’s resistivity to dermatophilosis
infection is as a result of their natural hereditary tenden-
cies.
Also, decreased levels of serum cholesterol status of
infected cattle may have predisposed them to dermato-
philosis infection. This corroborates Daniala et al 2010
who reported that decreased cholesterol in the body ex-
poses the animal and man to skin infection.
Dermetophilosis is a contagious exudative dermati-
tis in a variety of domestic species which affects animals
of all ages and sexes (Barbara et al 2010). The above
findings, will form a baseline information to animal
breeders for the production of dermatophylosis resistant
breeds.
7. Jeremy E.K. (2010) Cardiovascular efficiency Vs
Nutritional Defficiency (Cholesterol). International
foundation for health and nutrition in San Diego
858 (488-2533 http/www.drkaslow.com
8. Kelley D.C. Huston K., Imes G.D. and Weide K.D.
(1964) cutaneous streptothricosis in Canadian cattle
part (ii) Vet. Med. Small animal clinic (59) 175-178
9. Obert, H.M.A (1976) Cutaneous Streptothricosis in
Suidaries cattle. In; Dermatophilosis infection in
animal and man. Proceedings of a symposium
(1973). Ed. By D.H. Llyod and K.C Sellers pg. 44-
48 Academic press. Longlon
10. S.J. Shaibu, E.U. Janan U.B., Sharmaki, J.O. Kela-
jeiye and A.A. Makinde (2007). Cogenital dermato-
philosis in across breed Ndama/Muturu calf. Inter-
net journal of vertinery medicine Vol 3 No. 2
11. Servet S., Ozgul. M.E., Bulert E. (2002) Natural
Ovine Dermatophilosis: Clinical and efficacy of
penicillin/streptomycin treatment. Turk. J. Vet.
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of Biochemistry Pg. 102.
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old Ife Road, University of Ibadan pg. 129-213.
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tion (Dermatophilosis) in animals and man an up-
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