Safety and Microbiology

The development of new methods of identification of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) is a subject of paramount importance for research centers, the pharmaceutical industry, and law enforcement agencies. Here, a system for identifying and classifying pharmaceutical tablets containing acetaminophen (AAP) by brand has been developed. In total, 15 tablets of 11 brands for a total of 165 samples were analyzed. Mid-infrared vibrational spectroscopy with multivariate analysis was employed. Quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) were used as mid-infrared sources. IR spectra in the spectral range 980-1600 cm -1 were recorded. Five different classification methods were used. First, a spectral search through correlation indices. Second, machine learning algorithms such as principal component analysis (PCA), support vector classification (SVC), decision tree classifier (DTC), and artificial neural network (ANN) were employed to classify tablets by brands. SNV and first derivative were used as preprocessing to improve the spectral information. Precision, recall, specificity, F1-score, and accuracy were used as criteria to evaluate the best SVC, DEE, and ANN classification models obtained. The IR spectra of the tablets show characteristic vibrational signals of AAP and other APIs present. Spectral classification by spectral search and PCA showed limitations in differentiating between brands, particularly for tablets containing AAP as the only API. Machine learning models, specifically SVC, achieved high accuracy in classifying AAP tablets according to their brand, even for brands containing only AAP.

The development of new methods of identification of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) is a subject of paramount importance for research centers, the pharmaceutical industry, and law enforcement agencies. Here, a system for identifying and classifying pharmaceutical tablets containing acetaminophen (AAP) by brand has been developed. In total, 15 tablets of 11 brands for a total of 165 samples were analyzed. Mid-infrared vibrational spectroscopy with multivariate analysis was employed. Quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) were used as mid-infrared sources. IR spectra in the spectral range 980-1600 cm −1 were recorded. Five different classification methods were used. First, a spectral search through correlation indices. Second, machine learning algorithms such as principal component analysis (PCA), support vector classification (SVC), decision tree classifier (DTC), and artificial neural network (ANN) were employed to classify tablets by brands. SNV and first derivative were used as preprocessing to improve the spectral information. Precision, recall, specificity, F1-score, and accuracy were used as criteria to evaluate the best SVC, DEE, and ANN classification models obtained. The IR spectra of the tablets show characteristic vibrational signals of AAP and other APIs present. Spectral classification by spectral search and PCA showed limitations in differentiating between brands, particularly for tablets containing AAP as the only API. Machine learning models, specifically SVC, achieved high accuracy in classifying AAP tablets according to their brand, even for brands containing only AAP.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of substandard products, a quality study based on the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) standards was conducted on the veterinary medicinal product ivermectin. Methods: From September 2020 to January 2021, a cross-sectional quality analysis was carried out on 19 samples of pharmaceutical products. These samples were obtained from all veterinary retail outlets in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The analysis included organoleptic assessment for packaging-related information and physical appearance, as well as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)based physicochemical analysis for identity, assay, packaging uniformity, and HLB ratio. The procedures followed were in accordance with the USP recommendations. The quality analysis took place at the national veterinary drug quality test center. Results: The quality analysis has revealed the presence of substandard products for uniformity of packaging (15.8%), API assay (15.8%), and filling to a volume (16.67%). However, both sampled products demonstrated the expected API, recommended physical appearance, and consistent packaging information. The prevalence ratio values for all H1B1a/(H1B1a+H1B1b) chemical species were greater than 0.95. Conclusion: The findings from this study clearly indicate the alarming presence of substandard veterinary pharmaceutical products. This highlights the need for strengthening the regulatory surveillance system.

A cross-sectional study aimed to assess major GI nematode, parasite burden and associated risk factors as well as the current practices of anthelmintics utilization was conducted from September 2015 to August 2016 in selected districts of east and western Hararghe zones. In the study faecal samples were collected from randomly selected 768 ruminants' (cattle, sheep and goats) and coprological examinations and EPG techniques were employed. The study result indicated occurrence of GI nematode has statistically differences (p<0.05) in all considered risk factors: age, sex, species, body condition and origin of animals and overall prevalence was 51.3% (394/7680). The infection rate was higher in ovine (63.33%) species than in bovine (36.84%) and caprine (52.67%). The current study also revealed the major GI nematodes at the study areas were Strongyle type (16.15%), Haemonchus (13.67%), Oesophagostomum (11.07%), Strongyloides (3.91%) and Trichuris (1.05%), whereas 5.47% (42/768) was recorded as mixed nematode infection. Questionnaire survey in this study indicated majority of the respondents had poor to no information on economic importance GI nematode (71.67%) and anthelmintic drugs utilization (83.61%). Albendazole, Tetramisole and Ivermectin are the commonly available anthelmintics for GI nematode infection treatment at our study area. On the other hand, about 35.83% of animal owners had free access to drugs from general shop (nonprofessional traders) and 24.17% (87/360) had used traditional medicinal plants of unknown doses. The study revealed that high prevalence of nematode infection in ruminates and majority of the people in the study area lack awareness on economic importance of GI nematode though they had free access to anthelmintics with no understanding of drug resistance. Therefore, there should be detail awareness creation and the need of further investigation to develop control and prevention strategies.

This study was conducted to evaluate the quality of different brands of injectable oxytetracycline solutions circulating in the legal markets  of Addis Ababa with respect to physicochemical characteristics and sterility. Nine brands of oxytetracycline with thirteen different batches were randomly purchased from veterinary drug stores in the city. The physical assessment was performed by using a checklist that was  prepared based on the World Health Organization guidelines. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) was performed by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography. The sterility test was assessed by using the direct  inoculation method. All samples passed the identity, the assay, and the sterility tests. However, there were statistically significant  differences (P&lt;0.05) among brands in the quantity of API. The highest percentage of the API was recorded in brand G (112.12%± 1.86) while the lowest was seen in brand H (92.61%± 1.5). T...

Background: Parasitic diseases are the main challenge of livestock production in the world. They are mainly controlled by the use of anthelmintic drugs. To be effective, the drugs should contain the appropriate amount of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and have the required physical characteristics. In this study, qualitative and quantitative assessments were performed to evaluate the quality of different brands of albendazole tablets legally circulating in pharmaceutical markets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (UVS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) were used for identification. Quantitative analysis was performed by HPLC. United States Pharmacopeia standard was used as a control to evaluate the identity and content of the API in the samples. A total of 10 batches of albendazole tablets from six different brands were collected and evaluated. Results: All brands of albendazole tablets, except one, had acceptable physical characteristics. There was gross contamination in one batch, weight variation in 4 (40%) batches, and absence of package insert in 2 (20%) batches. All three methods of evaluation (UVS, FTIR and HPLC) confirmed that all batches passed the identity test. Quantitative analysis showed that no batch had API above the acceptable limit. However, 30% of batches from three different brands contained lower amount of API per tablet than the acceptable limit. Conclusions: All batches of albendazole circulating in the market in Addis Ababa did not fulfil either physical or chemical quality standards. The most important finding of this research was the presence of drugs with lower level of API than the acceptable limit. This can lead to treatment failure and favour the emergence of parasites that are resistant to drugs. Therefore, there should be a thorough evaluation of drugs before approval. The study also revealed the importance of occasional assessment of drugs circulating even in the legal market.

Background: Parasitic diseases are the main challenge of livestock production in the world. They are mainly controlled by the use of anthelmintic drugs. To be effective, the drugs should contain the appropriate amount of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and have the required physical characteristics. In this study, qualitative and quantitative assessments were performed to evaluate the quality of different brands of albendazole tablets legally circulating in pharmaceutical markets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (UVS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) were used for identification. Quantitative analysis was performed by HPLC. United States Pharmacopeia standard was used as a control to evaluate the identity and content of the API in the samples. A total of 10 batches of albendazole tablets from six different brands were collected and evaluated. Results: All brands of albendazole tablets, except one, had acceptable physical characteristics. There was gross contamination in one batch, weight variation in 4 (40%) batches, and absence of package insert in 2 (20%) batches. All three methods of evaluation (UVS, FTIR and HPLC) confirmed that all batches passed the identity test. Quantitative analysis showed that no batch had API above the acceptable limit. However, 30% of batches from three different brands contained lower amount of API per tablet than the acceptable limit. Conclusions: All batches of albendazole circulating in the market in Addis Ababa did not fulfil either physical or chemical quality standards. The most important finding of this research was the presence of drugs with lower level of API than the acceptable limit. This can lead to treatment failure and favour the emergence of parasites that are resistant to drugs. Therefore, there should be a thorough evaluation of drugs before approval. The study also revealed the importance of occasional assessment of drugs circulating even in the legal market.

Brucellosis and toxoplasmosis are considered neglected zoonotic diseases with a worldwide distribution, which are endemic in Afghanistan. A cross-sectional study was carried out from May 24, 2021, to Feb 20, 2022 to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with human brucellosis and toxoplasmosis in suspected patients admitted to the public and private laboratories of Ghazni province of Afghanistan. To detect Brucella IgM. a semi-quantitative agglutination test was used, while for the detection of Toxoplasma IgM and IgG, a chromatographic immunoassay was applied. Seroprevalence of brucellosis and toxoplasmosis were 32.1% (76/237) and 19.6% (18/92) in tested patients, respectively. Whereas, only in five cases dual infections were found. The majority of brucellosis positive cases were among the age group &gt;45 years old (57.1%; p&lt;0.05), in district residents (43.5%; p&gt;0.05), and among those with abortion (30.6%; p&lt;0.05) and history of positive brucellosis cas...

Brucellosis and toxoplasmosis are considered neglected zoonotic diseases with a worldwide distribution, which are endemic in Afghanistan. A cross-sectional study was carried out from May 24, 2021, to Feb 20, 2022 to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with human brucellosis and toxoplasmosis in suspected patients admitted to the public and private laboratories of Ghazni province of Afghanistan. To detect Brucella IgM. a semi-quantitative agglutination test was used, while for the detection of Toxoplasma IgM and IgG, a chromatographic immunoassay was applied. Seroprevalence of brucellosis and toxoplasmosis were 32.1% (76/237) and 19.6% (18/92) in tested patients, respectively. Whereas, only in five cases dual infections were found. The majority of brucellosis positive cases were among the age group &gt;45 years old (57.1%; p&lt;0.05), in district residents (43.5%; p&gt;0.05), and among those with abortion (30.6%; p&lt;0.05) and history of positive brucellosis cas...

Although ascites is widely reported in dogs, those of cirrhotic ascites are scanty, especially in Abuja, Nigeria, hence the need for this report on cirrhotic ascites in a 2-year-old Caucasian dog. The reported complaints of anorexia, weakness, and distended abdomen before the presentation for proper veterinary attention led to a tentative diagnosis of suspected liver-induced ascites. The dog later died while receiving treatment necessitating the performance of a post-mortem examination on the severely emaciated carcass, which had pale mucous membranes, distended abdomen, and slightly oedematous distal limbs. Grossly, the lungs had multiple areas of congestion with visible hydrothorax and hydroperitoneum while the liver was shrunken, firm, nodular, misshapen, and haemorrhagic. Pulmonary congestion and oedema characterized the lung microscopically. The liver showed hepatic haemorrhage, cytoplasmic vacuolation, and necrosis with mononuclear cellular infiltration, fibrous connective tis...

Background: Parasitic diseases are the main challenge of livestock production in the world. They are mainly controlled by the use of anthelmintic drugs. To be effective, the drugs should contain the appropriate amount of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and have the required physical characteristics. In this study, qualitative and quantitative assessments were performed to evaluate the quality of different brands of albendazole tablets legally circulating in pharmaceutical markets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (UVS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) were used for identification. Quantitative analysis was performed by HPLC. United States Pharmacopeia standard was used as a control to evaluate the identity and content of the API in the samples. A total of 10 batches of albendazole tablets from six different brands were collected and evaluated. Results: All brands of albendazole tablets, except one, had acceptable physical characteristics. There was gross contamination in one batch, weight variation in 4 (40%) batches, and absence of package insert in 2 (20%) batches. All three methods of evaluation (UVS, FTIR and HPLC) confirmed that all batches passed the identity test. Quantitative analysis showed that no batch had API above the acceptable limit. However, 30% of batches from three different brands contained lower amount of API per tablet than the acceptable limit. Conclusions: All batches of albendazole circulating in the market in Addis Ababa did not fulfil either physical or chemical quality standards. The most important finding of this research was the presence of drugs with lower level of API than the acceptable limit. This can lead to treatment failure and favour the emergence of parasites that are resistant to drugs. Therefore, there should be a thorough evaluation of drugs before approval. The study also revealed the importance of occasional assessment of drugs circulating even in the legal market.

Background: Parasitic diseases are the main challenge of livestock production in the world. They are mainly controlled by the use of anthelmintic drugs. To be effective, the drugs should contain the appropriate amount of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and have the required physical characteristics. In this study, qualitative and quantitative assessments were performed to evaluate the quality of different brands of albendazole tablets legally circulating in pharmaceutical markets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (UVS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) were used for identification. Quantitative analysis was performed by HPLC. United States Pharmacopeia standard was used as a control to evaluate the identity and content of the API in the samples. A total of 10 batches of albendazole tablets from six different brands were collected and evaluated. Results: All brands of albendazole tablets, except one, had acceptable physical characteristics. There was gross contamination in one batch, weight variation in 4 (40%) batches, and absence of package insert in 2 (20%) batches. All three methods of evaluation (UVS, FTIR and HPLC) confirmed that all batches passed the identity test. Quantitative analysis showed that no batch had API above the acceptable limit. However, 30% of batches from three different brands contained lower amount of API per tablet than the acceptable limit. Conclusions: All batches of albendazole circulating in the market in Addis Ababa did not fulfil either physical or chemical quality standards. The most important finding of this research was the presence of drugs with lower level of API than the acceptable limit. This can lead to treatment failure and favour the emergence of parasites that are resistant to drugs. Therefore, there should be a thorough evaluation of drugs before approval. The study also revealed the importance of occasional assessment of drugs circulating even in the legal market.

Introduction Quality of medicines in both developed and developing countries is sometimes compromised due to infiltration of counterfeit, substandard or degraded medicines into the markets. It is a public health concern as poor quality medicines endanger public health where patients are exposed to chemical toxins and/or sub-therapeutic doses. This could lead to reduced treatment efficacy and promote development of drug resistance. Co-trimoxazole, a fixed dose combination of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim, is a broad spectrum for bacterial diseases and is also used as a prophylaxis for opportunistic infections in HIV infected individuals. This study evaluated quality of selected co-trimoxazole suspension brands marketed in Nairobi County, Kenya. Methods A total of 106 samples were collected, categorized into 15 brands and evaluated for active pharmaceutical ingredient content (API) and pH following United States Pharmacopeia. Assay for API was conducted using High Performance Liqu...

Background: Parasitic diseases are the main challenge of livestock production in the world. They are mainly controlled by the use of anthelmintic drugs. To be effective, the drugs should contain the appropriate amount of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and have the required physical characteristics. In this study, qualitative and quantitative assessments were performed to evaluate the quality of different brands of albendazole tablets legally circulating in pharmaceutical markets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (UVS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) were used for identification. Quantitative analysis was performed by HPLC. United States Pharmacopeia standard was used as a control to evaluate the identity and content of the API in the samples. A total of 10 batches of albendazole tablets from six different brands were collected and evaluated. Results: All brands of albendazole tablets, except one, had acceptable physical characteristics. There was gross contamination in one batch, weight variation in 4 (40%) batches, and absence of package insert in 2 (20%) batches. All three methods of evaluation (UVS, FTIR and HPLC) confirmed that all batches passed the identity test. Quantitative analysis showed that no batch had API above the acceptable limit. However, 30% of batches from three different brands contained lower amount of API per tablet than the acceptable limit. Conclusions: All batches of albendazole circulating in the market in Addis Ababa did not fulfil either physical or chemical quality standards. The most important finding of this research was the presence of drugs with lower level of API than the acceptable limit. This can lead to treatment failure and favour the emergence of parasites that are resistant to drugs. Therefore, there should be a thorough evaluation of drugs before approval. The study also revealed the importance of occasional assessment of drugs circulating even in the legal market.

A cross-sectional study aimed to assess major GI nematode, parasite burden and associated risk factors as well as the current practices of anthelmintics utilization was conducted from September 2015 to August 2016 in selected districts of east and western Hararghe zones. In the study faecal samples were collected from randomly selected 768 ruminants' (cattle, sheep and goats) and coprological examinations and EPG techniques were employed. The study result indicated occurrence of GI nematode has statistically differences (p<0.05) in all considered risk factors: age, sex, species, body condition and origin of animals and overall prevalence was 51.3% (394/7680). The infection rate was higher in ovine (63.33%) species than in bovine (36.84%) and caprine (52.67%). The current study also revealed the major GI nematodes at the study areas were Strongyle type (16.15%), Haemonchus (13.67%), Oesophagostomum (11.07%), Strongyloides (3.91%) and Trichuris (1.05%), whereas 5.47% (42/768) was recorded as mixed nematode infection. Questionnaire survey in this study indicated majority of the respondents had poor to no information on economic importance GI nematode (71.67%) and anthelmintic drugs utilization (83.61%). Albendazole, Tetramisole and Ivermectin are the commonly available anthelmintics for GI nematode infection treatment at our study area. On the other hand, about 35.83% of animal owners had free access to drugs from general shop (nonprofessional traders) and 24.17% (87/360) had used traditional medicinal plants of unknown doses. The study revealed that high prevalence of nematode infection in ruminates and majority of the people in the study area lack awareness on economic importance of GI nematode though they had free access to anthelmintics with no understanding of drug resistance. Therefore, there should be detail awareness creation and the need of further investigation to develop control and prevention strategies.

This cross-sectional study was conducted with the objectives of determining the loads and types of spore-former bacteria from the genus Bacillus in cow's milk. One hundred samples of raw milk were randomly obtained from 20 dairy farms in Hillat Kuku and El seelait complexes in Khartoum North. Fifty samples from 10 dairy farms from each location were included (3 individual cows and 2 bulk milk). All collected milk samples were examined for enumeration of the spore forming bacteria and isolation and identification of Bacillus species. This study revealed that 45% of the examined milk samples showed prevalence of spore-forming bacteria. Moreover, the higher count was found in the bulk milk (5.2×10 3 cfu /ml) compared to the individual milk samples (3×10 3 cfu /ml). The 45 isolates found are belong to Bacillus spp. included B. cereus (15.5%), B. pantothenticus (8.8%), B. licheniformis (13.3%), B. mycoides (11.1%), B. coagulans (37.7%), B. megaterium (4.4%) and B. subtilis (8.8%). The rate of isolation for B. cereus were 24% and 10%, B. pantothenticus 8% and 8%, B. licheniformis 5% and 20%, B. mycoides 8% and 12%, B. coagulans 24% and 55%, B. megaterium 4% and 4%, and B. subtilis 4% and 13% from an individual and bulk samples, respectively. In conclusion, this study showed that almost half of milk samples produced in the dairy farms in the studied areas were harbouring a lot of Bacillus species with high load and occurrence in the bulk milk suggesting that extra sources of contamination might arise during storage. Hence the study suggested the need for improved hygienic practices at the farms level. Moreover, for quality assurance, regular control programs have to be applied for quality production and consumption of milk and its products in Sudan.

In this study the aim is to investigate aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) contamination levels in fluid milks offered for sale in Khartoum State, Sudan. Different milk samples were analyzed by aflasensor kits, using screening method; about 25 samples from raw and 62 samples of processed milk from 3 factories; 40 UHT, 12 flavored UHT and 10 pasteurized milk. The results showed that 85.06% of milk samples were contamination with aflatoxin M1 at higher levels than those set by European Commission and Codex Alimentarius. High prevalence (88.7%) of aflatoxin M1 was detected in flavored, pasteurized and UHT revealed 100%, 100% and 82%, respectively and the raw milk showed 92%. In conclusion this study suggested that the presence of high contamination of AFM1 in the samples of fluid milk products could constituted possible risk hazards for human health. Therefore, imposing regulatory limits is needed for Sudan.

A cross-sectional study aimed to assess major GI nematode, parasite burden and associated risk factors as well as the current practices of anthelmintics utilization was conducted from September 2015 to August 2016 in selected districts of east and western Hararghe zones. In the study faecal samples were collected from randomly selected 768 ruminants' (cattle, sheep and goats) and coprological examinations and EPG techniques were employed. The study result indicated occurrence of GI nematode has statistically differences (p<0.05) in all considered risk factors: age, sex, species, body condition and origin of animals and overall prevalence was 51.3% (394/7680). The infection rate was higher in ovine (63.33%) species than in bovine (36.84%) and caprine (52.67%). The current study also revealed the major GI nematodes at the study areas were Strongyle type (16.15%), Haemonchus (13.67%), Oesophagostomum (11.07%), Strongyloides (3.91%) and Trichuris (1.05%), whereas 5.47% (42/768) was recorded as mixed nematode infection. Questionnaire survey in this study indicated majority of the respondents had poor to no information on economic importance GI nematode (71.67%) and anthelmintic drugs utilization (83.61%). Albendazole, Tetramisole and Ivermectin are the commonly available anthelmintics for GI nematode infection treatment at our study area. On the other hand, about 35.83% of animal owners had free access to drugs from general shop (nonprofessional traders) and 24.17% (87/360) had used traditional medicinal plants of unknown doses. The study revealed that high prevalence of nematode infection in ruminates and majority of the people in the study area lack awareness on economic importance of GI nematode though they had free access to anthelmintics with no understanding of drug resistance. Therefore, there should be detail awareness creation and the need of further investigation to develop control and prevention strategies.

This study was conducted to evaluate the quality of different brands of injectable oxytetracycline solutions circulating in the legal markets  of Addis Ababa with respect to physicochemical characteristics and sterility. Nine brands of oxytetracycline with thirteen different batches were randomly purchased from veterinary drug stores in the city. The physical assessment was performed by using a checklist that was  prepared based on the World Health Organization guidelines. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) was performed by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography. The sterility test was assessed by using the direct  inoculation method. All samples passed the identity, the assay, and the sterility tests. However, there were statistically significant  differences (P&lt;0.05) among brands in the quantity of API. The highest percentage of the API was recorded in brand G (112.12%± 1.86) while the lowest was seen in brand H (92.61%± 1.5). T...

Background: Parasitic diseases are the main challenge of livestock production in the world. They are mainly controlled by the use of anthelmintic drugs. To be effective, the drugs should contain the appropriate amount of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and have the required physical characteristics. In this study, qualitative and quantitative assessments were performed to evaluate the quality of different brands of albendazole tablets legally circulating in pharmaceutical markets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (UVS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) were used for identification. Quantitative analysis was performed by HPLC. United States Pharmacopeia standard was used as a control to evaluate the identity and content of the API in the samples. A total of 10 batches of albendazole tablets from six different brands were collected and evaluated. Results: All brands of albendazole tablets, except one, had acceptable physical characteristics. There was gross contamination in one batch, weight variation in 4 (40%) batches, and absence of package insert in 2 (20%) batches. All three methods of evaluation (UVS, FTIR and HPLC) confirmed that all batches passed the identity test. Quantitative analysis showed that no batch had API above the acceptable limit. However, 30% of batches from three different brands contained lower amount of API per tablet than the acceptable limit. Conclusions: All batches of albendazole circulating in the market in Addis Ababa did not fulfil either physical or chemical quality standards. The most important finding of this research was the presence of drugs with lower level of API than the acceptable limit. This can lead to treatment failure and favour the emergence of parasites that are resistant to drugs. Therefore, there should be a thorough evaluation of drugs before approval. The study also revealed the importance of occasional assessment of drugs circulating even in the legal market.

Background: Parasitic diseases are the main challenge of livestock production in the world. They are mainly controlled by the use of anthelmintic drugs. To be effective, the drugs should contain the appropriate amount of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and have the required physical characteristics. In this study, qualitative and quantitative assessments were performed to evaluate the quality of different brands of albendazole tablets legally circulating in pharmaceutical markets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (UVS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) were used for identification. Quantitative analysis was performed by HPLC. United States Pharmacopeia standard was used as a control to evaluate the identity and content of the API in the samples. A total of 10 batches of albendazole tablets from six different brands were collected and evaluated. Results: All brands of albendazole tablets, except one, had acceptable physical characteristics. There was gross contamination in one batch, weight variation in 4 (40%) batches, and absence of package insert in 2 (20%) batches. All three methods of evaluation (UVS, FTIR and HPLC) confirmed that all batches passed the identity test. Quantitative analysis showed that no batch had API above the acceptable limit. However, 30% of batches from three different brands contained lower amount of API per tablet than the acceptable limit. Conclusions: All batches of albendazole circulating in the market in Addis Ababa did not fulfil either physical or chemical quality standards. The most important finding of this research was the presence of drugs with lower level of API than the acceptable limit. This can lead to treatment failure and favour the emergence of parasites that are resistant to drugs. Therefore, there should be a thorough evaluation of drugs before approval. The study also revealed the importance of occasional assessment of drugs circulating even in the legal market.

This study was conducted to evaluate the quality of different brands of injectable oxytetracycline solutions circulating in the legal markets of Addis Ababa with respect to physicochemical characteristics and sterility. Nine brands of oxytetracycline with thirteen different batches were randomly purchased from veterinary drug stores in the city. The physical assessment was performed by using a checklist that was prepared based on the World Health Organization guidelines. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) was performed by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography. The sterility test was assessed by using the direct inoculation method. All samples passed the identity, the assay, and the sterility tests. However, there were statistically significant differences (P<0.05) among brands in the quantity of API. The highest percentage of the API was recorded in brand G (112.12%± 1.86) while the lowest was seen in brand H (92.61%± 1.5). This study revealed that all brands passed both physicochemical and sterility tests except for the differences in the API level among brands. Strict regulation, monitoring, and wider-scale surveillance are required to assure sustainable control of substandard, unsterile, and falsified pharmaceutical products in the country.

Background: Parasitic diseases are the main challenge of livestock production in the world. They are mainly controlled by the use of anthelmintic drugs. To be effective, the drugs should contain the appropriate amount of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and have the required physical characteristics. In this study, qualitative and quantitative assessments were performed to evaluate the quality of different brands of albendazole tablets legally circulating in pharmaceutical markets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (UVS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) were used for identification. Quantitative analysis was performed by HPLC. United States Pharmacopeia standard was used as a control to evaluate the identity and content of the API in the samples. A total of 10 batches of albendazole tablets from six different brands were collected and evaluated. Results: All brands of albendazole tablets, except one, had acceptable physical characteristics. There was gross contamination in one batch, weight variation in 4 (40%) batches, and absence of package insert in 2 (20%) batches. All three methods of evaluation (UVS, FTIR and HPLC) confirmed that all batches passed the identity test. Quantitative analysis showed that no batch had API above the acceptable limit. However, 30% of batches from three different brands contained lower amount of API per tablet than the acceptable limit. Conclusions: All batches of albendazole circulating in the market in Addis Ababa did not fulfil either physical or chemical quality standards. The most important finding of this research was the presence of drugs with lower level of API than the acceptable limit. This can lead to treatment failure and favour the emergence of parasites that are resistant to drugs. Therefore, there should be a thorough evaluation of drugs before approval. The study also revealed the importance of occasional assessment of drugs circulating even in the legal market.

Background: Parasitic diseases are the main challenge of livestock production in the world. They are mainly controlled by the use of anthelmintic drugs. To be effective, the drugs should contain the appropriate amount of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and have the required physical characteristics. In this study, qualitative and quantitative assessments were performed to evaluate the quality of different brands of albendazole tablets legally circulating in pharmaceutical markets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (UVS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) were used for identification. Quantitative analysis was performed by HPLC. United States Pharmacopeia standard was used as a control to evaluate the identity and content of the API in the samples. A total of 10 batches of albendazole tablets from six different brands were collected and evaluated. Results: All brands of albendazole tablets, except one, had acceptable physical characteristics. There was gross contamination in one batch, weight variation in 4 (40%) batches, and absence of package insert in 2 (20%) batches. All three methods of evaluation (UVS, FTIR and HPLC) confirmed that all batches passed the identity test. Quantitative analysis showed that no batch had API above the acceptable limit. However, 30% of batches from three different brands contained lower amount of API per tablet than the acceptable limit. Conclusions: All batches of albendazole circulating in the market in Addis Ababa did not fulfil either physical or chemical quality standards. The most important finding of this research was the presence of drugs with lower level of API than the acceptable limit. This can lead to treatment failure and favour the emergence of parasites that are resistant to drugs. Therefore, there should be a thorough evaluation of drugs before approval. The study also revealed the importance of occasional assessment of drugs circulating even in the legal market.

Background: Parasitic diseases are the main challenge of livestock production in the world. They are mainly controlled by the use of anthelmintic drugs. To be effective, the drugs should contain the appropriate amount of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and have the required physical characteristics. In this study, qualitative and quantitative assessments were performed to evaluate the quality of different brands of albendazole tablets legally circulating in pharmaceutical markets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (UVS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) were used for identification. Quantitative analysis was performed by HPLC. United States Pharmacopeia standard was used as a control to evaluate the identity and content of the API in the samples. A total of 10 batches of albendazole tablets from six different brands were collected and evaluated.

A cross-sectional study aimed to assess major GI nematode, parasite burden and associated risk factors as well as the current practices of anthelmintics utilization was conducted from September 2015 to August 2016 in selected districts of east and western Hararghe zones. In the study faecal samples were collected from randomly selected 768 ruminants' (cattle, sheep and goats) and coprological examinations and EPG techniques were employed. The study result indicated occurrence of GI nematode has statistically differences (p<0.05) in all considered risk factors: age, sex, species, body condition and origin of animals and overall prevalence was 51.3% (394/7680). The infection rate was higher in ovine (63.33%) species than in bovine (36.84%) and caprine (52.67%). The current study also revealed the major GI nematodes at the study areas were Strongyle type (16.15%), Haemonchus (13.67%), Oesophagostomum (11.07%), Strongyloides (3.91%) and Trichuris (1.05%), whereas 5.47% (42/768) was recorded as mixed nematode infection. Questionnaire survey in this study indicated majority of the respondents had poor to no information on economic importance GI nematode (71.67%) and anthelmintic drugs utilization (83.61%). Albendazole, Tetramisole and Ivermectin are the commonly available anthelmintics for GI nematode infection treatment at our study area. On the other hand, about 35.83% of animal owners had free access to drugs from general shop (nonprofessional traders) and 24.17% (87/360) had used traditional medicinal plants of unknown doses. The study revealed that high prevalence of nematode infection in ruminates and majority of the people in the study area lack awareness on economic importance of GI nematode though they had free access to anthelmintics with no understanding of drug resistance. Therefore, there should be detail awareness creation and the need of further investigation to develop control and prevention strategies.