Natural products, deforestation, and wildlife tourism could be a potential threat due to leptospirosis outbreak in Gashaka Gumti national park, and the in vitro antileptospiral activity of Annona senegalensis, its synergistic effects with commonly prescri

Abstract

Introduction: The research on biodiversity as regards natural products, deforestation, and wildlife tourism has witnessed a tremendous growth as several scholars from different jurisdictions have directed their attention toward this subject matter. This growth shows the importance to academia in addressing the critical issues of health of biodiversity conservation. Leptospirosis is a worldwide infectious and zoonotic disease. The incidence of this disease is high in temperate regions, the plant Annona senegalensis, also known as wild custard apple and wild soursop is a member of Annonaceae family. It is a fruit tree native to Senegal and found in semi-arid to sub humid regions of Gashaka Gumti National Park, with a long history of traditional use. Numerous ethnomedicinal uses have been attributed to different parts of A. senegalensis, as well as its use as food and food additives. The aim of this study was to evaluate the natural products, deforestation, and wildlife tourism a potential threat due to Leptospirosis outbreak in Gashaka Gumti National Park and investigate the effects of plant extract found in Gashaka gumti national park plant extract on pathogenic antileptospiral properties of Annona senegalensis against pathogenic Leptospira species (spp.) and to study its synergistic effects with commonly prescribed antibiotics. Materials and Methods: The tested Leptospira serovars were Australis, Bataviae, Canicola and Javanica. Solvent extract of hexane, dichloromethane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts were used. Broth dilution methods were used to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) and the synergistic effects between the Solvent extract and the tested antibiotics. The synergistic effects was evaluated by using the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index. Morphological changes of the treated Leptospira were observed under a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Results: The ASH, ASD, ASC, ASEt, ASM and ASEtol were found to have antileptospiral properties against the tested Leptospira spp. The synergy result showed that only combination of ASM ASEt and ASEtol and penicillin G against serovar Australis has demonstrated synergistic effect with the FIC index of 0.38. Morphological study using SEM showed significant structural changes of the treated Leptospira spp. Conclusions: The result suggests that Annona senegalensis extracts could potentially be used as either a complimentary or an alternative therapeutic agent against pathogenic Leptospira spp which will help in the curtailing natural products, deforestation, and wildlife tourism threat due to Leptospirosis.