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Zoo and wildlife practitioners are constantly exposed to persistent dangers during physical restraint of wild animals. Chemical immobilization in reptiles is unpredictable due to their ectothermic nature. This study aims to determine a safe and effective anesthetic protocol for immobilization in chelonians and other reptiles. Varied doses of diazepam ketamine combinations were administered and evaluated in 16 healthy land tortoises (Testudo graeca). The tortoises were divided into four groups (4 per group) labeled DK-1 through DK-4. DK-1 had a combination of 44mg/kg of ketamine with 0.25mg/kg of diazepam. DK-2 had 22mg/kg of ketamine with 0.25mg/kg of diazepam. DK-3 had 44mg/kg of ketamine with 0.5mg/kg diazepam while DK-4 had 22mg/kg of ketamine with 0.5mg/kg of diazepam. Anesthetic effects were monitored to determine the duration required for partial extension of the head and limbs, full extension of limbs, and complete recovery from anesthesia. These visual inspection of partial recovery and full extension were adapted as surface and deep anaesthesia respectively in describing the depth of anaesthesia. All the time intervals were recorded in minutes, and summarized as mean and standard deviation. ANOVA was used to test for significance across the groups. Full extension of head and limbs was achieved within mean periods of 10, 15.5 and 13 minutes in DK-1, DK-3 and DK-4 respectively. Tortoises in DK-2, which were only sedated, demonstrated only surface depth of anaesthesia. Complete recovery occurred in mean periods of 128, 25, 158 (p < 0.05) and 132 minutes for groups DK-1, DK-2, DK-3, and DK-4 respectively. Diazepam-Ketamine anaesthetic cocktail provides a safe protocol for chemical restraint in tortoises. A higher dose of diazepam produced a longer duration of complete recovery.Keywords: Anaesthesia, Diazepam, Immobilization, Ketamine, Testudo graeca

Auwalu Abdullahi,1–3 Azmi Hassan,1 Norizhar Kadarman,2 Yakubu Muhammad Junaidu,3 Olanike Kudrat Adeyemo,4,5 Pei Lin Lua6 1Institute for Community Development and Quality of Life (i-CODE), Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Kampus Gong Badak, 2Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Kampus Kota, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia; 3Department of Animal Health and Husbandry, Audu Bako College of Agriculture Dambatta, Kano, Nigeria; 4Center for Human and Environmental Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; 5Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; 6Community Health Research Cluster, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Kampus Gong Badak, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia Purpose: This study aims to investigate the occupational hazards among the abattoir workers associated with noncompliance to the meat processing and waste disposal laws in Terengganu State, Malaysia. Occupational hazards are the major source of morbidity and mortality among the animal workers due to exposure to many hazardous situations in their daily practices. Occupational infections mostly contracted by abattoir workers could be caused by iatrogenic or transmissible agents, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites and the toxins produced by these organisms. Materials and methods: The methodology was based on a cross-sectional survey using cluster sampling technique in the four districts of Terengganu State, Malaysia. One hundred and twenty-one abattoir workers from five abattoirs were assessed using a validated structured questionnaire and an observation checklist. Results: The mean and standard deviation of occupational hazards scores of the workers were 2.32 (2.721). Physical, chemical, biological, psychosocial, musculoskeletal, and ergonomics hazards were the major findings of this study. However, the highest prevalence of occupational hazards identified among the workers was injury by sharp equipment such as a knife (20.0%), noise exposure (17.0%), and due to offensive odor within the abattoir premises (12.0%). Conclusion: The major occupational hazards encountered by the workers in the study area were physical, chemical, biological, psychosocial, musculoskeletal, and ergonomics hazards. To ensure proper control of occupational health hazards among the abattoir workers, standard design and good environmental hygiene must be taken into consideration all the time. Exposure control plan, which includes risk identification, risk characterization, assessment of workers at risk, risk control, workers' education/training, and implementation of safe work procedures, should be implemented by the government and all the existing laws governing the abattoir operation in the country should be enforced. Keywords: occupational health problem, slaughterhouse workers, noncompliance, abattoir laws, Malaysia

Fish have been valued as excellent indicators of water quality because they integrate all the stresses placed on the aquatic ecosystem. This study was conducted to investigate the level of copper in selected Freshwater (Awba Dam, Asejire and Eleyele rivers), Marine waters (Lekki Lagoon and Victoria Island Ocean) and fishes that live in these ecosystems in Nigeria. Upstream and downstream samples of water and fish were collected monthly for a period of five months. The results obtained shows that the level of copper in fresh water was non-significantly (p=0.39) higher (1.1mg/l) than that of marine water (0.8 mg/l) at 95% confidence limit. The concentration of Cu in fish was a reverse relation since marine fish accumulated a higher (5.2mg/kg) copper relative to freshwater fish (4.27mg/kg). The difference in values was also not significant (p>0.05). The Bio-concentration factors was significantly (p

Heavy metal pollution has caused several health problems in different parts of the world and aquatic ecosystems are under constant pollution threats. The constant biomonitoring and assessment of the pollution levels of our aquatic environment should be ensured. Therefore, the objectives of this study was to investigate how such pollution affects aquatic organism and human health, by establishing the existing levels of some heavy metals arsenic (As), chromium (Cr) and mercury (Hg) in selected fresh and marine aquatic environments in Western Nigeria. The bio-concentration potential of these heavy metals in fish sourced from these waters was also carried out. The results obtained indicated high levels of the heavy metals in an increasing order of Cr>As>Hg in both the freshwater and marine water bodies. As, Cr and Hg concentrations in the fish were As (0.370.11) and (0.220.079), Cr (0.490.17)) and (0.15+0.06) , Hg (0.0830.043) and (0.0820.035) in fresh and marine waters respectively. Virtually all the figures were considerably higher than the Maximum permissible limit (MPL) stipulated by some international and national regulatory agencies. It was concluded that the studied aquatic environments had significantly high level of As, Cr and Hg, in other words, consumption of fish sourced from these water bodies could therefore pose public health risks since these metals could pass to humans through the food chain. Trop. Vet. Vol. 29 (4) 10-20 (2011)

Research has demonstrated a positive link between the presence of lead in freshwater, sediments or food organisms and the onset of sub-lethal effects characterized by neurological defects, kidney dysfunction, endocrine disruption, reproductive/developmental defects, behavioural abnormalities and anemia in demersal aquatic fauna. Considering the significance of haematological parameters as indicators of fish health, this present work assessed the blood lead level (BLL) and haematological parameters of feral and cultured African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) in Ibadan, a metropolitan city. BLL and haematological parameters of fifty Clarias gariepinus were determined. Each set of ten fish were randomly collected from three different fish ponds and two rivers. BLL was relatively higher in feral fishes than those from fish ponds; while all the haematological parameters (PCV, HB, RBC, MCH, MCV and MCHC) were non-significantly (p

The effect of different acclimation temperatures on physiological parameters of Clarias gariepinus over a period of eight weeks was assessed. Thirty-two fishes weighing approximately 400.0+5.0g were divided into four groups (A-D) of eight fish each, based on the water temperature to which they were subjected: Group A (29+1oC) was the control while groups B (23+1oC), C (35+1oC) and D (41+1oC)were the test groups. Haematological and biochemical parameters wereconsidered after eight weeks. The result showed that there was no significant difference (at p

Lead levels in rivers, their surface sediments, and in fish ponds in Ibadan, Nigeria, were assessed in the 2003–2004 dry and wet seasons. It was planned to reduce lead levels in petrol, regarded as the major source of lead in the Nigerian environment, to 0.15g l–1 by the end of 2002 and to zero by 2004, while 2005 was to be the phase-out year for lead additives in petrol throughout the sub-Saharan region. The WHO-recommended limit for lead levels in surface water is 0.01mg l–1. Despite the now-reduced lead content in petrol, lead levels in surface waters ranged between 0.5–2.35mg l–1 (mean 0.76mg l–1) and 1.15–2.20mg l–1 (mean 1.34mg l–1) during the dry and rainy seasons, respectively. Lead levels in river sediments ranged between 0.9–4mg kg–1 (mean 1.86mg kg–1) and 1.15–2.2mg kg–1 (mean 1.49mg kg–1) during the dry and rainy seasons, respectively. Lead levels in fish ponds were even higher, at 1.09–2.9mg l–1 (mean 1.88mg l–1). The present situation therefore indicates severe lead contamination of aquatic systems in Ibadan City, which portends a serious public health risk to humans. A detailed assessment of other sources of lead pollution in the Nigerian environment — besides vehicle emissions — is required if lead pollution is to be reduced effectively.African Journal of Aquatic Science 2007, 32(2): 153–157

Adult Clarias gariepinus of mean weight and mean standard length of 450 ± 50gm and 34 ± 5 cm respectively were allotted to aquaria at 10 fish per group (A-D) in replicates, based on the dose of cassava wastewater (CWW) to be administered (2, 5, 10 and 15 mls) respectively. Group E served as the control. The different doses were administered to the various groups for three consecutive days. After 96 hours, no mortality was observed in the control (Group E) and the group (Group A) injected with 2mls of cassava wastewater (CWW), 20% mortality was observed in the group that were injected with 5mls (Group B) and 50% mortality was observed in the 10mls group (C). None survived (100%mortality) in the group that was injected with 15mls CWW. Haematological changes in groups A, B and C includes: Anaemia marked by significantly low (at p< 0.05) PCV, Hb and RBC (in B and C alone). MCV values were significantly low in all the experimental groups relative to the control; MCH value was significantly low in Group A, while MCHC was significantly low (p< 0.05) in groups B and C. The total white blood cell (WBC) count was significantly higher (p< 0.05) than the control in all the experimental groups. Histopathological lesions were marked in the fish injected with the higher dose (10ml), the fish revealed severe necrosis, hypertrophy and vacuolation of hepatocytes. Other observation during the experiment includes reduced activities (swimming), haemorrahagic patches on the ventral surface of the fish, general discoloration and anoxia. Keywords: Cassava Mill Effluent, histopathology, hematological parameters, Clarias gariepinus African Journal of Biomedical Research Vol. 8(3) 2005: 179-183

A total of eighty (80) juvenile Oreochromis niloticus were used for the feeding trial, which was conducted over an eight week period. A replicated treatment of ten fish per group were fed three species of aquatic weed, namely Azolla filiculoides (water fern), Elodea sp. (pond weed), Pistia stratiotes (water lettuce) and the control (fed compounded diet) to determine the part of the weeds, which will be selectively consumed. The selectivity was assessed and based on the rate of consumption of the weeds for food and the parts of the plants utilized and the crude protein level of the fish after the experiment. The growth rate of the different treatment groups was also monitored. Azolla filiculoides was the most consumed, the entire plant was utilized followed by Elodea sp., although only the leaves were utilized and Pistia stratiotes was the least consumed and the fishes utilized only the roots. The growth response of the fish to the diets was found to be highest for fish (control) fed compounded ration followed by Azolla filiculoides and Elodea sp. while Pistia stratiotes produced negative growth trend. Proximate analysis of the fish carcass for crude protein after the experiment, show a significant (P Azolla >Elodea>pistia. This study shows that Azolla filiculoides and Elodea sp are viable feedstuff for Oreochromis niloticus, especially when used in conjunction with other feedstuff. An investigation into means of presenting it in an aesthetically acceptable manner is hereby recommended. KEY WORDS: Selectivity, Azolla filiculoides, Pistia stratiotes, Elodea sp., Oreochromis niloticus. Aquatic weeds. African Journal of Livestock Extension Vol.3 2004: 8-12

The acute toxicity of Chlorpyrifos (DURSBANâ), an organophosphate insecticide to Clarias gariepinus juveniles was evaluated in the laboratory, using a 96-hour static-renewal toxicity test method. The 96-hour LC50 for the fish was found to be 3.16 X 10-7%, with 95% confidence limit of 1.26 X 10-4%. Symptoms of toxicosis observed include hyper-ventilation, irregular and erratic movements with jerks, burst swimming, loss of balance, air gulping, excessive mucus production, opercular haemorrhage, tonic convulsion was observed before death finally occurred. Heavy usage of agricultural insecticides produces detrimental effects on the fishery resources and aquatic environment. To minimize the problem of pollution brought by these chemicals, the use of selected low toxicity pesticides should be encouraged. Key Words: Clarias gariepinus, chlorpyrifos, Dursbanâ, acute toxicity. Trop. Vet. Vol.22: (1) 7-11 (2004)