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Nigeria, like many other developing countries is actively promoting agricultural and food production to confront the challenge of providing adequate food supply. The Nigerian national food hygiene and safety policy was enacted to ensure the sale and consumption of wholesome food. However, our studies on Nigeria’s animal food safety status revealed that farm-to-fork; production, processing and sales procedures are sub-optimal. Additionally, there is a gap between research on possible impacts on human health, policy development and implementation. For example, antibiotics misuse by livestock farmers has impeded efficiency of antibiotic treatments leaving harmful residues in animal products. Control systems for animal food quality and safety should therefore range from operators along the food chain being well-informed, to external regulatory bodies. Animal food safety legislation should be followed by surveillance and collaboration among stakeholders (relevant governmental competent authorities, academia, non-governmental organisations, and industries) for effective planning and execution of Nigeria’s food hygiene and safety agenda. Food safety advisory/extension services is also advocated both to bridge the current gap as well as aid in the monitoring and evaluation of the different aspects of food safety from farm through processing, storage, conveyance, marketing to the table of consumers. more...

This study assessed the effects of common extenders and diluents on the spermatozoa of African catfish ( Clarias gariepinus ), with the intent of obtaining a semen preservation protocol that can serve as a means of making fingerlings available to fish farmers all year round. Semen samples (milt) were pooled from mature broodstock males and pre-extension qualities were evaluated. Egg yolk, tomato juice and sodium citrate buffers were combined in four different trials and used to preserve obtained semen at temperatures of 5°C and -40°C for 8 days and 4 weeks respectively in different trials. Motility indices of extended, preserved, refrigerated and frozen semen were used to analyze the effect of the various combinations. Forward, progressive and rectilinear motion was employed as a significant measurement of the livability of extended sperm cells and the efficacy of the extender solution. The result of the study showed that the buffer (sodium citrate) on its own performed excellently well (sperm motility was 85%) in enhancing survival within the first 24-48 hours post extension; Semen extended with 20% tomato juice gave the best survival rate when stored at 5°C, because the sperm cells were still viable by day 6 postextension. Extender containing 20% egg yolk gave 70% motility while that containing 10% egg yolk mixed with 10% tomato juice gave 60% motility. However, motility decreased progressively as the period of storage increased. The results of the effect of freezing (at -40°C) on motility revealed that no motility was observed in all the cryopreserved trials except the sample containing 10% egg yolk and 10% tomato juice, which recorded 10% post-thaw motility. more...

Peripheral blood lymphocytes were cultured in vitro in the presence of a mitogen; Concanavalin A (Con A), this resulted into a process described as lymphocyte transformation. The morphological changes in the cells were studied using phase contrast and electron microscopes. The results presented corroborated the existence of lymphocyte heterogeneity in tilapias. Keywords : mitogenic stimulation, T-like lymphocytes, Concanavalin A African Journal of Biomedical Research Vol. 8(3) 2005: 151-155 more...

A group of West African Dwarf goats was experimentally challenged with an isolate of Trypanosoma vivax ‘Y58' stock. The goats were monitored serologically by using antigen-ELISA and Antibody-ELISA before and after Berenil treatment for a period lasting about sixty two days. The mean prepatent period before trypanosomes were detected in their bloodstreams was five days post-infection; circulating antigens and antibodies were detected in the goat sera at an average of four and five days respectively. While parasitaemia fluctuated with time, both antigens and antibodies were consistently detected until after treatment with Berenil. Following treatment, parasites were no longer detected in the bloodstreams. Both the antigens and antibodies dissappeared between 7 and 11 days post-treatment. The study clearly shows that enzyme-immunoassays have values in validating the host immune responses and the efficacy of chemotherapic control methods in animal trypanosomosis. KEY WORDS: Trypanosomosis, Drugs, Goats, Diagnosis, ELISA Nigerian Veterinary Journal Vol.25(2) 2004: 27-31 more...

Antigen-detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Ag-ELISA) and buffy coat parasitological technique (BCT) were employed for the diagnosis of bovine trypanosomiosis in trade cattle slaughtered at the Bodija Municipal abattoir in Ibadan, Oyo State, between March and November, 2002 and in some sedentary herds located in Oyo, Ondo and Kwara States of Nigeria between September and November, 2002. The results obtained by the BCT showed that the prevalence rates of the disease were: 8.5%; in trade cattle and 9.2%; 14.6%; 16.8% in herds in Oyo, Ondo, and in Kwara State respectively. Comparatively, the use of Ag-ELISA gave higher prevalence rates as follows: trade cattle 16%; Oyo State 16.4%, Ondo 25.0% and Kwara 25%. At species level Trypanosoma congolense was the most frequently detected parasite by both the BCT and Ag. ELISA, revealing a shift in the occurrence of the species in cattle against the background that T. vivax is the most commonly found trypanosome species in Nigeria. With these results, Ag. ELISA has an obvious role in the epizootiological studies of bovine trypanosomiosis in Nigeria. KEY WORDS: Trypanosomosis, Bovine, ELISA, Buffy-coat, Diagnosis Nigerian Veterinary Journal Vol.25(2) 2004: 13-18 more...

Clinostomum tilapiae metacercariae, commonly found on tilapia species, was studied at the ultrastructural level using the scanning electron microscope. These parasites were collected from the skin, pharyngeal region and body cavity of cultured tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus obtained from fish ponds around Oyo State. The SEM of the parasite portray a detailed external features specifying possible identification tools rather than normal light microscopic line drawings. Key Words: Metacercaria, ultrastructural features, Oreochronis niloticus, Clinostomum tilapiae Trop. Vet. Vol.22: (1) 4-6 (2004) more...

Clinostomum tilapiae infestation in cultured Oreochromis niloticus in fish farms within Oyo State, Nigeria is highly significant and the prevalence is normally distributed. The abundance and intensity of the parasite on the skin and within viscera of cultured O. niloticus was closely correlated while intensity was independent of prevalence at 0.05 significance level. C. tilapiae hitherto associated with wild fish species is now well recognized in cultural systems and may pose both economic and public health risks in these areas. Key Words: Prevalence, abundance, intensity, Clinostomum tilapiae, Oreochromis niloticus. Trop. Vet. Vol. 21: (3) 129-133 (2003) more...