Search

Mineral mining activities with environmental pollution in Nigeria resulted in lead intoxication in humans and livestock. The likelihood of lead contamination of the environment from non-mining sources may exist in Maiduguri, Borno state, Nigeria. The study was carried out to evaluate the bioaccumulation of lead in extensively reared local scavenger chickens-LSC (Gallus gallus domesticus) in Maiduguri. Two hundred samples each of the liver, kidney, intestine, muscle and blood were tested for lead using standard methods in toxicologic evaluation. There were significant (p0.05) sex differences existed in the frequency of lead detection. Mean lead level in the liver of males was significantly (p

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious fatal infectious disease of pigs and wild suids. The disease has a worldwide occurrence and significant impact on pig production. Two adult intensively raised large white boars from two farms in Jos with a history of sudden death were diagnosed of ASF between July and August 2019. Post‐mortem examination of carcasses grossly showed splenomegaly, haemorrhagic lymphadenitis and hepatomegaly with severe congestion. The kidneys were enlarged and had generalized petechiae and blood clot in the pelvis. The heart was moderately enlarged. Microscopic examination of the spleen and lymph nodes revealed severe lymphocytic depletion, haemorrhage and severe haemosiderosis. The liver was severely congested with focal coagulative necrosis of the hepatocytes. The kidneys were severely congested and showed renal tubular necrosis with few tubular protein casts. Tissue samples were confirmed to be positive for African swine fever virus (ASFV) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the isolate belonged to genotype I., African swine fever is a highly contagious fatal infectious disease of pigs with a worldwide occurrence and economic importance. Two adult large white boars from two farms in Jos were diagnosed with African swine fever in 2019 through gross and histopathological evaluations, viral isolation and polymerase chain reaction. Sequences obtained were compared and deposited in the GenBank and were accessioned MN888693 and MN888694 and the phylogram showed that the ASFV belongs to genotype I.

Vaccinations against diseases to prevent disease outbreaks are strategic to disease prevention, but vaccination failures may constitute a challenge in practice. This study was aimed at assessing the adoption and failure rates of vaccinations in 80 chicken farms in Jos, Nigeria. Data were obtained through a structured questionnaire validated by interviews and checking of farm and veterinary records. Vaccination score (0–1) from the vaccination checklist (5 for broilers and 12 for layers) and vaccination procedure score (0–1), based on scored adopted procedures, were calculated for each farm. Vaccine effectiveness was calculated for each vaccine using the odds ratio from the association of frequencies of disease outbreaks in vaccinated and unvaccinated flocks. Farmers used more of imported than local vaccines. Vaccination procedure and vaccination scores did not influence frequencies of disease outbreaks, but vaccination scores tended to non-robustly correlate (r = − 0.89, p > 0.05) with rates of disease outbreak. Vaccination rates were highest against Newcastle disease and infectious bursal disease, and their vaccinations also had the highest effectiveness. There was an association (p = 0.009) between composite vaccination rates and disease outbreaks with 2.1 odds of outbreaks in vaccinated than unvaccinated flocks. Vaccination failures occurred in the use of 11 out of 12 vaccines and the highest failure rate (47.9%) was in vaccination against coccidiosis. Therefore, vaccination failure is a critical factor in poultry vaccination practice within the locality. The adoption of poultry vaccinations needs to be strategised in the context of a national poultry vaccination policy in order to promote effective poultry disease prevention and control.

The aim of this study was to determine the haematological reference values of a population of dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) in northern Nigeria to provide data required during laboratory investigation of health. The haematological variables were determined with EDTA anti-coagulated blood samples collected from the jugular veins of 121 camels during antemortem sessions at the abattoir in Maiduguri (Borno State). Serum total protein, albumin and globulin concentrations were estimated with serum samples harvested from clotted blood samples collected from the same animals. The haematological data were normally distributed (except monocyte and basophil counts) and values were presented as means, standard deviations, medians, minimum and maximum limits. Packed cell volume (PCV) significantly (p

The increased interest in pig production as a complementary source of animal protein has led to pig population growth in Nigeria. Disease outbreaks represent the major constraint to profitable pig production in locations where there is absence of religious barriers to pork production and consumption. Important pig diseases reported in the country and the location of the pig population affected are highlighted in this review. African swine fever, foot-and-mouth disease, brucellosis, trypanosomosis, babesiosis, eperythrozoonosis, helminthosis, coccidiosis and other parasitoses impact on the production system by negatively affecting feed conversion efficiency, reproduction and growth rates as well as causing piglet and adult mortalities. The economic losses due to the disease burden and inadequate intervention strategies are current issues facing the pig production industry. The risk of zoonotic spread of influenza, trypanosomiasis, larva migrans, teniasis, mange, cryptosporidiosis, balantidiasis, ancylostomiasis, entamoebiasis and jigger fleas from affected pigs is real. Disease control strategies through the provision of veterinary resources and services need attention, and a paradigm shift is required for sustainability and expansion of the pig production capacity in the country.

Apparently healthy male Nigerian Sahel goats (n = 125) aged 18–30 months old and weighing 10–25 kg were selected at slaughter by stratified quota sampling, into 5 groups of 25 each with varying testicular sizes, in order to investigate the occurrence of dyspermatogenesis. Testicular sizes were categorized as very small, small, medium, large and very large using gonadosomatic index values of 1–2, >2–3, >3–4 and >4 g/kg, respectively. Left testes and epididymides were homogenized with formalized normal saline for sperm cell count by manual cytometry. Right testes were fixed in 10% buffered formalin and processed for histopathological examination. Cauda epididymal sperm counts of zero and

Adaptation of goats to the arid and semi-arid environments may involve adjustments in erythrocyte osmoregulation. Sexual dimorphic and age-related effects on osmotic stability of the goat erythrocyte were investigated to determine physiological variations. Apparently healthy male (n = 23) and non-pregnant dry female (n = 24) Sahel goats, aged 1½–2, >2–2½, and >2½ years with mean body weights of 10.35–27.21 kg, were selected for the study from a semi-intensively managed flock. Heparinised venous blood of each goat was used to determine packed cell volume, erythrocyte count, mean corpuscular volume and osmotic fragility. Erythrocyte parameters did not vary with sex or age of the animal. Erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF), determined in hypotonic buffered saline, did not show sexual difference, but age elicited significant (p 1½–2 years, respectively. Body weights increased (p

Sahel sheep and goats, under extensive or semi-intensive management in smallholder farms in semi-arid northeastern Nigeria (Maiduguri), were evaluated to determine the relationship between faecal egg count (FEC) and packed cell volume (PCV) with associated anaemia and whether concurrent haemoparasitic infections would confound the variables. Faecal and anticoagulated blood samples from Sahel sheep (n = 227) and goats (n = 415) were collected January–December 2006, after conjunctival colour was estimated as FAMACHA score (FS) as follows: red (1), red–pink (2), pink (3), pink–white (4) or white (5). Presumed level of helminth infection, based on FEC with modified McMaster technique, was graded as mild ( 1,500/g). Out of 642 animals, 276 (43.0 %) had helminth infection based on FEC. More goats (11.5 %) were severely infected than sheep (1.3 %). PCV was decreased by only severe helminth burden. FS correlated with PCV (r = −0.69, −0.86; p

Fertility of unilateral cryptorchid Sahel buck in uncontrolled breeding depends on sperm output of the scrotal testis. Semen evaluation and testicular and epididymal sperm head counts of cryptorchid and normal bucks were carried out at comparable age, body weight and testicular size. Mean semen volume and sperm cell count of the cryptorchids were not different from those of normal bucks, but the percentage of sperm cell abnormalities in semen was higher than normal consisting of narrow and big sperm heads, bent mid-piece, curved tails and tailless heads. Scrotal testes and epididymides of the cryptorchids had comparable mean size parameters and sperm head counts as those of the normal bucks. In conclusion, the scrotal testis of the cryptorchid produces as much sperm as the testis of the normal buck, but probably contributes more sperm to the ejaculate than normal with increased sperm cell abnormalities that may reduce fertility of the cryptorchid.

The seroprevalence and maternal antibody profiles to Newcastle disease virus infection of guinea fowls were studied using haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test, in Borno and Yobe States of Nigeria. Of 822 sera and 354 egg yolk extracts tested, 327 (39.8%) and 242 (68.4%) were positive for NDV antibodies respectively. The seroprevalence was significantly higher (P< 0.05) in the dry (47%) than in the rainy (32.8%) seasons. Maternal antibodies in egg yolk extract (sampled during the rainy season), were significantly (P< 0.05) higher (68.4%) than the seroprevalence. The frequency distribution of antibody titers were skewed with 79.8% and 63.2 % of sera and egg yolk respectively having reciprocal antibody titres ≤ 20. The geometric mean antibody titre was higher (P< 0.05) in the dry season (3.7±2.0) than in the rainy season (2.5 ±1.7). The geometric mean titre was also higher (P

Testicular sizes of animals are important for identification of those with adequate sperm production. The aim of this study was to define the testicular and related size estimates that would be associated with optimal cauda epididymal sperm counts (ESC) in Sahel goats based on postmortem evaluations. A stratified quota sample population of 125 male goats inclusive of all testicular sizes was taken at a slaughterhouse in Maiduguri, Nigeria. The bucks were aged 18-30 months and weighed 17.04 ± 2.99 (12-25) kg. Body, testicular and epididymal weights of each goat with other related size measurements were estimated. ESC was determined from homogenized tissue using a manual cytometer. At the cut-off ESC of >1.1 × 109 sperm heads, 66 (52.5%) of the goats had optimal ESC which was associated with testicular weight of 59.90 ± 16.10 (31.4-86.2) kg, gonado somatic index of 3.51 ± 0.69 (2.0-4.5) g/kg and scrotal circumference of 19.07 ± 1.29 (17.0-21.8) cm. The ESC correlated better with age than body weight of the animals and correlated also with testicular and scrotal size variables and epididymal weights. The size variables of the scrotum and testis correlated with one another. These findings provide data that may be used to anticipate adequate antemortem sperm reserve based on testicular size during preliminary selection of sires for breeding from a sexually mature Sahel buck population.Keywords: Optimal sperm output, testicular size, scrotal size, Sahel goat, Nigeria

In a survey at the Maiduguri metropolitan abattoir in northeastern Nigeria, between August and November 2009, Oesophagostomum columbianum nodules were found on the intestines of 702 (71.3 %) Sahel goats out of 984 examined. The nodules were predominantly located in the large intestines of most of the goats (96.4 %), but in heavy infections (3.6 %), the nodules extended into the small intestines and the omentum. The presence of nodules did not significantly (P > 0.05) increase the weight of the intestines of infected goats. Grossly the nodules were young (60 %), purulent (30 %) or calcified (10 %). Histologically the nodules appeared as granulomas with one or multiple necrotic foci. The infiltrating cells associated with the granulomas were eosinophils, neutrophils, macrophages, epithelioid macrophages and lymphocytes, but no multinucleated giant cell was found. The intestinal epithelium adjacent to the granuloma had intense lymphocytic infiltration into the lamina propria, necrosis and sloughing of the epithelial cells, stunting of the expanded villi and fewer intestinal glands. It was concluded that natural O. columbianum infection of Sahel goats was prevalent in the area and the infection caused non-suppurative enteritis associated with submucosal nodules which were granulomas lacking giant cells.

La decoccion de la corteza del tallo de Ficus sycomorus se usa para tratar la infertilidad relacionada al bajo conteo de espermatozoides, pero es incierto el riesgo reproductivo asociado con su uso. El extracto acuoso de la corteza se administro, en ratas albinas, por via oral, en una dosis de 200-600 mg/kg, durante 30 dias post-crecimiento puberal. Durante el periodo, fueron controlados los siguientes parametros: peso corporal in vivo, diametro escrotal y tamano testicular. El promedio de peso corporal in vivo y diametro escrotal de las ratas control y tratadas, tuvieron un incremento significativo (p 0,05) esos parametros. No hubo variaciones significativas (p> 0,05) en la media de los parametros tamano testicular en las ratas tratadas y control, ni tampoco se produjeron efectos dependientes de la dosis, ni en funcion del tiempo. Las secciones de los testiculos de los animales tratados mostraron una espermatogenesis activa a nivel de los tubulos seminiferos, sin lesiones histologicas aparentes. Se concluye, que el uso del extracto crudo de Ficus sycomorus, dentro de una dosis de 200-600 mg/kg, presenta minimo riesgo en la reproduccion masculina, sin embargo, se hace necsario estudiar su efecto pro-espermatico.

Trypanosoma brucei, Federe strain, caused an acute infection in rats after intraperitoneal inoculation of 106 trypanosomes. Parasitemia occurred from day 3 post-infection (pi) with peak parasitemia from day 7 pi. Anemia was observed between days 7 and 11 pi. The serum triglyceride concentration was comparable with the control value on day 7 pi, but increased (P 0.05) significantly during the infection. It was concluded that the decreased hepatic contents of these lipids were consistent with the serum lipid concentration, which did not seem to favor lipid uptake by hepatocytes.

Background Erythrocyte swelling in non-ionic sucrose media and the subsequent osmotic lysis are influenced by mechanisms of regulatory volume adjustment and osmotic water permeability. Kinetics of transmembrane water and ion fluxes in varied physiologic states may determine the phenotype of erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF) and affect estimates of EOF. Methods Effects of sex, age, late pregnancy (third trimester) and lactation on the haemolysis of Sahel goat erythrocytes incubated in a series of hyposmotic non-ionic sucrose media were investigated. Results The fragiligram was sigmoidal in 72 (97%) out of 74 goats. Two male (3%) goats with low and high extreme median erythrocyte fragilities (MEF), had non-sigmoidal curves. The mean fragilities at osmolarities of 30-300 mosmol/L of sucrose and the mean osmolarities responsible for 10%-90% haemolysis (CH10-CH90) were not significantly different between males and non-pregnant dry (NPD) females, amongst the age groups and between pregnant or lactating and NPD female goats. The MEF (CH50) of the goats were at osmolarities of 126-252 mosmol/L (median of data: 171 mosmol/L) with a mean of 175.24±16.20 mosmol/L. Therefore, phenotypic homogeneity of EOF occurred with minor deviance, since EOF variables were not differentiated by sex, age, late pregnancy or lactation. Conclusions Physiologic states of the goat did not affect EOF phenotype in non-ionic sucrose media. Sigmoidal fragility phenotype seemed to be homogeneously conserved by osmoregulatory mechanisms not partitioned by sex, age, late pregnancy or lactation, but a minor non-sigmoidal curve might have occurred due to altered erythrocyte osmotic behaviour that would require further investigation.

Erythrocyte osmotic lysis in deionised glucose media is regulated by glucose influx, cation efflux, and changes in cell volume after water diffusion. Transmembrane fluxes may be affected by varied expression of glucose transporter protein and susceptibility of membrane proteins to glucose-induced glycosylation and oxidation in various physiologic states.Variations in haemolysis of Sahel goat erythrocytes after incubation in hyposmotic non-ionic glucose media, associated with sex, age, late pregnancy, and lactation, were investigated.The osmotic fragility curve in glucose media was sigmoidal with erythrocytes from goats in late pregnancy (PRE) or lactation (LAC) or from kid (KGT) or middle-aged (MGT) goats. Non-sigmoidal phenotype occurred in yearlings (YGT) and old (OGT) goats. The composite fragility phenotype for males and non-pregnant dry (NPD) females was non-sigmoidal. Erythrocytes with non-sigmoidal curves were more stable than those with sigmoidal curves because of inflectional shift of the curve to the left. Erythrocytes tended to be more fragile with male than female sex, KGT and MGT than YGT and OGT, and LAC and PRE than NPD. Thus, sex, age, pregnancy, and lactation affected the haemolytic pattern of goat erythrocytes in glucose media.The physiologic state of the goat affected the in vitro interaction of glucose with erythrocytes, causing variations in osmotic stability with variants of fragility phenotype. Variations in the effect of high extracellular glucose concentrations on the functions of membrane-associated glucose transporter, aquaporins, and the cation cotransporter were presumed to be relevant in regulating the physical properties of goat erythrocytes under osmotic stress.

Rumen impaction in sheep with indigestible foreign bodies (IFB) was studied in Maiduguri, a town in the semi-arid region of Nigeria. Twenty-seven refuse dumps around the town were visited by 405 sheep consisting of Yankasa (40.3%), Uda (26.4%) and cross (33.3%) breeds. Rumen IFB were found in 19.3% of the 540 sheep slaughtered at the Maiduguri abattoir. A greater proportion of Yankasa (25.3%) had rumen IFB than Uda (14.5%) and cross (14.6%) breeds. More females (28.3%) were affected than males (8.5%). The IFB were polythene/cellophane materials, ropes, dry seeds, caked sand, metallic objects, paper, fiber and hair balls. The polythene/cellophane materials occurred in 81.6% of the sheep. The other types of IFB occurred in 7.4–47.1% of the sheep, usually impacted with or without polythene/cellophane. Clinical rumen IFB impaction was characterized by emaciation, abdominal distension and asymmetry, lack of feces in the rectum, foamy salivation, recumbency and inappetence. Hyperglycaemia, alkalosis, hyponatraemia, hypochloridaemia, hypocalcaemia, hypoproteinaemia and hypoalbuminaemia occurred in some of the clinical cases. It was concluded that the rumen impaction with IFB was related to the sheep scavenging on refuse dumps and that the blood biochemical changes, along with the clinical signs, might be of some diagnostic assistance.

Feline Panleukopenia Virus (FPV) is a leading cause of death in unvaccinated and susceptible cat populations. The present study aims to determine the prevalence of FPV and associated risk factors in pet and stray cats in Maiduguri, Northeastern Nigeria. A cross sectional survey was conducted involving two hundred cats sampled randomly. Commercial test Kit FASTest® PARVO Strip® was used for the detection of FPV in the faeces of the pet and stray cats. The prevalence in pet and stray cats were 4.0% (CI =0.0204, 0.0769) and 9.5% (CI = 0.0617, 0.1436) respectively. All the apparently healthy cats did not test positive for FPV. However, the prevalence of FPV in the sick cats was 13.5% (CI = 0.0945, 0.1893). The male and female cats had prevalence of 7.0% (CI = 0.0422, 0.1141) and 6.5% (CI = 0.0384, 0.1080) respectively. Feline Panleukopenia Virus was found to be more prevalent in cats that were less than 6 months with 10% (CI = 0.0657, 0.1494) and 3.5% (CI = 0.0171, 0.0705) in cats greater than 6 months old. A strong and significant association was found (χ2 = 103.565; P < 0.0001) between age groups and the status of infection. There was a strong and significant association (χ2 = 217.768; P < 0.0001) between gender and the type of management system of these cats. The present study has demonstrated for the first time the presence of FPV in pet and stray cats in Maiduguri, Nigeria.

Rabbits infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei (Basa isolate) were intraperitoneally administered with vitamins C and E at 100 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg body weight, respectively, from day 7 before infection to day 12 post-infection (p.i.). Another group of rabbits were similarly infected, but received no vitamin treatment. The uninfected (control) rabbits were either untreated or treated with vitamins like the infected group. Treatment of the infected animals did not affect the onset and level of parasitaemia. On day 12 p.i., the anaemia tended to be ameliorated, but insignificantly, by the treatment. The infection increased (p0.05) serum urea and creatinine concentrations to similar levels in treated and untreated groups. However, the increase (p0.05) in alanine and aspartate transaminases in the untreated infected animals was prevented in the treated infected ones. Therefore, it seemed that the treatment with antioxidant vitamins boosted their storage in hepatic cells, but not in erythrocytes and glomeruli, to annul any cellular injury due to infection. It is concluded that this may be an indirect evidence that the hepatic damage may be principally due to oxidative injury.

The erythrocyte glutathione (GSH) concentrations of 210 Nigerian Sahel goats were 2.4–175.2 (46.5±36.4) mg/100 ml RBC or 0.1–7.3 (1.9±1.4) mg/gHb. The frequency distribution of the blood and erythrocyte GSH values were positively skewed, but the packed cell volume (PCV) and haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations were normally distributed. The erythrocyte GSH values in mg/100 ml RBC and mg/gHb were strongly correlated. Majority of the goat population (74.8%) had low or `deficient' erythrocyte GSH concentrations (≤60 mg/100 ml RBC). Sixteen animals with very low erythrocyte GSH values of 2.4–9.8 (6.9±2.9) mg/100 ml RBC were not anaemic and the anaemic goats with PCV of 17.0±0.9% had GSH concentrations of 3.5–97.5 (45.0±42.8) mg/100 ml RBC. The erythrocyte GSH values were not correlated with PCV or Hb, and anaemia. The biochemical basis for the low erythrocyte GSH concentrations is yet to be determined.

Four groups (A, B, C and D) of 10 naive rats were used to compare the virulence of isolates of a strain of Trypanosoma brucei before and after the development of diminazene aceturate resistance. Group A rats were uninfected (controls). Group B rats were infected with a trypanosome isolate unexposed to the drug, while groups C and D rats were infected with two different drug-resistant isolates of the same strain. Rats in the three infected groups each received 10(6) trypanosomes intraperitoneally. Prepatent periods were longer (P

During acute Trypanosoma vivax infection of calves, produced by intravenous inoculation, the mean packed cell volume and red blood cell counts of the infected animals decreased significantly (P0.05) between Days 6 and 13 post-infection (pi). The moderately severe normocytic anaemia started to develop during the first wave of parasitaemia which occurred from Day 2 pi and peaked between Days 4 and 5 pi. The mean erythrocyte glutathione (GSH) concentration of the infected calves decreased significantly (P0.05) from 58.4 +/- 11.4 mg 100ml-1 red blood cells (RBC) on Day 0 pi to 44.5 +/- 12.8 mg 100ml-1 RBC on Day 5 pi. As the GSH values recovered on Day 6 pi and increased thereafter, another slight decrease (P0.05) in GSH concentration occurred on Day 12 pi at the second peak of parasitaemia followed by a significant (P0.05) increase to 79.1 +/- 14.6 mg 100ml-1 RBC on Day 13 pi. In the uninfected calves, the mean GSH values ranged from 47.7 +/- 7.0 to 60.8 +/- 6.8 mg 100ml-1 RBC. When washed, erythrocytes of the infected and uninfected calves were separately challenged with hydrogen peroxide. They produced comparable amounts of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances as a measure of by-products of lipid peroxidation. This suggested that the ability of the erythrocytes to prevent peroxidative injury was not reduced, because GSH regeneration was probably enhanced and the antioxidant capacity of the erythrocytes was maintained.

Five non-pregnant healthy Yankasa ewes were deprived of water for 10 d with only one watering period during hot dry weather. On d 5, the mean body weight significantly (P 0.05) and mean plasma globulin, sodium (Na), chloride, urea, creatinine and cholesterol concentrations and urea-to-creatinine and cholesterol-to-glucose ratios were significantly (P 0.05), mean PCV and plasma K, bicarbonate and glucose concentrations and albumin-to-globulin ratio still did not vary significantly. Significant increases (P

The effect of intravenous infusion of a solution of lactose-in-normal saline on the course of Trypanosoma vivax induced anaemia in Zebu yearlings was investigated. The animals were infected with 11 x 106 trypanosomes by jugular venipuncture and lactose-in-normal saline infusion started on day 6, post-infection (p.i). Three four-hourly doses of 0.5 g lactose/kg body weight were administered to each infected yearling in the experimental group daily for five days, while the infected control yearlings received no lactose-infusion. The experiment was terminated on day 13, p.i. Parasitaemia in the lactoseinfusedyearlings was scorable throughout the duration of experiment while parasites could not be detected in the blood of the infected control yearlings between days 7 and 9, p.i. Serum free sialic acids(FSA) concentration was also consistently higher in the lactose-infused yearlings than in the lactosefree ones. In the before lactose infusion (BL) period the PCV of the lactose-infused group dropped at asignificantly (P < 0.05) faster rate than in the lactose-free one. In the DL (during lactose infusion) period, the rate and magnitude of decline in PCV was significantly lower in the lactose-infused yearlings than inthe lactose-free animals. When lactose infusion was stopped (AL) the rate and magnitude of PCV decline became greater in the lactose-infused yearlings than in the lactose-free ones. It was thusconcluded that lactose ameliorated anaemia, by inhibiting the sequestration of desialylated erythrocytes from the blood stream of T. vivax-infected yearlings. This manifested in the reducedmagnitude and rate of decrease in PCV in the lactose-infused infected yearlings.

The effects of aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyces on haematology and pathological changes in some selected organs during experimental Trypanosoma congolense infection of rats were investigated. Three groups of rats were intraperitoneally infected with T. congolense (Karu stock). One group was administered with the aqueous extract and another given a solution of vitamin C in drinking water; the remaining infected group was left untreated. Data from these groups were compared with those of two groups of healthy rats, one of which was similarly treated with the aqueous extract. The experiment was terminated three weeks, post-infection (pi). The uninfected and infected rats administered the extract consumed the equivalent of 9.94 mg - and 9.61 mg ascorbic acid / 100g / day during the experiment. Consumption of the extract significantly (p

Populations of exotic and indigenous domestic chickens and guinea fowls in northeastern Nigeria were surveyed for Plasmodium sp by examining their stained blood samples. The packed cel volumes of all blood samples were estimated. During the period of study (March to September 2006), raina data were collected. The prevalence of Plasmodium inecton in 575 domestc poultry examined was 9.4 % and the prevalence among the difference poultry types (exotic broilers and layers, indigenous chickens and guinea fowls) did not difer signiicantly (P > 0.05).There was a significant (P < 0.05) positive correlation between the monthly prevalence and ranfal wth mean prevalence hgher (P < 0.05)in the rainy than dry months. Packed cell volume (PCV) o uninfected and infected domestic chickens did not dffer significanty (P > 005), but the infected guinea fowls had lower (P < 0.05) mean PCV than the uninfected ones. In conclusion, Plasmodium sp infection was prevalent among the domestic poultry; and whereas the infection didnot cause anaemia in chickens, mild anaemia was observed in infected guinea fowls.Keywords: Chickens, Guinea fowls, Packed cell volume, Anaemia, Plasmodium

Serum ketone and total protein concentrations of 966 cattle slaughtered at the metropolitan abattoir, Maiduguri, Nigera, were estimated durng the dry and rainy months of the year. None of the sera had a titrable ketone concentration. Serum total protein (STP) concentration of Keywords : Nigeria, Sahel region, Cattle, Serum ketones, Serum total protein, Undernutrition

De las 1608 cabras Sahel Nigerianas macho examinadas para criptorquidismo en un matadero, 9 (0,6%) tuvieron criptorquidia unilateral derecha. La prevalencia en relacion al color especifico del pelaje fue mayor entre las cabras marrones (2,1%), y fue de 0,8%, 0,6% y 0,3% entre cabras de color negro, blanco, y blanco/negro respectivamente. La condicion no fue encontrada entre las cabras con pelajes marron y negro, marron y blanco, y pelajes de multiples colores. Los testiculos derecho e izquierdo de las cabras normales y los testiculos descendentes de las cabras con criptorquidia tuvieron mediciones testiculares comparables, pero los testiculos retenidos por criptorquidia fueron de menor tamano. Las estimaciones de las mediciones testiculares mostraron que los pesos testiculares (con todo el epididimo), la longitud periferica y la circunferencia media de las criptorquidicas fueron reducidas por 5,8-6,5; 1,8-1,9 y 1,7-1,8 pliegues respectivamente, en comparacion con el los valores normales; una indicacion que la reduccion de peso fue el indice de cambio mas notable en el tamano testicular. En 2 casos (20%), los testiculos criptorquidicos se encontraron en una ubicacion subcutanea, inmersos en una fascia subcutanea en la region perineal ventral, mientras que en los otros 8 casos criptorquidicos (80%), los testiculos fueron encontrados en el abdomen. Cambios histopatologicos en los testiculos criptorquidicos incluyeron hipoplasia, degeneracion, inflamacion intersticial no supurativa y fibroplasia. Este es el primer informe de criptorquidia en cabras Sahel y la primera evidencia de que los testiculos criptorquidicos pueden ser localizados por via subcutanea en la cabra.

Diurnal variations in haematological parameters were studied in five Sokoto Red goats before (April) and after (July) splenectomy. Blood samples were taken at 0800, 1200 and 1600 hours during hot, arid weather conditions. The packed cell volume (PCV) decreased significantly (P < 0.05) at 1600 in intact and at 1200 and 1600 in splenectomized goats when compared with PCV values at 0800. The extent of variation did not differ significantly between the intact and splenectomized goats. Therefore, it seemed that splenectomy did not affect the diurnal variations but time of day and weather conditions were important factors to be considered. Other haematological parameters studied did not show significant diurnal variations in intact and splenectomized goats. It was also noted that splenectomized goats had lower (P < 0.05) total white blood cell count at 0800 and lymphocyte counts at 0800, 1200 and 1600 when compared with the values in the intact goats. It is suggested that splenectomy perhaps removes a significant portion of the lymphoid organ system thereby decreasing the number of circulating lymphocytes.

Eighty healthy adult albino rats of both sexes weighing 180-200g were used in two experiments to study the effects of oral calcium chloride treatment on the pathogenicity of Trypanosoma congolense infection. Experiment 1 was terminated at the peak of parasitaemia while experiment II was allowed to run a full course. In each experiment, forty rats were divided into four groups of 10 rats each, namely: A, uninfected untreated control; B, treated uninfected control; C, infected untreated and D, treated infected. Aqueous solution (10%) of CaCl2 was administered daily using stomach tube to each rat at 100mg/kg in groups B and D from 7 days before infection to the end of the study. Each rat in groups C and D was infected by intraperitoneal injection of 1x106 trypanosomes in phosphate buffered saline solution (pH 7.4) diluted donor rat blood. The infected untreated group exhibited higher (P T. congolense infection by delaying the onset of parasitaemia and reducing the levels of parasitaemia, accompanied anaemia as well as organ damage. Keywords : rats, Trypanosoma congolense , calcium chloride treatment, pathogenicity African Journal of Biomedical Research Vol. 8(3) 2005: 197-201

Une étude réalisée sur les concentrations de glutathion érythrocytaire des bovins zébus et Ndama nigérians a mis en évidence une variation allant de 40,8 à 135,1 mg/100 ml de globules rouges, avec une moyenne de 84,0 ± 25,4 mg/1o0 ml. On a observé une corrélation positive entre les concentrations de glutathion et l'hématocrite (r = 0,58, p0,05).

Four groups (A, B, C and D) of 10 rats were used to determine the effect of comparatively high doses of diminazene aceturate on diminazene aceturate-resistant Trypanosoma brucei and the pathogenic effect of relapse infection. Group A rats were uninfected (controls) while group B, C and D rats were inoculated intraperitoneally with 0.5 x 10 (6) diminazene aceturate-resistant T. brucei and treated with diminazene aceturate at 14.0, 17.5 and 21.0mg/kg body weight, respectively, on day 14 post-infection (PI) as a single intraperitoneal injection. Prepatent periods and also levels of parasitaemia were comparable in groups B, C and D. Packed cell volume (PCV) decreased in the infected groups by day 14 PI and returned to pre-infection values by day 63 post-treatment (PT). Anaemia was comparable in groups B, C and D. Relapse parasitaemia occurred in six rats in group B on day 70 PT and in five rats in each of groups C and D on day 77 PT. The PCV of the rats with relapse infection decreased progressively up to day 105 PT, when the experiment was terminated, whereas the PCV of rats without relapse did not. The levels of anaemia and parasitaemia on day 14 post-relapse were significantly higher (P

Intraperitoneal inoculation of rats with Trypanosoma congolense (Federe strain) produced a sustained parasitaemia from days 7 to 23 post-infection (pi). The fasting tail-blood glucose (FBG) concentrations in the infected animals increased (p0.05) from 3.8+/-0.2 mmol/l on day 0 pi to 4.6+/-0.2, 4.9+/-0.2 and 5.8+/-0.3 mmol/l on days 7, 10 and 17 pi and decreased (p0.05) to 3.1+/-0.8 and 2.9+/-0.7 mmol/l on days 20 and 23 pi, but the values in the uninfected controls varied between 3.8+/-0.3 mmol/l on day 0 pi and 3.9+/-0.2 mmol/l on day 23 pi. After oral glucose intake (1.0 g/kg) and determination of tail-blood glucose (BG) concentrations after 2 h, the percentage increase in BG from FBG was either comparable in infected and uninfected groups (days 7, 20, 23 pi) or lower (p0.05) in the infected group (days 10, 17), suggesting the same rate of tissue glucose delivery in both groups or a faster rate in the infected group. Therefore, oral glucose tolerance in the infected rat was not impaired, but there was initial fasting hyperglycaemia followed by fasting hypoglycaemia in the later stage.

Trypanosoma brucei (Federe strain) produced all acute infection in rats given 10(6) parasites intraperitoneally. Parasitaemia, which first appeared at 2 days post-infection (pi), was heavy from day 5 until death at 8 to 12 days pi. The fasting tail-blood glucose (FBG) concentrations in the infected rats increased significantly (P0.05) from 2.73+/-0.14 mmol/l on day 0 pi to 6.21+/-0.16 mmol/l and 5.93+/-0.33 mmol/l on days 5 and 8, respectively. However, the values had decreased in most of the rats on day 11 pi, at which time 4 out of 12 had less than 0.5 mmol/l. The mean FBG showed a quadratic relationship with the duration of infection and the fitted curve had a high goodness of fit (r2=0.98). Oral glucose tolerance was impaired in the infected rats on days 5, 8 and 11 pi. Tail-blood glucose concentration was determined 2 h after the intake of glucose (1.0 g/kg). The mean percentage increases in blood glucose from the FBG concentrations were significantly (P0.05) higher in the infected than in uninfected rats. There was a positive correlation (r=1.0) between the mean percentage increases and the duration of infection. It seems probable, therefore, that the delivery of glucose into the tissues was reduced, with other metabolic implications likely to affect the pathogenesis of the disease.

Summary Isolates of Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma congolense from the blood of cattle were used to infect growing rats. Despite the use of similar infective doses, T. brucei parasitaemia appeared earlier than T. congolense parasitaemia. After the same period of parasitaemia, the degrees of anaemia, splenomegaly and hepatomegaly were similar in both infections. The percentage decrease in packed cell volume was not correlated with splenic and hepatic weights. Neither infection significantly affected the weight gain of the rats. It was concluded that both organisms caused diseases of comparable severity and that the mere enlargement of the spleen and liver made no significant contribution to the development of the anaemia.

The effect of clinical mastitis (unilateral, n=10 and bilateral, n=90) on the morphometry of mammary glands of Sahel goats was evaluated in comparison with those of apparently normal glands (n=20). The mammary glands were examined at slaughter and glandular measurements such as; glandular weight (GW), glandular mid circumference (GMC), glandular longitudinal length (GLL) and glandular teat lengths (GTL) were measured using a measuring tape. Tissue samples of the mammary gland were collected preserved in 10% buffered formalin, processed, embedded, section and stained with H&E and observed under light microscope at various magnifications for presence of pathological lesions. The mean GW was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in normal glands relative to the unilateral and bilateral mastitis. Mean GLL was significantly higher (p

Trypanosoma brucei, Wamba strain, produced an acute infection in mice, and mortality was observed 2 days after the onset of parasitaemia which occurred 3–5 days postinfection. Anaemia was observed in the tail blood of the survivors. When washed erythrocytes from the heart blood were incubated in physiological saline containing 1.5% hydrogen peroxide, the erythrocytes of the infected mice produced significantly greater amounts of by-products of lipid peroxidation (measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) than the erythrocytes of the control mice. This observation suggested that the infected mice may have a reduced ability in the prevention of free radical mediated lipid peroxidation in the erythrocyte membrane. It is concluded that peroxidative injury to the erythrocytes may contribute to the pathogenesis of anaemia in trypanosomosis.

A subchronic toxicity study was carried out to assess hepatic and renal functions of rats during oral exposure to glyphosate with zinc for the period of 8 weeks. Forty-eight Wistar rats used for the study were randomized into six groups of eight Wistar rats each, and each group had equal number of male and female Wistar rats. The Wistar rats administered with distilled water at 2 ml/kg body weight served as the control group (DW); others were administered with zinc at 50 mg/kg body weight (Z) group, glyphosate at 375 mg/kg body weight (G) group, a combination of zinc and glyphosate at 50 and 375 mg/kg body weight, respectively (Z + G), group, glyphosate at 14.4 mg/kg body weight (GC) group, and a combination of zinc and glyphosate at 50 and 14.4 mg/kg body weight, respectively (Z + GC), group. At the end of the study, blood samples were collected from each rats; from which, sera samples were obtained and assayed for total protein, albumin, alanine and aspartate aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, Na+, K+, Cl−, \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \mathrm{HCO}_3^{-} $$\end{document}, Ca2+, \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \mathrm{PO}_4^{-} $$\end{document}, urea and creatinine using autoanalyzer, and globulin was calculated. The albumin concentration was significantly high (p 0.05), and the relative changes were ameliorated by supplementation with zinc. The alkaline phosphatase activity was relatively low in GC group; however, supplementation with zinc in Z + GC group made it to be significantly high (p

Trypanosoma vivax produced a progressive macrocytic normochromic anaemia in sheep during the acute phase of infection. Reticulocytes were absent from the blood of healthy sheep and of sheep with T. vivax -induced anaemia. However, anaemia induced artificially (AHA) in sheep by in vitro heat treatment of red cells, which was comparable in classification and degree to the anaemia of T. vivax infection, produced a reticulocytosis of 1·5 ± 1·0 per cent. When plasma from the anaemic blood of sheep infected with T. vivax for two and four weeks was inoculated subcutaneously into mice, the reticulocyte response was similar to that of mice that received no sheep plasma and inferior to that elicited by normal sheep plasma. The anaemic plasma from sheep infected with T. vivax for three weeks induced a moderate reticulocyte response in mice which was, however, less intense than that induced by plasma from sheep with artificially induced anaemia of comparable intensity. These results indicate that, although the macrocytosis suggests that T. vivax -induced anaemia in sheep is slightly responsive, this response is suboptimal since reticulocytes were lacking in the blood of the sheep and their plasma was weakly erythrogenic in mice. This contrasts with the mild reticulocytosis in sheep with AHA of the same intensity and classification, whose plasma also stimulated considerable erythropoiesis in mice. The poor stimulation by plasma from T. vivax -infected sheep at two and four weeks post-infection suggests subnormal erythropoietin at these periods of infection.