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Heat stress is a limiting factor for livestock productivity in many countries. This study was designed to evaluate the influence of exposure of exotic pigs to high environmental temperatures on physiology, oxidative stress biomarkers and productivity. Multiparous sows (n = 40) in two equal groups (Groups N and H) were investigated. The pen temperature, relative humidity and Temperature- Humidity Index (THI) were measured for 30 days. The skin temperature, respiratory rate and rectal temperature were measured weekly. Haematology, serum biochemistry and oxidative biomarkers were also evaluated. The production records, including farrowing events (NFE), number of piglets at birth (NPB), number of piglets at weaning (NPW) and piglet mortality (NPM) were obtained per sow for the preceding 24 months. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a student T-test at P<0.05. Pen indoor temperature was significantly higher and relative humidity significantly lower in Group H (30.23+0.99 °C, 48.90+7.94 %) compared to Group N (25.21+0.94 °C, 58.97+6.21 %). The THI was higher in Group H (78.40+1.99). There was a significant increase in skin surface temperature and respiratory rate in Group H (37.70+1.40 °C and 39.70+4.28 bpm) with a slight increase in rectal temperature compared to Group N (33.86+0.95 0C and 35.79+2.89 bpm). There was a slight increase in PCV, blood urea nitrogen and a decrease in the levels of sodium, chloride, and bicarbonate in sows in Group H. There was a significant increase in hydrogen peroxide generation, nitric oxide contents and malondialdehyde levels, with a decrease in superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione content in Group H when compared to Group N. There was a reduction in farrowing events (N = 3.45+0.20; H = 3.00+ 0.19), number of piglets at birth (N = 29.15+1.92; H = 27.95+ 2.44), the number of piglets at weaning (N = 27.65+1.89; H = 25.90+ 2.25), and an increase in piglet mortality (N = 1.5+0.21; H = 2.05+0.42) in sows exposed to higher temperatures. The orientation of the pig housing in the northsouth direction reduced its effectiveness. Exotic sows exposed to heat stress had altered physiology, experienced oxidative stress, were prone to renal and hepatic injury, and had reduced productivity. Adequate thermal comfort should be ensured in pig husbandry in the tropics for optimal health and productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: in Nigeria, there is limited information on brucellosis particularly in dogs, despite its public health implications. We undertook a sero-epidemiological survey of brucellosis in dogs to determine the prevalence of the disease and associated risk factors for its occurrence in Nigeria. METHODS: a cross sectional study was conducted to screen dogs in south-western Nigeria for antibodies to Brucella sp using the rapid slide agglutination test (RSA) and Rose Bengal test (RBT), with positive samples confirmed respectively by serum agglutination test (SAT) and competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). Data were analyzed with STATA-12.

This study investigated the effect of three intramuscular injections of Prostaglandin F2a (PGF2α) administered seven days apart on estrus responses and some reproductive hormonal profiles in post-pubertal gilts. Sixteen gilts were divided into groups A, B, C, and D, with four animals in each group. Group A, B and C gilts were treated with PGF2α injections intramuscularly at doses 5mg,7.5mg and 10mg per gilt respectively on Days 0, 6 and 13 of the experiment. Group D (Control) were treated with intramuscular injections of 2ml phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) instead. Serum samples were collected every 24 hours for four days after each PGF2α injection and estrus detection was conducted daily. Results showed that 100% of Group A came into estrus 96 hours after the second PGF2α injection, while 50% of Group B came into estrus after the first injection; with the other 50% exhibiting estrus following the 2nd injection. Only 50% of Group C displayed estrus signs and this was observed following the second PGF2α injection. Control gilts did not express behavioral estrus during this study, suggesting that PGF2α may have induced estrus in the treated animals. LH and estradiol concentrations were significantly different in Group A and B when compared to the control following the 2nd PGF2α injection. In all, it was observed that serum concentrations of LH, FSH and oestradiol-17β reached maximal levels just prior to expression of estrus, thus suggesting that the pattern of reproductive hormonal changes in PGF2α-synchronized gilts may be quite similar to those of naturally cycling in-estrus gilts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of three intramuscular injections of Prostaglandin F2a (PGF2α) administered seven days apart on estrus responses and some reproductive hormonal profiles in post-pubertal gilts. Sixteen gilts were divided into groups A, B, C, and D, with four animals in each group. Group A, B and C gilts were treated with PGF2α injections intramuscularly at doses 5mg,7.5mg and 10mg per gilt respectively on Days 0, 6 and 13 of the experiment. Group D (Control) were treated with intramuscular injections of 2ml phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) instead. Serum samples were collected every 24 hours for four days after each PGF2α injection and estrus detection was conducted daily. Results showed that 100% of Group A came into estrus 96 hours after the second PGF2α injection, while 50% of Group B came into estrus after the first injection; with the other 50% exhibiting estrus following the 2nd injection. Only 50% of Group C displayed estrus signs and this was observed following the second PGF2α injection. Control gilts did not express behavioral estrus during this study, suggesting that PGF2α may have induced estrus in the treated animals. LH and estradiol concentrations were significantly different in Group A and B when compared to the control following the 2nd PGF2α injection. In all, it was observed that serum concentrations of LH, FSH and oestradiol-17β reached maximal levels just prior to expression of estrus, thus suggesting that the pattern of reproductive hormonal changes in PGF2α-synchronized gilts may be quite similar to those of naturally cycling in-estrus gilts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic acid is one of the abundant environmental pollutants present in soil, water and the air. Undoubtedly, it has found its way to the food chain in which humans and animals are the final targets thereby causing arrays of disease conditions including cardiovascular and renal dysfunction. Hence, the use of phytochemicals present in medicinal plants has gained global acceptance as chemotherapeutic agents that can prevent, ameliorate, reverse or treat diseases. From our study, arsenic acid intoxication led to significant increase in heart rate (HR), QRS, together with prolonged QT and QTc interval. However, Kolaviron (KV) at the dosage of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight reversed the aforementioned electrocardiographic (ECG) changes. KV pre-treatment also ameliorated cardiorenal dysfunction via significant reduction in cardiac and renal markers of oxidative stress such as malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide generation, myeloperoxidase activity and nitric oxide contents. Immunohistochemistry revealed expressions of renal C-reactive proteins (CRP) and expressions of anti-apoptotic protein BCL2 in KV treated rats. Furthermore, cardiac troponin I (CTnI) expressions were lower in KV treated rats. Taken together, KV mitigated arsenic-acid induced cardiovascular dysfunction via up-regulation of antioxidant defense system and down-regulation of inflammatory and apoptotic signaling pathways.