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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.

The development of aquaculture in Nigeria is constrained by the inadequate supply of high quality of fingerlings of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). There are conflicting reports on the reproductive efficacy of Vernonia amygdalina when compared with the synthetic hormone Ovaprim (OV) and Pituitary Extract (PE) on C. gariepinus. The histopathology of select organs in catfish treated with generic Ovaprim (OV), Pituitary Extract (CPE), and aqueous extract of Vernonia amygdalina (VAE) were evaluated. Sixteen female C. gariepinus (average weight of 1 kg) wereevenly and randomly distributed to four groups. Fish in groups A, B, C, and D were injected intramuscularly with aqueous solutions of OV (0.5 mL/kg), PE (5 mg/kg), VAE (10 mg/kg), and distilled water (DW; 0.5 ml), respectively. Histological examinations of the ovary, liver, kidney, and spleen were carried out. Histopathology revealed that OV- and PE-treated groups showed synchronous and synchronous ovarian development, vacuolar change of hepatocytes, thinning of hepatic cords, reduced renal haemopoietic compartments, tubular degeneration and necrosis, and decrease in splenic periarteriolar lymphoid sheaths (PALS). VAE-treated groups had asynchronous ovarian development with atretic ovarian follicles, widespread vacuolar change of hepatocytes, intact renal tubular and hemopoietic compartments, and preponderance of large and coalescing splenic PALS. We conclude that VAE is an ineffective spawning agent, especially when compared with OV and PE, as VAE could not induce synchronous gonadal development. However, VAE may have immunopotentiating, nephroprotective, and haemopoietic properties. Keywords: Clarias gariepinus, Vernonia amygdalina extract, Pituitary extract, Ovaprim, Gonadal development, Histopathology, Reproductive performance

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

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

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

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)

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)