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The haematological and serum profile of Kano brown bucks fed neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf meal was investigated for 63 days. Twelve growing Kano Brown bucks were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments with three animals per treatments in a completely randomized block design. Treatment A was the control diet without neem leaf meal while treatments B, C and D had 10%, 20% and 30% potash-treated neem leaf inclusion levels respectively. Blood samples were collected at the end of the experiment for analysis of haematology and biochemical parameters. The mean value of packed cell volume, haemoglobin, red blood cell counts and white blood cell counts were significantly (p>0.05) different across all treatments. The mean and standard deviation were 29.00, 90.10; 10.06, 0.39; 9.50, 0.55; 10.5, 1.11; 30.20, 0.08; 10.41, 0.85 and 33.02, 0.45 for PCV, Hg, RBC, WBC, MCV, MCH and MCHC respectively. Mean corpuscular volume was significantly (p

Cola-nut leaf is an agricultural waste which was used in this research as biosorbent for the adsorption of Cd2+and Cr6+from aqueous solutions. The leaves of cola nut were modified using 0.1 M HCl. Modified cola nut leaves biosorbent showed slightly higher percentage sorption than the unmodified leaves, for both heavy metals with increasing contact time, having greater affinity for Cd2+. The equilibrium sorption data was attained using the batch technique with increased pH (9) and increased adsorbent dose (1 g/25 cm3of adsorbate) and initial metal concentration. The functional group of cola nut leaves before and after adsorption was determined using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Kinetics data were best fitted to a pseudo-second-order model. Equilibrium data were better described by the Temkin isotherm model with a multilayer adsorption capacity. The study showed that leaves of cola nut are a promising biosorbent for Cd2+and Cr6+which could be utilized for industrial wastewater remediation.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the potential effects associated with dietary probiotic inclusion and the stocking density on carcass traits, meat chemical composition, meat sensory quality, microbial populations and ileal histomorphology in broiler chickens raised under hot climate conditions. In total, 1800 1-day-old unsexed broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly allocated in a completely randomised design according to a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement, with three concentrations of a dietary probiotic (0, 200 and 400 mg/kg) containing 4 × 109 cfu/g of Bacillus subtilis and two stocking densities (12 or 18 birds/m2), forming six treatments, with three pens (replicates) each. The probiotic concentration had no significant (P > 0.05) effect on bodyweight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, carcass percentage and meat chemical composition. Dietary probiotic inclusion significantly (P = 0.02) increased the scores of meat colour and odour. The acceptability score was significantly (P < 0.03) affected by the stocking density. Dietary supplementation of the probiotic at both 200 and 400 mg/kg significantly (P = 0.05) reduced the counts of Escherichia coli and Salmonella in the gut and litter. In meat, dietary supplementation of the probiotic at 200 and 400 mg/kg significantly (P = 0.03) reduced the counts of E. coli, compared with those of the control group. Moreover, Salmonella was not detected in meat. Regarding the ileal villi and crypt morphology, dietary probiotic supplementation significantly (P = 0.05) increased the height of the villus. There were no significant probiotic concentration × stocking density interactions for any of the investigated parameters, except for the gizzard percentage. Thus, dietary probiotic supplementation in broilers raised under a high ambient temperature had a significantly positive effect on the ileal villus height and a significantly negative effect on the counts of E. coli and Salmonella in the gut and litter. No negative effects on growth performance, carcass parts and meat quality were detected.

The S-100 and alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) proteins have been localised in epididymal tissue of several mammalian species, but there have been no data for a seasonal work in camel. The aim of this study was to investigate the immunoreactivities of S-100 and α-SMA proteins in the epididymis of dromedary camel during breeding and nonbreeding seasons. The immunopositive signals for both proteins were observed in different regions of camel epididymis. S-100-immunopositive signals were noted in both the epididymal epithelium and the intertubular connective tissue, while α-SMA signals were confined to the intertubular connective tissue, especially in the peritubular smooth muscle coat and the blood vessels. This study showed an increase in the intensity of S-100 and α-SMA immunoreactions during the breeding season in different regions of camel epididymis than that seen in the nonbreeding season. In conclusion, epididymis might be considered as a source of S-100 and α-SMA proteins in the camel and the secretion of these proteins showed distinct seasonal variations. Further, S-100 and α-SMA may affect the structural and physiological states of the epididymal duct.