Animal Research International

2316 – 2320

Authors: ECHI, Paul Chinedu and EZENWAJI, Henry Maduka Godfrey

The length-weight relationship of the commonly caught species of characids; Brycinus leuciscus, Hydrocynus vittatus, Alestes baremoze, and Brycinus macrolepidotus is provided in this study along with their percentage relative frequency of food groups. There were positive estimates for the coefficient of correlation (r2) of the length-weight relationship whereas the condition factor (K) values depict the overall poor being of these species. The lower condition factor (K) range (0.693 – 1.688) was suggestive of poor ecological conditions due to heavy anthropogenic influence on the River. The feed spectrum showed that the four species consumed oligochaetes, detritus, rice bran, adult insects, larvae of insect, groundnut, maize, beans, Bambara nut and cassava tuber.

2328 – 2337

Authors: YASHIM, Suleiman Makama, ADEKOLA, Samuel Tayo, ABDU, Salisu Bakura, GADZAMA, Ishaya Usman and HASSAN, Mohammed Rabiu

The study was carried out to evaluate the growth performance, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen intake of growing red Sokoto bucks fed graded levels of dried sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) peel meal (DSOPM). Twelve animals aged between 5 – 7 months with an average body weight of 9.17 kg were assigned to four dietary treatments T1 (control), T2, T3 and T4 containing 0%, 2.5%, 5.0% and 7.5% DSOPM, respectively in a completely randomized block design (CRBD) with three goats per treatment. Each animal was fed at 2.5% body weight and provided drinking water ad libitum for 90 days. The results obtained revealed that DSOPM had a significant (p<0.05) effect on total feed intake (TFI), average daily feed intake (ADFI), final body weight (FBW), total body weight (TBW) and average daily weight gain (ADWG). Diet containing 0% inclusion level was significantly (p<0.05) best in total feed intake (37.13 ± 2.10kg), total body weight (4.16 ± 0.44kg), average daily weight gain (0.05 ± 0.008kg) and feed conversion ration (8.93 ± 0.11) compared to other treatment diets. Diet with the highest inclusion level of DSOPM (7.5%) recorded the lowest TBW (1.66 ± 0.50kg), average daily weight gain (0.02 ± 0.009kg), total feed intake (27.52 ± 1.02kg) and average daily feed intake (0.31 ± 0.03kg). Dry matter (DM) digestibility significantly (p<0.05) declined across T1, T2, T3 and T4 (54.24 ± 3.09%, 48.63 ± 4.11%, 44.03 ± 4.01% and 37.78 ± 3.34%), respectively. Crude Protein (CP) digestibility was highest in T3 (64.67 ± 4.11%) and lowest in T4 (48.33 ± 3.98%). Crude Fibre (CF) digestibility was highest in T3 (73.12 ± 12.05%) and lowest in T4 (20.77 ± 11.40%). Digestibility of ether extract (91.75 ± 15.15%) was highest in diet T2 and significantly (p<0.05) different from the other treatment diets. Nitrogen intake was highest in T1 (3.34 ± 0.13%) and lowest in T4 (2.83 ± 0.07%). It was concluded that diet T1 (containing 0% level of DSOPM) supported better growth performance than T2 (2.5%), T3 (5.0%) and T4 (7.5%) signifying that inclusion of DSOPM in goat diet significantly (p<0.05) reduced feed intake and improved nutrient digestibility.

2345 – 2351

Authors: OKAFOR, Ogochukwu, UZOKA, Ngozi Blessing, AJUNWA, Linda Oyibo, CHIKEZIE, Ikechukwu Chikezie, IYAM, Orok Iyam and DALLA, Victor Chatcham

Onchocerciasis is still endemic in Enugu East and Nkanu West Local Government Areas of Enugu State. This survey evaluated the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) and prevalence of onchocerciasis. For the KAP aspect of this survey, the Interviewers administered questionnaire was used as an instrument for collecting information from Respondents who participated in the skin snipping exercise. Skin snips were collected for the prevalence survey. A total of 149 persons participated in the prevalence survey out of which 88 participated in the KAP survey. Correct knowledge of the causative agent, mode of transmission and treatment of the disease were 21.60%, 21.60%, 22.72% respectively, which is quite low; while vector control and intake of ivermectin were 77.27% and 37.50% respectively. The result of the microscopic analysis of skin snips showed zero prevalence for both communities. However, palpitation exercises conducted just before skin snipping revealed the presence of nodules on some of the participants. Therefore a community-based health education intervention on vector control, cause, mode of transmission and treatment of the disease to improve KAP on onchocerciasis as well as confirmatory analysis of skin snips using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is recommended.

2359 – 2367

Authors: OLAJIDE, Joseph Eniola, AKANJI, Musbau Adewumi and DAIKWO, Moses Alilu

The effect of administration of potassium bromate, chloroquine (membrane labilizers) and their co-administration on some cellular enzymes was investigated. The levels of activity of these enzymes were measured in the liver, kidney and serum 24 hours after 21 days of daily oral administration of potassium bromate, chloroquine and the coadministration of potassium bromate and chloroquine. The experimental animals were divided into four groups randomly. Group 1 rats were administered with distilled water and served as control. Group 2 were rats administered with 25 mg/kg body weight of potassium bromate. Group 3 were rats administered with 25 mg/kg body weight chloroquine, while rats in group 4 were co-administered with 25 mg/kg body weight of potassium bromate and chloroquine. This study investigated the effects of repeated administration of two potent membrane disruptors either alone or in combination on liver and kidney cellular enzymes and serum enzymes. Rats administered with potassium bromate exhibited some physical observations which include rapid breathing, diarrhoea and difficulty in movement, while rats administered with chloroquine exhibited hyperactivities. Results of enzyme activity determination showed significant decreases (p<0.05) in the activity of kidney and liver dehydrogenases (lactate and glutamate) as well as in the transaminases (ALT and ASP) when potassium bromate and chloroquine were separately administered. Similarly, alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly reduced (p<0.05) in both tissues. Nonetheless, acid phosphatase (ACP) activity was not appreciably affected in both tissues. Corresponding significant increases (p<0.05) in the activity of these enzymes in the serum was observed. However, unexpected high values of enzyme activities in both tissues when both potassium bromate and chloroquine were co-administered were observed. The elevated level of enzyme activities in serum confirmed further the properties of potassium bromate and chloroquine as membrane labilizers causing the cellular enzymes to leak into the blood. Furthermore, the results obtained pointed to a probable synergy in the properties of the two compounds when they were administered concurrently, thereby creating a kind of modulatory effect on the enzymes, hence the observed increases in enzymes activity in the tissues studied. It could be inferred from the results therefore that the intrinsic properties of chemical substances could be modulated or modified intracellularly when in interaction with other compounds and even with the cell system.

2378 – 2384

Authors: DALLA, Victor Chatcham, AJUNWA, Linda Oyibo, UZOKA, Ngozi Blessing, CHIKEZIE, Ikechukwu Chikezie, IYAM, Orok Iyam and OKAFOR, Ogochukwu

Blackflies have been implicated over the years as the vector of onchocerciasis (River blindness). Ivermectin, on the other hand, has been the drug of choice for the treatment of onchocerciasis and to a great extent indirectly serves as a systemic insecticide thereby breaking the transmission cycle of the disease. This study tried to evaluate the impact of ivermectin in Ezza Nkwubor and Umuhu communities of Enugu East and Isi Uzor LGAs of Enugu State, respectively. An epidemiological survey was carried out to check for the presence of microfilariae in skin snip samples collected from both left and right iliac crests of subjects living in the community. A total of 147 subjects were evaluated in the two communities. There was a significant difference p = 0.266 in the age distribution and also in the gender distribution p = 0.316. It was observed that the knowledge of ivermectin in the study areas was significantly different p = 0.012 and for those that have been skin snipped before there was also a statistically significant difference p = 0.000. More so, all samples subjected to microscopic analysis tested negative. It will be hasty to conclude that onchocerciasis has been eliminated from these communities. Further studies on the presence of the vector and their vectorial capacity could also assist in determining the actual status of onchocerciasis in the study areas.