Animal Research International

508 – 512

Authors: NDUKA, Florence Onyemachi., EGBU, Ada., OKAFOR, Chioma and NWAUGO, Victor Oluoha

A study of the prevalence of Malaria parasites in pregnant women attending pre - natal care in Government hospitals in two major towns (Aba and Okigwe) in Southeast Nigeria was carried out. Blood was collected by vein puncture from 500 pregnant women in different trimesters (300 from Aba and 200 from Okigwe) and 200 non - pregnant women, 100 from each town. Presence of Malaria parasite was observed microscopically on thin and thick blood smears prepared from each sample. Personal data were collected both orally and from maternity records of the women. The results were analysed statistically using the Chi - square test. Only the ring trophozoite and gametocyte forms of Plasmodium falciparum were observed in the infected samples. A total of 270 (54 %) pregnant women out of the 500 examined were infected with P. falciparum while 66(33 %) of the non - pregnant women sampled were infected. This represents a significant difference. Aba had 158 (52.6 %) out of the 300 pregnant women examined infected while Okigwe had 112(56 %) of the 200 pregnant women examined infected. There was no significant difference between the results obtained in the two towns. (P > 0.05). Peak prevalence was observed in the first trimester 64.1 % (100 out of 156) while 3rd trimester showed the lowest 45 % (68 of 150). Prevalence was also highest in primgraviidae and women in second pregnancy (67.96 %). Multiparous women (3rd pregnancy and above) had 39.31 % . Age was significant. Anaemia (Hb. < 11g/dl) was observed in 385 (77 % ) of the 500 pregnant women examined. Of the 270 infected women 254(94.07 %) were anaemic. Anaemia was significantly higher in women with higher parastemia (Z.cal. = 9.06). The implications of this result on the epidemiology of malaria are discussed.

516 – 520

Authors: NWAMBA, Helen Ogochukwu, MGBENKA, Bernard Obialo, UGWU, Lawrence Linus Chukwuma and CHIFOMMA, Agnes Nkechi

The effects of exposing Heterobranchus bidorsalis juveniles (14.08 ± 0.12 g) to different concentrations of Bonny-light crude oil (BLCO) on amylase and cretinine kinase activities were studied. The exposure of the fish to 1.00, 2.00, 4.00, 8.00 ml L-1 BLCO and a control for 4 days toxicity period indicated that the significant increases (P < 0.01) in the serum amylase (SRA) and the hepatic cytosolic amylase (HCA) activities in the fish were BLCO concentrations dependent. Reduced SRA and HCA activities noticed within the first 14 days of the recovery period implied that the removal of the oil pollutant from the ambient water chemistry probably lowered the pressure on the blood serum and liver amylase enzyme to catalyse the metabolism of the ingested carbohydrates. Significant increases (P < 0.05) in the serum cretinine kinase (SRCK) and the hepatic cytosolic cretinine kinase (HCCK) activities in the fish also followed the pattern shown by the SRA and the HCA activities. The increased SRA, HCA, SRCK and HCCK activities in the blood serum and liver of the fish were indications of a shift in the carbohydrate metabolism due to crude oil exposure.

527 – 530

Authors: OCHIOGU, Izuchukwu Shedrack, UCHENDU, Chukwuka Nwocha and IHEDIOHA, John Ikechukwu

A new and simple method of detecting mated female albino rats was developed and tested for precision and accuracy. The method involved the gross observation of grey to yellowish protein coagulates (remnants of the copulatory plug) on vaginal smears of mated females made on clean glass slides. Results of test of the new method showed that the mean length of time between observation of the protein coagulates on vaginal smears and delivery of the mated pregnant females was 21.39  0.11 days (range = 20 – 23 days, n = 58), which concurred with the normal 21-day gestation length of rats. The coefficient of variation (CV) of imprecision of the new method was found to be 3.74 %. This new method is simple, easy to apply and does not interfere with fertilization and pregnancy, and also does not involve either the use of specially designed rat cages or microscopy of vaginal smears, which were the constraints of the former methods of confirming mating in rats.

534 – 539

Authors: ONYIDO Angus Ejidike, MAMAH Ngozika Juliana, IKPEZE Obiora Osegboka and ONONIWU Christian Ebele

Oral epidemiological assessment of dental disorders was carried out between April and July 2006 among the residents of Ugbo-Odogwu escarpment on Udi Hill near Enugu, Eastern Nigeria. Dental abrasions with prevalence rate of 37.3 %, attrition (31.3 %), calculus (87.5 %), caries (78.8 %), gingivitis (62.6 %), gum recession (53.8 %), halitosis (82.7 %), periodontitis (52.6 %), stains (78.6 %) and teeth erosions (24.8 %) were the specific dental disorders observed in the area. Every subject had one form or the other of these oral conditions occurring concomitantly. Gender and age specific prevalence of dental disorders as well as nutritional habits, suspected to play major roles in the initiation and development of dental disorders in the study population were discussed. The result of this study could be used to develop a Management Information System (MIS) for Dental Health Care in Nigeria. It may also stimulate further research interests in the relationships between dental disorders and the nutritional habits of other communities in the developing world.

545 – 548

Authors: UFELE, Angela Nwogor, MGBENKA, Bernard Obialo and UDE, Joan Frances

Trypanosomiasis is a disease of agricultural interest in livestock. The research was therefore aimed at finding out if adequate nutrition would ameliorate reproductive disorder in trypanosome-infected pregnant rats. Twenty female rats of 120 days old were used. They were kept 5 rats in each cage replicated three times. Four treatments diet each containing trypanotolerant; 80 mg of Vitamin E and 0.3 mg of selenium (additives) were used. In Treatment 1, trypanosome infected reproducing female rats were fed Diet 1 (Control) comprising chick mash mixed with the additives. In Treatment 2, the rats were fed Diet 2 comprising dietary protein and carbohydrate mixed with the additives. In Treatment 3, the rats were fed Diet 3 made up of dietary protein and the additives. In Treatment 4, the rats were fed Diet 4 made of dietary carbohydrate and the additives. The birth weight was measured and number of ratlets from each treatment was also counted to determine the effect of the diets on the birth. At the end of the experiment, it was observed that trypanosome-infected pregnant rats fed Diet 2 (with adequate concentrations of carbohydrate and protein) significantly (P < 0.05) had higher birth weight of offspring and multiple births than the rats fed with other treatments diets indicating that adequate nutrition promoted reproduction in trypanosome-infected rats.

553 – 561

Authors: IBEMENUGA, Keziah Nwamaka and INYANG, Nicholas

Macroinvertebrate fauna of Ogbei stream in Anambra state, Nigeria was studied from monthly samples taken from six stations or sites with a benthic scoop net and a serrated cylindrical sampler (SCS) for 12 months (May, 2002 – April, 2003). A total of 11420 macroinvertebrates were collected belonging to 4 classes, 13 orders, 28 families and 50 species. The fauna was dominated numerically by Insecta (98.29 %), Arachnida (0.81%) and Oligochaeta (0.66%). Diptera was the most abundant taxon (42.62%), followed by Odonata (36.89%), Coleoptera (9.76 %) and Hemiptera (8.22 %). Station 3 had the highest percentage of abundance of the macrofauna (28.56 %) followed by station 2 (19.54 %). The highest faunal diversity was recorded in station 6. The macroinvertebrate composition, distribution abundance and diversity were influenced by substrate composition, good water quality and availability of food.

566 – 569

Authors: SAGANUWAN, Alhaji Saganuwan and GULUMBE, Mohammed Lawal

The research was carried out to evaluate the in-vitro antimicrobial activity and phytochemical constituents of Cassia occidentialis. Cassia leaves were collected from Kacha town in Niger State and extracted using methanol, hexane, chloroform and water extraction methods. Serial concentrations: 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 % methanol, hexane, chloroform and aqueous extracts were prepared and sterilized. The bacterial isolates used; E. coli, P. multocida, S. typhi, S. typhimurium, S. pyogenes, S. pneumoniae and K. pneumoniae were authenticated using biochemical and serological methods. The suspension (0.5) of each bacterial isolate was prepared in isotonic sodium chloride. The disc agar diffusion method was performed on 70 Mueller-Hinton agar plates, 10 per microorganism , using serial diffusion concentration: 500, 600, 700, 800, 900 and 1000 mg of hexane, methanol, chloroform and water. The results showed that all the extracts of Cassia occidentalis have antimicrobial activity on E. coli at concentrations between 900 – 1000 mg. E. coli was most susceptible to hexane extract at concentration ranges between 500 – 1000 mg, there was no antimicrobial activity exhibited against the other tested microorganisms. Phytochemical analyses showed the presence of alkaloid, tannin, saponin, glycoside and flavonoid, steroid was absent.

573 – 580

Authors: EKPENYONG, Ekaette Asuquo and EYO, Joseph Effiong

Plasmodium infection in man is caused by the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. This results in the disease, malaria. Malaria has serious debilitating effects on man. It adversely affects man’s health, strength and productivity. Here, a review of Plasmodium infection in man including the life cycle, transmission, immunity, symptoms, diagnosis, pathology, prevention, control and treatment is given. Only by knowing about Plasmodium infection, the burden of infection on man and the prevention and control options can we understand the disease better and so be better prepare for the future management of this disease.