Animal Research International

591 – 596

Authors: OTI, Egwu Emmanuel and NWANI, Christopher Didigwu

The impact of acute exposure of karate (Lambda cyhalothrin pyrethroid) insecticide was evaluated in a 4–day exposure period at 20, 40, 60, and 80 ppm to Heterobranchus bidosal s(+) X Clarias gariepinus(♂) fingerlings showed the 96-hlc 50 as 25.11 ppm. The threshold value was 25. 11 ppm. The gills of the exposed fish analyzed showed a significant decrease in all major cations and anions(C1-, Ca2+, Na+, K+, Mg2+ ) at P < 0.05). There was no inhibition of uptake of the cat ons and anions (C1-, Ca2+ Na+, K+, Mg2+). Their uptake increased rapidly during the 24-hour period and dropped at 48 hr and 72 hr and gradually increased at the end of 96 hr showing that it was time-dependent. During the exposure period, the fish stood in an upright position with their snouts above the water surface gasping for air. Other behavioral characteristics of the exposed fish were peeling of the skin, the initial increase in opercula movement, curvature of the body, loss of balance, erratic swimming, and quietness Based on the outcome of this research and under similar experimental condition this research recommends that this pyrethroid will affect the uptake of the major cations and anions. It further advises environmental officers, crop farmers, and insecticides habitual users to be cautious about the use of this insecticide because of the resultant consequences of the misuse

601 – 607

Authors: ONYECHI, Uchenna Agatha, ELLIS, Peter and JUDD, Patricia Ann

Detarium microcarpium is a leguminous plant food used traditionally among the Ibos in the southeastern part of Nigeria as a thickening agent in vegetable soups. Detarium is largely un-characterised and under-exploited. There is a dearth of information in the literature on this plant food. The study aims to process, analyze, and characterize detarium flour; screen detarium using rats to investigate its physiological effect on the general metabolism of rats, compare detarium to guar gum (GG) as a positive control, to determine the effects o the two foods on the plasma cholesterol level o rats. The result of the analysis showed that powdered detarium has a mean particle size of 464µm. The SNSP content per 100 g food sample was 59.8 g The viscosity of 1% aqueous dispersion of the powdered detarium food sample obtained using the U tube capillary viscometer was 4000 – 24000 cp. The main SNSP fraction of detarium was dented to be a high molecular weight xyloglucan. In the rat study, the experimental diet contained detarium or guar gum, as positive control, at a level providing 80g soluble NSP/kg d et. Food intake, faecal output, weight gain, digestibility, food efficiency ratio, and plasma cholesterol (after overnight fasting) were measured. The result showed that the cholesterol levels of rats fed detarium and guar gum diets were significantly lower than the control (P < 0.05) using the analysis of variance. Detarium and guar gum covariates such as weight gain, food intake, and faecal output. The results obtained indicate that detarium may possess properties as guar gum which may be useful in the management of diabetes and disorders of lipid metabolism in humans.

611 – 616

Authors: ODO Gregory Ejikeme, INYANG Nicholas Matthias, EZENWAJI Henry Maduka Godfrey and NWANI Christopher Didiugwu

A survey of macroinvertebrate fauna of the Anambra River was carried out for 22 months at Otuocha, Ogurugu, and Nsugbe. The macro invertebrates were sampled using kick sampling techniques and scoop nets. Sampled specimens were identified to generic level. During the study, a total of 21 genera of macroinvertebrates belonging to 13 families were identified. The fauna was composed of Gyrinus sp. (29.2%), Macrobranchium sp. (19.6%), Ranatra sp. (13.2%), and Agabus sp. (3.5%). The Margalef’s index of fauna richness showed that Otuocha station had the highest species richness (12.70), followed by Nsugbe (7.01), and Ogurugu (6.80) stations. The least fauna diversity of 0 21 was registered at Nsugbe as against 3.15 at Otuocha and 0.86 at Ogurugu. The Mc Naughton community dominance index was more pronounced at Nsugbe (53.1) than at Otuocha (49.69) and Ogurugu (47.04). Jackson’s fauna similarly index showed that the fauna at Otuocha and Ogurugu were more closely related (0.64) than the fauna at Nsugbe.

621 – 625

Authors: ONYECHI Uchenna Agatha, JUDD Patricia Ann and ELLIS Peter Rory

The effects of vegetable flour prepared from indigenous plant Afzelia africana, a legume, on the fasting plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels of rats, were investigated. Chemical analysis indicated that Afzelia flour contained significant amount of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP). The flour of Afzelia was incorporated into a semi-synthetic diet to provide 10g of dietary fibre which is 300g/kg Afzelia f our. This rep aced some of the casein, oil, and starch in the control diet. The test and control diets were fed to young Sprague-Dawley rats for 14 days ad libitum. Food intake, weight gain, crude digestibility, faecal fat excretion, fasting plasma cholesterol, and triglyceride were evaluated. The result showed a statistically significant difference (p > 0 05) between the control diet and the test diet in food intake, weight gain, and energy digestibility. Afzelia-fed rats had significantly higher fasting plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels than rats fed the control diet.

630 – 634

Authors: EWUIM Sylvanus Chima and EZEANI Ifeoma

A study was carried out to access the insect fauna of a fallow plot in Awka, Nigeria, in relation to their diel activities and to report any differences in the pitfall catches as a result of differences in the fluid used. The fluid used in the three sets of six traps installed bimonthly at the sites for 12 hours in each case were 5% formalin, water with 0.01% banana flavour essence and ordinary water. Using the Student t-test, statistical differences existed in the diurnal and nocturnal activities of the Sminthurididae, Poduromorpha, Diptera, Acantholepsis, Paratrechina sp. and Camponotus, at probability level P<0 05 with more nocturnal catches obtained in all cases for water with banana flavour essence. Similarly, statistical differences also existed in the trapping of Poduromorpha, Entomobryomorpha, Acantholepsis and Camponotus sp., for pitfall traps containing water. For pitfall traps with 5% formalin statistical differences, existed in the trapping Sminthurididae Poduromorpha, Diptera, Acheta lefofevrei, Acantholepsis sp., Hymenoptera (other than formicids) and orthopteran larvae, with more nocturnal catches recorded for the pitfall traps with banana flavour essence, possibly indicating the attractive properties o this particular flavour essence. The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test also showed that statistical differences existed in the diurnal and nocturnal catches of insects obtained using the three killing agents. The Fisher’s Probability Least Significance Difference (F-LSD) also established statistical differences in the catches made using banana flavour essence and water and also with ordinary water and formalin, with the nocturnal catches being higher than the diurnal catches. The F-LSD also confirmed that the total nocturnal catches were significantly higher than the total diurnal catches obtained using all three killing agents. An approximate ratio of 1 2 was also obtained in the catches in relation to diurnal and nocturnal activities respectively

639 – 642

Authors: IVOKE Njoku, MGBENKA Bernard Obialo and OKEKE Ogochukwu

Twelve plastic basins each filled with 6 litres of dechlorinated tap water at pH 6, 7 (control), 7.5, and 8 such that each pH treatment was replicated three times in a Latin square design were used for the study. The tanks were randomly stocked with 10 four-week-old Clarias gariepinus (♀) x Heterobranchus bidorsalis (♂) hybrid juveniles (mean weight 3.32 ± 0.05 g) and fed 30.25% crude protein diets for five weeks. Fish growth was measured by weighing the juveniles every week and the weight differences, specific growth rate (SGR), and food conversion ratio (FCR) determined. Fish raised at pH treatment 7.0 recorded significantly higher weight gain (P < 0.05) than other pH treatments. Weight gain of fish raised at pH 6.0 was however not different (P > 0.05) from that of fish raised on pH 8.0 treatment. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the SGR of the juveniles raised at pH 6 and pH 8. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the SGR of fish raised at pH 7 and pH 7.5 but there was a significant difference between the SGR of fish raised at pH 7 and fish raised at other treatments. Fish showed reduced growth when raised at pH 6 and pH 8 and positive growth when raised at pH 7 and 7.5 though there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the FCR of fish cultured at all pH treatments. Our results showed that the optimal pH range for raising the hybrid catfish juveniles was between 7.0 – 7.5 pH.