Animal Research International

643 – 646

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

Trypanosomiasis is an important livestock disease in sub-Saharan Africa. Improvement in the host’s nutrition is important in moderating the severity of the pathophysiological effect of trypanosomiasis and it also influences the rate of recovery. Earlier researchers demonstrated that dietary supplements of selenium and vitamin E enhanced immune response in white rats. It has also been reported that during pregnancy, the immune response is depressed. Leucocyte count has been recognized as a measure of immune response. This research was therefore conducted using chicks’ marsh fortified with 80 mg of vitamin E and 0.3 mg of selenium as control (Diet 1) to determine the effect of dietary supplementation of moderate protein (combination of 250 g of corn meal, 240 g soyabean meal and 10 g of crayfish) in the chicks’ mash (Diet 2), high dietary protein (combination of 400 g of caseinogen and 300 g of soyabean meal) (Diet 3), and high dietary carbohydrate (combination of 400 g dextrose and 300 g cornmeal) (Diet 4) in the chicks’ mash on the white blood cells count and differential leucocytes count of trypanosome-infected pregnant rats. Dies 1 – 4 were given to rats in Cage A – D, respectively. The rats were infected with trypanosomes within the 10th to 14th day of pregnancy. Each experimental setup was replicated three times. On comparing the total white blood cell counts of all the rats fed different diets, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the rats in Cage A (fed Diet 1) and rats in Cage B (fed Diet 2), and similarly between rats in Cage C (fed Diet 3) and rats in Cage D (fed Diet 4). There was, however, a significant difference (P < 0.05) between rats in Cage A and rats in Cages C and D, and also between rats in Cage B and those in Cages C and D. Diet 2 with a moderate (20.01%) protein level and a balance of other nutrients produced the highest leucocytes count. Diet 2 therefore produced the highest immune response in the pregnant trypanosome-infected rats.

650 – 652

Authors: EZE, Sabinus Onyebuchi, CHILAKA, Ferdinand Chiemeka and AKUNWATA, Chima Uzoma

Lipase activity was studied in four varieties of Corn (Zea mays) namely: Local yellow (LY), Western yellow (WY), Western white (WW), and Popcorn (POP). Using emulsified olive oil as substrate, lipase was found to be present in the dry seeds of maize. Lipase activity increased with germination and reached its peak on the first day of germination for WY and LY, the third day for POP, and sixth day for WW. Lipase activity was tested for its ability to hydrolyze different emulsified oils such as groundnut oil, palm kernel oil, and soybean oil. The highest activity was with soybean oil. This high activity was correlated with the high specificity of corn lipase on linoleic acid. Thermal inactivation studies showed that the enzyme was stable up to 50oC and showed rapid inactivation above this temperature. Its optimum temperature was 50oC and the optimum pH, 8.0.

662 – 665

Authors: EZECHI, Chibuzor Uchenna and NWUBA, Lucy Afulenu

This paper describes the growth response of the developmental stages of hybrid catfish resulting from the crossing of Heterobranchus bidorsalis (male) and Clarias gariepinus (female), fed with different feed rations. Hatchlings of the hybrid catfish were cultured in plastic aquaria set up at the fish hatchery complex, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. The hatchlings were fed and observed for 91 days. Different food items such as artificially compounded feed, zooplankton / live organisms Moina sp. and Brachionus sp., and a mixture of zooplankton (Moina sp. and Brachionus sp.) and artificially compounded feed were administered. The mixture gave the best result with a mean weight of 7 92g ± 2.73g followed by those fed Moina sp. (1.93g ± 0.27) and Brachionus sp. (1.80g ± 0.32) respectively. Hatchlings fed only artificially compounded feed exhibited the poorest growth. A mixture of live food organisms and artificially compounded feed is thus recommended for better growth response of catfish hybrid, (H. bidorsalis ♂ x C. gariepinus ♀)

673 – 676

Authors: KALU, Kalu Mong., NDUKA, Florence Onyemachi and ETUSIM, Paschal Emeka

The investigation on Anopheles species in Konduga lake area, Borno State of Nigeria, was carried out to identify various Anopheles species prevalent in the area and to determine their relative population densities. Six Anopheles species were recorded, namely, A. gambiae, A. funestus, A. ziemanni, A. squamosus, A. pharoensis, and A. maculipalpis. The relative population densities of various species were higher during rainy season than during the dry season. The population densities of female Anopheles were higher than those of the males. With the exemption of A. maculipalpis, all the other Anopheles species recorded during the study are known transmitters of human malaria. A. gambiae of the A. gambiae complex was dominant in the study area. The periodic occurrence of Anopheles explains periodicity of malaria epidemiology in the study area. The high population of the female Anopheles predisposes inhabitants of the study area to incessant contact with the malaria vectors. Lake Konduga and its environments seem to satisfy the basic requirements of Anopheles mosquitoes growth and survival.

680 – 684

Authors: IDOWU, Rachel Toyosi, GADZAMA, Usman Ngamarju, ABBATOIR, Ahmed and INYANG, Nicholas Mathias

The species composition, abundance and distribution of molluscs population together with some physico-chemical variables from five different stations in the littoral region of lake Alau, Maiduguri; Borno state, were studied from October 2001 to September 2002. Three patterns of seasonal abundance were found, maximal abundance during the rainy season (July -September), moderate abundance during the harmattan season (November – February) and minimal abundance in the dry hot season (March - June). Significant differences in species composition and abundance of the molluscs were found between stations studied. The total number of organisms recorded was 3368 comprising of 1924 Bivalves and 1544 Gastropoda. 8 families were recorded which includes Bithyniidae, Hydrobiidae, Lymnaeidae, Physidae, Valvatidae, Vivipariidae, Sphaeridae and Unionidae while 15 species were observed in this study. The predominant families in terms of total number collected from all stations Sphaeridae and Unionidae recording 1006 and 933 organisms with the percentage compositions of 29.86% and 27.7%. The least was from the families Lymnaciidae with total number of 116 and 3.44% as the percentage composition. The abundance of the molluscs was positively and significantly correlated at 5% confidence with temperature (r = 0.675), dissolved oxygen (r = 0.832), phosphate (r = 0.528).

691 – 697

Authors: NWAMBA, Helen Ogochukwu, UGWU, Lawrence Linus Chukwuma, MGBENKA, Bernard Obialo and UKOKO, Lucky

The blood erythrocytic (RBC) and leucocytic (WBC) components of Heterobranchus bidorsalis juveniles exposed to different concentration of crude oil fractions were studied. Two study periods namely the toxicity and recovery periods were adopted. Lubricating engine oil (LBO), Bonny-light crude oil (BLCO), Kerosene (DPK) and premium motor spirit (PMS) were respectively applied at four concentrations 1.00, 2.00, 4.00 and 8.00 ml L-1,. Lower numbers of RBCs were recorded in fish samples exposed to the crude oil fractions than in the control fish. The comparatively high RBCs in fish during the 4 days toxicity period than during 42 days recovery periods is attributed to the greater destruction of RBCs during the toxicity period. The 4.00 ml L-1 LBO and BLCO concentration were apparently preferred by the fish to maintain a higher number of RBCs than with 1.00, 2.00, and 8.00 ml L-1 concentrations. Similarly, the 8.00 ml L-1 concentrations of DPK and PMS gave better values of RBCs than the 1.00, 2.00 and 4.00 ml L-1 concentrations. Reduced number WBCs in the fish blood during the toxicity period at concentrations of 1.00, 4.00 and 8.00 ml L-1 LBO; was recorded likely the phagocytic action of the WBCs.

702– 704

Authors: ADEYEMO, Abiodun Oluseye and FALAYE, Augustine Eyiwunmi

A sample of 27 fish was collected from the fish breeding centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Agodi, Ibadan. This sample was examined for parasitic incidence and the results showed 77.7 % parasitic prevalence while infection was not sex dependent (P > 0.05). Parasitic prevalence within the sample increases as length of fish increases. The prevalence of parasites encountered were Henneguya (3.7%), Dactylogyrus sp (11.1 %), Capillaria sp (7.4 %), unidentified larvae(7.4 %),unidentified cysts(40.7%), Dibothriocephalu sp (3.7 %), Argulus 7.4 %), Ichthophthirius (3.7 %) and Tricodina (3.7 %).