Animal Research International

774 – 776

Authors: AKUNNE, Chidi Emmanuel

The influence of cassava varieties on the developmental biology of Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) was investigated. This beetle was reared on flour varieties of cassava, namely: Danwari, Nwugo, Aburu-Asua and Anti-Ota. More eggs were laid in Danwari (132.0 + 6.1 egg) than in other cassava variety. The least number of eggs laid was in Nwugo (118.3+-4.5) in No-choice experiment. In Free-choice test, the highest number of eggs was recorded in Aburu-Asua (64.0 + 1.7 eggs) and the lowest (41.6 + 3.1 eggs) on Anti-Ota. The average total developmental period in, Aburu-Asua, Nwugo, Danwari and Anti-Ota were 32.5 + 0.4, 30.6 + 0.2, 28.5 + 0.1 and 34.7 + 0.1 days respectively. The low oviposition preference for Nwugo was attributed to the presence of oviposition deterrents in this variety, which might have protected it against the beetle attack.

780 – 782

Authors: EWUIM, Sylvanus Chima

An investigation was carried out to study the beetle fauna of a cultivated farmland and tropical rainforest plot at the Permanent. Site of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka for a twelve-month period using the pitfall technique. Eight pitfall traps made up of plastic containers with mouth diameters of 9.80 cm and 6.20 cm deep were set monthly at random in the two sampling sites. The traps, which were filled to one¬ third with 5 % formalin, serving a preservative, were recovered after twenty-four hours and the insects caught sorted and counted under a dissecting microscope. Species of beetle obtained from the cultivated plot were Macrocheilus labrosus, Hyparpalus sp., Carpophilus fumatus, Podagrica uniforma, Tetragonothorax sp., Chlaenius sp., Pheropsophus parallus, Silidas apicalis, Tenebroides mauritanicus, Heteroderes sp., and Heterorynchus licas while only Hyparpalus sp., and Mylabris sp., were obtained from the fallow plot. The result of Fisher's Least Significance Difference (F-LSD) test shows that the pitfall catches of beetles from the two sampling sites were significantly different at p-value of 0.0002 and mean difference of 3.417. The heterogeneity of the beetle species at the cultivated plot was traced to nature of vegetation and mode of life of the beetle species. The role of certain beetle families as faunal indicators was highlighted. Other factors, which influenced the beetle species at the arable plot and their non-trapping at the forest ecosystem, were also discussed.

787 – 794

Authors: IVOKE, Njoku

A cross-sectional epidemiological investigation was conducted in Nsukka senatorial zone of Nigeria to evaluate the use of specific clinical signs/symptoms in the assessment of the endemicity, prevalence and morbidity of Loa loa infection in areas meso-endemic for onchocerciasis, and to evaluate the results in respect of the probability of occurrence of adverse reactions, post-treatment with ivermectin in areas presumed to be hypo-, meso-, and hyper endemic for Loa loa infection and morbidity. Standard questionnaire based on the key clinical manifestations of loiasis were administered and the microfilaraemic levels of respondents determined at both community and individual levels. The results showed that the clinical symptoms/signs were known in all the study communities. Altogether 22.0% of respondents (n=1600) positively indicated having experienced either Loa loa infection and/ or Calabar swelling. Based on the questionnaire indices, an intercommunity prevalence of 21.9% (range 17.50 - 27.50%) was established. An overall community median microfilaraemia (mf) prevalence of 19.4% (range 15.0 - 26.3%) was also recorded. A microfilaraemia prevalence >20% was however established in >35% of the study communities indicating the possibility of adverse reaction after ivermectin administration. More males (n=203, 12.7%) than females (n=109, 6.8%) were microfilaraemic. Linear logistic regression indicated that Loa loa infection was significantly associated with age (adjusted odds ratio: 1.12, 95% confidence interval: 1.00-1.14, p<0.001). The intercommunity mean intensity of microfilarial load varied (range 112 ± 25 – 205 ± 30).The best diagnostic performance was obtained for reported history of L. loa with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 94.6%.

801 – 803

Authors: ONYISHI, Livinus Eneje and ONYISHI, Grace Chinenye

The mushroom flora and associated insect pests of mushrooms in Nsukka urban was studied. The abundance of mushrooms from sampled communities is indicated with the family, Agaricaceae predominating “out of home” environment yielded more mushrooms (4.62) than the homestead environment (3.26). Insect pests associated with different mushrooms were Megasiela aganic Musca domestica Pygmaephorous stercola Paychybolus ligulatus and Drosophilla melanogester among others.

811 – 815

Authors: UGOCHUKWU, Emma Ikenna

The aetiology and epidemiology of African trypanosomiasis in bovine species are comprehensively presented. In addition, a critical review of the history and transmission of the disease is exhaustively discussed. The mystery of other epizootiological factors associated with bovine trypanosomiasis is highlighted. Four major elements were identified as important in the epizootiology of African animal trypanosomiasis namely the trypanosome, the tsetse fly, the mammalian host and the environmental factors. It was concluded that the phenomenon of high rate of resistance referred to as trypanosotolerance has genetic correspondence.

819 – 822

Authors: AKPODIETE, Orienru Job

The performance response and egg qualities of laying birds fed enzyme supplemented PKC diets as replacement for maize was investigated with 210, 20 week old laying pullets of Dominant Black strain at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Nigeria. The birds which just come into lay were randomly allotted into seven dietary groups of 30 each in three replicates. The experiment was conducted for 11 weeks. Dietary treatments significantly (p<0.05) affected feed intake, Hen day percent, Egg weight, Feed efficiency (Kg feed: Kg eggs) and cost of feed per egg. Final live weight and body weight gains at end of the experiment were similar (p<0.05) among treatments. On egg qualities, only Haugh unit was significantly (p<0.05) improved with increased level of PKC which appeared to be better as rate of enzyme supplementation increases. The differences observed in the experiment on performance parameters appeared not to have established a consistence trend to strongly assert a conclusion but are indicative of the possibility of replacing maize with PKC in a laying birds diet up to 40 % when supplemented with Hemicell® enzyme. Other enzyme application methods may be investigated to see if better performance response trend can be achieved.

827 – 830

Authors: OKOYE, Ikem Chris., UBACHUKWU, Patience Obiageli., OKEKE, Veronica., OBIEZUE, Rose Nduka Nwanyo and ONYISHI, Grace Chinenye

A reassessment of the prevalence of onchocerciasis was carried out in Etteh community in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu state, Nigeria. The community has been known to be highly endemic for onchocerciasis. The assessment of endemicity was based on Rapid Assessment Method (RAM), which involved the use of two onchocercal indices namely the presence of palpable nodules and depigmentation (Leopard skin). Out of the 716 individuals examined consisting of 327 males and 389 females, the overall prevalence of palpable onchocercal nodules was 51.4%. The females had insignificantly (P>0.05) higher rate of onchocercomata (51.9%) than males (44.0%). The anatomical distribution of nodules in descending order of occurrence was pelvic region (26.3%), head and neck region (20.6%), thorax and lumbar (15.7%), upper limbs (14.5%), lower limbs (12.4%) and others (abdomen and shoulders, 5.9%). It is obvious that in spite of the decade-long, annual free distribution of Mectizan in the area, onchocerciasis prevalence is still high.