Animal Research International

1116 – 1120

Authors: IGWEBUIKE, Udensi Maduabuchi and EZE, Ukamaka Uchenna

The gross and histo-morphological characteristics of the small intestine of the African pied crow are described in this study. The general gross morphology of the small intestine of these birds follows the basic model of the avian small intestine, except that the jejunum of the African pied crow was organized in the form of cone-shaped spiral coils. The cone-shaped jejunum had centripetal coils, a sigmoid flexure and centrifugal coils. The histology of the wall of the small intestine of the African pied crow revealed four layers of tissues; the mucosa, submucosa, muscularis and serosa. Morphological modification of these tissue layers was observed, and is thought to be a necessary adaptation for rapid breakdown and absorption of food.

1125 – 1128

Authors: OGUOMA, Victor Maduabuchi, UGORJI, Nzubechi Durable, OKOLO, Kasie Vitus, MBANEFO, Evaristus Chibunna and UMEH, Jude Maduka

Aquatic snail species of two adjoining Rivers (Otamiri and Nwaorie Rivers) in Owerri Southeastern Nigeria was surveyed between December 2008 and May 2009. The study identified 231 aquatic snail species. Snail species collected were Bulinus globosus (29.9%), Lymnaea natalensis (59.3%), and Melanoides sp. (10.8%). There was an observed statistical difference (P < 0.05) in the occurrence of the snail species. Otamiri River recorded 93.3% species while Nwaorie recorded 6.1% - a significant difference (P < 0.05) also existed. Of the total number of snail species collected, none was found shedding cercariae. Therefore, surveillance is needed to avoid emergence of diseases vectored by this snail species in the study area.

1134 – 1138

Authors: ATANU, Francis Onakpa

Cancer and hepatic disorders are two important health problems of community health enhanced by metabolic and genetic disposition of individuals. Vernonia amygdalina (VA) is a medicinal shrub useful for the treatment of various diseases including cancer and liver diseases. It is often utilised as edible vegetable. This review aims at logically examining experimental evidences supporting the use of V. amygdalina in folklore medicine. Several databases including MEDLINE and ‘Google search engine’ were used to retrieve recent information on V. amygdalina uses in ethnomedicine. Selection of literature and abstracts was done randomly by authors on the basis of their relevance to the immediate review. Search yielded 512 results; critical appraisal of results reduced the tally to 6 for anticancer properties and 5 for hepatoprotective studies respectively. Their therapeutic potencies had relevance with phytochemical content of V. amygdalina. The experimental results support the widely accepted hepatoprotective and anticancer properties of V. amygdalina in traditional medicine.

1142 – 1150

Authors: GABRIEL, Ujagwung Ugwemorudong and ERONDU, Ebere Sunday

Clarias gariepinus (mean weight, 850 ± 60 g) mean length, 38.75 ± 6.7 cm) were exposed individually to four concentrations of Roundup, containing 360g/l glyphosate in the form of 480g/l isopropylamine salt (1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0 mg/l) and a control (0 mg/l), five replicates per concentration for 70 days in static renewal bioassay to determine the effect of exposure on selected blood variables (red blood cells, RBC; packed cell volume, PCV; white blood cell (WBC). thrombocytes, reticulocytes absolute red cell indices- mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), leucocrit. Exposure to chronic levels of Roundup caused a reduction in the values of PCV, HB, ESR, thrombocytes, WBC, reticulocytes, RBC, MCV and MCH relative to the control. Response of the blood variables among the treated group varied very widely and was not directly related to concentration of herbicide except in thrombocytes. There was a reduction in the values of the variables involved in oxygen transport (PCV, Hb, RBC) and absolute red cell values in some of the exposed fish. Thrombocytes appeared to be the most responsive variable as the value was drastically reduced from 1060 x 109 cells/l at 1.50 mg/l to 122.50 x 109 cells/l at 6.0 mg/l. It was only in the ESR that the value in the control (0.25 mmhr-1) was significantly different from that of the treated groups (6.0 mmhr-1 at 6.0 mg/l). The regression lines of best fit for the relationship between the herbicide concentration and the various variables showed that the responses of the test fish to the herbicide varied as indicated by the curve types. The response of adult C. gariepinus to sublethal concentrations of Roundup suggest that the fish could be under intense physiological stress in the wild and culture conditions where the herbicide is applied at the recommended rate (liquid, 12l/ha; solid, 2.2 kg/ha) without the least effort to maintain the maximum recommended 0.6 mg/l in 1m water column after application.

1156 – 1162

Authors: AKA, Lawrence Okonkwo

Taste preferences of pregnant West African dwarf (WAD) ewes were studied at different trimester periods using the multiple choice preference test method. A total of twelve WAD ewes of average body weight of 15.96 ± 4.17 kg, divided into two groups (A and B) were used for the study. Six pregnant ewes (in group A) served as the experimental group while the remaining six non pregnant ones (in group B) served as the control group. Preferences for test solutions; sucrose (sweet), salt, 0.09 % quinine sulphate (QS, bitter), 10 % solution of sodium hydrogen trioxocarbobnate (Na2HCO3, sour) and glutamic acid (GA, umami) were investigated compared to water. The preference result showed that pregnant WAD ewes at early trimester had strongest mean preference for Na2HCO3, sour taste (84.31 ± 6.37 %) and moderate mean preference for (76.48 ± 6.11 %) for bitter taste compared to other test solutions that were either non discriminated or weakly preferred. At mid trimester, they showed moderate preference (71.15 ± 2.99 %) for sucrose which was highest compared to other test solutions that were either weakly preferred (60.08 ± 7.04 % quinine sulphate; 68.34 ± 3.86 % Na2HCO3), weakly rejected (45.13 ± 4.16 %, salt) or non discriminated (51.94 ± 6.14 %, GA). At late trimester, the preference for sucrose was strong and highest (89.43 ± 6.76 %) as well as GA (80.16 ±4.95 %) compared to moderate preference for Na2HCO3 (76.14 ± 6.48 %), and rejection for salt (41.36 ± 5.73 %) and QS (28.14 ± 3.96 %). The results of this study have shown that pregnant WAD ewes respond differently to different tastants at different trimester periods. This information could serve as useful physiologic guide in appetite stimulation and probably explains the voluntary food selection behavior of the WAD ewes, during pregnancy.