Animal Research International

892 – 895

Authors: IGBOKWE, Ikechukwu Onyebuchi., HASSAN, Shehu Usman., FAIVE, Zirrah Tariminge., ILIYA, Yohanna., DAGARE, Musa Jonathan., RABO, Jude Sammani., MOHAMMED, Ali and IGBOKWE, Nanacha Afifi

Populations of exotic and indigenous domestic chickens and guinea fowls in northeastern Nigeria were surveyed for Plasmodium sp by examining their stained blood samples. The packed cell volumes of all blood samples were estimated. During the period of study (March to September 2006), rainfall data were collected. The prevalence of Plasmodium infection in 575 domestic poultry examined was 9.4 % and the prevalence among the difference poultry types (exotic broilers and layers, indigenous chickens and guinea fowls) did not differ significantly (P > 0.05).There was a significant (P < 0.05) positive correlation between the monthly prevalence and rainfall, with mean prevalence higher (P < 0.05) in the rainy than dry months. Packed cell volume (PCV) of uninfected and infected domestic chickens did not differ significantly (P > 0.05), but the infected guinea fowls had lower (P < 0.05) mean PCV than the uninfected ones. In conclusion, Plasmodium sp infection was prevalent among the domestic poultry; and whereas the infection did not cause anaemia in chickens, mild anaemia was observed in infected guinea fowls.

900 – 903

Authors: EKE, Felicia Nkechi., EKECHUKWU, Nkiru Esther and ONAH, Ikechukwu

A four months research survey of arthropod pests infesting dried fish sold in a tropical urban community market (Ogige), Nsukka, Nigeria showed that 10 genera of dried freshwater fish (Synodontis, Hemisynodontis, Oreochromis, Hepsetus, Gymnarchus, Labeo, Protopterus, Heterobranchus, Alestes, Heterotis) and two species of cod fishes sold in the market were arthropod infested. The pests were extracted by illumination and cracking methods and identified using relevant taxonomic keys. Voucher specimens were kept in the Museum of Natural History, Department of Zoology, University of Nigeria. Each of the fish genera harboured at least one of the following arthropods: Dermestes maculatus, Necrobia rufipes, Lardoglyphus konoi, Theridion saxatile and Tribolium castaneum. T. castaneum was found only in fish bones in the stall. Besides the resident pests, Periplaneta americana, Lucilia spp, Calliphora spp and Musca domestica were visiting pests of the dried fish sampled. D. maculatus was the dominant resident pest accounting for 57.07 % of the collected arthropods while Necrobia rufipe was next in importance, accounting for 21.54 %. The pests were identified using keys and voucher methods.

908 – 912

Authors: EWUIM, Sylvanus Chima and OSONDU, Anulika

A study of ants associated with two synanthropic environments in Awka was carried out in 2008 using pitfall and bait traps. The study yielded a total of 561 ants with 409 obtained from the hemisynanthrophic environment while 192 ants were collected from the endophilic environment. The percentage occurrence, total distribution and average numbers of trapped individual species of Paratrechina, Acantholepis, Pheidole and Camponotus in the hemisynanthrophic environment are (16.9%, 2,6), (35.3%, 150, 12.5), (40.1%, 170, 14.2) and (7.6%, 23, 2.7) respectively. The percentage occurrence, total ant distribution and average number of trapped species of Acantholepis and Pheidole sp. using honey as bait are (47.19%, 49, 2.3) and (52.9%, 55, 13.8) respectively whereas Paratrechina, Acantholepis and Pheidole sp. shows (43.8%, 21.5, 3), (31.40%, 15, 3.8) and (25%, 12, 3) respectively when sugar was used as bait. The study further reveals different dispersion patterns and degree of variability between species in the hemisynanthrophic environment. Pheidole sp. and Acantholepis were also trapped in high numbers. The paucity in the collection of Paratrechina and Camponotus is possibly suggestive that these species are not attracted to honey baits. The attraction of more Paratrechina species to sugar bait indicated that these species are sugar loving ants.

917 – 922

Authors: EKECHUKWU, Nkiru Esther and ELUWA, Michael

In West Africa, the foliage of both wild and cultivated varieties of Amarnathus species is used widely as vegetable and as fodder for cattle. This widely cultivated vegetable is severely attacked by the snouted beetle, Gastreoclisus rhomboidalis. A comprehensive study on some aspects of the biology of G. rhomboidalis has been carried out. The full life cycle of the beetle (from copulation and oviposition through the various immature stages to the emergence of adult beetles) was investigated. It took on the average 40 days for the adult beetle to emerge from the day of oviposition. Studies on the feeding habit of the beetles revealed that the beetles fed heavily on the leaves and can inflict an enormous destruction on the host plant over a short period of time. Generally; the studies have been able to confirm that the larva and adult beetles are the most potent destroyers of the host plant. While the adult beetle fed heavily on the leaves and tender plant stem, the larva when hatched in the plant stem, destroyed the host plant (particularly during the tender ages of between 2 - 3 weeks) with its boring activities causing the plant to wilt and die.

928 – 931

Authors: ONYECHI, Uchenna Agatha and OKOLO, Adaeze Christiana

A study of the prevalence of obesity among undergraduate students was conducted at University of Nigeria Nsukka campus, Enugu, State, in the South Eastern part of Nigeria. A total of 620 male and female students were randomly selected for the study. A structured and validated questionnaire and anthropometry were used for data collection. The study elicited information on the sex distribution of the subjects who were obese, their marital status, dietary pattern, activity pattern and their health status. Information obtained was analyzed using frequency distribution, percentages, means and cross tabulation. The result revealed that 21% of the participants were obese, (8.1% are males and 13.1% are females). Most of the participants who were obese were unmarried, a total of 93.4% of the of the study population. The result of the eating pattern showed that 40.6% of the subjects purchased their foods from eating houses within the campus, 46.6% cooked their meals with foods brought from their homes; 28.2% and 26.7% consumed fruits and vegetables daily respectively. Food choice was based on taste of the food, cultural demands and easy to prepare foods. Information on the activity level showed that 85.5% of the obese subjects occasionally engaged in physical activity. Assessment of the health status indicate that 6.1% had cardiovascular disease; 2.3% were diabetics, 3.8% had gall bladder disease and 51% had other illness like ulcer, irregular menstruation, fever and stomach ach.

835 – 837

Authors: NNAMANI, Catherine Vera, OSELEBE, Happiness Ogba and OGBONNA, Anthony

The leaf extracts of Draceana aborea and Vitex doniana of Agavaceae and Verbenaceae families respectively, were tested on the larvae of anopheles mosquito for their botanical insecticidal effects. The results of the investigation showed that the minimum percentage mortality concentration (MPMC) of these leaf extracts on the test organisms were at 7.5ml/20ml and 10ml/20ml as the starting points for D. aborea and V. doniana, respectively. Findings equally revealed that the combination of D. aborea and V. doniana leaf extracts exerted synergistic effects on these organisms at 5.0ml/20ml, whereas the use of the D. aborea and V. doniana extracts separately resulted in reduced efficacy. Analysis of variance showed that, there was no significant difference (P = 0.01) between the synergy and the individual treatments of the leaf extracts on these organisms. Preliminary phytochemical screening showed the presence of flavonoids, free phenolics, condensed tannins, pseudotanins, triterpenes, glycosides and saponins which have some insecticidal effects on their targeted organisms. These findings represent one of the steps in identifying plants, with insecticidal properties from the rich Bioresources in the Mosaic of the Low-Land Rainforest vegetation zone of Southeastern Nigeria.

840 – 842

Authors: MOMOH, Mumuni Audu and ADIKWU, Micheal Umale

The Hydrophile-Lipophile balance (HLB) of bovine mucin was evaluated. Mucin was processed from the small intestine of freshly slaughtered cow via precipitation with chilled acetone, air-drying and pulverization. Series of emulsion were formed with bovine mucin and paraffin oil, in varying ratios, the most stable emulsion with the least creaming level was found to be mucin-oil ratio of 1:9, after a period of 7 days and the HLB value of mucin calculated according to standard methods. The HLB value of mucin was 8.4. These HLB value fell within the range of 8 – 18, that is characteristics of oil-in-water (o/w) emulgents.

846 – 847

Authors: OKOYE, Ikem Chris and OBIEZUE, Rose Nduka Nwanyo

A survey of gut parasites of rodents was undertaken in Nsukka ecological zone. Out of the 87 rodents caught and examined, 47 (54.0%) were positive for helminth parasites. The prevalence rates for the various rodents examined were 60.0% for Xerus erythropus (squirrels); 59.3% for Cricetomy sp. (giant rats) and 48.9% for Rattus rattus (house rats). The difference in prevalence rates amongst the rodents was statistically insignificant (P>0.05). The parasites isolated were 2 Cestode species- Hymenolepis sp (17.2%) and Raillietina sp; 3 nematode species- Trichuris muris (9.2%),, Ascaris sp (2.3%), Cyathostomum sp (4.6%) and one Acanthocephalan- Moniliformis morniliformis.(6.9%).

852 – 858

Authors: ONYIDO, Angus Ejidike., OZUMBA, Nwora Abiodun., EZIKE, Venantius Izuka., CHUKWUEKEZIE, Okechukwu Chimaeze., NWOSU, Emmanuel Okechukwu., NWAORGU, Obioma Comfort and IKPEZE Obiora Osegboka

The mosquito fauna of Museum and Zoological Garden Complex (JZC), a major tourist attraction in Jos Metropolis of Nigeria, was studied. The choice of the complex was out of public health curiosity. A total of 627 mosquitoes comprising 4 genera, Aedes, Culex, Coquilletidia and Eretmapodites, and 9 species were caught in two different study trips. Five species, namely, Aedes aegypti, A. africanus, A. vittatus, Culex quinquefasciatus and Eretmapodites chrysogaster, caught by human bait method are known variously to be involved in the transmission of yellow fever and other viral diseases. Culex quinquefasciatus had the highest frequency followed by Aedes aegypti. Simpson’s dominance and Shannon-Wiener diversity indices of 0.4942 and 0.4550 were respectively recorded for the whole mosquitoes sampled by the human bait method. C. quinqefasciatus was the most frequent species with diversity values of 0.4444 (Simpson’s) and 0.1174 (Shannon-Wiener), followed by A. aegypti with 0.0455 (Simpson’s) and 0.1431 (Shannon-Wiener). Ecological statistics demonstrated a highly significant difference in diversity between samples in March, during the dry season, and June in the rainy season (P < 0.001). The presence of man-biting mosquitoes in JZC constitutes apparent public health danger and calls for regular surveillance and control operations on such disease vectors in the complex.

866 – 871

Authors: OGUOMA, Victor Maduabuchi and IKPEZE, Obiora Osegboka

Exophagic-anthropophilic mosquitoes were collected during the April 2007-January 2008 planting season in four designated millet and guinea-corn irrigation fields sampled in Gezawa Agro-ecological Zone of North-central Nigeria. Gezawa-1, Gezawa-2, Ketawa and Jogana irrigation fields contributed about 31.2 %, 24.8 %, 22.8 % and 21.2% respectively, to the number of mosquito species collected in the zone. There was preponderance of Anopheles gambiae complex (20.7 %) over Culex quinquefasciatus (11.8 %), C. pipiens fatigans (9.0%), A. funestus complex (7.0 %), Aedes aegypti (6.9%), A. albopictus (6.6 %), C. pipiens pipiens (5.7 %). C. tigripes (5.0%), A. pharoensis (3.7 %), A. africanus (3.6%), A. taylori (3.4%), A. coustani (3.3 %), A. luteocephalus (2.9 %), A. vittatus (2.8 %), A. rhodesiensis (2.1 %), Mansonia (2.0 %), A. simpsoni (1.9 %) and Psorophora species (1.6 %). A Shannon-Wiener and Simpson’s diversity values of 1.1431 and 0.0925 were recorded for the mosquito species in Gezawa Agricultural Zone. A. gambiae had the highest Shannon-wiener diversity and Simpson’s dominance indices of 0.1415 and 0.0427 respectively. There was no significant difference between species diversity for the four irrigation fields (P>0.001). Vector control must be carried out in the irrigation fields to reduce the number of these out-door biting mosquitoes, since total reliance on ACTs and ITNs could not offer full protection against malaria to farmers in Gezawa irrigation fields.

876 – 879

Authors: ANI, Ogonna Christiana and MGBECHI, Edna Kelechukwu

A research to investigate the prevalence of urinary tract infections in sexually active women (18 – 41 years) from selected health care centres in Abakaliki was carried out. Attempt was made to fined out the number of treated cases, aetiologic agents and age range with highest incidence of urinary tract infections over the study period (2004 – 2005). Medical records of urinary tract infected women from the selected health care centres were reviewed. The prevalence of urinary tract infections was high (1232) among the study group and Escherichia coli was implicated as the principal causative agent of these infections. The high prevalence recorded in this study makes it necessary for women to be adequately educated on matters affecting their reproductive health. There is also the need for government of the state to provide improved, adequate and affordable health care services in the communities.

883 – 887

Authors: SAGANUWAN, Alhaji Saganuwan

Antagonistic effects of ceftriaxone and sulphadimidine on ketamine and thiopentone anaesthetics were studied in Nigerian local dogs. Twenty – four Nigerian local dogs were used for the study. The dogs were divided into six groups: A, B, C, D, E, and F, with four dogs per group. Groups A and B were intravenously administered 17 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg body weight f thiopentone and ketamine respectively. But groups C and D were administered 23 mg/kg and 100mg/kg body weight of ceftriaxone and sulphadimidine respectively in addition to 20 mg/kg body weight of ketamine. However, groups E and F were administered intravenous dose of 23 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg of ceftriaxone and sulphadimidine respectively in addition to 17 mg/kg weight body of thiopentone. Vital parameters such as determination of anesthesia; onset and duration, temperature, respiratory and heart rates were recorded. The results of onset of duration of anesthesia revealed significant difference (P< 0.05) among group E, F and A animals. Although the result of onset anesthesia revealed significant difference between group A and B animals (P < 0.05). The values of respiratory rate revealed significant difference between the animals in groups D and B as well as groups F and A (P < 0.05). The values of heart rate showed significant difference between group C and D animals as well as between E and A animals (P < 0.05). Conclusively, sulphadimidine and cerftriaxone caused decreased duration of both anesthesia and onset of anesthesia when either was co-administered with ketamine or thiopentone in Nigerian local dogs. Sulphadimidine also caused increased respiratory rate, but cerftriaxone caused decreased and increased heart rate if co-administered with ketamine and thiopentone respectively. More so, thiopentone had higher durations of both anesthesia and onset of anesthesia in comparison with ketamine. So thiopentone is more potent than ketamine.

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.