Animal Research International

1236 – 1241

Authors: AKPA, Lucy Ene, AJIMA, Malachy Nwigwe Okechukwu, AUDU, Bala Sambo and LABTE, Samuel Mbuya

This research was designed to investigate the effect of Tephrosia vogelii leaves extract on Tilapia zilli under laboratory conditions. The concentrations of the leaves extract used were 4.00, 2.00, 1.00, 0.50 and 0.25ml/l. The 96- hour LC50 was 0.71ml/l with lower and upper confidence limits of 0.31ml/l and 1.63ml/l respectively. The opercular ventilation and fin counts increased with an increase in the concentrations of the leaves extract at the end of 96- hour exposure period. Respiratory distress, loss of balance, settling at the bottom motionless and erratic swimming was observed before death during the exposure period. Histopathological examination of the gill, liver and kidney of the treated fish showed oedema of gill lamella and gill hyperplasia to vacuolation and necrosis of the liver cells while the kidney cells revealed a degeneration of kidney tubules. Phytochemical analysis of the leaves extract indicated the presence of alkaloid, tannin, saponin, cardiac glycoside, rotenone, steroids, balsam, phenol and volatile oil. The result of this study calls for the need to discourage the use of toxic plants for catching fish in Nigeria water bodies.

1253 – 1256

Authors: EZE, Emmanuel Ikechukwu and OGONNAYA, Florence Nnenna

The in-vitro evaluation of antimicrobial activity of ointment containing Physcia grisea extract on clinical isolates of Candida albicans was carried out using Agar Cup Diffusion Technique. The result of the in vitro evaluation showed that P. grisea ointment has antifungal activity on C. albicans. The efficacy of the P. grisea ointment was also compared with tioconazole ointment which is a synthetic antifungal cream. The results of the comparative test showed that P. grisea ointment has a moderate activity on the C. albicans. This means that in the treatment of candidiasis, ointment containing P. grisea may be used, if properly utilized.

1264 – 1266

Authors: ADEYEMI, Samuel Olusegun

A total of 62 samples of Protopterus annectens (Owen) were examined for this study from Idah area of River Niger between August and November 2008. The length-weight relationship calculated for species gave a b-value of 2.55 which is indicative of negative allometric growth. It attained a length of 59cm and weight of 397g. The condition factor varied from 0.23 to 0.76 with a mean of 0.39+0.08 and showed that the fish was well and in good environment for growth and survival.

1274 – 1280

Authors: AKPA, G. N., ALPHONSUS, C., DALHA, S. Y. and GARBA, Y.

hundred and sixteen (116) does from 22 randomly selected smallholder herds in Kano and environs were surveyed to evaluate the goat breeding herd structure and to estimate the repeatability of litter size. The study revealed that the average herd size of smallholder goats in the study area is 15.5 goats. The average breeding male and female per herd buck to doe ratio and litter size per doe was 1.8, 6.5, 4.9 and 1.7 kids, respectively. These characteristics were highly variable (CV = 42 – 70%). The breeding does constituted the majority (78%) of the breeding herd, which increases with herd size. The average buck to doe ratio for the goat herd was 1:5. However, a buck to doe ratio of 1:10 was observed for herd size 21-30 goats, while for herd size ≤ 10 and 11- 20 goats it was 1:3. The litter size of 1 and 2 was in the majority across the herd sizes. Litter size 4 was rare in the herds (0.3%). Herd size was significantly and positively correlated with the number of breeding males and females in the herd (P<0.01; r =0.40-0.80). The number of breeding males in the herd was significantly and positively correlated with breeding females (P<0.05; r = 0.25) but negatively correlated with mating ratio (P<0.01; r = -0.75). However, mating ratio was significantly and positively correlated with the number of breeding females (P<0.01; r=0.50). Litter size of the doe was not significantly correlated with the measured breeding herd characteristics (P>0.05; r= -0.05 to 0.04). The average repeatability in the herd was 0.41. However, repeatability of litter size decreases with increase in herd size; 0.71, 0.60 and 0.32 for ≤ 10 goats, 11-20 goats and 21-30goats herd size, respectively. The high estimates for litter size obtained in this study suggests that Kano brown goat which is the predominant breed of goats reared in the study area is a highly prolific breed and the moderate repeatability estimate is an evidence that the prolificacy is probably influenced by a single major gene suggesting that an appreciable rate of genetic response in litter size could be achieved through selection.

1287 – 1293

Authors: OLUAH, Ndubuisi Stanley, OBIEZUE, Rose Nduka Nwanyoluaru, OCHULOR Amarachi Joy, ONUOHA, Edwin

The toxicity and histopathological effects of the herbicide Atrazine to the earthworm Nsukkadrilus mbae were studied under laboratory conditions. N. mbae were exposed to different concentrations of Atrazine (0.0, 0.4, 0.8, 3.0 and 9.0 mg/kg soil) for 96 hours and mortality was recorded every 24 hour. In addition, sections of the worm were made after 96 hours for microscopic examination. There was no mortality in the control group but in the experiments groups throughout the study. The mortality in the different treatment groups was significantly different (P > 0.05) and was concentration dependent. The LC50 of Atrazine after 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours were 8.60, 7.05, 7.37 and 7.23 respectively. The histopathological manifestations of exposing N. mbae to the herbicide included damage to the chloragogenous layer, damage of the epithelial tissues; glandular enlargement of the epithelial tissues, prominent vacoulations and pyknotic cells. The result of the study showed that both mortality and histopathology data could be used in environmental risk assessment of Atrazine.

1304 – 1308

Authors: IGHODARO, O. M. and OMOLE, J. O.

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of oral administration of aqueous leaf extract of Cajanus cajan on the concentration of Na+, K+, Cl-, and HCO3- and the activities of amino transferases (ALT and AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the serum of physiologically normal rats. Two different doses, 0.5 g/kg and 1.0g/kg body weight (BWT) were administered to rats for 14 days. The effect was assessed on the basis of comparative measures of the evaluated indices in non treated rats vis-à-vis those treated with the extract. With the exception of ALP, the extract at a dose of 0.5 g/kg produced no significant (p < 0.05) changes in ALT and AST activities and in the concentrations of the electrolytes in rats. Though the levels of serum electrolytes were not significantly raised, 1.0g/kg of the extract markedly (p < 0.05) increased the activities of serum enzymes. Overall, the data of the study suggests that aqueous leaf extract of Cajanus cajan at a dose of 0.5 g/kg did not cause obvious damage to the liver and kidneys of rats. However, 1.0g/kg bwt of the plant extract showed clear signs of hepatocellular derangement in rats. Hence, Cajanus cajan leaves may be hepatotoxic when consumed at concentrations about or above 0.5 g/kg of body weight.

1163 – 1168

Authors: OKPE, Godwin Chidozie, NWATU, Ugochukwu and ANYA, Kenneth

Data from 10 adult male Nigerian local breed of chicken were used to investigate the morphometry of the testis. The mean live weight of the birds as well as testes weights were obtained, and testes samples subjected to histological preparations for light microscopy. The mean live weight of the birds and testes weights were 977g and 6.3g respectively, with a gonadosomatic index of 1.1%. The dimensions of the testes were 5.30cm and 2.70cm for the length and width respectively. The volume densities were 96.6% and 3.4% for the seminiferous tubules and intertubular compartments respectively, out of which Leydig cells occupied 1.4%. The seminiferous tubular diameter was 158.40 µm while tubular lengths per testis and per gram of testis were 308 and 49 meters respectively. The number of Leydig cells per testis and per gram of testis were 2.1 billion and 340 million respectively while the number of sertoli cells per testis and per gram of testis were 2 billion and 300 million respectively. These data obtained, tend to suggest that the Nigerian local breed of chicken has high spermatogenic efficiency.

1176 – 1183

Authors: AKA, Lawrence Okonkwo

The effect of in vitro bioactive yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, strain 1026) treatment on the degradability of dry mater fraction of some crop residues using the in-sacco degradability technique in West African Dwarf sheep was studied. Sixteen (16) adult rumen fistulated WAD sheep of average body weight of 16.84 ± 3.43 kg were used. Degradability of crop residues; rice straw, groundnut foliage, pigeon pea foliage and maize stover was studied. The results showed a significant (p<0.05) treatment effect. Time (length of yeast treatment) effect was positive for 2-6 day yeast treated groundnut foliage and pigeon pea foliage and for 8-10 day treatments for rice straw and maize stover. There was a negative correlation coefficient (r = -0.76) between degradability and length of yeast treatment for 8 and 10 day treated groundnut and pigeon pea foliages. There was a positive correlation (r = 0.69) between length of treatment and percentage degradation for all crop residues at 2, 4 and 6 day treatments. At 48hours incubation, the degradability of pigeon pea (96.41 ± 3.89 %) and groundnut foliages (93.17 ± 3.10 %) foliages were significantly (p<0.05) higher than rice straw (55.54 ± 7.11%) and maize stover (61.08 ± 6.42 %) particularly at 4 and 6 days yeast treatment periods compared with the control. On the other hand, the rumen degradability of 8 and10 day yeast treated rice straw (81.72 ± 5.91 % and 94.20 ± 2.81 % respectively) and maize stover (89.93 ± 4.16 % and 95.61 ± 4.22 % respectively) were significantly (p<0.05) higher than the control (49.06 ± 4.11 % for rice straw and 43.18 ± 4.78 % for maize stover) at 72 hours but not 48hours during which groundnut and pigeon pea foliages were optimally degraded following 4 and 6 day yeast treatments. It was evident from this study that length of in vitro yeast treatment, period of rumen incubation and type of crop residues had remarkable effects on rumen degradability of dry matter fraction. Thus, treating crop residues for appropriate periods, in vitro, with yeast cultures could provide opportunity for enhancing the fermentative potential and utilization efficiency of crop residues in ruminants generally but particularly in West African Dwarf sheep.

1194 – 1198

Authors: KAMALU, Theodore Nkire, OKPE, Godwin Chidozie and WILLIAMS, Arustus

Camels and cattle grazed in the native pasture of the Sahel savanna and presented for slaughter at the Maiduguri Municipal Abattoir were used to evaluate differences in forage selection, rumen content characteristics and forage organic matter digestibility. After evisceration, rumen contents were obtained and separated into solid digesta and twigs. The rumen fluid was examined for colour, pH and specific gravity. The faecal index method was used to determine the organic matter digestibility of the herbage eaten. The investigation showed that the camel rumen content was twiggy and greenish in colour, while that of cattle was mushy and brownish in colour. Camel rumen solid digesta contained leaves and twigs in contrast to cattle digesta which had grass remnants. Mean rumen pH values were 6.98 ± 0.03 and 7.14 ± 0.04 for camel and cattle respectively. Mean specific gravity values were 1.016 ± 0.005 and 1.005 ± 0.001 for camel and cattle respectively. Forage organic matter digestibility was significantly higher in camels than in cattle (P < 0.05).

1206 – 1211

Authors: EZE, Chikwuma Simon

The effect of four host plants, Manihot esculenta, Cassia alata, Glyphaea brevis and Azadirachta indica on the survival, development and fecundity of the variegated grasshopper (Zonocerus variegatus) was investigated. One thousand eight hundred second instar nymphs were collected from abandoned farmlands, caged and fed with the leaves of different host plants mentioned above. Cassava leaves (M. esculenta) gave the best survival and fecundity rates followed though distantly by C. alata while G. brevis and A. indica gave very poor survival rates. The survival rate was generally poor at the early nymphal stages of the insects on all the host plants. With respect to fecundity, the insects reared on M. esculenta produced the greatest number of egg-pods and consequently eggs; whereas those reared on A. indica failed to produce any egg-pod.

1218 – 1222

Authors: IGWEBUIKE, Udensi Maduabuchi

The study reports that placental haematomas and erythrophagocytosis by trophoblast cells were observed in the placentomes of five abattoir samples of gravid uteri taken from West African Dwarf goats, as well as in the gravid uteri harvested from five pregnant West African Dwarf goats on days 50, 65, 80, 100 and 120 of gestation. The foetal ages of the abattoir samples as determined by measuring the foetal crown-rump lengths were 56, 62, 75, 76, and 91 days. Placental haematomas and erythrophagocytosis by trophoblast cells may be important structural modifications for transplacental transfer of iron, a trace element necessary for foetal erythropoiesis, especially in ruminant species characterized by non-invasive, synepitheliochorial placenta.

1226 – 1228

Authors: BIU, A. A. and UMORU, A.

The prevalence of Capillaria species among locally domesticated pigeons (Columba livia) was investigated in Maiduguri. Intestinal contents from one hundred pigeons examined for capillariid nematodes and ova revealed a prevalence of 9.0%. Two species of Capillaria were identified as Capillaria obsignata with 77.8% prevalence and Capillaria caudinflata with 22.2% (p < 0.05). Among the pigeons examined the young ones were significantly (p < 0.05) more infected 6(15.0%) than the adults with 3(5.0%), while the difference in infection rates between male and female pigeons was insignificant (p > 0.05). Capillaria caudinflata presented a larger egg size of 56.0µm x 23.0µm while C. obsignata had the smaller size of 50.5µm x 24.0µm and the shell had a reticulate pattern compared to C. caudinflata with a thick finely sculptured shell. This study provides information on the prevalence of Capillaria species of pigeon in Maiduguri, Nigeria.

1110 – 1115

Authors: NNAMANI, Catherine Vera, OSELEBE, Happiness Ogba and OKPORIE, Emmanuel Okorie

The ethnobotanical survey of traditional leafy vegetables of Izzi clan in Ebonyi State of Nigeria was investigated. Twenty-five traditional leafy vegetables belonging to eighteen plant families were identified and documented with their habits/forms. Majority of these vegetables were from the families of Pipilionaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Tiliaceae and Moraceae. Sixty percent (60 %) of the identified vegetable species were cultivated, while 40 % were collected from the wild or semi-wild. Fifty-two percent (52 %) of the leafy vegetables were tree species, while 4 % were shrubs and 44% were herbs (and or herbaceous climbers). Thirty-two percent (32 %) of these species were available during the dry season while 68 % were rainy season species. The need for conservation and sustainability of these bioresources are stressed, in order to safeguard them for future generations and avoid their genetic erosion.

1121 – 1124

Authors: IGWEBUIKE, Udensi Maduabuchi and EZE, Ukamaka Uchenna

The objective of the present study was to provide basic information on the gross and histomorphology of the caeca of the African pied crow, a corvid found in close association with human settlements in many African countries. The caeca of the African pied crow appeared as small blind-ended sacs of approximately the same size, which extend from the junction between the small and large intestines. Each caecum was positioned at an acute angle with the ileum. Histology of the caeca revealed the presence of many lymphoid aggregations and glandular acini in the lamina propria mucosae and submucosa. It was concluded that the morphological features of the caeca of the African pied crow may represent structural specializations to support the role of the caeca in digestion of small food particles and more importantly, in the response of the African pied crow to invasion by antigens.

1129 – 1133

Authors: OGUNNIYI, Laudia Titilola

This study investigated factors influencing the economic efficiency of goat production in Ogbomoso agricultural zone of Oyo State. The study made use of cross-sectional data sampled from eighty goat farmers with the aid of structured questionnaire. It was observed from the findings that the factors affecting the economic efficiency of goat production were years of establishment, education, feeding and number of herds. The mean economic efficiency was 0.595.

1139 – 1141

Authors: ONI, Oluwole Oyetunde and OWOADE, Ademola Amubieya

The presence of rotavirus in some poultry flocks in Abeokuta and Oyo was evaluated using the reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. A total of 49 fecal samples in form of cloacal swabs were collected from chickens and turkeys with age groups ranging between 5days and 43weeks. Six samples from diarrheic chicken aged 8 and 9 days old were positive for the virus, while others were negative. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report rotavirus infection in Nigerian poultry. It is recommended that epidemiological surveys be carried out to provide more data on rotavirus infection in poultry flocks in Nigeria.

1151 – 1155

Authors: ONUOHA, Edwin Onyeodiri

The liver pathology of Clarias gariepinus infected with Euclinostomum clarias metacercariae in Anambra river basin was investigated from January to September, 2002. The clariids were examined and the livers of those infected with the metacercariae of the digenean trematode, Euclinostomum clarias, were fixed in 10% formal-saline, paraffin processed, sectioned and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Infected liver showed massive pathological lesions ranging from hepatic degeneration, extravasations of bilirubin, necrosis, fibrosis, inflammatory reactions to proliferation of bile duct around the hepatic triad. These tissue reactions and damage were more prominent around and along the areas where the larvae localized or migrated. The liver of the uninfected fish did not show the lesions and damage which reduced the productivity and market price of the infected fish.