Journal of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine

5

Authors: Garba, U. M., Nwokike, E. C., Mbuk, E. U., Ali, A., Zamdayu, J. M., Yunusa, H. G., Amaje, J. and Auwal, U.

Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common neoplasia of the skin in horses. An adult albino stallion of Nigerian indigenous (Arewa) breed used for military ceremonial parade was presented with the chief complaints of growth on left side lower eyelid and unilateral epiphora. Tentatively diagnosis of eyelid squamous cell carcinoma was made and managed successfully. Restraint was achieved using chlorpromazine as tranquilizer and physical method with the animal on right lateral recumbency for the surgery. Lidocaine-adrenaline 2% was used for local anaesthesia. The growth was debulked only once and chemotherapeutically treated using vincristine 1 mg for local infiltration once and 2 mg intravenously twice at 3 weeks apart. Tissue sample was preserved in formaldehyde-10% and processed for histopathological examination. Haematological findings pre-treatment were neutropenia, 32% (52 to 70%) and hyperproteinemia, 10.2 g/d L (6.0 to 8.5g/dL) which became neutrophilic leucocytosis 16.1 x 109/L (5.6-12.1 x 109/L) post-treatment. Histopathological findings were focal areas of keratin pearls surrounded by a concentric aggregation of cornified squamous epithelial cells. Massive undifferentiated tumour cells and inflammatory cells at different stages of mitosis were also observed. It was concluded that surgical excision of lesion and vincristine therapy twice at 3 weeks apart only was effective to cure the eyelid squamous cell carcinoma in the horse. It was recommended that surgical excision of growths and vincristine therapy given by intravenous and local infiltration routes should be used in management of eyelid squamous cell carcinoma in albino horses.

6

Authors: DEUTCHEU NIENGA Sorelle, NGOULA Ferdinand, TCHOFFO Herve, MABOU NGUEMO Jeamine Laura, VEMO Bertin Narcisse and TCHOUMBOUE Joseph

Lead acetate is a compound that is teratogenic and could cause hazards in pregnant humans and economic loses in livestock. This study aims to evaluate the protective and curative effects of hydroethanolic extract of Spirulina platensis (HESP) on embryo-toxicity in guinea pig exposed to lead acetate. Eighteen females, aged 4 months old and weighing 350±5.3 g were divided into 8 groups of 10 guinea pigs each. The negative control (group 1) received by gavage distilled water and positive control (group 2) was exposed to lead acetate at a dose of 12 mg/kg.bw alone. While Groups 3, 4 and 5 co-exposed for a period of 90 days to 12 mg/kg bw of lead acetate and 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg.bw of hydroethanolic extract of Spirulina platensis respectively. The animals of groups 6, 7 and 8 were also exposed for the first 30 days to lead acetate, then 50, 100 and 200 mg /kg.bw of HESP from the 31st to the 90th day. At the end of the trial, female animals were sacrificed for determine the teratogenicity. Lead acetate caused a significant decrease of placental and fetal weight, number of implantation sites and gravid uterine weights. In the other hand, it increased the incidence of fetal anomalies when compared to the negative control. HESP significantly reduced (p< 0.05) the lead acetate-induced abnormities by increasing fetal number, weight, viability and reduced skeletal anomalies. Treatment of female guinea pigs with hydroethanolic extract of Spirulina platensis whether for protective or curative at dose of 100 mg/kg.bw, attenuated lead induced reproductive disrupted, fetal malformation and fetal mortality. The Hydroethanolic extract of Spirulina platensis due to some phytochemical principles rich in antioxidant properties, could possibly mitigate the adverse effects of lead acetate.

7

Authors: John Cassius Moreki, Tiyapo Daisy Pelaelo-Grand and Aubrey Ranko

Artificial insemination (AI) was introduced in Botswana in 1966 to provide smallholder cattle farmers with access to superior bulls for cross-breeding to improve their herd quality and performance. This review endeavours to highlight farmers’ uptake of AI service, challenges and the opportunities in the use of AI technology in Botswana. The 15 AI centres have been underutilised for the past 11 years while the number of inseminated cows has declined over time. Similarly, conception rates declined as these are a function of inseminated cows. Some major challenges limiting AI utilisation are persistent drought, outbreak of livestock diseases and parasites, climate change, inadequate extension service, high transportation costs, shortage of qualified ranch managers, inadequate transport, inadequate staff accommodation, lack of maintenance of fire breaks and perimeter fence at the AI centres, and trekking cows over very long distances to the AI centres for insemination. The underutilisation of AI centres presents an opportunity for farmers to send their cattle for insemination. In order to optimally use the AI service, extension efforts must be directed towards encouraging more farmers to use the AI centres.

10

Authors: Abdulai Mahmood Conteh and Brima Gogra

Poverty and inequality between urban and rural areas remained major social issues in Sierra Leone. These are drivers forcing rural people to engage in feasible livelihood options such as animal husbandry. The current study, that lasted for seven (7) months attempt to investigate pig farming in rural areas of Moyamba district, Sierra Leone. The overarching objectives were to assess the management practices, challenges, and livelihood impact of indigenous pig production. Two hundred and thirty (230) checklists were administered and interview sessions held for farmers from ten (10) randomly selected villages in Moyamba District, Sierra Leone. A total of 1123 pigs were recorded for which 66.5% were owned by women and 33.5% by men. It was observed that basic sanitary practices such as cleaning of the pen, provision of feeds and clean drinking water for pigs, castration and livestock disease management were lacking in the study area. This constitutes a great public health concern considering the link between animal and human diseases in contemporary history. Respondent noted income generation, food and cultural/religious benefits as pull factors for their engagement in the sector. Conversely, results indicates that the lack of credit facility (100%), high piglet mortality (92.2%), lack of or inadequate housing (86.5%), poor and inadequate feeding (86.1%), poor market facility (72.2%), animal cruelty (70.9%), persistence disease outbreaks (64.8%), intermittent theft (64.3%), poor or lack of treatment service (33.5%), lack of improved breeds (16.1%) and ineffective livestock extension services (4.3%) are the factors that undercut the productivity of pig farming in rural areas. The study has shown that there is need to scale up of livestock extension programs for rural areas through timely vaccination campaigns, sustained active case finding and capacity building of farmers to adopt good livestock management practice that will in turn sustain rural livelihood systems.