Animal Research International

2710 – 2714

Authors: ADEMOLA, Olaoluwa John, OGUNBANJO, Oludayo Obafunke, OLAFIMIHAN, Temitope Fatima and NZEH, Gladys Chioma

Karyotypic information is a useful endpoint in environmental monitoring and breeding programme. Data on the karyotype of Labeo coubie is needful for environmental assessment and genetic improvement breeding projects. This study was aimed at determining the karyotype of L. coubie. 10 specimens were obtained from the University of Ilorin dam, Ilorin, Nigeria. Each specimen received intraperitoneally 0.02% colchicine (1ml/100g body weight) and was left for 4 hours before sacrifice. Chromosome preparation was made from the kidney and liver. A total of 200 metaphase spreads were scored. The diploid chromosome numbers ranged from 2n = 44 to 2n = 50. The modal diploid number was found to be 2n = 50 and this represents 56 %. The kidney tissue gave better chromosome preparation. These results contribute to the karyotypic data on L. coubie.

2720 – 2724

Authors: EYAREFE, Oghenemega David, ATAWALNA, Joseph, 1,EMIKPE, Benjamin Obukowho, FOLITSE, Raphael, DEI, Dickson, DUDUYEMI Babatunde, OKUNGBOWA, Solomon, OKAI, Daniel

This paper reports a case of a true intersex in a pig in Kumasi, Ghana. The diagnosis was based on a gross and histomorphological assessment of the genital organs which consist of a left ovary, two uterine horns and body of the uterus, along with a right testis without an epididymis. Vagina and vulva were also absent. A perineal scrotal pouch and a tubular tract connection with an intra-abdominal urinary bladder conducting urine through a miniature paraphimotic sigmoid shaped penis were observed. Rectal prolapse was consequent to rectal compression by the inadequately voided urinary bladder. Gonadal hormonal profiles were analysed and compared in the true intersex and those of the males and female siblings using standard techniques. The embryologic, reproductive, and swine production cost implications of intersex were discussed.

2730 – 2740

Authors: LAMIDI, Tajudeen Babatunde, ALO, Emmanuel Babatope and NAPHTALI, Rebecca

Most mosquitoes are of public health problem because the females consume blood and transmit diseases. The study was carried out between September 2015 and August 2016 to determine the diversity of Anopheles species in Taraba State, Nigeria. Indoor mosquitoes in Ardo Kola, Bali and Donga were collected using pyrethrum-spray catch. 1073 Anopheles mosquitoes were identified to 20 species level. The identified Anopheles gambiae species complex was further analyzed to determine sibling and molecular species using PCR-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism assay contained An. coluzzii (former An. gambiae ss M form) 725(95.6 %) An. gambiae (former An. gambiae ss S form) 24(3.2 %), An. coluzzii/An. gambiae hybrid 9(1.2 %) and An. arabiensis 1(0.19 %). Among the Anopheles species, 640(59.6 %) which composed of 14 species were from Ardo Kola, 305(28.4 %) composed of 15 species were from Bali and 128(12.0 %) composed of 7 species were from Donga, all dominated by An. coluzzii which was 66.4, 21.2 and 12.4 % respectively of all An. coluzzii, followed by An. constani in Ardo Kola and An. rivulorum in Bali and Donga. An. gambiae, An. gambiae M/S hybrid and An. arabiensis were only found in Bali 24(100.0 %), 9(100.0 %) and 1(100 %) respectively. An. pariensis was only found in Donga 1(100.0 %). The distribution of Anopheles in months did not appear to follow a particular pattern, although observed to be generally low in dry months. Analysis of variance showed a significant difference in abundance of Anopheles species in study areas (p<0.05). This means that the inhabitants of the study areas are, all year round at risk of mosquito-borne diseases.

2751 – 2758

Authors: OMOIKHOJE, Stanley Omoh, ODUDURU, Onome and EGUAOJE, Stanley Abiodun

A feeding trial was conducted for a duration of eight weeks to assess the effect of substituting maize with biscuit waste meal (BWM) on the performance of 144 day-old Anak 2000 broiler chickens. Four experimental broiler starter and finisher diets were formulated with diet 1 as the control. Diets 1, 2, 3 and 4 were formulated to contain BWM at 0, 25, 50 and 75 % replacement for maize. Chicks were randomly assigned to the four treatment diets (1, 2, 3 and 4) in a completely randomized design (CRD) and each treatment group contained three replicates with twelve chickens per replicate. Results on the growth performance revealed that average live weight, daily feed intake, daily weight, protein efficiency ratio and feed conversion ratio were significantly (p<0.05) better in birds fed 50 % BWM than those fed other dietary treatments. Carcass traits such as back and breast muscles as well as the relative weights of gizzard and kidney weight were significantly (p<0.05) influenced by the dietary treatments. Cost of feed/kg weight gain and net profit were highest among birds fed 50 % BWM and least in 75 % BWM based diet. The results suggest that BWM can replace maize up to 50% inclusion level in the broiler diet for optimum performance and good economic returns.

2764 – 2768

Authors: ABAJUE, Maduamaka Cyriacus, EWUIM, Sylvanus Chima and AKUNNE, Chidi Emmanuel

Insect immature stages found on decomposing cadavers are sources of information that assist forensic investigators to elucidate the time of questionable death. Hence, insect larvae recovered from decomposing pig carrions as models to human cadavers in Okija (05°53.240"′N and 006°46.510″E) Anambra State, Nigeria were reared to adults in the laboratory by adopting a simple method to assist amateurs. Samples of the larvae were collected with camel hair (student’s art) brush, 5ml spoon and blunt forceps. They were collected in batches and placed in rearing containers (9.0 cm depth and 6.5 cm width)and labelled accordingly. Each sampled batch was replicated thrice and reared under ambient temperature (28.6 ± 0.15 ºC) and relative humidity (68.5 ± 1.34 %). The reared insect larvae later emerged and they were taxonomically identified. The species were ascertained by a taxonomist at Insect Museum, Institute of Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The species include: Chrysomya albiceps, Chrysomya chloropyga, Chrysomya regalis, Isomyia dubiosa, Isomyia sp. (Calliphoridae), Sarcophaga inzi (Sarcophagidae), Chrysomyza africana (Ulidiidae), Musca domestica (Muscidae), Hermetia illucens (Stratiomyiidae), Dermestes frischii (Dermestidae) and Necrobia rufipes (Cleridae). The Calliphoridae first developed into adults on day 8, Sarcophagidae day 16, Ulidiidae, day 22, Muscidae, day 31, Stratiomyiidae, day 33, Dermestidae, day 38 and Cleridae, day 53. The probable reasons for the insect larvae to associate with the carrions were highlighted and their forensic importance was discussed.