Animal Research International

3927 – 3937

Authors: NJOGA, Ugochinyere Juliet, OGUEJIOFOR, Chike Fidelis and OCHIOGU, Izuchukwu Shedrack

Traditional use of Azadirachta indica in Asian countries suggests that the plant may have antifertility properties but in Nigeria, A. indica is fed to animals and used for traditional treatment of human and animal illnesses. This study therefore determined the reproductive and haematological effects of methanolic seed extract of A. indica (MSEAI),using adult female albino rats (AFAR) as experimental model. Sixty-four AFAR randomly assigned into four treatment groups (A – D) of 16 rats each were used. Group A was the control, while groups B, C and D received 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg doses of the extract daily for 28 consecutive days. Blood samples were collected on days 0 (base line), 14 and 28 to assay for haematological parameters. Thereafter, the rats were bred and fertility tests performed. Results showed that MSEAI significantly decreased (p≤0.05)haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume and red blood cell count in treated groups on day 28. Total and differential leukocyte counts showed no significant variations (p>0.05). The extract also caused abortion and fetal resorption especially in high dose (100 and 200 mg/kg) treatment groups. However, in rats that had successful parturition, gestation length, litter size, litter weight, number of corpora lutea, number of implantation sites and number of fetuses born alive were not significantly affected (p>0.05). Considering the adverse haematological and reproductive effects, feeding A. indica as forage or the traditional treatment in pregnant/breeding females could be counterproductive. However, the extract could find application as a contraceptive in nonbreeding females and in rodent depopulation programme.

3947 – 3954

Authors: AWOSOLU, Oluwaseun Bunmi and UGBOAJA, Chukwudi Kingsley

Malaria is an infectious disease of major public health importance worldwide. This study was carried out to investigate the malaria parasitaemia in a high transmission setting of Oba-Ile, Akure North Local Government Area (LGA), Ondo State, Nigeria. Thick and thin blood smeared slides were prepared and examined under the light microscope. Out of 210 individuals examined, 148(70.50 %) were positive for malaria infection. The infection pattern among age groups revealed that the highest (84.61 %) and the lowest (66.67 %) infection rate were observed among age group 6 – 10 years and 5 years and below respectively. No significant difference (p>0.05) occurred between age-related malaria infection. Additionally, male had the highest (75.89 %) prevalence of infection compared to their female counterpart (64.28 %) though significant difference (p>0.05)did not occur. Parasite densities vary significantly (p<0.05) across age group and sex. The highest (4428 parasite/μl of blood) and lowest (824 parasite/μl of blood) parasite density was recorded among age group ≥ 21 years and ≤ 5 years respectively. Similarly, male significantly (p<0.05) had the highest parasite density (6484 parasite/μl of blood) compared to their female counterpart (4316 parasite/μl of blood). Furthermore, prevalence of malaria infection varied significantly (p<0.05) with respect to occupation and income. This study revealed that malaria is prevalent in Oba-Ile. Thus, appropriate intervention programme should be designed to curtail the disease.

3965 – 3976

Authors: HASSAN, Ibrahim Maina and PILAU, Nathaniel Nicholas

The aim of this study was to evaluate the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory effect of Ficus platyphylla metabolic root extract in Clarias gariepinus. The root was extracted with 80% methanol. A toxicity study was carried out on adult catfish. Cholinesterase inhibitory activities were also evaluated on the same fishes using Ellman’s method. Result revealed high cholinesterase inhibitory activities of the crude extract with significant differences at p<0.05 between the group treated with crude extract only, group treated with crude extract and exposed to arsenic and group that were exposed to arsenic only as well as group that are maintained in complete media. It can be concluded that low toxicity and high cholinesterase inhibitory effect of the crude extract is responsible for it therapeutic effects of this crude extract. Toxicity screening of this crude extract on a mammal such as mice and rat to reaffirm their toxicity profile are recommended. Antioxidant screening as well as isolation of bioactive compounds present in this plant part is strongly recommended.

3990 – 4004

Authors: OGBODO, John Agbo, BICHI, Armaya’u Hamisu and OGBODO, Joy Ijogo

The year 2020 was the resounding fifth anniversary of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which have a vision for a safer, healthier and more prosperous world by 2030. The overall objective of this present research is to analyze Nigeria’s strategies towards ascertaining their progress, pitfalls and prospects for achieving environmental sustainability. The novel Covid-19 pandemic is found out to be closely intertwined with tropical deforestation; hence, humans become exposed to disease pathogens originally found only in wild animals; thereby, depicting consequences for the environmentalrelated SDGs in Nigeria. In addition, Covid-19 measures such as mobility restrictions during lockdowns create major food supply system challenges thereby, affecting availability and accessibility requirements for the attainment of food security (SDG-2) in Nigeria. Hence, the novel Covid-19 is a colossal pitfall retarding progress on environmental-related SDGs in Nigeria amid the seven prospects as identified in this research article. Overall, the analysis shows that there is a gap between what can be achieved in the research domain regarding policy-making and implementation of environmental-related SDGs in Nigeria. As a way-forward, future researches are needed to investigate the effectiveness of implementing, monitoring and reporting system of the environmental-related SDGs towards attaining a safer, healthier and more prosperous Nigeria beyond 2030.

4020 – 4027

Authors: OZIOKO, Ikenna Emmanuel, EZE, Didacus Chukwuemeka, ABONYI, Festus Otaka, NWANKWO, Nwabueze Sunday, EMENNAA, Ekenedilichukwu Paul and NNADI, Pius Ajanwachukwu

This study investigated the response of chicks infected with velogenic Newcastle disease virus (NDV) to Newcastle disease vaccine - NDV-I2. A total of 90 day-old cockerel chicks were used for this study. At three weeks of age, the chicks were randomly separated into two equal groups of 45 chicks designated A and B. After separation, Group A chicks were vaccinated with NDV-I2 vaccine intraocularly, while Group B chicks were not vaccinated. At six weeks of age, Groups A and B chicks were further randomly separated into sub groups A1, A2, A3 and B1, B2, B3 of 15 chicks each respectively. After separation, chicks in subgroups A2, A3, B2, and B3 were exposed to chicks infected with NDV. Upon manifestation of clinical infections, chicks in subgroups A2 and B2 were revaccinated with NDV-I2 vaccine, while subgroups A3 and B3 were not vaccinated. Percentage morbidity was 42.86, 64.29, 100 and 92.86 % for subgroups A2, A3, B2 and B3 respectively, while percentage mortality was 14.29, 50, 100 and 71.43 % in subgroups A2, A3, B2 and B3 respectively. This study showed that vaccination of previously vaccinated chicks during Newcastle disease outbreak protects the chicks and reduces both morbidity and mortality significantly.

4043 – 4054

Authors: ECHUDE, Daniel, ADAKOLE, John Ameh, MBAH, Christian Emeka and ADIE, Donatus Begianpuye

Physicochemical parameters of Kuti stream, Abaji Area Council, Abuja were studied for welve months (January - December, 2019). Water samples were collected from the study area monthly from four sampling points that were 500 m distance apart into a clean 2-litre transparent plastic container and screw capped between the hours of 06.00 – 10.00. Samples were preserved in ice and taken to the laboratory for analysis. Temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and total dissolved solids (TDS) were measured in-situ with portable HANNA meter (HI 70007 pH/EC/TDS/̊C), while chloride (Cl-), sodium (Na+), nitrate (NO3 -), phosphate (PO43-), sulphate (SO4 2-), magnesium (Mg2+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), dissolved oxygen (DO), alkalinity and turbidity were analyzed ex-situ using standard methods. Descriptive statistics revealed that all parameters were within permissible limits recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and FRN’s national environmental (surface and underground water quality control) regulations except PO43-and turbidity. Analysis of Variance showed that all parameters are significantly different (p˃0.05) except pH across sampled points, while paired sample t-test showed that there was a significant difference (p<0.05) of all parameters between seasons except pH and Na. The high concentration of PO4 3-and turbidity observed may be linked to the influx of runoff from nearby farms and degree of anthropogenic activities that took place in the stream during the study. PO43- combined with NO3- to cause eutrophication, which lead to higher oxygen demand and subsequent death of aquatic organisms. To reduce the concentration of PO43-, sustainable agriculture and healthy activities around the stream should be practiced.