Animal Research International

4254 - 4260

Authors: MIJINYAWA, Mujtaba Abubakar, LAMIDI, Owolabi Saka, ABDU, Salisu Bakura, HASSAN, Mohammed Rabiu, BALA, Aminu Garba, NAYAWO, Abdullahi Abdu, IRISO, Boma Victor, ADO, Fatima Haruna and KIBIYA, Hauwa Yusuf

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding treated or untreated bagasse with or without enzyme supplementation on the carcass characteristics and meat quality of Red Sokoto bucks. Sixteen Red Sokoto bucks averaging one year and weighing 10 ± 2 kg were used for the study. Four bucks were assigned per treatment and allotted to two dietary treatments with two level of supplementation in a completely randomized design. The enzyme was included based on the manufactures recommendation. The bucks were slaughtered and dressed according to normal dressing procedure and meat samples were analysed for moisture, protein and ash content. The result of the trial showed that there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in hot carcass weight and protein content between bucks fed bagasse with enzyme and bucks fed bagasse without enzyme. Bucks fed untreated bagasse without enzyme had significantly (p<0.05) higher dressing percentage (44.11 %) when compared to bucks fed treated bagasse with enzyme (42.58 %). The study concluded that treated and untreated bagasse with or without enzyme has no adverse effect on carcass and meat quality of Red Sokoto bucks.

4270 – 4280

Authors: UHUO, Emmanuel Nnaemeka, MBA, Joseph Obinna, UROKO, Robert Ikechukwu and CHIME, Mirabel Ogochukwu

Impaired gastroprotection and increased gastric acid secretion has been attributed to decrease prostaglandin level which are important events in the etiology of mucosal ulceration. The study evaluated the ameliorative effect of ethanol extract of Syzygium aromaticum on indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats. Forty five male albino rats of mean weight (105 ± 0.71 g) were used in this study. Rats were grouped into five groups having six rats per group. Gastric ulcer was induced with indomethacin (40 mg/kg body weight).Group 1 received feed and water only. Group 2 was the negative control induced with indomethacin without treatment. Group 3 received standard drug (omeprazole 20 mg/kg body weight). Group 4 and 5 were administered 100 and 500 mg/kg body weight of the extract respectively. Treatment was carried out once daily for 21 days prior to ulcer induction. Gastric secretions, antioxidant parameters and histopathological defects were evaluated. There was significant increase (p<0.05) in ulcer indices; gastric volume, acidity, malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels in the negative control against the test group that received 100 mg kg of the S. aromaticum ethanol extract. Also, significant decrease (p<0.05) of these parameters were observed between the negative control and the positive control. Decrease in the ulcer indices were recorded in the group 3 compared with Groups 4 and 5. The protective effect of the S. aromaticum extract was buttressed by degree of percentage inhibition against ulceration. It is therefore; evident that the ethanol extracts of the plant can ameliorate indomethacin induced gastric ulceration.

4293 – 4296

Authors: IGBOKWE, Casmir Onwuaso, ONOJA, Remigius Ibe and NWAOGU, Innocent Chima

An adult captive male grasscutter weighing 8.50 kg was presented for dissection and research. At necropsy, uterus bicornis was present and well developed testes were found in the abdominal cavity. The uterine tubes, uterine horns, cervix and cranial vagina contained a yellowish-brown cheesy fluid. There was no evidence that ovaries were present in the specimen. Histologically, the testes showed a well-developed histo-architecture while the uterus had thin myometrium, atypical endometrial mucosa and lacked coiled uterine glands. The epithelium in the cranial vagina was also hypoplastic, while the smooth muscle layers of the muscularis were scanty. This is the first reported case of pseudohermaphroditism in the greater cane rat.

4308 – 4317

Authors: UBACHUKWU, Chidiebere Chiemerie and TAIWO, Victor Olusegun

This study investigated the effects of methanol extract of Moringa oleifera leaves (MEMO) against indomethacin-induced haematological and gross gastrointestinal pathological changes. Indomethacin is known to cause pathology, especially ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Assessed parameters include complete blood count, gastric ulcer index (GUI) and intestinal ulcer index (IUI). Forty eight male rats, aged 14 – 16 weeks were randomly divided into 8 groups. Group A, distilled water; Group B, MEMO 250 mg/kg; Group C, MEMO 500 mg/kg; Group D, Indomethacin 125 mg/kg; Group E, MEMO 250 mg/kg + Indomethacin 125 mg/kg; Group F, MEMO 500 mg/kg + Indomethacin 125 mg/kg; Group G, Indomethacin 125 mg/kg + MEMO 250 mg/kg; Group H, Indomethacin 125 mg/kg + MEMO 500 mg/kg. Indomethacin-only rats showed a significant normocytic, normochromic anaemia compared to other groups. There was neutrophilia and mild lymphocytosis in the indomethacin-treated groups. Indomethacin-treated rats showed varying degrees of GIT haemorrhages, erosions and ulceration. The group treated with only indomethacin showed a significantly higher GUI and IUI compared to other groups. The rats treated with both indomethacin and MEMO had significantly reduced GIT lesions. From 36 – 84 hours post-treatment however, all indomethacin-treated rats showed a significant increase in GUI and IUI when compared to values recorded at 24 hours. The results of this study show that MEMO is protective against the toxicity of indomethacin. Follow-up dosing of MEMO however seems to be necessary to sustain its protective activity. Administration of MEMO before Indomethacin showed better prospects in the GIT than when administered afterwards.

4324 – 4332

Authors: OGBUEFI, Emmanuel Okwudili, UMEH, Blessing Chidinma, ELOSIUBA, Nwanneka Victoria, UGOEZE, Chinedu Prosper, UZOCHUKWU, Chukwuebuka Uzochukwu and OBIEFULA, Ifeanyi Emmanuel

A hospital based study of malaria parasite was carried out in three hospitals namely: Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Eldorado Multi-Specialist Hospital and Nnamdi Azikiwe University Medical Center in Awka Metropolis in Anambra State, Nigeria between the months of June and July 2021. 144 patients were examined to detect the presence of malaria parasite using field stain and RDT methods. The result from the study showed a total of 60.42 % prevalence of malaria parasite from the studied locations. The female had the highest prevalence of 67.47 % and 21 – 30 years aged patients recorded the highest prevalence of 72.41 %. Malaria intensity among patients showed that 60.92 % had mild infection while 36.78 % had moderate and 1.15 % had heavy infection although it was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Prevalence in relation to hospitals showed that Nnamdi Azikiwe University Medical Centre had the highest infection rate of 68.75 % while Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital had the least prevalence of 53.66 %. Malaria prevalence at 60.42 % among patients attending hospitals in Awka Metropolis was alarming especially when compared with World Health Organization pre-elimination phase prevalence of 5.00 %. Following the high prevalence of malaria infection, more effort is needed in the control of malaria through public enlightenment, prompt diagnosis, and use of insecticides treated bed nets and repellants towards achieving malaria elimination in Awka Metropolis, Awka South Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria.

4343 – 4353

Authors: OPUTE, Prosper Ashibudike, OSEMWEGIE, Favour, SANNI, Elizabeth Omouwa and ERHUNMWUNSE, Nosakhare Osazee

Atrazine is a selective pre- and post-emergence herbicide for the control of weeds. Decades after being banned, atrazine remains the most abundant pesticide in water bodies. This study evaluated the toxic effects of atrazine on the post-embryonic development of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Catfish juveniles of 0.89 ± 0.06 cm and with an average weight of 0.01 ± 0.005 g were exposed to five different concentrations (0, 0.03, 0.3, 3.0 and 30 µgL-1) of atrazine in three replicates. The catfish juveniles mortality were significantly increased with increasing atrazine concentrations (p<0.05). Probit analysis showed 48 hours LC50 of atrazine at 0.68 µgL-1 with 100 % mortality at 30 µgL-1. Significant reduction (p<0.05) was observed in the specific growth rate (SGR) and the relative growth rate (RGR) with increasing concentration of Atrazine treatment. Histological assessment revealed disintegration of the nervous tissues, vacuolization of the epithelium of the anterior intestine, loss of gill cytoarchitecture, and distortions of the intestine in all atrazine-treatment groups. Our results show that environmentally realistic concentrations (0.30 – 30.00 µgL-1) of atrazine in the aquatic environment may adversely affect the post-embryonic development and survival of African catfish.

4367 – 4371

Authors: OPOKU, Kwadwo Agyapong, BOAKYE, Oliver Dankwa, AMPONSAH, Patrick Mensah, ADUSEI, Kwaku Acheampong, HAMIDU, Jacob Alhassan and EMIKPE, Benjamin Obukowho

Infectious bursal disease has hampered the development of commercial poultry production in Ghana, with outbreaks continually occurring despite the introduction of the harmonized national poultry vaccination protocol (HNPVP) that incorporates two types of live IBD vaccines. One major reported reason for these vaccination failures is the vaccine neutralization by maternally-derived antibodies (MDA). This study compared the antibody titres of layers vaccinated with the HNPVP to layers vaccinated with VAXXITEK HVT+IBD, a viral vectored vaccine. An agar gel immunodiffusion test and an indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to detect and quantify antibodies. The results of this experiment show that high MDA did not affect VAXXITEK HVT + IBD as there was a measurable antibody response with high titre values. However, the delay before this antibody response and the resultant low antibody levels at the most susceptible period may create an opportunity for field infection. However high MDA interfere with and can neutralize live IBD vaccines even when they are applied strictly as advised in the HNPVP. It is therefore quite likely that a significant portion of the reported IBD vaccination failures in Ghana are due to failure of the HNPVP due to interference with MDA hence specific ‘farm-tailored’ vaccination schedules based on flock profiling, and recombinant vectored vaccines that have been shown to produce universal protection unaffected by high MDA may be the solutions to post vaccination outbreak commonly observed in Ghana.

4377 – 4381

Authors: BOLAJI-ALABI, Foluso Bolawaye, AJANI, Olumide Samuel, YUSUF, Abdulganiyu and OYEYEMI, Matthew Olugbenga

Breeding of underage animals, though not encouraged in animal husbandry is still very common due to poor management systems in local settings in Nigeria. Although the worldwide incidence of dystocia in small ruminants is low (<4 %), it is still one of the most presented cases in veterinary clinics. A ten month old female West African Dwarf (WAD) goat was presented at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Ibadan with a complaint of difficult labour noticed two days prior to presentation. No medication or assistance was given before the presentation at the clinic. It was reported that the animal was primiparous and was kept a under semi-intensive management system with other goats. On clinical examination, an oversize foetal head was stuck in the cervix with a left-lateral deviation of the head complicated by unilateral shoulder flexion. The fetus was dead as a brownish pungent smell was dripping from the nose and mouth. This article describes emergency caesarian section in an underage doe due to absolute fetal oversize.

4390 – 4402

Authors: AYENI, Akinlolu Oluwafemi, ADEGBENRO, Muyiwa, OBADARE, Israel Gem, OLADAYO, Taiwo Olarotimi and AGBEDE, Johnson Oluwasola

This study investigated the effects of supplementary composite leaf meal (CLM) on the haemato-biochemical, antioxidants and gut health indices of 150 broiler chickens (Ross 308). During the 42-days feeding trial, the birds were subjected to five dietary treatments (with CLM added at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 g/kg, respectively), replicated three times with 10 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. The CLM was formulated from Annona murican, Ficus exasperate, Persea americana, Glyricidia sepium leaf meals in addition to Allium sativum meal, constituted in the ratio 2:2:2:1:1, respectively. From the study, there were significant differences (p<0.05) in the packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin and monocyte across all diets. Highest PCV (34.2 %) was recorded in birds fed Diet 4. All blood serum characteristics studied were not significantly influenced by the supplementation of CLM with the exception of creatinine and glucose. The microbes identified in the small intestine includes: Staphylococcus aureus, Lactobacillus spp. and Streptococcus spp. The microbial count recorded ranged from 7.10 to 40 ×106 cfu/ml. Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli were identified in the jejunum of chicken fed Diets 1, 2 and 3 respectively. From the study, Diet 4 (containing 15 % CLM) showed a great prospect for use as a Prebiotics; given it ability to enhance lactobacillus colonization of the gut. CLM at 15 % supplementation level could be recommended as a sustainable substitute for synthetic antibiotics growth promoters in chicken performance and gut health improvement programmes.