Effect of dam parity on the reproductive performance of Nigeria indigenous sows and progeny survivability rates in Enugu State, South Eastern Nigeria

The effects of parity on the reproductive performance of Nigerian indigenous sow breed, progeny survivability and mortality in a commercial breeding farm in Enugu State Nigeria were investigated in this study. One hundred apparently healthy third trimester pregnant sows were randomly assigned to four treatment groups of twenty five sows per group in a completely randomized design (CRD) according to their reproductive parities as groups I, II, III and IV representing the first (P1), second (P2), third (P3) and fourth (P4) parities respectively. This study lasted for two years. The mean number of piglets born alive (NBA) of P1 (6.00±0.71 Head) and P2 (6.00±0.71 Head) were significantly decreased when compared to P4 (8.50±0.65 Head) but showed no significant difference when compared to P3 (7.50±0.50 Head). Second parity sows recorded the highest number of piglets’ deaths after birth while P1 and P3 litters recorded the lowest deaths after birth. Mean pre-weaning survival of progenies was highest in P3 (91.43±5.09 %) and lowest in P2 (84.38±11.83 %) while mean piglet mortality was highest in P2 (15.63±11.83 %) but lowest in P3 (8.57±5.09 %). It can be concluded from this research work that PIII sows provided adequate requirements necessary for their litter nourishment, growth and survival more than the other parities. Therefore progeny growth performance was best at third parity of reproduction.

Cardiac size appraisals in thoracic radiographs of Nigerian Indigenous dogs: reference guides in clinical practice

The application of radiologic measurement methods has provided very sensitive and more accurate evaluation, compared with subjective assessment, especially in subtle cases of thoracic organ size anomaly. The objective of the study was to determine radiologic ratios for diagnostic and biometric cardiothoracic evaluations in the Nigerian Indigenous Dog. Thirty healthy dogs (average body weight: 8.2 kg; range: 4.0 – 15.6 kg) consisting of equal number of males and females were recruited for the investigation. Sixty dorsoventral versus ventrodorsal thoracic projections of each of the research dogs were acquired. Parameters in each radiograph were objectively evaluated, as follows: thoracic diameter, cardiac diameter in views, cardiac length and cardiac width. Indices generated in the views were the cardiothoracic ratios (CTR) and the cardiac indices (CI). Mean ± standard error of mean CTR and CI values were 0.50±0.01/0.56±0.01 and 0.56±0.01/0.61±0.01, between the opposite views, respectively. These results are objective, reproducible and easily applicable to veterinary clinical practice for radiologic cardiac appraisal.

Significance of graded doses of aqueous seed extract of Moringa oleifera (L) on live body weight, gonadal, extragonadal dimensions and sperm reserves of Yankasa rams

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of Moringa oleifera aqueous seed extract on live body weight, gonadal and extragonadal dimensions and sperm reserves of Yankasa rams. Twenty five apparently healthy Yankasa rams aged 1-2 years and weighing 19.0 ± 2.1 Kg were used for the study. The rams were randomly selected into five groups: A, B, C, D and E with five rams in each group as treatment and control groups respectively. Groups A - D were given oral dose of Moringa oleifera aqueous seed extract at a dose rate of 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 (mg/kg), respectively while group E was given 10 ml/kg water orally, daily for five months. Live body weight, gonadal and extragonadal reserves were determined according to standard techniques. The results showed a significant increase in live body weight in the months of April to June among rams treated with different doses of Moringa oleifera aqueous seed extract compared with the control group. The control group showed no significant differences in the body weight, gonadal and extragonadal dimensions and sperm reserves. In conclusion, the treatment of Yankasa rams with Moringa oleifera aqueous seed extract increased live body weight, but had no significant effects on gonadal and extragonadal dimensions and sperm reserves in Yankasa rams. Therefore, it is recommended that M. oleifera aqueous seed extract can be used at doses of 2000mg/kg to 3000mg/kg in Yankasa rams for optimum gain in live body weight.

Diminazene aceturate-concentrations in tissues of dogs co-treated with oxtetracycline long acting

Diminizene aceturate (DA) is the drug of choice for treating Canine Trypanosomosis and Canine Babesiosis in many countries of the world. However, co-administration of the drug with long acting Oxytetracycline (OXY-LA) has been associated with nervous signs suggestive of its toxicity, in treated dogs, even at the normal dose. To investigate what causes this toxicity, fourteen Nigerian indigenous dogs were randomly selected into two groups that comprised six dogs each and the remaining untreated two dogs were used for preparation of tissue standards. One group was treated with DA (3.5mg/kg) alone while the other was, additionally, treated with OXY-LA, 10 minutes post treatment (PT) with DA. Two dogs from each group were sacrificed at 240, 360 and 480 hours, PT and their livers, brains, kidneys, hearts and skeletal muscles were harvested and assayed for DA. Mean DA-concentrations in brains of the DA-OXY-LA group (19.71± 1.31a; 15.86± 2.96a; 9.11± 3.31a) were higher (P≤ 0.05) than 1.39 ± 0.45b; 1.05± 0.29b; 0.71 ± 0.30b of the DA-alone group at 240, 360 and 480 hours, PT, respectively. Also, mean-DA concentration in kidneys (8.00 ±0.46a) of the DA-OXY-LA group was significantly (P≤ 0.05) higher than 3.76±0.32b of the DA-alone group at 360 hours PT. These results suggest that OXY-LA enhances DA-accumulation in the brain and reduces its kidney-elimination, thus making the normal dose to act as overdose, which causes the nervous signs often manifested by treated dogs.

Haematological parameters in relation to age, sex and body weight of free-range village chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) in Maiduguri, Nigeria

The haematology of animals including chickens is an important indicator of their health status. It is therefore considered a useful tool in clinical diagnosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the haematological parameters of apparently healthy free range domesticated chickens as influenced by their sex, age and body weights. Blood samples taken from the jugular veins were analysed using standard haematological protocols. PCV, haemoglobin concentration, TRBC, TWBC, differential leukocyte counts, erythrocytes indices (MCV, MCHC and MCH) were measured. The study showed that there were no significant (P>0.05) age-dependent variation in all the measured haematological parameters. However, sex had effect on PCV, TRBC and heterophil count. Male chickens had higher PCV value of (34.4%) and TRBC value of (2.4 × 1012/L) as compared to female chickens with PCV value of (30.5%) and TRBC value of (2.1 × 1012/L). On the other hand, female chickens had higher mean heterophil value of (22.0 × 109/L) and MCHC value of (29.5g/dl) as compared to male chickens with mean heterophil and MCHC values of (16.8 × 109/L) and (25.7g/dl) respectively. There was significant (P<0.05) increase in PCV with increasing body weights in males but not in females. The MCHC decreased significantly (P<0.05) as the body weight increased also in males but not in females. The results of the study indicate that sex and body weights influenced normal haematological parameters of apparently healthy free range domestic chickens in the study environment. Keywords: Age, body weight, haematology, sex, village chicken.

Immune stimulation and antibody response of chicks to different doses/units of the Nigerian live infectious bursa disease vaccine

Vaccination failure is one of the major constraints to disease control in poultry. To investigate Infectious bursa disease (IBD)-vaccination failures (frequently/globally reported), batches of the Nigerian live-vaccine were tested for viral units before vaccinating following chick-groups: 16 doses (65,536 units), 8 doses (32,768 units), 4 doses (6,384 units), 2 doses (8,192 units), 1 dose (4,096 units), 1:2 dose (2,048 units), 1:4 dose (1,024 units), 1:8 dose (512 units), 1:16 dose (256 units) and control. Each batch gave 4,096 viral units. Mean bursa weight/body weight ratios (immune stimulation) and mean antibody titres of the chick-groups were 47.40 ±5.45 and 51.20 ±7.83; 44.25 ±7.28 & 48.00 ±9.24; 45.25 ± 4.28 and 64.00 ± 0.00; 43.00 ±7.58 and 101.60 ± 35.05; 44.60 ± 5.51 and 128.00 ± 0.00; 42.60 ± 6.23 and 268.80 ± 16.00; 40.50 ± 1.76 and 80.00 ±16.00; 31.40 ± 3.80 and 80.00 ± 27.71; 37.18 ± 4.07 and 89.60 ± 15.68 and 26.20 ± 3.31 and 19.20 ± 5.99, respectively. Half (2,048 units) of the recommended 1-dose gave optimal antibody-titre. The higher doses gave lower antibody-titres like the lower doses but immune stimulation continued to increase as doses/units increased. Both over-stimulating the immune system (too high vaccine-doses/viral-units/viral-virulence) and under-stimulation cause vaccination failure.

Demographic study of dogs in rural and urban areas in Umuahia; a step towards eradication of rabies

Dog-mediated human rabies remains a major public health threat in Nigeria. The availability of reliable dog population estimates is the key in planning control strategies for canine rabies in developing countries. This study was conducted to evaluate the demography of dogs in Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria. A cross sectional study was carried out in Umuahia North and Umuahia south, Local Government areas (LGA) Abia state, Nigeria, between September and November 2019. A total of 132 compounds in Umuahia North and 186 compounds in Umuahia South were randomly selected for administration of questionnaires. A total of 159 questionnaires were distributed for compound dog count. Information obtained included household information such as numbers of dogs in the premises, housing and control of dog movement. Others were history of dog bites and individual dog information such as breed, sex, age, source of dog, source of food and vaccination status. Two hundred and fifty-seven (257) dogs were counted which comprised 126 (49%) males and 131 (51%) females. Also, 46.3% of the dogs were confined. The dog vaccination coverage in the dog population surveyed was 47.9%. Majority of the respondents (83.3%) stated that no member of their family has been bitten by a dog. The findings of this study show female: male ratio of dog to be 1.04:1. There was negligent dog ownership as a good number of dogs were left to roam. There was a low anti-rabies vaccination coverage in Umuahia North and Umuahia South LGAs which falls below recommendation of 70-80% vaccination coverage by the World Health Organization to achieve herd immunity. Keywords: Demography, dog, Nigeria, rabies, Umuahia.

Effect of activated charcoal on different aspects of poultry performance: a review

This paper presents a short review of the effects of activated charcoal (AC) on different aspects of poultry performance. Activated charcoal is a solid, porous, tasteless and black carbonaceous material prepared from a variety of carbon containing materials, including agricultural residue. In powder form it acts as adsorbent for many toxins according to physical and chemical nature of the precursor. Several studies reviewed showed AC, as a non-digestible and cheap substance that may be of benefit to poultry gut health, growth and laying performance, especially in the tropics where microbial degradation of feed is a major threat. Keywords: Activated charcoal, broilers, layers, poultry performance.

Validation of two human point-of-care glucometers for glucose concentration determination in rats

Glucose disorders associated with critical illness are common in veterinary medicine and availability of efficient, easy and affordable diagnostic process is vital in combating the menace. Point-of-care glucometers readily come to mind in achieving this goal considering their importance in research and critical case management in veterinary clinics as they are cheap, user friendly, can use small sample quantity and quick generation of results. However, there have been concerns about generation of erroneous results in certain species. This study compared the accuracy and agreement of two point-of-care glucometers for blood glucose determination in rats. Blood samples were obtained from 20 healthy Sprague-Dawley albino rats. Blood (2 ml) was collected through the retro-bulbar plexus and two glucometers were used to determine the blood glucose concentrations immediately. Thereafter, 1 ml was put into a clean test tube treated with ethylene diamine tetracetic acid and the remaining 1 ml was also put into another test tube without anticoagulant. The samples were processed appropriately to harvest the plasma and serum. Blood glucose test kit was used to measure glucose concentrations in plasma and serum by the glucose oxidase method. Data generated were analysed using one way analysis of variance. Results showed that the mean value generated by one glucometer was relatively comparable with the values generated by the laboratory methods while the other significantly overestimated the glucose concentration. This underscores the importance of validation of glucometers before use in any species as unvalidated glucometers can lead to erroneous research conclusions and clinical decisions with dire consequences

Prevalence of haemoparasites and its associated risk factors among dogs in Maiduguri, Nigeria

Dogs are known to be infected by different blood parasites which are transmitted through vectors and produce illness collectively termed canine vector borne diseases (CVBD) in tropical and subtropical countries including Nigeria. This study investigated the prevalence of haemoparasites of dogs in Maiduguri, as well as the risk factors associated with their occurrence. The study was carried out from February 2019 to November 2019. Five wards namely Bolori 1, Bulabulin, Gwange 2, Lamisular and Limanti were selected out of the fifteen wards in the Metropolis using simple random sampling technique. Individual dog selection was based on systematic random sampling technique. Blood samples were collected from dogs via cephalic venipuncture. Wet mount, thin blood smear and buffy coat techniques were used to detect the presence of haemoparasites. A total of one hundred and twenty (120) dogs were sampled, out of which fifty one (51) were males and sixty nine (69) were females, fifty six (56) were adults (> 1 year) while sixty four (64) were young (0 – 1 year). The numbers of local, exotic and cross breeds were 64, 45 and 11 respectively. Eighty eight (88) of the dogs were confined while thirty two (32) were roaming freely. This study showed an overall prevalence of haemoparasites (14.16%) with Babesia canis (12.50%) and Ehrlichia canis (1.66%). Chi-square showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) association between haemoparasitism and age, sex and management practice. There was no association between haemoparasitism and breed (P > 0.05). It was concluded that haemoparasites are detectable among dogs in Maiduguri Metropolis and hence, the need to raise awareness on the prevention and control of haemoparasitic infections in dogs due to possible threat to animal and human health in the study area.