Treatment and Regression of Transmissible Venearal Tumour in Dogs

Antimicrobial resistance threatens the effective treatment of vast range of bacterial, fungi and viral diseases. Transmissible venereal tumour (TVT) is one of the highly contagious tumour in dogs commonly affecting sexually active stud and bitches. The disease was observed in a male and female Alsatian of about 3 years of age. Both dogs were sexually active and are utilized for breeding purposes. Samples were collected from the TVT growth on both the female and male genitalia. The samples were subjected to cytology and confirmatory diagnosis was made on the gross appearance of cauliformlike lesion and appearance of roundish cells with multiple vacuoles in the cytoplasm of the TVT tumour cells. Treatment was achieved by 3 doses of Vincristin sulphate injection USP1mg/ml Vinlon TM 1 intravenously through a cannula. There was no report of recrudesce of growth post treatment. Conclusion: TVT appear to exhibit genetic preference for sexually active Alsatian breed of dogs within the age bracket of 3 years and above. Despite the confronting challenge of drug resistance in medicine, intravenous administration of vincristine sulphate has remained efficacious in achieving complete regression of TVT the growth in dogs.

Links of Biomass of (Smilax Scobinicaulis) Dry Leaves and Daily Solar Radiation

(Smilax scobinicaulis) not only is a vital medicinal material plant by treating joint pain, but also it is a widely distributed wide plant species from 500m to 3100m in Mei County of China. However, understanding links between total biomass of dry leaves and daily solar radiation is difficult. This study explained that it is an increasing of total biomass of dry leaves with increasing of daily solar radiation as well as links between total biomass of dry leaves and daily solar radiation is the significant positive connection from 20.578mol/m2•d to 24.158mol/m2•d along elevation from 500m to 1500m (P<0.01); it is a decreasing of this total biomass of dry leaves with increasing of daily solar radiation as well as the links between this total biomass of dry leaves and daily solar radiation is a significant negative connection from 24.15mol/m2•d to 27.246mol/m2•d along elevation from 1500m to 3100m (P<0.01). This research provides a series of areas ecological adaptation of daily solar radiation and six landscapes of this species. Therefore, this has vital theoretical and practical significance by medicinal plant species protection for better future of human health, ecosystem services and ecosystem functions along daily solar radiation gradient.

Bovine Brucellosis Seroprevalence and Potential Transmission Risk to Workers at the Port-Bouët Abattoir, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire

Brucellosis is one of the most common bacterial zoonosis in the world. It is caused by Brucella species and is an infectious and contagious disease transmissible to humans and to several animal species. This disease remains one of the neglected diseases in several countries and represents a real public health problem. A cross sectional study was conducted at the Port-Bouët abattoir in order to determine the seroprevalence as well as to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) of workers. Three hundred and eighty-seven (387) cattle blood samples collected from January 5 to March 30 2019 were diagnosed using the Rose Bengal and indirect Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (i-ELISA) techniques. The seroprevalence was 0.52% (95% CI: 0.06265-1.8542) for i-ELISA and Rose Bengal. Regarding seroprevalence with sex, males recorded 0.3% (95 CI: 0.00776-1.6617), while females had 1.85% (95% CI: 0.04687-9.8991) for both Rose Bengal and i-ELISA tests with no statistically significant difference (X2=2; df=1; p=0.157). Animals >3years old recorded a higher seroprevalence rate eventhough with no statistically significant difference (X2=3; df=2; p=0.223). Also, our findings established that the potential risk of contracting brucellosis at the abattoir by workers is high due to the handling of animal tissues without the use of Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs). This baseline information indicates the neccesity for a more in-depth study on the traceability of animals coming to the abattoir as well as study the occurrence of brucellosis in animals and among abattoir workers following a one health approach in order to contribute to the development of a sub-regional integrated programme for the control of brucellosis. This collective approach will minimize the risk of contamination with brucellosis by workers.

Practices of Medicinal Plants Used By the Local Peoples in Veterinary Medicine in Lohagara Upazila of Narail District, Bangladesh

Purpose: The current investigation is aimed at medicinal plants used by the local people in veterinary medicines in Lohagara Upazila of Narail district, Bangladesh. Methodology: The present study was carried out from November 2018 to March 2020. Practices of veterinary medicinal data were documented following semi-structured questionnaires, field observations and interviews with housewives, cattle owners, and traditional healers and elderly persons. Results: In the research area, a total of 17 veterinary preparations were studied in which 34 medicinal plant species belonging to 29 genre and 22 families were documented. Conclusion: The present researches were preliminary veterinary practice methods and their ordinary utilization.

Pharmacological Effects of Sacred Oils Belonging to Ancient Civilizations

Over the centuries, humanity has known and utilized some sacred oils extracted from their medicinal plants for therapeutic purpose. They are considered as good source of bioactive compounds having a wide range of vital biological activities. Aromatic oils have been a part of human history for more than 3,500 years BC and appeared with regularity throughout all major civilizations down the ages, with uses ranging from religious ritual, food flavoring, medicines, perfumery and the masking of bad odors. It is impossible to date exactly when plants were first used medicinally, since such a development would have taken place over thousands of years. During recent decades, many researchers have investigated the mechanisms of action and the therapeutic use of essential oils as physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. This review, highlights on some sacred essential oils extracted from important traditional medicinal plants that possesses several pharmacological properties, considering that the safety and versatility of this these supplement should allow for its use in numerous pathological conditions.

Behavioural Responses and Mortality of Clarias gariepinus Juveniles Exposed to Acute Concentrations of Paraquat

Paraquat is the most common contact and non- selective herbicide for exterminating vegetative pest. Fish are ideal sentinels for detecting aquatic pollutants and are largely used as bio indicators of environmental pollution. This study is aimed to determine the behavioural changes, lethal concentrations (LCs) and mean lethal time (MLT) of paraquat exposed to Clarias gariepinus. A 96 hours renewable bioassay was conducted with various paraquat concentrations 0.0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.0 and 1.25 mg/l. Behavioural changes and cumulative mortality were observed and recorded at 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hour. Behavioural changes such as air gulping, erratic swimming, loss of balance, excessive mucus secretion, discolouration and death were observed with severity increasing as concentration and duration of exposure increases. The LC50 values were decreased from 0.191mg/l (0.171 – 0.222) in 12 hour to 0.107mg/l (0.065 – 0.150) in 96 hour, while relative toxicity factor (TF) was increased from 1 to 1.79 times respectively. The 96hr MLT values were decreased from 91.18 hours (54.09-105.64) at the lowest concentration to 16.22 hours (9.06 – 25.15) at the highest concentration with relative toxicity time (RTT) increasing from 1 to 5.62 times. Herbicide should be apply with caution and studies on the sub lethal effects of paraquat on the haematological, biochemical and histological parameters of C. gariepinus juveniles will be necessary.

Estimating the Drying Kinetics and Effective Moisture Diffusivity of Fresh Water Prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii)

Fresh-water prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) once harvested, tends to deteriorate rapidly because of the high systemic moisture it constituent which has lead to post-harvest losses, drying as a method of preservation widely used for high moisture bio-products reduces moisture probably to bone-dry level and thereby increased the shelf-life of the fresh-water prawn. Therefore, Estimating the Drying Kinetics and Effective Moisture Diffusivity of Fresh Water Prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) was investigated using a laboratory convective oven dryer and was arranged in a thin layer. 50-100°C temperatures were applied, varying on multiple of 10°C. It was observed that the drying rate increased with increasing drying temperatures. Drying data obtained were fitted into four empirical thin-layer drying models, and the best model was investigated after undergoing statistical parameters (of coefficient of determination, R2; root mean square error, RMSE and reduced chi-square, χ2). The ANN and Henderson model was found to perform satisfactorily in describing the drying behaviour of the Fresh-water prawn samples at the chosen temperature levels. The initial moisture content of all the samples was 54% wb. The final effective moisture diffusivity of the samples during the drying experiments ranges from 1.26 x 10-7m2/s - 7.06 x 10-7m2/s, and the temperature related activation energy of diffusion was found to be 12.82-kJ/mol. Drying occurred mainly in the falling rate period, and the characterizing drying curves were exponential with increase in drying temperatures.

Investigation on the Cardio-Protective Potentials of Sphenostylis Stenocarpa Seed Milk on Salt Loading-Induced Hypertension in Albino Rats

Cardio-protection is a sure way of averting the incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), which have been one of the most stubborn global causes of death. An estimated 17.9 million people died from CVDs in 2016, representing 31% of all global deaths. Of these deaths, 85% are due to heart attack and stroke. Over three quarters of CVDs deaths take place in low and middle-income countries. Out of the 17 million premature deaths (under the age of 70) due to non-communicable diseases in 2015, 82% are in low and middle-income countries, and 37% are caused by CVDs. The most preventive measure for cardiovascular disease is primary prevention of risk factors. Most cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by addressing behavioural risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet and obesity, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol using population-wide strategies. People with cardiovascular diseases or who are at high cardiovascular risk (due to the presence of one or more risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia or already established disease) need early detection and management using counselling and medicines, as appropriate. Sphenostylis stenocarpa (Hochst. ex. A. Rich) Harms is an orphan legume crop which its oil when administered to hypertensive albino rats, significantly (p< 0.05) lowered the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), which is a strong marker for predicting the risk of cardiovascular disease. Hypertension was induced in rats using saturated NaCl solution. The rats were treated with the extracted oil at different concentrations. It was observed that Sphenostylis stenocarpa seed has low glycaemic index and that at varying concentrations and time significantly (p < 0.05) lowered the AIP.

Participatory Forest Management Tool for Promoting Sustainable Forest Utilization in Chiradzulu, Malawi

A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess community perceptions towards environmental issues and Participatory Forest Management (PFM) in Chiradzulu, Malawi. The study revealed that majority (94%) of the households are aware that the forest cover has declined in the past two decade and recognised this as a major environmental problem. Firewood the main source of energy, poverty, as well as population growth were identified as the major cause of the forest decline. However, the study revealed that PFM is one of the helpful tools in overcoming this challenge. Most (66%) of the households acknowledged that PFM is partially meeting community’s basic needs and interests. The basic needs that were observed included firewood, food, water, shelter, knowledge, skills, and income. This indicate that if PFM is implemented effectively, it would lead to sustainable management of forest resources. Therefore, the present study recommends that for sustainability of forest management to be achieved in the study area, communities should be fully empowered to make sound decisions for continued benefits for the entire community.

Current Status of Yam (Dioscorea Sp) Genetic Resources-Case Study of Selected Locations in South-West Nigeria

Yam is an important tuber crop in Nigeria. Some locations in South west Nigeria (Oyo State, Ondo State, Osun State, and Ogun State) were surveyed to find out the existence and the abundance of diversity of white guinea yam (Dioscorea rotundata). It was discovered that there are also diversity in other species of landrace yams (Dioscorea cayenensis, Dioscorea alata, Dioscorea dumentorum). One unidentified species of yam was found in Ondo State. This species also exist in Osun State. Some of the yam diversities are endangered. Genetic erosion of these yam diversities is imminent because of the decline of the traditional farmers growing these diversities; also because of modern commercial farms that tend to mono-cropping of improved variety and also because of problem of storage of yams and especially ex-situ conservation of yam genetic resources of yam in Nigeria.