Smart Weather Station for Rural Agriculture using Meteorological Sensors and Solar Energy

Access to short term weather forecasts is still limited in local communities of Africa. Unlike short term forecasts, seasonal forecasts based on global and regional climate models do not give localized and timely information relevant to farmers’ needs. This paper presents a cost-effective, solar-powered automated weather station as a veritable system for weather forecasting that is relevant to solving agricultural decisions in rural communities. The developed system significantly reduced the cost of obtaining accurate, localized scientific weather information by interfacing various meteorological sensors to microcontrollers. On-site users can access the weather information via the LCD unit on the system while the data is sent to out-of-site user through Short Messaging Service (SMS) of mobile communication system. This approach will effectively ensure food security in arid and semi-arid African countrie

Use of cracked maize as a carrier for NDV4 vaccine in experimental vaccination of chickens

The suitability of V4 vaccine coated on cracked local grain (maize) and its husks and used for oral vaccination of chickens was assessed. Seventy-two (72) birds aged three (3) weeks and above were divided into six groups of twelve (12) birds per group. The birds were bled to determine their prevaccination HI antibody status while five different samples of cracked maize were coated with the V4 vaccine and fed to the chickens orally in each of the groups. All birds in the group including the controls were bled at 7, 14 and 21 days post vaccination to determine the presence and level of antibody response in each of the groups. Results obtained showed that prevaccination haemagglutination inhibition (HI) titre was less than two (log2) in 18% of the birds used in this experiment, however 14% of the birds had an HI titre of ≤ 4. The post vaccination antibody titre showed that birds vaccinated with vaccine coated maize gave a post vaccination HI antibody titre of between Log2(6-8). when the coated maize samples were soaked in water at room temperature and assessed after 24 hours, the treated maize parts gave >6.3 log10 EID50 and above while the untreated parts gave < 3.0 log10 EID50. The experiment showed that whole maize and husks, which were not treated, may contain agents which are virus inhibitory. Form this research the treated maize which was soaked and washed gave a higher geometric mean titre, hence tends to be good carriers of the virus (vaccine). It is therefore concluded from this work that processed cracked maize could be a good carrier of NDV4 vaccine. It is hereby recommended that only treated maize could be used as carrier for the V4 vaccine

Hepatitis C Virus infection in apparentenly healthy individuals with family history of diabetes in Vom, Plateau State Nigeria

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important public health problem worldwide. Its association with, and predisposing nature for diabetes mellitus (DM) has been long established. This research was carried out to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) amongst people with possible genetic predisposition to diabetes mellitus living in and around Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria. 188 subjects were screened after they filled a structured questionnaire to determine some of their demographic data, social habits and possible risk factors. 5 ml of blood was collected from each subject and sera separated out. Biotech's third generation ELISA Kit for HCV antibodies was used for the screening. Liver enzyme analysis was carried out on positive samples to determine their disease status. A prevalence of 14.36% was recorded with the highest seropositive group being those in the age bracket of 18 – 37 years. 13(13.40%) of males and 14(15.38%) of females were sero-positive. Liver enzyme analysis of sero-positive subjects showed increased levels which may imply early onset of liver damage. These result showed that these individuals could later suffer diabetes which may be triggered by their HCV infection if not treated. This is not over-looking the economic significance of their ill health, assuming they progress to cirrhotic HCV or develop hepatocelluar carcinoma due to HCV chronicity

Comparative studies on the use of seller\'s, fluorescent staining techniques and animal inoculations in rabies diagnosis

No Abstract. Animal Production Research Avancees Vol. 3 (2) 2007: pp. 121-12

Quality evaluation of two FMD Vaccines Prepared from local Isolates of sero types SAT1 and SAT2 Antigens and Montanide ISA 206 Formulations

Anti body responses in cattle and gui nea pigs vaccinated with montanide ISA 206 adjuvant formulation  vaccine were observed. In this study the potency of the inactivated FMD vaccines types SAT! ( Nig 1/98) and  SAT2 (Nig 2/97) formulated with montanide ISA 206 adjuvant was determined in guinea pigs and cattle by  antibod) assay with CF and SN tests and by challenge. The antibody litres obtained with single and repeated inoculations gave good responses and protection from the challenge. The AT I I 46S (Nig. 1/98) antigen mai  ntained a higher titre than SAT2 (Nig 2 '97) antigen. The formul ated vaccines were stable at 4oc throughout  the duration of the study. It was also observed that animals with low and high antibody responses were all  protected against FMD by vaccination that may not be, by strictly dependent on high antibod) production in the host. The information from this study showed that it might be possible to prepare and use combined or  polyvalent montanide ISA 206 FMD vaccines for control of FMD in Nigerian Livestock.Key words: Vaccine. SAT!. SATI , Montanide and antibod

Prevalence of hepatitis C and B infections in HIV patients attending Gwagwalada specialist hospital Abuja, Nigeria

No Abstract. IJONAS Vol. 3 (3) 2007 pp. 316-31

Prevalence of foot and mouth disease virus, SAT1 and SAT2 serotypes antibodies in Nigerian cattle

No Abstract.Animal Production Research Advances Vol. 4 (2) 2008: pp. 157-16

Detection of measles IgM antibodies in children at Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria

Measles virus IgM antibodies virus was assayed for in 270 sera from children aged 5 months to 8 years attending Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital, Kaduna, Northern Nigeria, using ELISA. Out of the 270 sera, 192(71.1%) tested positive to measles IgM and 78(28.9%) negative. The sample distribution was 137 from males, with 101(37.4%) positive and 133 from females with 91(33.7%) positive. Those aged 5 months to 2 years had the highest prevalence with a value of 86(31.9%) positive, followed by ages 3 to 5 years with 79(29.3%) positive and the least 6 to 8 years with 27(10.0%) positive. Chi square analysis of the result indicated that ineffective vaccination as a major cause of measles in these area of study with significant at P=

Losses due to foot and mouth desease outbreak in Nigerian livestock

No Abstract. Animal Production Research Avancees Vol. 3 (3) 2007: pp. 254-25

Prevalences of Hepatitis C virus and plasmodium among blood donars at Jos, Nigeria

No Abstract. IJONAS Vol. 3 (3) 2007 pp. 402-40