Erythrocyte Osmotic Fragility and Excitability Score in Rabbit fed Hibiscus sabdariffa in Graded Level

Summary: This study was conducted for 10 weeks with the aim of investigating the erythrocyte membrane integrity as measured by erythrocyte osmotic fragility and excitability scores of rabbits fed graded level of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyx (HSC). Twenty weaners’ rabbit of both sexes were used for the study and were placed on four experimental diets which contain the following percentages of HSC 0 %, 25 %, 50 %, 75 %, as feed additive and were added at 0 g, 62.5 g, 125 g, 187.5 g designated as T1, T2, T3 and T4 experimental diets. Excitability scores were measured weekly as described by Voisnet et al. (1997). At the end of the experiment, the rabbits were slaughtered by severing the jungular vein. A Blood sample (2 ml) was collected from each rabbit into sampled bottles, containing the Na EDTA as anticoagulant for hematological analysis. Packed cell volume (PCV) Haemoglobin concentration (Hb), Total red blood cell (RBC) count, Total leukocyte count as well as differential leukocyte was determined using standard method. The percentage haemolysis recorded at 0.3 % to 0.8 % was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in rabbits in T1 compared to the remaining 3 diets. The result of excitability score shows that rabbit on diet 1 and 2 had a lower value which was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than rabbits on diets 3 and 4 with a value of 65.5 ± 5.0 and 70.00 ± 5.50 % respectively. In conclusion this study demonstrated for the first time that chronic administration of HSC improves haematological parameters, brain mood and function as well as maintaining erythrocyte membrane integrity.Keywords: Erythrocyte osmotic fragility, Excitability score, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Rabbits, Haematological parameters

Physiological and behavioural responses of livestock to road transportation stress: A review

Physiological and behavioural responses of livestock to road transportation stress are reviewed. Livestock transported by road in most part of the world are predisposed to many stressors which affect the haematological, hormonal function as well as the behavioural activities of the livestock thereby disrupting body homeostasis.Key words: Road transportation, livestock, physiological parameters, behavioural activities

Serum malondialdehyde concentration, rectal temperature and excitability score in road transported rams administered with vitamins C + E combination and vitamin C

Experiment was done to investigate the effect of administration of vitamin C + E and vitamin C alone on serum malondialdehyde concentration, rectal temperature and excitability score in road transported rams. On experimental day, 7 rams (Group 1)were administered with vitamin C at the dose of 250 rug/kg dissolved in 10 ml of water and also vitamin E at the dose of 75 mg/kg, per os while another 7 rams (Group 2) was administered with vitamin C (250 mg/kg) only. The 3rd groups (7 rams), the control, were administered with 10 ml of sterile water. The RT was taken at 07:00,13:00 and 18:00 h, a total offive times, twice in a week and during the journey, at 1h, 4h and 8h, and also three consecutive day's post-transportation. Blood samples were taken a day before transportation, immediately after, on arrival and a 3 days after transportation in which the serum was harvested for MDA determination. Excitability scores was recorded before loading into the vehicle, and immediately after unloading. The results indicated that the rectal temperature (RT) value was lowest at 07:00 hr in the Group 1, and even maintained 13:00 hr which was significantly (P < 0,05) different. The RT value fluctuates during the journey however this values in group 1 and group 2. was not significantly (P > 0.05) different. The serum malondialdehyde concentration value rose in the first hour (2.13 ± 0.51 ng/ml) of the journey to 2.43 ± 0.22 ug/ml in the 8th hour in control group, which was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the values in the other groups. In conclusion, road transportation of ram is stressful but this was reduced 3- days post-transportation and also administration of antioxidants vitamins VE +VC, and VC, alleviated adverse effect of road transportation stress in rams.Keyword: Serum malondialdehyde, rectal temperature, excitability score, road transported ram, vitamin C vitamin E

Effects of road transportation on excitability scores of pigs administered with ascorbic acid during the hot-dry season

This study was carried out in order to determine the effect of eight-hour road transportation on the excitability scores of pigs administered ascorbic acid (AA) during the hot-dry season in Northern Nigeria. Thirteen experimental pigs were administered with AA orally at 100 mg/kg, while ten control pigs were given only distilled water orally. Excitability score of each pig was determined 30 min before and immediately after transportation by a single ‘blind’ observer during weighing. An excitability score of 4 indicated the highest excitability. Percent excitability of experimental and control pigs with each score was also determined. Post-transportation, an increase in the percentage of experimental pigs with excitability score of 4 was recorded (38.5 to 69.2%), while a decrease was obtained in the control pigs (40.0 to 10%). Road transportation decreased the excitability scores and percent excitability in control pigs with high scores. In conclusion, administration of AA increased the nervous excitability of pigs transported by road during the hot-dry season in northern Nigeria

Erythrocyte osmotic fragility of pigs administered ascorbic acid and transported by road for short-term duration during the harmattan season

The experiment was carried out with the aim of investigating the effect of an antioxidant ascorbic acid on erythrocyte osmotic fragility of pigs transported by road for 4 h during the harmattan season. 16 pigs administered with ascorbic acid at the dose of 250 mg/kg per os and individually served as experimental animals and 13 others administered orally with sterile water were used as control animals. The animals were then transported for 4 h at a speed of 40 - 50 km/h covering a distance of 140 km. Blood samples for erythrocyte osmotic fragility determination which was done using standard procedure, were taken early in the morning a day before transportation, immediately after and a week after transportation. Erythrocyte osmotic fragility decreased significantly (P < 0.05) at NaCl concentration of 0.85, 0.80 and 0.70% in both experimental and control pigs following road transportation and the difference in the post-transportation values was higher (P < 0.05) in experimentalcompared to control pigs. The results indicated that ascorbic acid protected the integrity of the erythrocyte membrane in experimental pigs administered ascorbic acid following road transportation as demonstrated by lower percentage haemolysis immediately after road transportation and thus may alleviate the risk of increase in haemolysis due to road transportation stress in pigs during the harmattan season

Fatal abomasal sand impaction in a giraffe calf (Giraffa camelopardalis) at the University of Ilorin zoological garden

A post-mortem examination was carried out on a 4-month-old giraffe which was reported dead early hours of the morning in the zoological garden, University of Ilorin. The carcass of the animal appeared slightly emaciated and on opening of the carcass the abomasum was distended with a hard mass felt inside the organ. On opening of the organ, it was filled with sand and weighing 3.8kg. Geophagia due to various  factors were queried in the cause of the condition including seasonal prevalence, nutrient deficiencies,  feeding regimen and also housing inadequacies. Although poor milk intake, absence of maternal nurturing  and inadequate captive conditions are the most likely causes of geophagia which eventually led to the  death of the animal.Keywords: Abomasum, Sand impaction, Geophagia, Giraffe, Nigeri

Erythrocyte stability, membrane protective and haematological activities of Newbouldia laevis in alloxan –induced diabetic rats

The high prevalence rate of diabetes mellitus (DM) in the developing world and its attendant high cost on healthcare have necessitated search for cheaper, effective and readily available alternative therapies in plants. One of such plants used in Nigeria is Newbouldia laevis (P. Beauv) (NLE). Its effect on erythrocyte fragility, membrane stability and haematological parameters in alloxan-induced diabetic rats for 21 days showed that Newbouldia laevis at 250 mg/kg reduced erythrocyte haemolysis to 11.08±2.50 % while Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid 200 mg/kg) reduced the haemolysis by 10.87±2.16 %. Glibenclamide (2 mg/kg) a standard oral antidiabetic drug reduced the haemolysis to 22.52±3.50 % all at the NaCl concentration of 0.85 %. It also demonstrated its ability to protect the liver, kidney and the pancreas especially at the dose rate of 250 mg/kg against alloxan-induced diabetic membrane destruction. It dose-dependently decreased the packed cell volume (PCV) from 43.67±7.34 % at the dose of 62.5 m g/kg to 33.64±6.34 % at the dose of 125.0 mg/kg and 28.33±3.67 % at the dose of 250 mg/kg. Haemoglobin concentration (Hb), reduced from 14.57±2.43 % at the dose of 62.5 mg/kg to 9.43±1.20 % at 250 mg/kg. But at the same time, it dose-dependently increased the white blood cell count (WBC) from 4.13±0.83 x 103 at the dose of 62.5 mg/kg to 6.26±1.3 x 103 at the dose of 250.0 mg/kg. In conclusion, Newbouldia laevis at 250 mg/kg has erythrocyte and membrane protection ability in alloxan-induced diabetic rats comparable to Vitamin C and glibenclamide, but has variable effects on haematological parameters that are within the normal ranges in diabetic rats.Keywords: Diabetes, Erythrocytes, Haematology, Membrane stability, Newbouldia laevi

Incidence and Economic Cost of Bovine Trypanosomosis in Nomadic Herds at the Jos Plateau, North Central Nigeria

Incidence and economic cost of cases of bovine trypanosomosis in nomadic herds at the Jos Plateau from 1997 to 2001 were determined. These were done using records kept at the Plateau State Ministry of Animal and Forest Resources headquarters at Jos, and the model described by Alonge et al. (1984). The incidence of clinical bovine trypanosomosis was 1.33% with a mortality rate of 21.7% the incidence data. The annual average mortality was 0.29%. The economic loss due to mortality and miscellaneous costs during the five-year period was 1.02 billion Naira, with an average annual lose of 204.1 million Naira. Proper, control program should be instituted immediately to curb the increasing incidence

Growth performance, carcass and hematological characteristics of rabbits fed graded levels of tiger nuts (Cyperus esculentus)

This experiment was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of tiger nuts (Cypers esculentus) rejects on the growth performance, carcass weight and hematological parameters of weaner rabbits. Three experimental diets were formulated with Diets A being a commercial growers’ mash as control diet; Diet B: 5% parts of Tiger nuts (Cyperus esculentus) +95% parts of Diet A; Diet C: 10% parts of Tiger nuts (Cyperus esculentus) +90% parts of Diet A. The effects of dietary treatments on feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were not significant (p>0.05). The dressing percentage ranged from 66.87 to 75.92% and was significantly (

Modulating effects of ascorbic acid on rectal temperature of pigs transported by road during the harmattan season

The experiment was carried out with the aim of investigating the effect of ascorbic acid (AA) administration on fluctuations in rectal temperature (RT) of pigs transported by road during the harmattan season. Sixteen pigs administered orally with AA at the dose of 250 mg/kg served as experimental animals, and 13 others administered orally with sterile water were used as control animals. The RT was measured in all the pigs before and immediately after loading. Meteorological parameters as well as RT were also recorded concurrently at 30 min., 2 and 4 h of the journey, and at 3 h post-transportation and also three consecutive days  post-transportation. The RT value of 38.24±0.16oC recorded immediately after loading in experimental pigs was significantly (