Haemagglutination inhibition antibody responses of pullet and broiler chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) to Newcastle disease virus LaSota vaccination

Newcastle disease outbreaks still occur sporadically in commercial vaccinated flocks and remains a constant threat to poultry producers despite advances in vaccination against the disease. Another aspect that can be a complementary control strategies or that is well recognized but is often neglected is the differences in immune response due to genetic or breed/type variation. This study investigated the immune responses to LaSota vaccination in light weight type or breeds of chickens (pullets) and heavy weight type or breeds of chickens (broilers) used in commercial poultry production. Fifty seven-week-old White Marshall broilers (Br) and 50 Isa Brown pullets (Pu) of the same age were randomly divided into 4 groups viz: vaccinated broilers chickens (VaBr), unvaccinated broiler chickens (UBr), vaccinated pullet chickens (VaPu) and unvaccinated pullet chickens (UPu). Chickens in groups VaBr and VaPu were vaccinated with LaSota vaccine while groups UBr and UPu were not vaccinated. The chickens were observed for clinical signs and lesions. Serum samples were collected from the chickens in all the groups on days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28 post vaccination (PV), and assayed for haemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibodies. The geometrical mean antibody titres (GMT) of the pullets were 2 to 3 times higher than those of the broilers on days 7 to 28 PV. Vaccination produced neither clinical signs nor lesions. The above observations show that naturally pullets produce higher antibodies than broilers, and suggest breed-based variation on immune responses to Newcastle disease vaccination. The knowledge from the present study may lead to genetic approach to vaccine development and development of more effective vaccination strategies to be used in commercial poultry production.Keywords: Broilers, Haemagglutination inhibition antibody, LaSota vaccination, Pullet

Spontaneous retraction of the ligated hernial sac during herniotomy: an accurate guide to successful herniotomy for young surgeons

Inguinal herniotomy is one of the most common surgical procedures in paediatric surgery practice. To most experienced surgeons, herniotomy is supposed to be one of the easiest surgical procedures and one of the many procedures a trainee should be able to perform proficiently. However, this is not usually the experience of young trainees. This communication aims to highlight an intraoperative observation to reassure the ‘uninitiated’ trainee surgeon on the accuracy of the hernial sac ligation

Awareness of Academic Advisory Roles of Lecturers by Education Undergraduates in University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

This study investigated awareness of academic advisory roles of lecturers by education undergraduates in University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The design of the study was descriptive survey, while the population was 1,460 regular final year undergraduates of the university 2018/2019 academic session. The sample was 500 students who were composed through proportionate random sampling technique from seven departments of Faculty of Education that had final year students. Relevant data were collected from the sample through personal contact method of administration of copies of researchers’ made Academic Advisory Awareness Questionnaire (AAAQ). The reliability was established through the Pearson Product Moment formula and for the three sections of the instrument it was 0.71, 0.76 and 0.72 while the overall reliability co-efficient was 0.73. Data were analyzed with mean and standard deviation statistics. The results show that the respondents have faint knowledge of the roles of an academic advisor, their assessment of the effectiveness of the academic advisers is poor and their perceived impediments to effective academic advising is also slightly poor. The results were discussed and some recommendations were also made. One of the recommendations is that counsellor educators, counsellors in the counselling unit in the student affairs department and the director of counselling services in the university should sensitize/enlighten the students on the roles of their academic advisers to them. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-6-24 Publication date: February 29th 202

An assessment of land suitability for rice cultivation in Dobi, Gwagwalada Area Council, FCT – Nigeria

This study examined the suitability of the soil in Dobi, Gwagwalada Area Council, FCT, Nigeria for rice cultivation. Soil samples were collected from the plot using systematic sampling procedure, at two standard depths of 0-15cm (top soil) and 16-30cm (sub soil). Standard procedures asapplied to tropical soils were followed in analyzing the soil samples while the data obtained were statistically analysed. Results obtained were compared with the standard land quality requirements for rice cultivation in Southern Guinea Savannah. The soil parameters varied considerably but in general it was observed that, the high pH (6.73 for top soil and 6.74 forsubsoil as against the normal range of 3.1-5.3) is not favourable for rice cultivation. The level of organic carbon (0.89 for topsoil and 0.81 for subsoil), total nitrogen (0.05 both for top and subsoil) available phosphorus (13.35 for topsoil and13.00 for subsoil) cation exchange capacity (7.14 for topsoil and 6.99 for subsoil) in the soil is favourable for cultivation of rice. Furthermore, the calcium content (3.14 for topsoil and 3.01 for subsoil) in the soil is high which can be traced to the high soil pH which limits plant growth. Similarly, the magnesium level(2.06 for topsoil and 2.02 for subsoil) is high and as a base element, it limits rice yield. A parameter is considred high based on Olaleye, et al (2002)’s suitability evaluation for rice cultivation in Nigeria. The study recommended that for sustaining future agricultural productivity, there is need for detailedsuitability assessment and land evaluation, also, a high dosage of NKP fertilizer application is encouraged and that salt free irrigation water can be applied to leach down the level of soil pH which will benefit both government and farmers for sustainable agricultural productivity

Strategies for Coping with the Challenges of Incarceration Among Nigerian Prison Inmates

This paper investigated the strategies for coping with the challenges of incarceration among inmates of Port Harcourt Prison, Nigeria. The population was 2,997 inmates of the prison while the sample was 250 inmates drawn through stratified random sampling technique from the same Port Harcourt prison. Six research questions were posed and data for their investigation were collected through the administration of copies of an instrument designed by the researchers on the respondents. The instrument was titled “Prison Inmates Coping Strategies Questionnaire (PICSQ)”. It was designed in the pattern of a modified 4-point Likert type scale and contained a total of 25 items that elicited information on how prison inmates cope with the challenges of incarceration. A pilot study of the instrument was conducted with 30 inmates of Ahoda Prison, Rivers State, Nigeria. The reliability co-efficients of the 6 sub-sections of section B ascertained through the Cronbach Alpha method were 0.81; 0.79; 0.76; 0.80; 0.75 and 0.83 respectively while the overall reliability co-efficient was 0.78. The research questions were answered with mean and standard deviation and the results show that involvement in religious activities, formation of surrogate families, engagement in educational and vocational training as well as emotion-focused strategy are ways of coping with the challenges of incarceration among prison inmates while maintaining contact with family members/friends and engagement in aggressive behaviour are not coping strategies. These results were discussed and some recommendations were also made. One of the recommendations is that counselling psychologists and other psychological care givers should be employed in prison service to assist in the reformation of the inmates as well as assisting them to cope with the challenges of their situation. Keywords: Strategies, Challenges, Incarceration, Prison Inmate

Characteristics and Resource Potentials of Nigerian Atlantic

This paper presents an updated understanding of the Nigerian Atlantic waters in terms of the offshore characteristic and the potentials that these characteristics provide for the people of the nation and the continent at large. The wind, wave, swell and current data studied were provided by Shell Nigeria for some periods between1979 and 1983.General characteristic consideration of wind, wave, swell and current is made for the Nigerian Atlantic waters and in particular Bonny Offshore, Forcadoes Offshore, Asabo Offshore and Bonga Offshore. Inference from the results in terms of use of the Atlantic for renewable energy sources and marine food production based on a proposed offshore technology is described. It is noted that the Nigerian Atlantic is relatively mild and benign with low average velocity of 0.3 m/s running at about 3 meters above ocean bottom. This paper further discusses efforts made to reinvent the use of vertical axis turbine for use in such low underwater current velocities of 0.3 m/s which is perhaps the least flow velocity of ocean water in the world

Obstructed abdominal hernia at the Wesley Guild Hospital, Nigeria

Objective: To determine the incidence, pattern and outcome of obstructed abdominal wall hernia in a semi-urban and rural community.Design: A proforma was drafted to study all consecutive patients operated for obstructed anterior abdominal wall hernia over a period of five years. Clinical findings, preoperative treatment, operative findings and postoperative outcome were documented.Setting: Teaching hospital located in a semi-urban community comprising mostly agrarian population.Patients: A total 110 adult patients with obstructed anterior abdominal wall hernia who had operative intervention and other postoperative management.Results: There were 110 patients with 111 obstructed hernias, accounting for 26.4% of all abdominal wall hernias. The age ranged from 19 - 79 years with mean of 49.7 years. Males accounted for 81%. Inguinoscrotal hernia was the commonest occurring in 75.7%, 16.2% patients presented with inguinal hernia and five patients with femoral hernia. The greater proportion of inguinal hernia occurred in female. Eighty seven patients (79%) had emergency operations and elective in 23 patients (21%) who had spontaneous reduction while awaiting surgery. Ninety two percent of inguinoscrotal/ inguinal hernia were indirect. Omentum was trapped in 52 hernias (47.%), while in 15 patients (13.6%), gangrenous bowel segments were discovered. Scrotal oedema was the commonest complication accounting for 21%, while wound infection occurred in 20%. There were three deaths in elderly men with clinical symptoms and signs of acuteintestinal obstruction and gangrenous bowel segments, accounting for 2.7% of the patients. Twenty eight per cent of patients were discharged within the first and second postoperative days. Two patients spent 36 and 56 days each in the hospital.Conclusion: This study showed that 26.4% of abdominal hernia presented with obstruction. With inguinoscrotal hernia predominating: male accounted for 81% and 13.6% of the obstructed hernia contained gangrenous bowel segments. Post-operative complications were common, mortality occurring mainly in elderly patients with late presentation

Pattern Of Intestinal Obstruction In A Semiurban Nigerian Hospital

Intestinal obstruction remains one of the commonest causes of acute abdomen worldwide. The pattern of intestinal obstruction varies from one place to another. We report the pattern of intestinal obstruction observed in a semi urbanNigerian hospital over a 5 year period. Records of patient admitted and managed for intestinal obstruction between April 2001 and April 2006 at the federal medical centre, Owo, Southwestern Nigeria, were reviewed. Demographic data as well as parameters relating to the symptoms, duration, onset, type, diagnosis, intraoperative findings, aswell as postoperative outcomes were retrieved. All datawas entered into a personal computer and analyzed using SPSS forwindows version 11. Atotal of 95 patientsweremanaged during the period. Themean agewas 39 years.The male female ratio was 1.8:1. Adhesive intestinal obstruction was the commonest cause of symptoms in 44%, followed by volvulus in14% and external hernias in 11%of the patients. Acorrect preoperative diagnosis was made in over 70% of the patients. Out of thosewith adhesive obstruction, 75% had a previous abdominal or groin operation while 57% had surgical exploration for failed conservative management. The mean duration of hospital stay was 6 days and the overall mortality rate was 20%. Adhesive intestinal obstruction is the commonest cause in this semi-urban population which was studied. Obstructed hernia is becoming increasingly less common as a cause of intestinal obstruction. Keywords: Pattern, Intestinal Obstruction, Semiurban Hospital. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol. 11 (4) 2008: pp. 347-35

Suspected case of rhabdomyosarcoma in a cultured Clarias gariepinus

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A Review on Effectiveness of Marine Pollution Control and Management in Nigeria

This study reviews the successes and limitations of agencies saddled with marine pollution control and management in Nigeria using secondary data. The agencies investigated include Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). The study shows that NIMASA has been at the frontline of marine pollution control and has been dynamic and effective in marine pollution control and management in Nigeria. Port reception facilities by NPA for ship waste collection within stipulated time to encourage turn-around time of vessels is encouraging. For NOSDRA, the review highlights some statutory impediments affecting the effective functioning of the agency. It is important to de-bottleneck all statutory issues threatening the smart performance of NOSDRA. Delay in attending to oil pollution, for instance, is a huge control failure with multiplying consequences for the environment. The effort in the development of an action plan referred to as National Oil Spill Compensation Rate (NOSCR) which stipulates compensation to affected or host communities from facility operators is not a control measure and may even be misused by criminal minds to intentionally cause spills and pollution in other to seek financial gain. Grassroots operators should be sensitized to more effective ways to control and handle marine pollutants. This can be achieved with the simple truth that harms to the marine environment are an invitation to the end of the existentialism of life itself. It is believed that once the attitudinal change by the marine operators and especially the grassroots is achieved, marine pollution control and management can be made more effective. &nbsp