Evaluation of the Impacts of Taurine on Oxidative Stress Indices in Sera and Brain of Rats Exposed to Cypermethrin

Cypermethrin is a pyrethroid insecticide applied for pest control on animals and the environment. Taurine is a putative antioxidant and bioprotective amino acid. The purpose of the research was to evaluate the impacts of taurine on oxidative stress indices in the sera and brains of rats exposed to cypermethrin. Forty rats were assigned to five groups of eight rats each. Distilled water was given to the first group, while the second group received soya oil (2 ml/kg). Cypermethrin (20 mg/kg) was administered to the third group. The Taurine50+Cypermethrin group received taurine (50 mg/kg) and cypermethrin, while the Taurine100+Cypermethrin group was administered with taurine (100 mg/kg) and Cypermethrin. The treatments were given once daily by oral gavage for 35 days. Sera were obtained from the blood samples of the rats after the completion of the study for the determination of the oxidative stress indices (malondialdehyde concentration and the activities of antioxidant enzymes). Oxidative stress indices were analysed in the brains. Taurine significantly (P< 0.05) augmented the superoxide dismutase activity in the sera. However, other oxidative stress indices were not ameliorated by taurine in the sera and the brains. Cypermethrin (20 mg/kg) did not overtly evoke oxidative stress in the sera and the brains of the rats in this study, probably because it is a moderately toxic insecticide. This is the first study that has investigated the effects of taurine on cypermethrin toxicity. Further research is warranted to expound the mechanisms of action of taurine and  cypermethrin in biological systems. Keywords: Taurine, Cypermethrin, Serum, Brain, Oxidative Stre

Taurine abated subacute dichlorvos toxicity

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of taurine in rats exposed to subacute dichlorvos toxicity. Fifty rats were weighed and assigned into five groups of ten rats each. The groups received: distilled water, soya oil (1 ml/kg), taurine (50 mg/kg), dichlorvos (10 mg/kg) and the combination treatment group received taurine first and then dichlorvos 30 min later. The treatments were administered once daily by oral gavage for 4 weeks. The rats were euthanized and blood samples were collected after the termination of the study. Serum samples were analysed for malondialdehyde concentration and activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase). Dichlorvos increased malondialdehyde concentration and reduced the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase. There was attenuation of malondialdehyde concentration and improvement of activities of superoxide dismutase (P = 0.0273) and catalase (P < 0.0001) in rats treated with taurine. It is postulated that taurine ameliorated dichlorvos-induced oxidative stress through the reduction of malondialdehyde concentration and the enhancement of activities of antioxidant enzymes. Keywords: Taurine, Dichlorvos, Malondialdehyde, Antioxidant enzymes, Oxidative stres

Survey of cattle tick infestation on farm herds in Ogun state, Nigeria

Cattle in the tropics are exposed to varying levels of challenges r from endo and ectoparasites as well as environmental stressors. Ticks have been recognized as the most notorious threat to cattle because of their hide damaging and disease vector. As a result of these, continuous study of tick distribution on cattle is necessary. Two hundred and five cattle of determined breed, sex and age, were randomly sampled from eight  different locations across four local Government areas of Ogun state in 2015. Harvested ticks were identified to species level. Variation in tick distribution across age, sex and locations were subjected to statistical analysis. Among the 205 cattle sampled, 125 (61%) had ticks while 80 (39%) had no ticks, 84 (67%) female have ticks, 27 (33%) do not have, 41 (44%) males have ticks and 53 (56%) do not have. The mean age of the cattle sampled was 3.0±0.1 years, with a mean Packed Cell Volume (PCV) of 30.8±0.4%. Amblyommavariegatum was the most prevalent tick (76%), followed by Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus (20%), Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (2%) while Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus. and Hyalommam arginatum were 1% respectively. Age and sex of cattle were discovered to be statistically significant in this study. Considering the  economic importance of ticks in regards to morbidity and mortality;  appropriate tick control strategy and technique need to be applied and constant tick surveillance should be encouraged in the study areaKeywords: cattle, ticks, Ogun state, infestatio

The love of money is the root of all evil: Pay satisfaction and cpi as moderators

10.5464.AMBPP.2011.135.aAcademy of Management 2011 Annual Meeting - West Meets East: Enlightening. Balancing. Transcending, AOM 2011