Effect of a velogenic newcastle disease virus on body and organ weights of vaccinated Shika brown cocks

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) produces both gross and histopathologic changes in tissues and organs of infected birds. These lesions may cause increase or decrease in organ sizes especially lymphoid organs leading to immune suppression. Therefore, the effect of a velogenic NDV on the body and organ weights of vaccinated Shika brown (SB) cocks was studied. Forty SB cocks consisting of twenty control and twenty infected cocks were slaughtered at the age of thirty-two weeks after infection with a velogenic NDV. They were weighed before being sacrificed and their internal organs (liver, spleen, thymus, heart, bursa of Fabricius, brain and adrenal glands) were removed and weighed. Sections of these organs were taken and stored in Bouin’s solution for 24 h and lat er sent for histology. The liver, spleen, thymus, heart and adrenal glands of the infected red SB cocks were heavier than those of the control red and white Shika brown cocks and infected white SB cocks. The weight of the spleen and brain of both the control and infected red and white cocks did not vary significantly (P>0.05). The infected red cocks had heavier adrenal glands, heart and liver weight than the control red and infected white cocks. The spleen and brain body weight ratio was similar for both control and infected red and white cocks. The control white cocks had the least thymus body weight ratio. The control white cocks had a higher bursa body weight ratio than the infected red and white cocks and the control red cocks. Only one infected white cock showed perivascular infiltration of lymphocytes and foci of glial cells. The increase in organ weights was seen mostly in the infected red cocks. It is recommended that chickens be routinely vaccinated against Newcastle disease to prevent atrophy of the bursa of Fabricius

Induction of estrus in Sahel goats using Fluorogestone Acetate (FGA) sponges and Equine Chorionic Gonadotrophin (ECG)

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a progestagen treatment alone or in combination with equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) on estrus response in Sahel (SH) goats. One hundred (n=100) SH does were treated with 30 mg fluorogestone acetate (FGA) sponge for 14 days. At the end progestagen treatment, does that retained the intravaginal pessary were allocated into two groups; A: FGA & eCG (n=42) and B: FGA (n=41). Does in group A received additional 200 IU eCG i.m. concurrent with sponge removal. Estrus was detected twice daily (at 07.00 – 10.00 and 15.00 – 18.00 h) using sexually active bucks for 5 days after pessary removal. Estrus response was different (p<0.05) between A (73.8 %) and B (58.5 %). Estrus onset for group A and B (Mean ± S.E.M.) was 27.9 ± 8.3 and 38.4 ± 9.6 h while estrus duration (Mean ± S.E.M.) for group A and B was 35.8 ± 3.2 and 23.1 ± 5.2 h, respectively. Estrus onset and duration of estrus were different (p<0.05) between group A ( FGA & eCG) and B (FGA). It is concluded that additional eCG treatment following a 14-day progestagen (Fluorogestone acetate) treatment increased estrus response, hastened onset of estrus, lengthened duration of estrus and improved tightness of synchrony in Sahel does

Oestrus behaviour and conception rates of red sokoto goats following treatment with equine chorionic Gonadotrophin and Prostaglandin

This study was designed to investigate whether the administration of equine chorionic gonadotrophin (EG) concurrent with prostaglandin (PG) treatment improved oestrus response rates of Red Sokoto does. Red Sokoto (RS) does were treated with PGF2α (RSPG; n=10), PGF2α and eCG (RSPGEG; n=10) and eCG (RSEG; n=10). Heat detection and natural mating was carried out using sexually active fertile bucks following treatment for 5 days. Oestrus response rate was higher (p<0.05) in the RSPGEG than in the RSPG and RSEG groups respectively. Time to onset of oestrus was shorter (p>0.05) while duration of oestrus was longer (p>0.05) in the RSPGEG than in the RSPG and RSEG groups. Conception rates were 77 %, 80 % and 0 % in the RSPGEG, RSPG and RSEG groups respectively. We concluded that administration of equine chorionic gonadotropin concurrent with prostaglandin treatment improved oestrus response rates in Red Sokoto does.Keywords: Red Sokoto Goat, Prostaglandin, Gonadotrophin, Oestrus Response, Conceptio

Fetal Hydrocephalus Associated with Dystocia in a Yankasa Ewe - A Case Report

Dystocia due to fetal hydrocephlus in a Yankasa ewe was relieved by way of cesarean section. The lamb which was delivered alive was found to have significantly enlarged head relative to body size with ankylosis of the limbs. The lamb died few minutes following delivery. Dystocia was suggested to result from the enlarged head presented at the birth canal. Cesarean section was effective in relieving the condition.Keywords: Dystocia; Hydrocephalus fetus; Yankasa ewe; Cesarean sectio

Oestrus induction using fluorogestone acetate sponges and equine chorionic gonadotrophin in Red Sokoto goats

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a progestagen treatment (fluorogestone acetate sponge) alone or in combination with equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) on oestrus response in Red Sokoto (RS) goats. One hundred RS does were treated with 30 mg fluorogestone acetate (FGA) sponges for 14 days. At the end of the progestagen treatment, does that retained the sponges were allocated to two groups; FGAeCG and FGA. The FGAeCG group (n = 28) received 200 IU eCG i.m. concurrently with the sponge removal, while the FGA group (n = 28) did not receive eCG at sponge removal. Oestrus was detected twice daily (at 07:00 - 10:00 and 15:00 - 18:00) using sexually active bucks for five days following progestagen withdrawal. There was no significant difference in oestrus response between groups FGAeCG (82.1%) and FGA (78.6%). There was a significant difference in the time to the onset (29.3 ± 4.6 and 44.2 ± 6.3 h for the FGAeCG and FGA, respectively) and duration of the induced oestrus period (38.9 ± 5.1 and 22.7 ± 4.6 h for the FGAeCG and FGA groups, respectively). It is concluded that although both groups showed good oestrus synchronization rates, administration of eCG shortened the time to onset of oestrus and increased the duration of oestrus in Red Sokoto does.Keywords: Oestrus, synchronization, fluorogestone acetate, eCG, Red Sokoto goat