Makroskopska građa maloga mozga afričkoga divovskog štakora kesičara (Cricetomys gambianus - Waterhouse, 1840).

The degree of folding or foliation and its functional implication is one of the major difference in the cerebellar cortex of rodents. The enlargement / reduction of individual lobules is thought to account for their specific behavioural differences. The macroscopic anatomy of the cerebellum in ten mature African Giant pouched rats (AGPR) is detailed here for the first time. The results showed that the division of the cerebellum in this species followed the same general pattern of having three lobes (anterior, posterior and flocculonodular) lobes. Also on the ventral aspect, three cerebellar peduncles that connected the cerebellum to the brain stem were observed. The lobule VI and its principal lateral continuation corresponds to the lobulus simplex. The lateral extension of lobule VII corresponds to the well developed lobulus ansiformis, consisting of Crus I (crus rostrale), Crus II (crus caudale) and the anterior part of the lobulus paramedianus. The largest lobule in the anterior lobe is lobule V and it is subfoliated into Va, Vb, Vc and Vd by small fissures, while the smallest lobule is lobule I, which is not sublobulated. As for the posterior lobe, lobules VI and IX are the broadest and are sublobulated into five and three sublobules, respectively. Lobule X is subfoliated into two lobules, Xa and Xb, and it was observed to be the smallest of the posterior lobes. The primary fissure was the deepest and most prominent fissure, followed by the precuminate fissure, while the precentral fissure was the smallest. In conclusion, the well-developed ansiform lobe of Crus I and Crus II in AGPR smay help in the excellent climbing strategies and the manipulative use of the forelimbs in grasping objects.Stupanj vijuganja i njegova funkcionalna svrhovitost čine glavnu razliku u građi maloga mozga glodavaca. Pretpostavlja se da rast ili smanjenje pojedinačnih režnjeva pridonosi specifičnim razlikama u ponašanju. U radu je prviput iscrpnije opisana makroskopska anatomija malog mozga u 10 odraslih afričkih divovskih štakora kesičara. Rezultati su pokazali da podjela malog mozga kod te vrste slijedi uobičajeni oblik koji podrazumijeva postojanje 3 režnja (prednjeg, stražnjeg i flokulonodularnog). Također, u donjem dijelu opažene su tri moždana stabla (pedunkuli) koja povezuju mali mozak i veliki mozak. VI. režanj i njegov glavni postrani nastavak odgovaraju režnjiću lobulus simplex. Postrano proširenje VII. režnja odgovara dobro razvijenom lobulus ensiformis, koji se sastoji od crus I (crus rostrale), crus II (crus caudale) i prednjeg dijela lobulus paramedianus. Najveći dio prednjeg režnja čini režnjić V. koji je malom usjeklinom razgranat na Va, Vb, Vc i Vd. Najmanji je I. režnjić koji nije podijeljen na manje dijelove. U stražnjem režnju najprostraniji su režnjići: VI. podijeljen na 5 podrežnjića i IX. koji je podijejen na 3 podrežnjića. Režnjić X. je podijeljen u dva dijela, Xa i Xb, a najmanji je u stražnjem dijelu. Primarna usjeklina bila je najdublja i najizraženija, a nakon nje slijedi usjeklina, a zatim najmanja presredišnja. U zaključku, dobro razvijen ensiformni režanj crus I i crus II kod afričkoga divovskog štakora kesičara omogućuje izvrsne penjačke sposobnosti i vještu uporabu prednjih nogu pri hvatanju objekata

Sex Differences in the Cerebellum and its Correlates with Some Body Traits in the African Grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus – Temminck, 1827): Morphometric Study

Introduction: Sexual dimorphisms in biological structures such as brain and behaviour have been widely recognized in animals and humans. The purpose of this study was to examine whether there are sex differences in the size of the cerebellum with other body traits, such as the head, tail and brain.Methods:Twelve grasscutters comprising of 6 males and 6 females were used in this study. Each brain was extracted from the skull by standard procedures and the mean values of the weights, dimensions and volumes of the brain, cerebellum, head and tail were compared in male and female using quantitative analytical statistical method.Results:The results showed that the absolute mean brain weight and volume obtained in the male was slightly higher than that of the female, while the cerebellar mean weight was slightly higher in the female; although these values were not statistically significant (P> 0.05). The mean cerebellar lengths and widths did not differ between the two sexes (> 0.05), but the mean cerebellar circumference in the male was statistically higher than in the female (P< 0.05). The female cerebellar length was positively correlated with the length of the brain, head, body and tail.Discussion:In conclusion, the brain weight was slightly higher in the male than female, while the cerebellar weight was higher in the female than male. The significantly higher value of the cerebellar circumference in the male may partly be responsible for the big round head seen in the live male grasscutter

First molecular detection of Sarcocystis suihominis in a domestic pig of Nigeria

Sarcocystis are Apicomplexan protozoa with a dixenous life cycle that includes a predator and a prey as definitive and intermediate hosts, respectively. Domestic and wild pigs are intermediate hosts of S. suihominis, with formation of sarcocysts in their muscles, while humans and non-human primates act as final hosts. After ingesting raw or undercooked sarcocyst-infested pork, signs of gastroenteritis including inappetence, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may develop in humans. Moreover, excretion of infective forms with human feces leads to dissemination of the parasite in the environment. In this study, macroscopic sarcocysts of white color, oval shape, and a diameter of approximately 3–8 mm were found in the skeletal muscle of a slaughtered domestic pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) destined for human consumption in an abattoir of Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. Sarcocyst DNA was used as template to PCR amplify the near-complete length of the 18S rRNA gene and a fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox-1) gene. Amplicons were sequenced and used to construct phylogenetic trees with selected available Sarcocystis spp. sequences. In both cases, the placement of the analyzed sequences with S. suihominis was strongly supported, confirming the species identity of this macroscopic sarcocyst-forming parasite. This constitutes the first molecular identification of S. suihominis in Nigeria and the African continent. Proximity between pigs and humans, and poor sanitary conditions frequently encountered in pig farms of Nigeria might favor the dissemination of this zoonotic parasite, posing a threat to public health.12 month embargo; first published 23 February 2024This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Bilaterally symmetrical foramina on the parietal bone of the bovine skull: a case report

Different bovine skull developmental defects have been reported with variable frequency of occurrence. We hereby report a bilaterally symmetrical parietal foramina in a processed skull meant for osteological practical at the Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Jos, Nigeria. The depths of each of the foramina were 4.3 cm, while the diameters were 1 cm. This appears to be the first report of such foramina in the skull of bovine in North Central Nigeria.Keywords: Bovine skull, Foramina, Parietal bone, Developmental defect

Bilaterally symmetrical foramina on the parietal bone of the bovine skull: a case report

Different bovine skull developmental defects have been reported with variable frequency of occurrence. We hereby report a bilaterally symmetrical parietal foramina in a processed skull meant for osteological practical at the Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Jos, Nigeria. The depths of each of the foramina were 4.3 cm, while the diameters were 1 cm. This appears to be the first report of such foramina in the skull of bovine in North Central Nigeria.Keywords: Bovine skull, Foramina, Parietal bone, Developmental defect