Gross, histological and histomorphometric studies on the thyroid gland of one humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) found in the semi-arid region of North Eastern Nigeria

Thyroid glands are endocrine glands present in all mammals and secretes thyroxin, triiodothyronine and calcitonin as its major hormones which plays important role in metabolism, regulation of energy and nutrient absorption, as well as calorigenesis and normal reproductive function. We studied the thyroid gland of one humped camel found in the Northeastern part of Nigeria. A total of 18 pairs of thyroid glands(10 female and 8 male) were randomly collected from apparently healthy camels’ slaughtered at the Maiduguri municipal abattoir and were used for the studies. Grossly, the thyroid glands of both the male and the female camel studied appeared reddish brown in colour and irregular in shape. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) between the weights and lengths of the male and female thyroid gland with the female higher than the male on both parameters. Histologically, the thyroid gland studied is covered by a thick fibrous connective tissue capsule and consists of numerous follicles of various sizes. Lining the follicles are squamous to low cuboidal cells with basally located round or spherical nucleus. The area of the nucleus of the male thyroid gland (380.06 ± 20.484μm) was slightly greater than that of the female (366.09 ± 29.45μm). For the epithelial height and follicular diameter, the female thyroid gland showed a slight increase (49.597 ± 1.459μm and 362.16 ± 21.820μm respectively) compare to the male (48.75 ± 1.414μm and 363.93 ± 21.624μm respectively). Presence of parafollicular cells and fibroblast in this gland were also noted.Keywords: Thyroid gland, parafollicular cells, colloid, gross, histomorphometric

An update on the current dental abnormalities of one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) in Maiduguri, Nigeria

Abstract: Fifty four head samples of slaughtered one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) from Maiduguri Abattoir were used for the study. Out of this number, 33 (61.12%) Two (3.77%) were between the ages of 1 and 3 years, 11 (20.75%) were between the ages of 4 and 6 years and 20 (37.74%) were 7 years and above. Sexual dimorphism and age difference were observed in the study, where broken tooth and dental calculi were seen more in females than in males and more in older camel than in younger ones

Hematology and biochemical values in equines naturally infected with Theileria equi in Nigeria

Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a tick-borne disease of equines with resultant economic consequences. To date, little information is available regarding the effects of EP on the health of equids in Nigeria. Therefore, this study was carried out to ascertain the effects of natural sub-clinical infection with T. equi on the hematology and biochemical profiles of horses and donkeys. Blood and serum samples were subjected to hematology and serum biochemistry analyses, respectively. Data correspond- ing to PCR-positive (infected) and PCR-negative (uninfected) was computed to ascertain changes in any of the parameters. Hematological significant findings (P<0.001) in both horses and donkeys include decreased packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, and white blood cell (WBC) counts in the infected group compared to the uninfected group. In horses, the PCV (%) and Hb (g/dL) values were 40.6±1.0 and 13.4±1.7 in the uninfected group compared with 30.8±0.6 and 10.1±0.3 in the infected group respectively and differs significantly (P<0.001). Similarly, in the donkeys, the PCV (%) and Hb (g/dL) values were 32.2 ± 0.5 and 10.5 ± 0.2 in the uninfected group compared with 28.5±0.7 and 9.5±0.2 in the infected group respectively with significant difference (P<0.001). Additionally, we observed a slight decrease in WBC counts (×10 3 /μL) in the infected group in horses (9.9±0.4) and donkeys (10.2±4.3) compared with 10.5±2.0 and 13.0±0.8 from the uninfected respectively. Serum biochemical profiles revealed slight increase in the levels of total proteins principally the globulin fractions in the infected group in both equids. The findings from this study will be helpful in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment evaluation of equines in Nigeria

Substitution of manure source and aerator in nursery media on sandy loam topsoil and their fertility indices 4 months after formulation

Abstract Purpose In soil-based nursery media, topsoil, poultry droppings and sawdust conventionally provide anchorage, nutrients and aeration, respectively. Considering poultry droppings’ scarcity and sawdust’s inertness nutrient-wise, more readily available organic wastes should be explored as substitutes. Here, we evaluated the effect of such substitution on media fertility, aimed at seeking alternatives to the conventional practice. Methods In a topsoil-manure-aerator volume ratio of 3:2:1, poultry droppings was substituted with pig slurry (slurry) or cattle dung (dung) as manure and sawdust with rice-husk dust (huskdust) as aerator, giving seven soil-based media including reference medium (topsoil+droppings+sawdust) and the control (topsoil+topsoil+topsoil). They were watered regularly and analysed for fertility parameters 4 months later. Results Reference had the highest pH (8.60) and topsoil + dung + huskdust/control the lowest (6.83). Substituting sawdust with huskdust enhanced pH, organic matter and Mg2+ in droppings/dung-amended media (topsoil+droppings+huskdust/topsoil+dung+huskdust) unlike slurry-amended ones where it too reduced total nitrogen (0.19 vs 0.11%). The substitution also enhanced available phosphorus in topsoil+droppings+huskdust (117.50 mg kg−1) and topsoil+dung+huskdust (71.50 mg kg−1) but reduced K+ in the latter where it too had moderating effects on Na+. Reference surpassed topsoil+slurry+huskdust for Ca2+, but was surpassed by topsoil+droppings+huskdust for Mg2+. Reference/topsoil+droppings+huskdust and topsoil+slurry+huskdust/control showed highest and lowest CEC, respectively. Excluding pH, topsoil+dung+huskdust and topsoil+slurry+sawdust were, notably, consistently similar. Overall, droppings-amended > dung-amended > slurry-amended media and, for available phosphorus only, sawdust-aerated < huskdust-aerated media. Conclusion Based on fertility status 4 months after blending, topsoil+droppings+huskdust could serve as alternative to the conventional nursery medium, or topsoil+dung+huskdust where near-neutral pH is preferred to increased phosphorus/cations release

Pastures and climate extremes : impacts of cool season warming and drought on the productivity of key pasture species in a field experiment

Shifts in the timing, intensity and/or frequency of climate extremes, such as severe drought and heatwaves, can generate sustained shifts in ecosystem function with important ecological and economic impacts for rangelands and managed pastures. The Pastures and Climate Extremes experiment (PACE) in Southeast Australia was designed to investigate the impacts of a severe winter/spring drought (60% rainfall reduction) and, for a subset of species, a factorial combination of drought and elevated temperature (ambient +3°C) on pasture productivity. The experiment included nine common pasture and Australian rangeland species from three plant functional groups (C(3) grasses, C(4) grasses and legumes) planted in monoculture. Winter/spring drought resulted in productivity declines of 45% on average and up to 74% for the most affected species (Digitaria eriantha) during the 6-month treatment period, with eight of the nine species exhibiting significant yield reductions. Despite considerable variation in species’ sensitivity to drought, C(4) grasses were more strongly affected by this treatment than C(3) grasses or legumes. Warming also had negative effects on cool-season productivity, associated at least partially with exceedance of optimum growth temperatures in spring and indirect effects on soil water content. The combination of winter/spring drought and year-round warming resulted in the greatest yield reductions. We identified responses that were either additive (Festuca), or less-than-additive (Medicago), where warming reduced the magnitude of drought effects. Results from this study highlight the sensitivity of diverse pasture species to increases in winter and spring drought severity similar to those predicted for this region, and that anticipated benefits of cool-season warming are unlikely to be realized. Overall, the substantial negative impacts on productivity suggest that future, warmer, drier climates will result in shortfalls in cool-season forage availability, with profound implications for the livestock industry and natural grazer communities