Growth comparison of Achatina achatina and Archachatina marginata fed natural food and supplemented diet

A study was conducted on the growth Comparison of two edible snail species (Archachatina marginata and Achatina achatina) fed Natural feed and supplemented diet. A total of Ninety (90) snails were used (45 of each species), and were allotted to three treatment groups (T1, T2, and T3), replicated three times with 5 snails per replicate in a completely randomized design. The snails on T1, T2 and T3 were fed with cocoyam and pawpaw leaves + 25% crude protein supplemented diet, cocoyam and pawpaw leaves only and 25% crude protein supplemented diet only respectively. The feeding trial lasted 10 weeks. The growth performance of both Archachatina marginata and Achatina achatina was assessed on the basis of weight gain, shell length, shell width and cost analysis. Treatment 1 produced the highest yield in all the growth parameters for both Archachatina margianta and Achatina achatina and the means of the weight gain were statistically significant (P< 0.05) for both snails. There was no significant difference (P>0.5) in the shell length and shell width for both snails. The least snail mortality for both snail species was observed in treatment 1 and Treatment 2. Comparatively, the growth performance in the diet treatment group showed that combination of Natural feed and supplemented diet is better than the other treatment. Keywords: Growth, Comparison, Snail, Diet, Treatmen

Effects of Natural and Compounded Rations on the Growth Performance of African Giant Land Snail (Archachatina Marginata)

A study was conducted to compare growth and feed utilization of Archachatina marginata fed fluted pumpkin leaves (Telifaria occidentalis), 20% crude protein diets, cocoyam (Xanthosoma maffafa) leaves, or 25% crude protein diets (diets I, II, III and IV respectively) for 120 days. The performance of the Archachatina marginata was assessed on the basis of weight gain, shell length, shell aperture, shell width and feed utilization. The Archachatina marginata fed on the diets showed progressive increase in body weight with no significant difference (p>0.05) among the mean body weight at the end of 120 days. Increase in shell length, shell aperture and shell width were recorded in all the treatments. Each of these parameters (shell length, shell aperture, shell width) showed no significant differences (p>0.05) among the treatments. There was no significant difference (P>0.5) among the daily weight gain, protein efficiency ratio (PER), and food conversion ratio (FCR) of the snail on the treatments

Food and Feeding Habits of Mona Monkey Cercopithecus Mona in Ayede/Isan Forest Reserve, Ekiti State

The feeding habits of mona monkey Cercopithecus mona in Ayede/Isan forest reserve, Ayede, Ekiti State, Nigeria were studied for six months. Direct observation was used in the data collection. The study area was visited two days per week between 0600-1100hours and 1600-1800hours for the six months in the forest reserve stretching from dry season to wet season. Data collected on the plant species and the parts of the plant species the animal feed upon revealed that mona monkey feeds on wide varieties of plant species and the parts of the plant consumed most is the fruits. It was noted that mona monkey is a social animal that moves and feeds in group. The mona monkey feeds mainly on fresh leaves, fruits and seeds of different plant species. Some of the plant species preferred by the mona monkey include: oil palm tree Elaeis guineesis, bitter mango Irvingia grandiforiola, kola Cola nitida. Most of the plant food materials the monkey feed upon are seasonal while some such as palm tree Elaeis guineesis are available for the animal to feed on throughout the year

Influence of two management systems on the growth performance of adult African giant land snails (Archachatina marginata)

African gaint land snails are important as means of alleviating acute protein shortage in Nigeria livestock Industries. The present study aimed to study the influence of intensive and extensive management systems on the growth Performance of adult African Giant Land Snails (Archachatina marginata) was carried out in the wildlife domestication unit of the Department of Forest Resources and Wildlife Management, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. Ninety  African giant land snails (A. marginata) of average body weight 160.31g ± 0.38g were used for the study. The snails were grouped into two- Group A and Group B. 45 snails in group A were raised in an intensive system of management while 45 snails in group B were raised in an extensive system of management. The data collected on weight gain, shell length increment and shell width increment during the experiment were subjected to student t-Test at 5% significant level. Results showed that there was a significant difference at (p<0.05) in the weight gain. The intensive management system had a higher weight gain of 128.96g with mean value of 4.96 while the extensive management system had a weight gain of 88.37g with mean value of 3.40. There was no significant difference at (p>0.05) in the shell length increment. The snails in the extensive management system had the higher shell length increment of 5.32cm with mean value of 0.20 while the snails in the intensive management system had a shell length increment of 2.43cm with mean value of 0.09. There was a significant difference at (p<0.05) in the shell width increment. The snails in the extensive management system had the higher shell width increment of 9.31cm with mean value of 0.36 while the snails in the intensive management system had a shell width increment of 4.30cm with mean value of 0.17. The snails in the intensive system had a Feed Conversion Ratio of 5.03. For better growth performance of A. marginata in terms of weight gain, snail farmers should raise their snails in an intensive system of management and formulated diet should be used in feeding the snails along side with natural feed such as leaves and fruits

Post Covid-19 Agenda: Maximizing human resources for health towards Universal Health Coverage in Africa

Aim: To analyse options for maximising the capacity of human resources for health to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Africa. Methods: Articles were retrieved from a Pubmed search and additional snowballing was conducted to provide other relevant sources. Further utilizations were made of Campbell's modified framework of the Human Resources for Health (HRH) and Universal Health Coverage with the WHO labour market dynamics framework for Universal Health Coverage. Four sub-themes viz improved HRH performance, Labour Market Factors, Rural Health Workers Retention Factors, and Information Technology Factors were analysed. Results: Labour market factors such as the dynamics of demand and supply of health workers determine the availability of health workers. Supportive supervision enables the health workers to improve in their performance and enhance optimised utilisation of available resources. This supervision can be more effective by complementing it with tools such as information technology that focus on improving the quality of health care, considering the growth in the number of internet and broadband users in the continent. Conclusion: Expanding the training opportunities for health workers and also increasing the funding to human resources for health are useful policy options to consider. Cost-effective approaches such as a focus on community health committees which stimulate the demand for health services in rural communities to tackle the disproportionate distribution of health workers should be considered in the context of the uncertain economic aftermath of the covid-19 outbreak. Sources of Funding Nil Acknowledgement We express profound gratitude to Prof Flavia Senkubuge for providing technical help and writing assistance during the preparation of this manuscript. We also appreciate Dr. Aborisade Adetayo for assisting with editing of the manuscript. Conflicts of Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest. Author Contributions MIA drafted the entire manuscript. ICE provided a critical review and made substantial contributions to the design of the manuscript. &nbsp

Evaluation of Land use and Land Cover Changes in the Gold Mining Enclaves of Zamfara Sahel, Nigeria

Understanding land use and land cover changes and their underlying dynamics is critical to land reclamation and biodiversity management in mining enclaves and deceleration of desertification in the vast Zamfara Sahel of Northwestern Nigeria. This paper presents a quantitative analysis of land cover changes in the gold mining enclaves of Anka, Bukkuyum and Maru Local Government Areas in Zamfara State, Nigeria. Data were aggregated from field trips, remote sensing and geographical information system technologies and archives. Data and satellite images from three time periods of 1987, 2002 and 2020 were used for the analysis. The images were captured on yearly degradation rates of LULC classes within 100m, 200m and 300m of protected areas. Five LULC classes were identified and twenty-five transition classes were mapped out using GIS technology. Analysis shows bare ground/ built-up/rock outcrop LULC class expanded as mining activities had deleterious impacts on the land cover of the enclaves

Population status of olive baboon Papio anubis (lesson, 1827) in Kainji lake national park, Nigeria

The study assessed the population status of Olive Baboon Papio anubis in Kainji Lake National Park, in both sectors of the park. Direct count was carried out on the line transect where activities of Olive Baboon Papio anubis was observed during reconnaissance survey. It involves counting of individual or group of individual species sighted. While the indirect method involves gathering information on current locations for primate through consultation with experience Park Rangers, hunters, farmers and community leaders, counting of animal index such as feacal droppings, foot prints, calls, and feeding remnants, within each transect. These were related to relative abundance/distribution of Primates in a particular area at a particular time. Data was collected from November, 2017-August, 2019. Data was analyzed using distance software. Student t-test was used to compare between wet and dry seasons population. The results were presented in tables. The overall Population estimation revealed Papio anubis has the highest mean abundance (19 ± 0), population density (0.042 ± 0.000) and relative abundance of (6 ± 0) at Oli range and the species was not observed in the two ranges of Zugurma sector of the park. Individuals and troops recorded during the dry seasons exceeded those of the wet seasons in all the sectors during the study. The population structures (age and sex) adult female Olive Baboon has the highest mean of individual in all seasons with (140 ± 41) the least in the troop been the Sub-adult male with (32 ±6). The Olive baboons were observed to be social and a very popular attraction for park staff that resident in the Oli camp, visitors and researches alike. Keywords: Baboon, Population, status, age structure, sex structur

Assessment of minerals composition of natural salt licks, in Kainji Lake National Park, Nigeria

The study was carried out to determine the quantities of essential elements composition of natural salt lick, at the three (3) different horizons in Oli range, Borgu sector of Kainji lake national park. Field survey and focus group discussion were used through the help of experienced park rangers to locate the commonly utilized saltlick spots. Nine (9) samples of soil were collected from three (3) different spots, two (2) saltlick spots and one (1) control spot each from three horizons (O, A, & E).Mineral element were determined for soil pH., potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, organic carbon, organic matter nitrogen were used respectively. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan Multiple Range test was used to compare themeans. Results indicated that calcium content of the saltlick at second horizon (A layer) was (15.13± 0.81b) differs significantly (p<0.05) from calcium content of the saltlick at first and third horizon (O layer) (4.03±0.81a) and E layers (1.53 ± 0.81a) respectively. Magnesium content followed the same trend. Layer (A) was where high concentration of salt-licking was observed in all the spots sampled. The study also revealed that natural licks had higher level of essential elements than the control samples. Keywords: Salt lick, Mineral elements, Horizon and Soil Profil

Cu(II), and Zn(II) complexes of (4E)-4

4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethylidene]amino}ethyl)imino]pentan-2-one have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, molar conductance, electronic and IR spectral studies, and XRD. FTIR confirmed the ligand coordinates the metal ion to form mononuclear complex via the oxygen and nitrogen atoms of the phenolic group and azomethine group, respectively. Tetrahedral geometry is proposed for Co(II) complex and square-planar geometry for Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes. The antibacterial studies of the compounds were determined and they show that the metal complexes are more active than the free ligands. The antioxidant activity by DPPH and ABTS method was examined and it shows Cu(II); IC 50 = 2.31 ± 1.54 M for DPPH and Co(II); IC 50 = 1.83 ± 1.08 M for ABTS were the most active

Prevalence of Concomitant Onchocerciasis-Malaria Infection in Ahani-Achi Community, Enugu State, Nigeria.

The preponderance of onchocerciasis and malaria infections in similar ecological settings is incidental to co-infection. Therefore, investigations into the mixed-infection pattern of these parasitic diseases are apt in order to maximize interventions and facilitate epidemiological mapping. A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Ahani-Achi community, a rain forest mosaic area of Enugu State, Nigeria from March 2012 to April 2014 to ascertain the prevalence of onchocerciasis-malaria co-infection. Four hundred and forty seven (447) persons aged 10 - ≥60 years were recruited into the study through a convenience sampling technique and examined using standard skin snip biopsy and smear microscopy techniques. Three hundred and nine (309) persons tested positive to concurrent O. volvulus and malaria parasitemia, representing a co-infection rate of 69.13%. In both males (53.62%) and females (70.83%), the ≥60 years age group was most infected and the infection rate was significantly (p<0.05) affected by age. On the overall, more females (77.50%) were infected than males (59.45%), although the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05) while fishermen were significantly (p<0.05) more infected (81.08%) than other occupation groups. Although the burden of co-infection reported is worrisome, the study strongly posits that if periodic surveillance and integrated approach to control strategies are adopted and sustained, the morbidity, mortality and economic loss associated with these infections will be forestalled.Keywords: Prevalence, Concomitant, Onchocerciasis, Malaria, Infection