Potential impact of husbandry practices on the welfare and productivity of draught cattle in rural communities around Zaria, Nigeria

A survey of the draught cattle husbandry practices and the potential impact of such practices on the health and productivity as it relates to work hours of these cattle was carried out during the months of November – March (dry season) and during the months of June-September (wet season) in seven rural communities around Zaria. It was observed that these animals are kept under a typical traditional husbandry system, where no special housing or periodic health care is provided for these animals. Consequently, common health conditions seen were more during the dry season, (64.75%) than during the wet period (38.72%). The clinical parameters of the apparently healthy draught cattle as compare to those clinically sick showed significant changes in the age, weight, working hours and work output. The variation in the body weight showed that clinically sick cattle with diarrhea had significantly (P<0.05) lower weight than those with injuries, and mixed conditions. The body temperatures of those injured and with mixed conditions were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those with diarrhea and other conditions. It was concluded that clinically sick cattle showed loss of weight, worked less hours and consequently less output than the healthy cattle. Factors that affect the health management of draught animals such as the availability of quality food supply, the level of hygiene, the prevalence of diseases and available veterinary services were noticed to be present in these communities. The draught animal survival ability rather than productive ability was the dominating factor in most husbandry practice in these communities, with the animals surviving under sub-optional productive state in conjunction with stress of diseases on one hand, and poor nutrition on the other hand.Keywords: Draught Cattle, Husbandry, Health, Workhours, Wet, Dry Month

Effect of Newcastle Disease Virus (Kudu 113) Infection on Calcium Metabolism in Response to Endocrinological Changes in Commercial Layers

The effect of experimental Newcastle disease virus (NDV) infection on some aspects relating to endocrinology of calcium metabolism, which affects eggshell quality and production, was studied. Twenty 22-week-old ISA brown layers vaccinated against Newcastle disease (ND) were allocated to infected and uninfected groups of 10 chickens each. The chickens in the infected group were inoculated intranasally with 0.1 ml of NDV (Kudu 113 strain). Blood samples were collected every other day for the first week, weekly for 5 weeks and analysed for haematology and serum chemistry. Clinical signs such as anorexia, ruffled feathers, greenish diarrhoea, misshapen, small-sized and white-shelled eggs were observed in the infected chickens from day 3 post infection (pi). The eggshell abnormalities were observed in the 2nd and 3rd week pi, which subsequently normalized. The mean packed cell volume (PCV) in the infected chickens on day 6 pi was significantly lower (P<0.05) than that of the uninfected. There was a significant difference in plasma calcium levels between both groups. There were significant decreases in the concentrations of calcium and phosphorus from onset to day 18 and then an increase in phosphorus on day 25. Plasma oestrogen activity showed a significant increase (P<0.05) from onset to day 18 and then decreased on day 25 pi. The activity of parathormone also increased progressively until day 32 pi. From this study, ND induced decline in plasma calcium and phosphorus levels which triggered an increase in oestrogen and parathormone activity with a consequent rise in plasma calcium and phosphorus levels. Key words: Newcastle Disease, Calcium, Oestrogen, Parathormon

Studies on effects of lactose on experimental <i>Trypanosoma vivax</i> infection in Zebu cattle. 2. Packed cell volume

The ability of intravenously administered lactose in normal saline to prevent a decline in packed cell volume (PCV) during experimental trypanosomosis was studied in Zebu cattle. During the lactose infusion period, the PCV was stable up to Day 5 post-infection (p.i.) in a lactose-infused group, compared to that in an uninfused group in which the PCV dropped significantly (P < 0.05) as shown by the values of cumulative percentage change. Furthermore the mean rate of change in PCV was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the uninfused group relative to the lactose-infused group during the same period. While the PCV fell markedly in the lactose-infused group a day after lactose infusion was stopped (Day 13 p.i.), subsequent PCV values were significantly (P < 0.05) higher compared to those in the uninfused group, up to the end of experiment on Day 17 p.i. However the mean rates of change in PCV did not vary significantly (P > 0.05) between the groups during the period in which lactose infusion was stopped. The mean levels of parasitaemic waves and parasitaemia were higher, more prolonged and more frequent in the lactose-infused group. It was inferred that the lactose was able to prevent an early onset of anaemia in the Trypanosoma vivax-infected Zebu cattle

Correlations of Reduced Glutathione and Glutathione Peroxidase Activities with Biochemical Markers of Liver and Kidney Damage in Trypanosoma brucei brucei Infected Rats

The correlations of reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels with biochemical markers of liver andkidney damage in Trypanosoma brucei infection were studied in rats. Forty adult male rats divided into 2 groups of control andinfected were used. Infected rats were inoculated intraperitoneally with 1.0 ml of blood at concentration of 1 x 106 trypanosomesper ml. Serum and tissue samples were collected on days 0, 3, 5 and 7 post-infection (pi) for biochemical analyses. Serum GPxactivity had a significant (p &lt; 0.05) positive correlations with liver (r = 0.96) and kidney GSH (r = 0.93) levels. All the measuredserum parameters had significant (p &lt; 0.05) negative correlations with serum GPx activity. In conclusion infection of rats withT. b. brucei caused a decrease in the serum GPx activities and organ GSH levels with increasing parasitaemia and duration ofthe infection. Keywords: Trypanosoma brucei brucei; Oxidative stress; Glutathione peroxidase; Glutathione; Liver and kidney functio

Haematological and biochemical parameters of clinically dehydrated and euhydrated dogs

Dehydration results in alterations in haematological and biochemical parameters of dogs. The aim of this study was to determine the haematological and biochemical parameters of clinically dehydrated and euhydrated dogs. A total of 109 samples obtained from different breeds of dogs were used for this study. The degrees/grades of dehydration of each dog were recorded and the dogs were grouped as follows based on their degrees of dehydration: A; euhydrated, B; mildly dehydrated, C; moderately dehydrated and D; severely dehydrated. Whole blood was collected via cephalic venipuncture for complete blood counts. The concentrations of urea, creatinine, total protein, albumin, glucose, sodium, calcium, chloride, phosphorus, potassium, bicarbonate, blood urea nitrogen (BUN)/creatinine ratio and anion gap (AG) as well as serum activities of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase were determined using serum prepared from whole blood. Urinalysis was done using fresh urine sample. Significantly higher packed cell volume (PCV) and haemoglobin concentration (Hb) (P &lt; 0.05) due to dehydration was observed in B, while significantly lower PCV and Hb (P &gt; 0.05) were reported in C and D. The concentrations of urea, creatinine, BUN/creatinine ratio, total protein, albumin and urine specific gravity were significantly higher (P &lt; 0.05) in B, C, D compared to A. However, the concentrations of glucose, calcium, sodium, chloride, potassium, phosphorus, bicarbonate and anion gap and the activities of liver enzymes were comparable (P &gt; 0.05). It was concluded from this study that: the relative increases in PCV and Hb concentration observed in B was due to haemoconcentration (dehydration), the reported anaemia in C and D were in existence with certain degrees of dehydration and that the increases in serum urea, creatinine, total protein and albumin concentrations were consistent biochemical indicators of dehydration in dogs.Keywords: Biochemical, Dehydrated, Dog, Euhydrated, Haematologica