A Retrospective Study of Common Diseases of Animals in a Private Clinic in Kaduna Metropolitan

Data from clinical records of ECWA Veterinary Clinic, Kaduna, were retrieved for diseases of livestock retrospectively over a period of 10 years (January1997 – December 2006). The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results indicate that a total of 5296 cases were handled during the 10 year study period and 48 different disease conditions werediagnosed and treated. Of the 48 disorders, Helminthosis appeared to be the most common disease condition with 2177(41%) of all cases handled, followed by Piroplasmosis 771(14.2%), Myiasis 572(10.9%), Bacterial infections 538(10.7%), Ectoparasitism 318(6%), Canine parvoviral enteritis267(5.04%), Mange 242(4.7%), Traumatic injury 1 3 2 ( 2 . 5 1%) , S e p t i c emi a 8 0 ( 1 . 5%) a n d Dermatomycosis 40(0.55%). Other conditionshandled included Caudectomy 20(0.38%), hematoma 16(0.30%), castration 15(0.28%), canine distemper 11(0.21%), food poisoning, fracture, infectious canine hepatitis presenting 10 (0.19%) each. Othersinclude Orchidectomy 7(0.13%), pinnal ulcers 6(0.11%), malnutrition 5(0.09%), organophosphate poisoning and still were handled 4 (0.08%) times each, while Conjuctivitis and Orchitis were handled only 3(0.06%) times each. There are other 11 diseases grouped as A which appeared only twice each throughout the study totaling 22(0.42%) and other 13 diseases grouped as B appeared only once each totaling 13(0.25%). Canine species were the most presented of all animal species with 4413(83.3%), followed by bovine 383(7.23%), ovine 260(4.9%), caprine 170(3.2%), porcine 50(0.94%), feline 19(0.35%) and equine 1(0.02%). Lack of routine de-worming and location of the clinic is responsiblefor this outcome. The findings elucidate the relevance of private veterinary clinics in disease reporting.Keywords: Common diseases of livestock, Helminthosis, Piroplasmosis, ECWA Veterinary clinic, Kaduna Stat

Characterization and Separation Performance of a Novel Polyethersulfone Membrane Blended with Acacia Gum

Novel polyethersulfone (PES) membranes blended with 0.1–3.0 wt. % of Acacia gum (AG) as a pore-former and antifouling agent were fabricated using phase inversion technique. The effect of AG on the pore-size, porosity, surface morphology, surface charge, hydrophilicity, and mechanical properties of PES/AG membranes was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, contact angle and zeta potential measurements. The antifouling -properties of PES/AG membranes were evaluated using Escherichia coli bacteria and bovine serum albumine (BSA). The use of AG as an additive to PES membranes was found to increase the surface charge, hydrophilicity (by 20%), porosity (by 77%) and permeate flux (by about 130%). Moreover, PES/AG membranes demonstrated higher antifouling and tensile stress (by 31%) when compared to pure PES membranes. It was shown that the prepared PES/AG membranes efficiently removed lead ions from aqueous solutions. Both the sieving mechanism of the membrane and chelation of lead with AG macromolecules incorporated in the membrane matrix contributed to lead removal. The obtained results indicated that AG can be used as a novel pore-former, hydrophilizing and antifouling agent, as well as an enhancer to the mechanical and rejection properties of the PES membranes

Approaches in biotechnological applications of natural polymers

Natural polymers, such as gums and mucilage, are biocompatible, cheap, easily available and non-toxic materials of native origin. These polymers are increasingly preferred over synthetic materials for industrial applications due to their intrinsic properties, as well as they are considered alternative sources of raw materials since they present characteristics of sustainability, biodegradability and biosafety. As definition, gums and mucilages are polysaccharides or complex carbohydrates consisting of one or more monosaccharides or their derivatives linked in bewildering variety of linkages and structures. Natural gums are considered polysaccharides naturally occurring in varieties of plant seeds and exudates, tree or shrub exudates, seaweed extracts, fungi, bacteria, and animal sources. Water-soluble gums, also known as hydrocolloids, are considered exudates and are pathological products; therefore, they do not form a part of cell wall. On the other hand, mucilages are part of cell and physiological products. It is important to highlight that gums represent the largest amounts of polymer materials derived from plants. Gums have enormously large and broad applications in both food and non-food industries, being commonly used as thickening, binding, emulsifying, suspending, stabilizing agents and matrices for drug release in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. In the food industry, their gelling properties and the ability to mold edible films and coatings are extensively studied. The use of gums depends on the intrinsic properties that they provide, often at costs below those of synthetic polymers. For upgrading the value of gums, they are being processed into various forms, including the most recent nanomaterials, for various biotechnological applications. Thus, the main natural polymers including galactomannans, cellulose, chitin, agar, carrageenan, alginate, cashew gum, pectin and starch, in addition to the current researches about them are reviewed in this article.. }To the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientfíico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for fellowships (LCBBC and MGCC) and the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nvíel Superior (CAPES) (PBSA). This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit, the Project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462) and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) (JAT)

Common Diseases of Poultry in Kaduna State: Perspective of a Private Clinic

Several reports on prevailing poultry diseases across some states in Nigeria have been documented. The common prevailing poultry diseases in Kaduna Sate were investigated. The records of poultry diseases aspresented to and diagnosed at the ECWA Veterinary Clinic, Kaduna during a 10-year (January1997 and December2006) period was retrieved and analyzed retrospectively using descriptive statistics. The diagnosisat the clinic was based on clinical and post mortem findings. The results indicate that a total of 5131 poultry disease conditions were presented, diagnosed and treated over the study period. A total of 21 differentpoultry diseases were diagnosed, the most common being bacterial infections with 2082(40.6%) of all cases, then Coccidiosis 1750(34.1%), Gumboro 465(9.1%), Helminthosis 197(3.8%), Omphilitis 193(%), New castle disease 135(2.6%), stampede 114(2.2%), tumor 65(1.3%), cannibalism 44(0.9%). The less occurring included drug toxicity 23(0.45%) cases, chronic respiratory diseases 20(0.4%), Pullorum 12(0.2%), malnutrition 8(0.16%), lousiness 8(0.16%), Aspergillosis 6(0.12%) and Mareks 2(0.04%). Other, occurring only once totaling 5(0.1%) included aortic rupture, snake bite (on Ostrich), congenital malformation, air sacculitis and traumatic peritonitis. As a single entity, Coccidiosisappeared to be the most occurring disease condition in Kaduna metropolis, followed by Gumboro. Poor management practices and lack of proper vaccination may have been responsible for these findings. Goodmanagement practices enhance flock hygiene and adequate vaccination schedules is key to effective and efficient poultry production in the state and Nigeria at large. Private Veterinary Clinics have pivotal role to playin disease reporting in the countryKeywords: Common poultry diseases, Private Veterinary Clinic,  Coccidiosis, Gumboro, Kaduna Stat

Effects of Blood Sample Collection Pre- and Post- Slaughter, Edta and Heparin Preservation on Haemo Parasites Detection, in Cattle at Zaria Abattoir, Nigeria

In this study, the effects of collecting blood samples pre-and post- slaughter, as well as EDTA and heparin preserved on the detection of haemo-parasite of cattle were investigated. A six ml of blood each (3ml placed in commercially prepared EDTA and Heparin sample bottles) were collected pre and post slaughter from 25 randomly selected cattle at Zango abattoir, Zaria, suggesting, four samples from each animal, totalling 100 samples. The samples were immediately subjected to Wet mount (WM), Haemotocrit centrifugation test (HCT) and Thin smear (TS) tests. The results revealed that, of the 100 samples examined, 19 (19%) were positive for the presence of Microfilaria spp while 6(6%) yielded Trypanosome spp. Of the 19 samples detected having Microfilaria spp; TS test was sensitive to all the 19(100%), HCT sensitive to 3(15.8%) and WM test was sensitive to only 1(5.3%). Of the 6 samples detected having Trypanosome spp, WM test was sensitive to 5 (83.3%), while HCT and TS tests were each sensitive to same 3(50%) samples. Of all the 25 samples positive to haemo-parasites (19 Microfilaria & 6 Trypanosome spp), 14(56%) were seen in blood samples collected pre slaughter, while 11(44%) samples post slaughter (p>0.05). Similarly, of the 25 positive samples, 16(64%) were in samples preserved in EDTA, while 9(36%) were those preserved in Heparin treated sample bottles (p>0.05). Despite that there was no statistical significant difference, collection of samples before slaughter is advocated. Similarly, EDTA should be preferred in sample preservation than heparinised bottles (p>0.05) for haemo-parasite. The implications of these findings were discussed. Keywords: Effect of pre- & post-slaughter, Haemo-parasite, EDTA and Heparin, Abattoir, CattleNigerian Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 32 [2] September 2011, pp. 251-25

Phytochemical analysis and antibacterial activity of Khaya senegalensis bark extracts on Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis

The aqueous and ethanol extracts of the bark of Khaya senegalensis were screened for their phytochemical constituents and preliminary antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the plant on the tested organisms was determined using multiple tubes method.Alkaloids, anthraquinones, glycosides, tannins and steroids were detected in both extracts.The ethanol and aqueous extracts of the plant showed antibacterial activity against B. subtilis and E. coli, with the aqueous extracts having more activity than those of ethanol. However the growth of P. mirabilis was not inhibited by either of the extracts. The MIC value was determined to be 50 mg/ml for B. subtilis and E. coli. The results are suggestive of considerable antibacterial activity of K. senegalensis and may justify its use in the treatment of bacterial diseases by herbalists or traditional healers