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

Soil carbon dioxide efflux and atmospheric impact in a 10-year-old Dipterocarpus recovering lowland tropical forest, Peninsular Malaysia

The recovering logged-over forest ecosystem increases the CO2 efflux into the atmospheric carbon pool in response to environmental factors to changes in the soil temperature and moisture. These CO2 outbursts can have a marked influence on the ecosystem carbon balance and thereby affect the atmospheric carbon pool. The study was conducted in the 10-year-old logged-over forest of Sungai Menyala forest, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. The measurements of soil CO2 efflux were conducted using the continuous open flow chamber technique connected to a multi gas-handling unit and infrared CO2/H2O gas analyser. The aim of this study was to determine the soil CO2 efflux and the environmental variables and likewise the impact of environmental factors on soil CO2 efflux. Post-hoc comparisons were made using the Tukey test (p < 0.05), and multiple linear regression to determine the impact of environmental factors on soil CO2 efflux. Soil CO2 efflux ranged from 100.22-553.40 mg m-2 h-1 with the highest efflux in the afternoon attributed to an increase in soil temperature and low moisture. A higher soil temperature and low moisture signify an influential factor as the forest is recovering from logging activity. Furthermore, the predictor environmental variables: SOC (soil organic carbon), TOC (total organic carbon), SMC (soil moisture content), Bulk Density, SOCstock (soil organic carbon stock), TAGB (total above ground carbon biomass), Below Ground Carbon Biomass, soil pH, Nitrogen to Carbon ratio account for the spatial and temporal variation in soil CO2 efflux into the atmosphere. The analysis revealed a strong correlation between soil CO2 efflux, changes soil properties and environmental factors with an R2 more than 0.80 at p < 0.01. This is proven that logging activity accounts for the changes in environmental factors to influence soil CO2 efflux rate within 10-years of logging and forest recovering

Brucellosis as an Emerging Threat in Developing Economies:Lessons from Nigeria

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, has a large proportion of the world's poor livestock keepers, and is a hotspot for neglected zoonoses. A review of the 127 accessible publications on brucellosis in Nigeria reveals only scant and fragmented evidence on its spatial and temporal distribution in different epidemiological contexts. The few bacteriological studies conducted demonstrate the existence of Brucella abortus in cattle and sheep, but evidence for B. melitensis in small ruminants is dated and unclear. The bulk of the evidence consists of seroprevalence studies, but test standardization and validation are not always adequately described, and misinterpretations exist with regard to sensitivity and/or specificity and ability to identify the infecting Brucella species. Despite this, early studies suggest that although brucellosis was endemic in extensive nomadic systems, seroprevalence was low, and brucellosis was not perceived as a real burden; recent studies, however, may reflect a changing trend. Concerning human brucellosis, no studies have identified the Brucella species and most reports provide only serological evidence of contact with Brucella in the classical risk groups; some suggest brucellosis misdiagnoses as malaria or other febrile conditions. The investigation of a severe outbreak that occurred in the late 1970s describes the emergence of animal and human disease caused by the settling of previously nomadic populations during the Sahelian drought. There appears to be an increasing risk of re-emergence of brucellosis in sub-Saharan Africa, as a result of the co-existence of pastoralist movements and the increase of intensive management resulting from growing urbanization and food demand. Highly contagious zoonoses like brucellosis pose a threat with far-reaching social and political consequences

BOARD CHARACTERISTICS AND EARNINGS MANAGEMENT OF LISTED CONSUMER GOODS FIRMS IN NIGERIA

Corporate governance mechanisms have continued to strengthen the operations and activities of corporate entities in Nigeria. Board characteristics and earnings management have attracted many scholars trying to establish relevant relationship that will assist policy makers and regulatory agencies in facilitating good corporate governance. This study examines the impact of board characteristics on earnings management of listed consumer goods firms in Nigeria. The Agency Theory was used to underpin the study. Board characteristics as the independent variable was proxied using board independence, board meetings, board gender diversity and board expertise while earnings management as the dependent variable was measured using the Modifies Jones Model. The panel data multiple regression was used on data extracted from annual reports of sixteen listed consumer goods firms from 2011 to 2020. The study found that, board gender diversity and board expertise negatively and significantly influence earnings management while board independence and board meetings have no significant influence on listed consumer goods firms in Nigeria. The study therefore recommends that, regulatory agencies and policy makers should encourage listed consumer goods firms in Nigeria to increase diversity in boards and expertise as this will minimize earnings management activities by management

HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT IN PUBLIC TERTIARY EDUCATION OF KADUNA STATE

Human capital development denotes the most valuable and critical assets in the public tertiary education and it is globally recognized as a key driver for innovation and sustainable development. However, the study examines the effect of human capital development in public tertiary education of Kaduna state. The population of this study was made up of the all the public Tertiary Institutions in Kaduna State (Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna state University, Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic Zaria, Kaduna Polytechnic, National College of education Zaria and Kaduna state college of education Gidan Waya. Twenty-five questionnaires were administered to each public institution. 150 questionnaires administered and 112 were retrieved from the respondents which was used as the sample size. Therefore, the impact and significance of human capital development in Public Tertiary Education in Kaduna State will no doubt enhance learning as well as development in all area of human endeavor. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the Nigerian government should develop an adequate human capital with global skills and e-learning practices, with proper training partnership with other domestic industries, technical training institutions and research institutions internationally. Also, there is an urgent need for the federal and state government to raise their spending on education in order to fulfill the 26% UNESCO criterion by increasing staff costs and salaries, which will aid in advancing knowledge, increasing production, and fostering national progres

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

Avian influenza (H5 subtype) antibodies in village chickens in four local government areas of Kaduna state, Nigeria

Aim: Biosecurity measures are rarely implemented in traditional farming systems especially in the villages. Given the importance of the village chickens as a source of income for rural families and its public health concern due to the frequent contact that exist between these birds and humans a study was conducted to assess the presence of antibodies to the H5 avian influenza virus subtype in village chickens in some Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Kaduna State. Materials and Methods: A total of 480 sera samples were obtained from apparently healthy local chickens in five LGAs where the avian influenza outbreak has not been reported. The sera were subjected to the Haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test using the H5N2 avian influenza antigen. Results: An overall prevalence of 2.9% with an individual seroprevalence of 10%, 0.8%, 4.1% and 3.3% in Jaba, Jemma'a, Kaura and Zango Kataf local government areas respectively. There was no association between presence of pigs and detection of avian influenza antibodies, p=0.8723, OR 0.9153 (95% CI: 0.3108&amp;#150;2.695), but there was an association between presence of water birds (Gesse and Ducks) and detection of avian influenza antibodies, p= 0.0203, OR 3.488 (95% CI: 1.146&amp;#150;10.61). Conclusions: This result highlights the important role apparently healthy village chickens may play in virus perpetuation (reservoir) and in the spread of avian influenza to other animals and humans. An enhanced and sustained virological surveillance for the virus in village chickens was recommended. [Vet World 2012; 5(12.000): 713-717