Environmental and Public Health Issues of Animal Food Products Delivery System in Imo State, Nigeria

Information on livestock movement, animal food products processing facilities, meat inspection methods, official meat inspection records and distribution and marketing systems for processed products in Imo state, Nigeria needed for policy development interventions in the sector are not fully understood. The primary data generated with the aid of personal interviews, field observations and secondary data obtained from records accumulated by the department of veterinary services Imo state from 2001 to 2004 were used to investigate the environmental and public health issues of animal food products delivery system in state. Majority of trade animals supplied to the state originated from the northern states of the country and were brought in with trucks by road. Only two veterinary control posts served the whole state thus resulting in non-inspection and taxing of a large proportion of trade animals. Official record of trade animals supplied to the state from 2001 to 2004 ranged from 45000 – 144000 for cattle, 23000 – 96000 for goats and 11000 – 72000 for sheep per annum, with supplies increasing steadily across the years. Official slaughter points in the state were principally low-grade quality slaughter premises consisting of a thin concrete slab. Meat handling was very unhygienic with carcasses dressed beside refuse heaps of over 2 years standing. Carcasses were dragged on the ground and transported in taxi boots and open trucks. Meat inspection at these points was not thorough because of stiff resistance of butchers to carcass condemnation. Official meat inspection records for the state from 2001 to 2004 revealed that overall totals of 159,000 cattle, 101,000 goats and 67,000 sheep were slaughtered. This accounted for about 56, 57 and 57% shortfall of cattle, goat and sheep respectively supplied to the state and represents the volume of un-inspected animals during the study period. Fascioliasis and tuberculosis were the most common infections encountered in cattle and recorded percentage occurrences of 16.7 and 7.5 respectively, whereas mastitis was common in goats and sheep at percentage occurrences of 5.8 and 5.0 respectively. Overall prevalence rates of 4.4, 8.0, 3.2, 3.3 and 1.5% were recorded for tuberculosis, fascioliasis, streptotricosis, mastitis and worms respectively. Animal food products delivery in Imo state needs to be improved upon in order to safeguarded the health of consumer

Frequency Of Isolation Of Salmonella From Commercial Poultry Feeds And Their Anti-Microbial Resistance Profiles, Imo State, Nigeria

This study was conducted to determine the frequency of isolation of salmonella and their microbial resistance profiles across different commercial poultry feeds sold in Imo State, Nigeria. Thirty-six bulk feed samples were colleted from 154 bag across different feed types and brands which included Guinea (GF), Top (TF), Vital (VF), Extra (EF), Animal care (AF) and livestock (LF) feeds. The salmonella isolated were tested against 14 anti-microbial drugs using the disc diffusion method. Bacterial load enumeration of the samples indicated a range of <30 colony forming unit (CFU) to overgrowth at 104 serial dilutions. Eight feed samples (22.2%) which cuts across the entire feed brands expect EF were positive for salmonella. The highest prevalence of 28.8% and 25.0% were recorded for LF and TF respectively, while VF, GF and AF had 11.1 and 10.0% respectively. Salmonella isolates showed high rates of resistance (51-100%) against nitrofurantoin, ampicillin, tetracycline and ceftriazole, while moderate rates (31-50%) were recorded for chloramphenicol, oxfloxacin and cotrimoxazole. Low resistance rates (1-30%) were on the other hand recorded against ciprofloxacin and amoxycillin clavulanate (Augumentine), whereas zero resistance was demonstrated against pefloxacin, gentamycin, streptomycin and nalidixic. Commercial feeds form important channels for the dissemination of multi-drug resistant salmonella in Imo State, Nigeria

Effect of neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf meal on serum metabolite profiles of male rabbits | Efecto de la harina de hojas de neem (Azadirachta indica) en los perfiles metabólicos séricos de conejos machos

This study was undertaken to determine the effect of neem leaf meal (NLM) supplementation on metabolic of male rabbits. Male rabbits (36) with mean body weights of 2025 g were randomly allotted to four treatment groups (n = 9/group). Rabbits in CD1, CD2, CD3 and CD4 groups were fed diets containing 0% (control), 5%, 10% and 15% NLM, respectively in a completely randomized design.. The feeding trial lasted 16 weeks inclusive of a two week acclimatization period. At the end of the trial, the animals were starved for 12 hours and blood samples taken from the marginal ear vein. The serum globulin values of bucks on CD2 and CD3 groups were significantly (p<0.05) lower than those on CD4. The serum sodium levels of bucks on CD2 and CD4 groups were significantly (p<0.05) different from the bucks on control group (CD1). The bucks onCD3 and CD4 groups had significantly (p<0.05) elevated serum urea as compared to bucks on control group. The bucks on CD2, CD3 and CD4 groups had significantly (p<0.05) lower serum glucose and cholesterol values relative to control group. It may be concluded that inclusion of NLM up to 15% in the ration of breeding male rabbits resulted a significant reduction in serum glucose and cholesterol values.Key words: Neem leaf meal, serum, metabolites, male rabbits, biochemical profileRESUMENEl objetivo fue determinar el efecto de la harina de hojas de neem (HHN) en los perfiles metabólicos séricos de conejos machos. Conejos con un peso corporal promedio de 2025g se asignaron aleatoriamente a cuatro grupos de tratamiento (n = 9/grupo). Los conejos en los grupos CD1, CD2, CD3 y CD4 se alimentaron con dietas de HHN a 0% (control), 5%, 10% y 15%, respectivamente, en un experimento con un diseño completamente aleatorizado. El ensayo de alimentación duró 16 semanas incluyendo un período de aclimatación de dos semanas. Al final del ensayo, los animales ayunaron durante 12 horas y se le tomaron muestras de sangre de la vena marginal de la oreja. Las muestras de sangre se transfirieron inmediatamente dentro de botellas estériles de plástico sin anticoagulante para la prueba bioquímica sérica. Los valores séricos de globulina de los conejos en los grupos CD2 y CD3 fueron significativamente (p<0,05) menores que en el grupo CD4. Los niveles séricos de sodio de los conejos en los grupos CD2 y CD4 fueron significativamente (p<0,05) diferentes de los conejos en el grupo control (CD1). Los conejos en los grupos CD3 y CD4 tuvieron significativamente (p <0,05) un valor sérico de urea elevado en comparación con los conejos en el grupo control. Los conejos en los grupos CD2, CD3 y CD4 tuvieron significativamente (p<0,05) menores valores séricos de glucosa y colesterol en relación a aquellos del grupo control. Estos resultados sugieren que la inclusión hasta 15% HHN en la ración de conejos machos reproductores pudieran causar un efecto depresivo severo en los parámetros sanguíneos, especialmente los valores séricos de glucosa y colesterol.Palabras clave: Harina de hojas de neem, conejos, pruebas bioquímicas del suero

Environmental and multi-host infestation of the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus in Owerri, South-east Nigeria- a case report

The common brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus is the most predominant tick of dogs in Nigeria. It does not readily attack humans but usually prefers non-human hosts for completion of its development. We report a case of multi-host and environmental infestation of Rhipicephalus sanguineus involving five humans, two canines and three ovine hosts at a peri-urban site in south-eastern Nigeria. Eleven cases of human infestation were recorded, ten of which involved children between the ages of 4 and 8 years, while a single case was recorded in an adult female. Among the domestic animals ticks were found attached to a 2-year-old male Alsatian, an 8- year-old mongrel and three West African dwarf (WAD) sheep comprising a ewe and her two lambs. This case of multi-host parasitism may have resulted from extensive bush clearing in the area resulting in non-availability of other alternative hosts

Assessment of Mycoflora of Poultry Feed Raw Materials

Abstract: The study was carried out to identify the common moulds growing in the selected feed raw materials in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. Fifty-four bulk samples were derived from 162 bags of 6 different raw materials, which included local fish meal (LFM), soybean meal (SBM), groundnut cake (GNC), palm kernel cake (PKC), brewers dried grain (BDG) and maize (MZ). The samples were collected during the rainy season months of June, July and August. The common moulds isolated from these samples were Mucor spp., Aspergillus spp., Yeast spp., Bacteria spp and Rhizopus spp. More fungal organisms were isolated in the month of July although Aspergillus spp was not isolated during the month. Local fishmeal, palm kernel cake, and brewers dried grain had the highest isolates of three organisms each with the prevalence ranging from 13.64 to 18.18%. Soybean meal, maize and groundnut cake on the other hand returned between one and two isolates. The present result showed that untreated feed raw materials are important vehicles for introduction of fungal organisms into poultry feed. It is therefore, advised to routinely treat such feed raw materials with fungal growth inhibitors in order to limit their growth since these organisms are capable of reducing the nutritional values of finished feeds

Effect of neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf meal on serum metabolite profiles of male rabbits

This study was undertaken to determine the effect of neem leaf meal (NLM) supplementation on metabolic of male rabbits. Male rabbits (36) with mean body weights of 2025 g were randomly allotted to four treatment groups (n = 9/group). Rabbits in CD1, CD2, CD3 and CD4 groups were fed diets containing 0% (control), 5%, 10% and 15% NLM, respectively in a completely randomized design.. The feeding trial lasted 16 weeks inclusive of a two week acclimatization period. At the end of the trial, the animals were starved for 12 hours and blood samples taken from the marginal ear vein. The serum globulin values of bucks on CD2 and CD3 groups were significantly (p<0.05) lower than those on CD4. The serum sodium levels of bucks on CD2 and CD4 groups were significantly (p<0.05) different from the bucks on control group (CD1). The bucks on CD3 and CD4 groups had significantly (p<0.05) elevated serum urea as compared to bucks on control group. The bucks on CD2, CD3 and CD4 groups had significantly (p<0.05) lower serum glucose and cholesterol values relative to control group. It may be concluded that inclusion of NLM up to 15% in the ration of breeding male rabbits resulted a significant reduction in serum glucose and cholesterol values.El objetivo fue determinar el efecto de la harina de hojas de neem (HHN) en los perfiles metabólicos séricos de conejos machos. Conejos con un peso corporal promedio de 2025g se asignaron aleatoriamente a cuatro grupos de tratamiento (n = 9/grupo). Los conejos en los grupos CD1, CD2, CD3 y CD4 se alimentaron con dietas de HHN a 0% (control), 5%, 10% y 15%, respectivamente, en un experimento con un diseño completamente aleatorizado. El ensayo de alimentación duró 16 semanas incluyendo un período de aclimatación de dos semanas. Al final del ensayo, los animales ayunaron durante 12 horas y se le tomaron muestras de sangre de la vena marginal de la oreja. Las muestras de sangre se transfirieron inmediatamente dentro de botellas estériles de plástico sin anticoagulante para la prueba bioquímica sérica. Los valores séricos de globulina de los conejos en los grupos CD2 y CD3 fueron significativamente (p<0,05) menores que en el grupo CD4. Los niveles séricos de sodio de los conejos en los grupos CD2 y CD4 fueron significativamente (p<0,05) diferentes de los conejos en el grupo control (CD1). Los conejos en los grupos CD3 y CD4 tuvieron significativamente (p <0,05) un valor sérico de urea elevado en comparación con los conejos en el grupo control. Los conejos en los grupos CD2, CD3 y CD4 tuvieron significativamente (p<0,05) menores valores séricos de glucosa y colesterol en relación a aquellos del grupo control. Estos resultados sugieren que la inclusión hasta 15% HHN en la ración de conejos machos reproductores pudieran causar un efecto depresivo severo en los parámetros sanguíneos, especialmente los valores séricos de glucosa y colesterol

Semen quality characteristics, reaction time, testis weight and seminiferous tubule diameter of buck rabbits fed neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) leaf meal based diets

Background: To ascertain the effects of tropical leaf meals on semen production and semen quality. Objective: This study was conducted with the main objective of investigating the effect of neem leaf meal on physiological responses of rabbit bucks fed graded levels of neem leaf (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) meal. Materials and Methods: The varying levels of neem leaf meal (NLM) in the different experimental diets were 0, 5, 10 and 15% respectively. Four groups of nine crossbred New Zealand type rabbit bucks each, aged 7-8 months were randomly assigned to four diets containing neem leaf meal (NLM) at 0% (control) (CD0), 5% (CD1), 10% (CD2) and 15% (CD3) respectively for 16 weeks. Results: The sperm concentration values obtained were 20.15 ×106 /ml, 18.04×106 /ml, 13.65×106 /ml, 6.46 ×106 /ml for the CD0, CD1, CD2 and CD3 groups respectively. The results obtained indicate that sperm motility were lowest (p<0.05) in the treatment groups than the control group. Total sperm per ejaculate was similar (p>0.05) between the control and those on 5–10 %NLM dietary groups however, the value for the 15%NLM group was significantly (p<0.05) lower than that of the control. Abnormal sperm percentage of the bucks fed 15% NLM was significantly (p<0.05) higher than those bucks on CD1, CD2 and CD3 groups. The seminiferous tubule diameters were significantly smaller in the 15% NLM (203μm) than the other 3 dietary groups. All the other variables measured including semen volume, weight of testis and reaction time did not differ (p>0.05) among the experimental group. Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that the inclusion of neem leaf meal up to 15% in the ration of matured rabbit bucks could cause mild depressive effect on the spermatogenesis, semen quality and seminiferous tubule diameter

Efecto de la harina de hojas de neem (Azadirachta indica) en los perfiles metabólicos séricos de conejos machos

This study was undertaken to determine the effect of neem leaf meal (NLM) supplementation on metabolic of male rabbits. Male rabbits (36) with mean body weights of 2025 g were randomly allotted to four treatment groups (n = 9/group). Rabbits in CD1, CD2, CD3 and CD4 groups were fed diets containing 0% (control), 5%, 10% and 15% NLM, respectively in a completely randomized design.. The feeding trial lasted 16 weeks inclusive of a two week acclimatization period. At the end of the trial, the animals were starved for 12 hours and blood samples taken from the marginal ear vein. The serum globulin values of bucks on CD2 and CD3 groups were significantly (p<0.05) lower than those on CD4. The serum sodium levels of bucks on CD2 and CD4 groups were significantly (p<0.05) different from the bucks on control group (CD1). The bucks on CD3 and CD4 groups had significantly (p<0.05) elevated serum urea as compared to bucks on control group. The bucks on CD2, CD3 and CD4 groups had significantly (p<0.05) lower serum glucose and cholesterol values relative to control group. It may be concluded that inclusion of NLM up to 15% in the ration of breeding male rabbits resulted a significant reduction in serum glucose and cholesterol values.El objetivo fue determinar el efecto de la harina de hojas de neem (HHN) en los perfiles metabólicos séricos de conejos machos. Conejos con un peso corporal promedio de 2025g se asignaron aleatoriamente a cuatro grupos de tratamiento (n = 9/grupo). Los conejos en los grupos CD1, CD2, CD3 y CD4 se alimentaron con dietas de HHN a 0% (control), 5%, 10% y 15%, respectivamente, en un experimento con un diseño completamente aleatorizado. El ensayo de alimentación duró 16 semanas incluyendo un período de aclimatación de dos semanas. Al final del ensayo, los animales ayunaron durante 12 horas y se le tomaron muestras de sangre de la vena marginal de la oreja. Las muestras de sangre se transfirieron inmediatamente dentro de botellas estériles de plástico sin anticoagulante para la prueba bioquímica sérica. Los valores séricos de globulina de los conejos en los grupos CD2 y CD3 fueron significativamente (p<0,05) menores que en el grupo CD4. Los niveles séricos de sodio de los conejos en los grupos CD2 y CD4 fueron significativamente (p<0,05) diferentes de los conejos en el grupo control (CD1). Los conejos en los grupos CD3 y CD4 tuvieron significativamente (p <0,05) un valor sérico de urea elevado en comparación con los conejos en el grupo control. Los conejos en los grupos CD2, CD3 y CD4 tuvieron significativamente (p<0,05) menores valores séricos de glucosa y colesterol en relación a aquellos del grupo control. Estos resultados sugieren que la inclusión hasta 15% HHN en la ración de conejos machos reproductores pudieran causar un efecto depresivo severo en los parámetros sanguíneos, especialmente los valores séricos de glucosa y colesterol

Environmental and Public Health Issues of Animal Food Products Delivery System in Imo State, Nigeria

Information on livestock movement, animal food products processing facilities, meat inspection methods, official meat inspection records and distribution and marketing systems for processed products in Imo state, Nigeria needed for policy development interventions in the sector are not fully understood. The primary data generated with the aid of personal interviews, field observations and secondary data obtained from records accumulated by the department of veterinary services Imo state from 2001 to 2004 were used to investigate the environmental and public health issues of animal food products delivery system in state. Majority of trade animals supplied to the state originated from the northern states of the country and were brought in with trucks by road. Only two veterinary control posts served the whole state thus resulting in non-inspection and taxing of a large proportion of trade animals. Official record of trade animals supplied to the state from 2001 to 2004 ranged from 45000 – 144000 for cattle, 23000 – 96000 for goats and 11000 – 72000 for sheep per annum, with supplies increasing steadily across the years. Official slaughter points in the state were principally low-grade quality slaughter premises consisting of a thin concrete slab. Meat handling was very unhygienic with carcasses dressed beside refuse heaps of over 2 years standing. Carcasses were dragged on the ground and transported in taxi boots and open trucks. Meat inspection at these points was not thorough because of stiff resistance of butchers to carcass condemnation. Official meat inspection records for the state from 2001 to 2004 revealed that overall totals of 159,000 cattle, 101,000 goats and 67,000 sheep were slaughtered. This accounted for about 56, 57 and 57% shortfall of cattle, goat and sheep respectively supplied to the state and represents the volume of un-inspected animals during the study period. Fascioliasis and tuberculosis were the most common infections encountered in cattle and recorded percentage occurrences of 16.7 and 7.5 respectively, whereas mastitis was common in goats and sheep at percentage occurrences of 5.8 and 5.0 respectively. Overall prevalence rates of 4.4, 8.0, 3.2, 3.3 and 1.5% were recorded for tuberculosis, fascioliasis, streptotricosis, mastitis and worms respectively. Animal food products delivery in Imo state needs to be improved upon in order to safeguarded the health of consumer

The potentiality of medicinal plants as the source of new contraceptive principles in males

Rising human population throughout the world especially in developing and underdeveloped countries has detrimental effects on life supporting system on earth. Traditionally, plants have been used to treat different kinds of ailments. The growing importance of phytochemicals in males has been reported. Contraceptive ability of plants has been reported in several animal models. The reversibility of the anti-fertility effects of plants and its active compounds are of potential clinical relevance in the development of male contraceptive. This review attempts to discuss the latest reports on the potentiality of medicinal plants as the source of new contraceptive principles in males