Assessment of fetal wastage in pigs slaughtered at Kumasi abattoir, Ghana

There had been dearth of information on the level of fetal wastages in slaughtered pigs in West African countries other than Nigeria. This study evaluates the fetal losses due to slaughtering of pregnant pigs at the Kumasi abattoir in Kumasi, Ghana. The ages of the fetuses were estimated using standard technique with the influence of sex, age and breed of pig on fetal loss being evaluated. Data were subjected to descriptive and quantitative analysis. 2817 pigs were slaughtered during the period of the study with a monthly average of 563.1739(61.73%) were sows and 430(29.27%) were pregnant. 141(28.20%) sows were slaughtered in January, constituting the highest throughout the period of the study with corresponding fetal loss of 616(76.60%). Most of the fetuses wasted in this study were recorded in the second and third trimester (83.51%). The percentage of fetal wastage (the total number of fetuses wasted divided by the total number of pigs slaughtered) was 2117(75%) in this study. The results revealed high incidence of fetal losses at the Kumasi abattoir. There is need to advocate for routine veterinary checks and interventions in order to reduce the high level of fetal wastage which call for strategic planning and decision-making on animal food security in Ghana.Keywords: Abattoir, Fetal wastage, Slaughtered pigs, Ghan

Antihypertensive action of Launaea taraxacifolia and its molecular mechanism of action

Launaea taraxacifolia has been traditionally used for the management of conditions such as cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic diseases. High blood pressure was established by oral administration of L-Nitro Arginine Methyl Ester (L-NAME) a non-selective inhibitor of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). The antihypertensive action of the methanol leaf extract of L. taraxacifolia was examined. Fifty male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups of 10 animals per group: Group A (Distilled water), Group B (Hypertensive rats; 40mg/kg L-NAME), Group C (Hypertensive rats plus 100 mg/kg extract), Group D (Hypertensive rats plus 200 mg/kg extract) and Group E (Hypertensive rats plus 10mg/kg of Lisinopril). The treatments were orally administered for five weeks. Haemodynamic parameters, urinalysis, indices of oxidative stress and immunohistochemistry were determined. Findings from this study showed that blood pressure parameters, urinary sodium and indices of oxidative stress increased significantly while Invivo antioxidant defence systems decreased significantly in hypertensive rats. Immunohistochemistry revealed significant increases in expressions of mineralocorticoid receptor, angiotensin converting enzyme activity and kidney injury molecule-1 in kidney of hypertensive rats. Treatment with Launeae taraxacifolia normalized blood pressure parameters, urinary sodium, oxidative stress indices, antioxidant defence system, and serum nitric oxide bioavailability.https://www.pjps.pk/homeam2023Paraclinical Science

Clofibrate, a peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor-alpha (PPARα) agonist, and Its molecular mechanisms of action against sodium fluoride–induced toxicity

AVAILABILITY OF DATA AND MATERIALS : Data will be made available based on request from the corresponding author.Sodium fluoride (NaF) is one of the neglected environmental pollutants. It is ubiquitously found in the soil, water, and environment. Interestingly, fluoride has been extensively utilized for prevention of dental caries and tartar formation, and may be added to mouthwash, mouth rinse, and toothpastes. This study is aimed at mitigating fluoride-induced hypertension and nephrotoxicity with clofibrate, a peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor-alpha (PPARα) agonist. For this study, forty male Wistar rats were used and randomly grouped into ten rats per group, control, sodium fluoride (NaF; 300 ppm) only, NaF plus clofibrate (250 mg/kg) and NaF plus lisinopril (10 mg/kg), respectively, for 7 days. The administration of NaF was by drinking water ad libitum, while clofibrate and lisinopril were administered by oral gavage. Administration of NaF induced hypertension, and was accompanied with exaggerated oxidative stress; depletion of antioxidant defence system; reduced nitric oxide production; increased systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure; activation of angiotensin-converting enzyme activity and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB); and testicular apoptosis. Treatment of rats with clofibrate reduced oxidative stress, improved antioxidant status, lowered high blood pressure through the inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme activity, mineralocorticoid receptor over-activation, and abrogated testicular apoptosis. Taken together, clofibrate could offer exceptional therapeutic benefit in mitigating toxicity associated with sodium fluoride.Cape Peninsula University of Technology and National Research Foundation (South Africa).https://link.springer.com/journal/12011hj2023Paraclinical Science

Protective effect of intranasal peste des petits ruminants virus and bacterin vaccinations: Clinical, hematological, serological, and serum oxidative stress changes in challenged goats

Background and Aim: The current vaccination for peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) is stalled by myriad challenges and continuous endemicity of pneumonia due to fulminant bacterial complication in goats. The present study evaluated the protective effect of intranasal PPRV linage 1 and bacterine vaccinations. Materials and Methods: Twelve West African Dwarf (WAD) goats aged 6 months were randomly grouped and vaccinated within 2 weeks using a combination of PPRV lineage 1 vaccine (Nig/75), and bacterin from Mannheimia haemolytica (Mh) or Pasteurella multocida intranasally. The goats were observed for 3 weeks post-vaccination before comingled with a known infected WAD goat with apparent clinical signs of peste des petits ruminants and further observed clinically for 5 weeks post-infection (PI). Blood samples were taken for hematology while sera were assayed for antioxidants (glutathione peroxidase, glutathione transferase, and superoxide dismutase) activities and pro-oxidants (malondialdehyde content, reduced glutathione, hydrogen peroxide generation, and myeloperoxidase) using spectrophotometric methods. Data were subjected to parametric statistics at α=0.05 using GraphPad Prism version 21. Results: Clinically, there were pyrexia, oculonasal discharge, diarrhea, anemia, leukopenia, and increased pro-oxidants in the unvaccinated goats, while moderate neutrophilia and leukocytosis were observed in PPRV and bacterin vaccinated goats. Two unvaccinated goats were weak and euthanized at 13 and 28 days PI. The goats vaccinated with PPRV and Mh showed better response clinically and biochemically. Conclusion: The mucosal vaccination of goats with PPRV vaccine and bacterine will protect against exposure and culminate in the development of protective mucosal, humoral, and cell-mediated immune responses. This vaccination strategy will provide framework needed in the prevention and control of endemic caprine pneumonia in Nigeria

Prevalence, predictors and financial implication of cattle recumbency at the Kumasi Animal Market, Ghana

Livestock are expectedly at one point or the other transported from one place to another for breeding, sale or slaughter. Conditions of handling, loading and transportation, stress encountered during the journey and when off-loading are a major factor of recumbency and/ bruising. A survey on recumbency in cattle was conducted at the animal market of the Kumasi Abattoir Company Limited (KACL) in Kaase, in the Kumasi Metropolitan Area of Ghana. The study involved 7960 cattle transported to the slaughterhouse from local towns in Ghana as well as from neighbouring countries. Recumbent and moribund cattle were identified and information was compiled based on the regions (sources) they were transported from, as well as the varying conditions of their handling and transportation. A total of 109 cases of recumbent and moribund cattle were recorded, with an average of 5 recumbent cases per day. Study results showed that cases of recumbency involved 1.4% of the total number of cattle (7960) counted in the animal market and 5.3% of the number of cattle (2069) transported from sources with registered cases of recumbency. The study also revealed higher frequency of recumbency where animals were transported over long distances of >500km (68%); or in relatively larger batch loads of >20 animals (76%). Calculating at an assumed loss of 50% value for each case of affliction, the financial implication of cattle recumbency at the animal market of the KACL is estimated at a loss of GH₵ 54500 per month or GH₵ 654000 (approx. USD 163500) per annum.Keywords: Cattle recumbency, Slaughterhouses, Transportation, Financial losses, Ghan

Novel antihypertensive action of rutin is mediated via inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme/mineralocorticoid receptor/angiotensin 2 type 1 receptor (ATR1) signaling pathways in uninephrectomized hypertensive rats

Hypertension is the most common cardiovascular disease that affects approximately 26% of adult population, worldwide. Rutin is one of the important flavonoids that is consumed in the daily diet, and found in many food items, vegetables, and beverages. Uninephrectomy (UNX) of the left kidney was performed, followed by induction of hypertension. The rats were randomly divided into four groups of 10 rats: group 1—Sham-operated rats; group 2—UNX rats, group 3—UNX-L-NAME (40 mg/kg) plus rutin (100 mg/kg bwt), and groups 4—UNX-L-NAME plus lisinopril (10 mg/kg bwt), orally for 3 weeks. Results revealed significant heightening of arterial pressure and oxidative stress indices, while hypertensive rats treated with rutin had lower expressions of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and mineralocorticoid receptor in uninephrectomized rats. Together, rutin as a novel antihypertensive flavonoid could provide an unimaginable benefits for the management of hypertension through inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme and mineralocorticoid receptor. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS : Hypertension has been reported to be the most common cardiovascular disease, affecting approximately 26% of the adult population worldwide with predicted prevalence to increase by 60% by 2025. Recent advances in phytomedicine have shown flavonoids to be very helpful in the treatment of many diseases. Flavonoids have been used in the treatment and management of cardiovascular diseases, obesity and hypertension. The study revealed that rutin, a known flavonoid inhibited angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), angiotensin 2 type 1 receptor (ATR1), and mineralocorticoid receptor (MCR), comparable to the classic ACE inhibitor, Lisinopril, indicating the novel antihypertensive property of rutin. Therefore, flavonoids such as rutin found in fruits and vegetables could, therefore, serve as an antihypertensive drug regimen. Combining all, functional foods rich in flavonoids could be used as potential therapeutic candidates for managing uninephrectomized hypertensive patients.Cape Peninsula University of Technology and National Research Foundation (South Africa)http://www.wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/jfbc2021-10-21hj2021Paraclinical Science