Evaluation of optimum inclusion levels of Biostrong® 510 as replacement for antibiotic growth promoters in broiler chickens production under field conditions in Nigeria

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the response of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with Biostrong® 510 as  replacement for antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs). A total of 396 day old Ross broiler chicks were allotted randomly to six dietary treatments each replicated thrice, with 22 chicks per replicate. Biostrong® 510 was included at 0g, 15g, 17.5g and 20g/100 Kg diet for T1-T4 respectively while T5 and T6 had Oxytetracyclineand water-grade Neocyril plus respectively. Data was collected ongrowth performance indices, haematological parameters, liver function indices, ileum and ceacum microbial contents, tibia bone quality indices, and litter quality indices. All data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and significant differences among treatment means were compared using the Dunnett test of significance. The result for the starter phase showedbirds on the AGPs had significantly (P<0.05) higher final weight and weight gain than birds on Biostrong® 510 and control. Feed consumption was significantly (P < 0.05) higher for the controlthan for birds on antimicrobials. Haematological indices was not significantly (P>0.05) different, while liver function indices showed decreased concentration for Alanine-amino transferase (ALT) (24.33-12.67 μL) and Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (140.67-81.33 μL respectively) for the Biostrong® 510 diets compared to control treatment values of 34.00μL and 294.00μL for ALT and ALP respectively. Feed consumption was significantly highest for finisher birds on control diet as birds fed growth promoters utilized significantly less feed, to gain similar weights with the control. Biostrong® 510 significantly improved feed conversion similar to the antibiotics. There was significantly (P<0.05) higher values for dry matter content of litter for birds fed Biostrong® 510 above the control and AGPs. Bone density was significantly (P<0.05) higher for Biostrong® 510 diets. Potential pathogenic bacteria species identified were mainly in treatments with no Biostrong® 510. It is concluded that Biostrong® 510 though did not significantly improve growth of broiler chickens, but however improved feed conversion, similar Onimisi, P.A., Moses, O. and Jegede J.O. 203 to the antibiotics; significantly lowered cost of production even more than the AGPS; improved bone strength, and litter quality and consequently the health of birds.Biostrong® 510is therefore a potential replacement for antibiotic growth promoters.Key words: Biostrong® 510, Antibiotic growth promoter, Performance, broiler chickens

Effect of pretreatment on growth and early seedling performance of diospyros mespiliformis.

An investigation was carried out to determine the effect of pre-treatment on emergence, growth and early seedling performance of Diospyros mespiliformis .This is a highly economic wide spread indigenous savannah species which has been recorded to grow quite slowly. The experiment consisted of eleven treatment combinations (control inclusive) replicated five times in a completely randomized design. Seed were mechanically scarified at the helium (T1) and soaked in tap water for 24 hours (T2).Four wet heat treatment; (T3-T6) seed were soaked in 600c hot water for 3,5,10 and 15minutes respectively. For the acid treatments (T7-T10) seeds were placed in concentrated hydrochloric acid (HCL) for 3,5,10 and 15 minutes respectively. Pre-treated seeds were sown by their respective treatments T1-T10 with T0 representing the control in germination trays filled with sterilized river sand. At the production of 2-3 fully expanded leaves, five (5) uniform seedlings from each of the treatments were  pricked into poly pots containing top soil and replicated five times in a completely randomized design. Result shows that the treatment with seeds soaked in cold water for 24 hrs (T2) and hot water at 600c for 3minutes(T3) produced better seedlings with overall growth performance in terms of increment in height, collar girth and leaf production. These were closely followed by seedlings produced from seeds treated with 5 minutes concentrated hydrochloric acid (T8). Analysis of the result further revealed that there was no significant difference in early seedling growth of D. Mespiliformis under the different pre-germination treatments. Keywords: pre-treatment, Diospyros mespiliformis, seedling, growth performance

Community-based Forest Resources Management in Nigeria: Case study of Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve, Mambilla Plateau, Taraba State, Nigeria

In Nigeria, human communities are found within or beside forest ecosystems, depending onthese ecosystems for survival. Their forest exploitation is considered a threat to conservation efforts,leading to constant conflicts between Government, law enforcement agencies and the communities. Thebest solution is a win-win system of participatory community-based forest resources management, inwhich the communities are regarded as stakeholders rather than as threats. This paper explains theadoption of this approach in Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve, Mambilla Plateau, where the communities weretrained in establishment and management of forest plantations with readily available market for theirtimber; employment for some of the community youths as well as community development projects.This paper calls for the adoption of this system in other protected areas in Nigeria, while theGovernment should provide basic amenities for the communities as alternatives to those forest products.Keywords: Community-based forest management, Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve, Protected areas, Nigeria

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Effect of Different Inclusion Levels of CRINA® Poultry Plusas Replacement for Antibiotic Growth Promoters on the Performance of Broiler Chickens Reared under Field Conditions in Nigeria

A total 396 day old Ross broiler chicks were used in a feeding trial to evaluate the response of broiler chickens fed diets  supplemented with different levels of CRINA® Poultry Plus, as replacement for AGPs. Chicks were allotted randomly to six   treatments each replicated thrice, with 22 chicks per replicate. CRINA® Poultry  Plus was included at 0g, 30g, 35g and 40g/100 Kg diet representing T1-T4   espectively while T5 and T6 had Oxytetracycline and water-grade Neocyril plus  respectively. Data was collected on growth performance, haematology, liver function, ileum and ceacum microbes, carcass quality, tibia bone quality, and litter quality. All data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and significant differences among treatment means  were compared using the Dunnett test of significance. In the starter phase, broilers fed diet containing Oxytetracycline had  significantly (P<0.05) highest values for final weight, weight gain, feed consumption, and better feed conversion ratio. Significant (P<0.05) differences were observed for albumin and blood urea nitrogen while ALT, ALP AST were not significantly (P > 0.05)  different. Birds fed levels of CRINA® Poultry Plus had significantly higher bone dry matter and bone ash than birds in the control group and on antibiotics. There was a significant (P < 0.05) increase in dry matter and a significant decrease in excreted nitrogen in the litter for treatments containing CRINA® Poultry Plus.CRINA® Poultry Plus did not improve growth in broiler chickens; it however significantly  improved bone quality and litter quality which have positive implication on the health of birds.Key words: CRINA® Poultry Plus, Antibiotic growth promoter, Performance, broiler chickens

Evaluation of optimum inclusion levels of biostrong® 510 15% as a replacement for antibiotic growth promoters in broiler chicken production under field conditions in Nigeria

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Biostrong® 510 15% (BSG) in broiler chickens diet. It was included at 0 g, 75 g, 100 g and  125 g/100 Kg diet, for T1-T4 respectively while T5 had Oxytetracycline. Data was collected on growth performance indices, haematological parameters, liver function indices, kidney function, blood mineral profile, immune response, antioxidant capacity, villi morphometrics, lipid profile,  ileum and ceacum microbial contents, carcass quality parameters, and tibia bone quality indices. All data collected were subjected to analysis of variance and significant differences among treatment means were compared using the Tukey test of significance. Growth performance showed that broilers fed diet containing 100g BSG had optimum performance among other levels. Haematological and liver function indices were not  significantly (P>0.05) different. Birds fed BSG showed decreased cholesterol, triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein compared to the control treatment. Birds fed levels of BSG and AGP had significantly higher bone weight, bone density, bone dry matter and bone ash as compared to birds on the control group. All carcass evaluation parameters were significantly (P<0.05) different among treatments except for dressed weight, breast and kidney. Levels of BSG in the diet significantly lowered the cost of production than AGPs of finisher broilers improved liver health, bone strength, villi characteristics, increased beneficial bacteria population and also prevent the colonization of the gut by pathogenic bacteria thus improving the health of the birds. Biostrong® 510 15%, can therefore effectively replace antibiotic growth promoters in broiler chicken production. Keywords: Biostrong® 510 15%, Antibiotic growth promoter, Performance, broiler chicken

Knowledge and attitude towards Zoonoses among workers in selected zoological gardens in Nigeria

An exploratory questionnaire-based survey of zoological workers (n=152) was carried out from April  2016 to March 2017 in Ibadan (Oyo State), Ilorin (Kwara State) and Jos (Plateau State), Nigeria to  assess local knowledge and attitude towards zoonoses among zoological workers. A combination of  closed and open-ended questions, focused group discussions and ranking techniques were employed  to gather information on perceptions concerning the type of zoonotic diseases prevalent in the study  area, level of risk, mode of transmission and methods of preventing disease transmission from animals  to humans. The results revealed that 44.1% of the respondents had good level of awareness about  zoonoses. Rabies (99%), tuberculosis (41%), bird flu (47%) and Ebola virus disease (EVD) (44%)  were considered the four most common zoonotic diseases in the study area. Among the respondents,  42.1% and 57.2% perceived zoonoses are transmitted by direct contact and attending to sick animals  respectively. Constant hand washing was indicated by 45.4% of the respondents as the mode of  prevention of zoonoses in the study area. It is necessary that the Government provide the vaccination facility to all the zoological workers against the relevant zoonotic diseases. The level of awareness about the risks associated is needed to improve through proper education, training, and establishment of written infection control policies in the various zoological gardens in the country

Haemogram and serum biochemical values of four indigenous species of monkeys in south west Nigeria

Summary: Haematological and serum biochemical values are useful guides and biomarkers in health and diseases for reaching a diagnosis, estimating disease prognosis and monitoring treatment progress, in mammals. Reference ranges for some parameters differ among species of mammals and between sexes within a species. There is dearth of information on standard reference value for blood parameters for Nigerian indigenous monkeys. Whole blood and serum samples obtained from 50 apparently healthy adult monkeys in both captivity and from the wild in southwest Nigeria were subjected to haematology and serum biochemistry to obtain preliminary reference values for haematological and serum biochemical analytes for Cercocebus sebaeus (Green monkey), Cercopithecus mona (Mona monkey), Erythrocebus patas (Patas monkey) and Papio anubis (Anubis baboon). Numerical data were summarized as mean and standard deviation and subjected to statistical analysis; Student t test and analysis of variance, to compare values of blood parameters obtained between species and gender. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. The hematocrit of male animals were significantly higher than that of females (P=0.01) in all the 4 species studied but there was no significant difference in other blood parameters such as total white blood cell and the differential counts, platelet count, serum aspartate transferase, alanine transferase, alkaline phosphatase, total plasma protein, albumin, and globulin concentrations between the sexes. Generally, there was no significant difference between total white blood cell and the differential counts, hematocrit, red cell count, haemoglobin concentration, platelet count, serum aspartate transferase, alanine transferase, alkaline phosphatase, total plasma protein, albumin, and globulin concentrations among the monkey species.Keywords: Haematology, Monkeys, Reference data, Serum biochemistr

Physico-chemical and compositional changes in proprietary finished feeds stored under different conditions

Storage of feed plays an important role in the economic and health aspect of livestock production. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of varying storage conditions (lit and dark room) on physical changes, occurrence of insects in stored feed, storage loss and nutrient composition of owner selected broiler finisher feeds. Bags of 25kg each of broiler finisher diets from four feed companies (A, B, C and D) were obtained on the day of production and were stored under two storage media (lit and dark room) for a period of 8 weeks. The experiment was arranged in a 4 x 2 factorial layout to form eight treatments with 5 replications. Feed colour, storage loss, occurrence of insects, and proximate analysis were carried out at 2 week intervals. Data generated were statistically analyzed by ANOVA technique in a 4 x 2 factorial design using PROC GLM procedure of SAS (2007). Storage temperature (27.27 oC and 26.65 oC for lit and dark room, respectively) and relative humidity (79.83% and 80.64% for lit and dark room, respectively) monitored were not significantly (p>0.05) different. Colour changes were observed in the feed from the 29th day of storage. By the 42nd day, presence of lesser grain borer (Rhyzopertha dominica F.) was observed in all the feeds. Appearance of frass, dusty particles and webbing were observed in feeds stored in lit room on 42nd day and those in dark room on 56th day. Storage loss (%) was reduced (pEl almacenamiento de piensos desempeña un papel importante en el aspecto económico y sanitario de la producción pecuaria. Este estudio se llevó a cabo para investigar los efectos de diferentes condiciones de almacenamiento (luz y espacio oscuro) sobre los cambios físicos, la presencia de insectos en el alimento almacenado, la pérdida por almacenamiento y la composición de nutrientes de piensos comerciales de terminación para pollos de engorde. En el día de la producción se obtuvieron, sacos de 25 kg de pienso de acabado para pollos de engorde producidos en cuatro empresas de alimentación (A, B, C y D) y se almacenaron en dos condiciones de almacenamiento (iluminación y oscuridad) durante un período de 8 semanas. El experimento se dispuso en un esquema factorial 4 x 2 para formar ocho tratamientos con 5 repeticiones. Al cabo de dos semanas se analizaron el color del pienso, la pérdida de almacenamiento, la aparición de insectos y el análisis inmediato. Los datos generados se analizaron estadísticamente mediante la técnica ANOVA en un diseño factorial 4 x 2 utilizando el procedimiento PROC GLM de SAS (2007). La temperatura de almacenamiento (27,27 °C y 26,65 °C para las habitaciones iluminada y oscura, respectivamente) y la humedad relativa (79,83 % y 80,64 % respectivamente) no fueron significativamente diferentes (p>0,05). Se observaron cambios de color en el pienso a partir del 29º día de almacenamiento. A los 42 días, se observó presencia de barrenador menor del grano (Rhyzopertha dominica F.) en todos los piensos. Se observó la aparición de residuos, partículas polvorientas y estructuras en los alimentos almacenados en iluminación el día 42 y en oscuridad el día 56. La pérdida de almacenamiento (%) se redujo (