Impact of weeding frequency in controlling flea beetles (Podagrica spp.) and yield of three varieties of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) in Gombe State, Nigeria

Field studies were carried out at School of Agricultural Technology Teaching and Research Farm of Federal College of Horticulture, Dadin Kowa, Gombe State, Nigeria during 2014 and 2015 cropping seasons to assess the impact of weeding frequencies in controlling flea beetles (Podagrica spp.) using three varieties of Okra. Three varieties of Okra  (NGAE-96-1; NHAE-47-4 and Challawa) and four  weeding frequencies (no weeding, one weeding at 3 WAS, two weedings at 3 and 6 WAS and three weedings at 3, 6 and 9 WAS) were assessed using split plot laid out in randomized complete block design replicated three times. Results showed that the flea beetle (Podagrica spp.) populations, leaves and fruit damaged weight were significantly (P≤0.05) reduced while okra plant height and fruit yield were improved on plots that were weeded three times compared to other weeding frequencies. The result further showed that NGAE-96-1 and NHAE-47-4 reduced flea beetle (Podagrica spp.) populations, leaves and fruit damage than challawa. The results indicated that flea beetle control could be effectively achieved and okra production improved through the manipulation of weeding frequencies and selecting the appropriate okra varieties in the study area

Determination of gestational age through trans-abdominal scan of placentome diameter in Nigerian breed of sheep and goats

The usefulness of placentome diameter measurement for the determination of gestational age in Nigerian breed of sheep and goats was investigated in two experiments. In the first experiment, cross-sectional design was used and placentome diameters were measured in 18 Yankasa/Uda crossbred ewes and 20 Sahel does using trans-abdominal probe. A tentative estimate of gestation age was made using placentome diameter and gestation age correlates from a previous study. Subsequently, the date of parturition was recorded for each animal and the actual conception date was calculated retrospectively using a previously described 148-day gestation table for ewes and does. In the second experiment, a prospective cohort design was used on 6 goats, from end of second trimester until parturition. The date of conception was then retrospectively calculated. It was found that the estimated and actual gestation ages in both sheep and goats were not significantly different (P>0.05). The correlation coefficient (r²) between the placentome diameter and gestation age was 0.84 (P= 0.0001), for sheep and 0.90 (P= 0.0001) for goats suggesting a significant high positive correlation between placentome diameter and gestational age. The regression equation was y + 2.809x + 7.555 and y = 2.930x + 9.611 for sheep and goats, respectively. However, the placentome diameters monitored until parturition were not significantly different (P>0.05) between the weeks and not significantly correlated with gestational age. It was concluded that placentome diameter is useful to estimate gestational age at mid gestation and not within the last third of pregnancy.Keywords: Gestational age, Goat, Placentome diameter, Sheep, Ultrasonograph

Microbial Contaminants in Fresh and Extended Turkey Semen and their Sensitivity to Antibiotics

Microorganisms that inhabit the avian cloaca usually contaminate poultry semen which could easily spread throughout an entire flock. This study was conducted to determine the presence of microbial contaminants in turkey semen and evaluate their antibiotic sensitivity. Semen was collected from each tom, pooled and then divided into two aliquots A and B. Aliquot A was immediately  evaluated for microbial contaminants and antibiotic sensitivity while aliquot B, was extended and preserved for 24 hours at 40 C and thereafter microbial culture, identification and antibiotic sensitivity were conducted. Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis, Corynebacteria species and a fungal organism Candida albican were isolated and identified in both aliquots. All the identified organisms were sensitive to pefloxacin, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin, while Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis and Corynebacteria species were resistant to Ampicillin-cloxacillin, cefuroxime, amoxicillin and ceftriaxone. Escherichia coli was only resistant to co-trimoxazole, ofloxacin and nalidixic acid. The study concludes that, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus foecalis, Bacillus subtilis, Corynebacteria species and Candida albican were found to be turkey semen contaminants and were resistant to penicillin and streptomycin combination in turkey semen extender but sensitive to pefloxacin, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin. Key words: Microbial contaminants, turkey semen, extender, antibiotic sensitivit

Characteristics of fresh and frozen-thawed Uda ram semen extended with Oviplus®, egg yolk and coconut milk

Semen characteristics of Uda sheep and the effects of the egg yolk and coconut milkbased extenders on the quality of semen preserved at 4 oC and -196 oC were evaluated. Semen was collected from six Uda rams using an electro-ejaculator twice a week for ten weeks. Fresh semen samples were pooled and analyzed macroscopically and microscopically. The pooled semen was divided into 2 aliquots. One aliquot was extended in OviPlus® and egg yolk. The second aliquot was extended with OviPlus® and coconut milk. Each of the aliquots was further subdivided into 2 parts and evaluated microscopically. One part was chilled at 4 oC and evaluated for the same parameters after extension at 24, 48 and 72 hours. Second part was loaded into 0.25 ml plastic straws for cryopreservation at -196 ℃ and analyzed after 24 hours. The post thaw spermatozoa motility, livability and morphological abnormalities were determined at 24, 48 and 72 hours. The motility and concentration of freshly collected Uda semen were 81.7 ± 1.7 % and 3.2 ± 0.3 ×109/ml respectively. After extension, the motility decreased significantly (P < 0.05) from 82 % at 3 hours to 17 % at 72. The percentage live spermatozoa of the chilled semen did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) between the two extenders. Post thaw spermatozoa motility and livability were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced. There were significant differences (P < 0.05) between the post-thaw proportions of morphological abnormalities, between semen preserved at 4 oC and the frozen-thawed semen. In conclusion, semen motility, livability, and morphological abnormalities of Uda ram are equally preserved in coconut milk and egg yolk-based extenders at 4 oC up to 24 hours post extension. However, semen motility and livability were significantly reduced in the Uda semen earlier cryopreserved at -196 oC after thawing

Fecal Progestin Extraction and Analysis for Non-invasive Monitoring of Ovarian Cycle in Beef Cows

The aims of the present study were to determine presence of immunoreactive progestins in feces, correlate fecal progestins with plasma progesterone (P4) concentrations and subsequently assess the role of fecal progestins in monitoring estrous cycle in Kedah Kelantan (KK) beef cows. A total of 12 cycling cows were subjected to blood and matched fecal sampling twice a week for 9 weeks. The concentrations of plasma P4 and fecal progestins extracted using a modified technique, were determined by a P4 radioimmunoassay (RIA) kit. There was a significant positive correlation between the concentrations of fecal progestins and plasma P4 (r = 0.6, P<0.01), as tested for the whole group except one animal. High performance liquid chromatographic separation of fecal extracts and subsequent radioimmunoassay revealed presence of four immunoreactive progestins against the P4 antibodies. These results imply that the non-invasive measure of fecal progestins using a DSL-3900 RIA kit can be used to monitor the ovarian activity in beef cows

Recurrent vaginal prolapse in a postpartum river buffalo and its management

This article presents a case report based on a river buffalo cow with a history of recurrent vaginal prolapse following a normal parturition. After clinical examination, the buffalo was diagnosed with first grade vaginal prolapse. Following administration of epidural anesthesia (Lidocaine), the area of vulva was aseptically prepared and a modified boot-lace retention suture was applied using nylon tape to prevent recurrence of the prolapse. Because of a foul smell lochia detected and for prevention of further contamination, antibiotic was administered. The buffalo was also treated with anti-inflammatory drug and drugs useful to help muscle tonicity and retention of reproductive organs in place. Two weeks later suture was removed and the animal recovered successfully with no recurrence reported after that. Though vaginal prolapse in buffalo has been reported to be most common during last trimester of pregnancy or associated with dystocia, the present case shows that it can also occur following normal parturition

Effectiveness of Castration with Burdizzo, Calcium Chloride and Olive Oil in Sahel Bucks

We evaluated the efficacy of castration with bilateral intratesticular injections of Calcium Chloride Dihydrate (CaCl2) in ethanol, Olive Oil as well as Burdizzo technique in twenty Sahel bucks. The bucks were randomly distributed into four groups as A, B, C and D. Group A served as the control and were given bilateral intratesticular injection of 1.0 ml of normal saline. Bucks in group B were castrated with Burdizzo, while group C and D were given bilateral intra testicular injection of 1.0 ml of CaCl2 and Olive oil, respectively. The sonograms and semen profiles of the bucks were evaluated. The diameters of the testicles and spermatic cords and the semen parameters were measured in real time after castration at days 1, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 60. The diameters in the Burdizzo, CaCl2 and Olive oil castrated bucks significantly increased (P &lt; 0.05) on days 7 and was decreased at day 60. Semen motility was absent in the bucks castrated with Cacl2 after day 14. The concentration of spermatozoa also decreased significantly on day 7 in all the Burdizzo, CaCl2 and Olive oil castrated goats. Sonogram of testes castrated with Cacl2 showed discreet focal hyperechoic, surrounded by hypoechoic areas within the&nbsp; parenchyma due to the CaCl2 deposition. The testes of bucks castrated with olive oil were characterized by a central hypoechoic area surrounded by clearly distinguishable hyperechoic areas within the parenchyma. It was concluded that intratesticular injection with Burdizzo, CaCl2 and olive oil resulted in successful castration but CaCl2 injection resulted in earlier azoospermia. Keywords: Burdizzo; Castration; Calcium chloride; Goats; Olive oil; Sahel buck

Erythrocyte glutathione concentrations in Nigerian Sahel goats

The erythrocyte glutathione (GSH) concentrations of 210 Nigerian Sahel goats were 2,4-175.2 (46.5¡À36,4) mg/l00 ml RBC or 0.1-7.3 (1.9¡À1.4) mg/gHb. The frequency distribution of the blood and erythrocyte GSH values was positively skewed, but the packed cell volume (PCV) and haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations were normally distributed. The erythrocyte GSH values in mg/100 ml RBC and mg/gHb were strongly correlated. Majority of the goat population (74.8%) had low or 'deficient' erythrocyte GSH concentrations (¡Ü60 mg/100 ml RBC). Sixteen animals with very low erythrocyte GSH values of 2.4-9.8 (6.9¡À2.9) mg/100 ml RBC were not anaemic and the anaemic goats with PCV of 17.0¡À0.9% had GSH concentrations of 3.5-97.5 (45.0¡À42,8) mg/100 ml RBC. The erythrocyte GSH values were not correlated with PCV or Hb and anaemia. The biochemical basis for the low erythrocyte GSH concentrations is yet to be determined

Effect of normal saline and oviplus® on epididymal sperm quality and relationship with testicular morphometry in Sahel bucks

No AbstractKeywords: Sahel bucks, spermatozoa, epididymus, testes, oviplus®, normal salin

Hyperuricemia and the Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease Progression among Sickle Cell Anemia Patients (HbSS) in North-eastern Nigeria

Sickle cell nephropathy is a common complication of HbSS. Several risk factors have been found to be associated with the development of progressive chronic kidney disease. Serum uric acid is usually elevated in patients with chronic kidney disease. This study evaluated the prevalence of hyperuricemia among HbSS patients and determined the association between hyperuricemia and the risk of progressive kidney disease among HbSS patients in northeastern Nigeria. The study is a single centre cross sectional study conducted in the sickle cell clinic of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, northeastern Nigeria. Study participants consisted of HbSS participants sequentially recruited from January 2013 to April 2018. Socio-demographic and clinical variables were obtained from each participant. Glomerular filtration rate was calculated using the modification of diet in kidney disease (MDRD) equation and staged based on KDOQI classification. Participants with eGFR &lt;60ml/minute/1.73m2 were considered to have chronic kidney disease. Serum uric acid was measured and levels &gt;419mmol/L were considered elevated. Out of a total of 261 participants that were seen in the sickle cell clinic during the study period, 217 had complete data set and were included. The prevalence of hyperuricemia was 62.3% among the study population. Sixty-three (57.8%) patients with hyperuricemia had chronic kidney disease whereas 16 (19.5%) patients with normal serum uric acid levels had chronic kidney disease. ODDS ratio of chronic kidney disease in hyperuricemic patients was 2.38(95% CI 1.98 – 3.01). The mean PCV in patients with hyperuricemia and those with normal uric acid levels were 17.71 ± 4.93 and 23.26 ± 5.43 respectively (p=0.000). There were significant differences between patients with normal and elevated serum uric acid levels and serum creatinine (109.71±96.99µmol/L vs 204.11 ± 194.42µmol/L, p=0.000); urea (6.41 ± 6.72mmol/L vs 10.75 ± 6.56mmol/L, p=0.000). This study has shown that hyperuricemia is common among HbSS patients and it is associated with the development of progressive chronic kidney disease among HbSS patients