Phytochemical composition and toxicity of the aqueous extract of Parkia biglobosa pods in adult Clarias gariepinus

The phytochemical composition and toxicological evaluation of the aqueous extract of Parkia biglobosa pods in adult Clarias gariepinus was investigated over a 96-h exposure period. The aqueous extract of the pods was freeze-dried and screened for its phytochemical constituents. This revealed the presence of glycosides, alkaloids, saponins, steroids and triterpenes, tannins, carbohydrates and flavonoids but no anthraquinones and fixed oils. The fish were exposed to varying concentrations of the extract in a static acute toxicity bioassay. The exposed fish showed initial signs of agitated and erratic movements followed by signs of respiratory distress and abnormal nervous compromise, including mortality in some of the exposed fish. No such obvious signs of toxicity were recorded in the unexposed control fish. The appearance and intensity of the signs were both concentrations and exposure period-dependent. Mean mortality was significantly (p<0.05) related to extract concentrations and exposure period. The median lethal concentration of the extract in exposed fish over the 96-h exposure period was calculated to be 115.38 mg/l. Parkia biglobosa pods contained some toxicologically active constituents that can be meaningfully exploited to harvest fish from water bodies. However, this should be done with great care as the abusive use (higher concentrations) of this extract could result in extract residues in the exposed fish that might pose a risk to the consumers of such fish.Keywords: Clarias gariepinus, Parkia biglobosa pods, phytochemical constituents, toxicity

Toxicological Evaluation of Ethanol Extract of Adenium obesum Stem Bark in African Catfish, Clarias gariepinus

The toxicity of ethanol extract of Adenium obesum stem bark as a tool foraquaculture pond management prior to the stocking of desired fish species was evaluated in Clarias gariepinus over a 96-h exposure. The fish were exposed to 6.25 mgL-1, 7.50 mgL-1, 8.20 mgL-1, 8.80 mgL-1 and 10.00 mgL-1 of the extract and a control in an acute static toxicity bioassay after performing a range finding test to determine the median lethal concentration (LC50) of the extract. Exposed fish showed signs of changed behaviours with adaptive responses, respiratory distress and nervous compromise, including mortality in some of the exposed fish. The appearance and intensities of the observed signs were concentration and exposure period-dependent. An LC50 value of 7.35 mgL-1 was establishedfor the extract in the exposed fish where mean mortality was significantly (p<0.05) concentration and exposure period-dependent. The toxic nature of the extract in the exposed hardy fish can be exploited for effective aquaculture pond management against some unwanted predatory and weed aquatic organisms. However, the indiscriminate use of higher extract concentrations could seriously jeopardise the biodiversity of any aquaticenvironment

Haematotoxicity of ethanol extract of Adenium obesum (Forssk) Roem & Schult stem bark in Wistar rats

Purpose: To investigate the acute toxicity of ethanol extract of Adenium obesum (Forssk.) Roem. & Schult stem bark in Wistar rats in relation to haematological parameters.Methods: This involved the administration of single dose of 300 mgkg-1, 2000 mgkg-1 and 5000 mgkg-1 of the extract by oral gavage separately to three different groups of female rats (n = 3) one after another based on the absence of mortality and/or morbidity during a 14-day observation period. The control group was administered distilled water as placebo (1 mL per 100 g body weight).Results: The exposed rats did not show any obvious signs of toxicity, morbidity or mortality. Median lethal dose (LD50) of the extract was ≥ 5000 mgkg-1 or ∞ (unclassified) based on the fixed LD50 cut-off values. Final body weight of control rats (196.00 ± 3.06 g) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the initial body weight (184.30 ± 1.45 g) and weight gain in extract treated groups was not significant (p > 0.05). Packed cell volume, red blood cell count and haemoglobin concentrations in the rats (42.67 ± 1.33 %, 5.10 ± 0.20 x 1012 L-1 and 130.70 ± 2.96 gL-1, respectively did not change significantly (p > 0.05). However, the white blood cell count significantly increased from 7.50 ± 0.63 x 109 to 11.63 ± 0.50 x 109L-1 while the lymphocyte count significantly increased from 5.81 ± 0.43 x 109 to 9.99 ± 0.42 x 109 L-1 (p < 0.05) at the highest extract dose (5000 mgkg-1) compared to their respective controls.Conclusion: Adenium obesum might not be haematotoxic and is considered a safe medicinal plant administered orally.Keywords: Adenium obesum, Haemoglobin, Blood count, Mortality, Morbidity, Haematotoxicit

Influence of pulmonary lesions on some haemotological parameters of camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Northwestern Nigeria

Blood samples from external jugular vein of camels presented for slaughter at randomly selected slaughter houses in northwestern Nigeria were collected. This is to determine some haematological baseline data and to investigate the influence of pulmonary lesions on the blood parameters studied. Accordingly blood samples from 500 camels presented were collected and examined. Three hundred and twenty (320) camels sampled and examined showed one or more gross and microscopic pulmonary lesion(s) which include: acute pneumonia 232(46.4%), hydatid cyst 14(9.2%), pulmonary haemorrhage 3(0.6%), pulmonary abscess 13(2.6%) focal emphysema (12(2.4%) and pulmonary atelectasis 46(9.2%). while 180 camels sampled showed no detectable pulmonary lesion. There were relative increases in the PCV (p=0.422), RBC (p=0.411) and haemoglobin concentration (p=0.321) in camels with pulmonary lesions when compared to the values from camels with normal lungs. However, the differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05). The total WBC was significantly increased (p=0.011) in the camels that had lung lesions. Nevertheless, the differential white blood cell counts shows no statistical difference between the groups, except on the eosinophils count which were significantly higher (p=0.015) in camels with lung lesions. The calculated erythrocytes indices showed significantly higher MCH (p=0.02) and MCHC (p=0.048) in the camels with lung lesions (p<0.05), although the MCV was not significantly different between the groups. The total plasma protein was not significantly different between the groups (p=0.194). It was concluded that pneumonia or other lung lesions may have influence of the blood parameters observed in this environment.Keywords: Camel, Haematology, Lung lesion, Northwestern Nigeria

Twenty Six Years Retrospective Studies Of The Prevalence Of Gastrointestinal Helminths Isolated From Necropsied Animals In Zaria, Nigeria

Prevalences of gastrointestinal helminths in different domestic animals were determined for a period of twenty six years, in order to increase the awareness of the potential serious problems caused by helminths on livestock. A total of five hundred and thirty nine different species of domestic animals were necropsied from 1976 to 2001, at the Necropsy Unit of the Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. Worms or eggs recovered from these necropsied animals were used to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths. The prevalences of different helminths identified are as follows: Spirocerca lupi, 25 (4.64%), Haemonchus contortus, 223 (41.37%), Toxocara canis, 17 (3.13%), Ancylostoma caninum, 24 (4.45%), Ascaris suum, 39 (7.24%), Taenia solium, 55 (10.20%), Fasciola gigantica, 44 (8.16%), Hebronema microstoma, 4(0.74%), Oesophagostoma columbianum, 35 (6.49%), Trichostrongylus colubriformis, 1 (0.19%), Trichuris vulpis, 2 (0.37%), Strogylus equinus, 4 (0.74%), Parascaris equi, 2 (0.37%), Moniezia expansa, 4 (0.74%), Toxocara cati, 4 (0.74%) and Paraphistoma cervi, 56 (10.39%). The sheep had the highest prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths (51.02%). This was followed by the goat with the prevalence of 18.92%, while the lowest prevalence of 0.56% was obtained from the cat. It was concluded that majority of animals reared in Zaria were infected by various types of helminths. These data could serve as basis for comparism with established prevalences of gastrointestinal helminths in developed countries of the world.Les prévalences des helminthes gastro-intestinaux chez différents animaux domestiques étaient déterminées pendant vingt-six ans, afin d'intensifier la sensibilisation sur les graves problèmes éventuels causés par les helminthes chez le bétail. Au total, 539 animaux domestiques de diverses espèces étaient nécropsiés de 1976 à 2001 au Service de Nécropsie, Département de Pathologie et de Microbiologie, Faculté de Médecine vétérinaire, Université Ahmadu Bello, Zaria, Nigeria. Des vers ou des oeufs recueillis de ces animaux nécropsiés étaient utilisés pour déterminer la prévalence des helminthes gastro-intestinaux. Les prévalences des helminthes identifiés étaient comme suit : Spirocerca lupi, 25 (4,64%); Haemonchus contortus, 223 (41,37%) ; Toxocara canis, 17 (3,13%) ; Ancylostoma caninum, 24 (4, 45%) ; Ascaris suum, 39 (7,24%) ; Taenia solium, 55 (10,20%) ; Fasciola gigantica, 44 (8,16%) ; Hebronema microstoma, 4 (0,74%) ; Oesophagostoma columbianum, 35 (6,49%); Trichostrongylus colubriformis, 1 (0,19%) ; Trichuris vulpis, 2 (0,37%) ; Strongylus equinus, 4 (0,74%) ; Parascaris equi, 2 (0,37%) ; Moniezia expansa, 4 (0,74%) ; Toxocara cati, 4 (0,74%) et Paraphistoma cervi, 56 (10,39%). Le mouton avait la plus forte prévalence d'helminthes gastro-intestinaux (51,02%), suivi par la chèvre (18,92%). La plus faible prévalence était obtenue chez le chat (0,56%). Il a été conclu que la majorité des animaux élevés à Zaria étaient infectés par divers types d'helminthes et que ces données pourraient servir de base de comparaison avec les prévalences avérées d'helminthes gastro-intestinaux dans les pays développés.Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa Vol. 54 (4) 2006: pp. 234-24

Haematogical changes induced by subchronic glyphosate exposure: Ameliorative effect of zinc in Wistar rats

The aim of this study was to determine the haematological changes induced by subchronic glyphosate exposure in Wistar rats and the ameliorative effect of zinc. Sixty adult male and female Wistar rats were used for the study. Twelve of them were used for the LD50 which was evaluated to be 3750 mg kg-1 with clinical signs of respiratory distress, diarrhoea, rough hair coat and subsequently death observed. The remaining 48 rats were divided into six groups of four males and four females each. The agent(s) administered are as follows: Group I (DW), control, distilled water (2 ml kg-1), group II (Z), zinc (50 mg kg-1), group III (G), glyphosate (375 mg kg-1, 10 % of the LD50), group IV (Z + G), zinc (50 mg kg-1) and glyphosate (375 mg kg-1) while group V (GC), glyphosate (14.4 mg kg-1) and group VI (Z + GC), zinc (50 mg kg-1) and glyphosate (14.4 mg kg-1). The treatment regimens were administered orally by gavage once daily for eight weeks. At the end of the study, blood samples were collected and analysed but there were no statistical different (p>0.05) among the treatment groups. However, the haematological parameters were relatively higher in the groups treated with glyphosate alone except the lymphocyte which was relatively low in the glyphosate treated groups compared to the control group. These changes were suggestive of haematological toxicity induced by oxidative stress caused by glyphosate exposure. In conclusion, the alterations in the haematological parameters such as packed cell volume, hemoglobin concentration, total white blood cell count, neutrophils and lymphocyte counts induced by subchronic glyphosate exposure were found to be differentially ameliorated by pre-treatment with zinc.Keywords: Ameliorate, Glyphosate, Haematology, Subchronic, Wistar rat, Zinc

Highly pathogenic avian influenza I water fowls in Zaria, Nigeria

No Abstract.Nigerian Veterinary Journal Vol. 29 (2) 2008: pp. 55-5