Effect of Plant Extracts on Post Flowering Insect Pests and Grain Yield of Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata) (L.) Walp.) in Maiduguri, Semi Arid Zone of Nigeria

Field experiment was conducted in Maiduguri located in the semi-arid zone of North eastern Nigeria during 2009 and 2010 rainy seasons.The reason for using these plant materials was due to their presence and ease of preparation in the locality. The effect of balanites (Balanites aegyptiaca Del), Momordica balsamina; bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina L) and a standard synthetic insecticide cypermethrin 10% EC replicated four times each and sprayed at 10% w/v concentration were investigated on cowpea post flowering insect pests. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). The result obtained showed that balanites leaf and momordica leaf extracts significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the infestation of Maruca vitrata F; Clavigralla tomentosicollis Stal; Anoplonemis curvipes L; Riptortus dentipes F; Mirperus jaculus L and Nezara viridula L.. Pods and Seeds damage were also significantly higher (P < 0.05) reduced by these plant extracts compared to bitter leaf sprayed plots and unsprayed control plots. Undamaged Pods, number of Pods/plants, Pod and Seed weight/plant were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in both plant extracts sprayed plots compared with bitter leaf extracts and control plots. Balanites leaf and Momordica leaf extracts sprayed plots produced significant (P < 0.05) total grain yield per hectare at 7 – days spray intervals. Cypermethrin insecticide gave the overall best results being a systemic and contact acting standard insecticide. Farmers could therefore adopt balanites and Momordica leaf extracts as alternative to synthetic insecticides for optimum cowpea production in Maiduguri. Key words: Plant extracts, Cypermthrin, Post flowering, insect pests, grain yield, semi ari

Molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis of acetylcholinesterase-2 gene from Culex pipiens and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicine) in Nigeria

West Nile virus (WNV) is maintained in an enzootic cycle between ornithophilic mosquitoes and birds. There is paucity of information on population density of these vectors and the molecular details in Nigeria. We determined relative abundance and employed molecular methods to detect Culex species. Mosquitoes were caught from April 2013 to February 2014. Genomic DNA extraction was carried out and acetylcholinesterase 2 gene amplified by Polymerase Chain Reaction in different Culex species. Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus and Cx. p. pipiens were identified in different locations, while some other Culex species could not be identified. Culex p. quinquefasciatus were sequenced by Sanger’s method. Vector density was 100 Culex species per man hour. Identification of Culex pipiens and Cx. quinquefasciatus from different locations in Ibadan, Nigeria reaffirms the presence of vectors and highlights possibility of enzootic transmission of WNV. Surveillance should be sustained in equine population and bird reservoirs.Keywords: Culex pipiens; Culex quinquefasciatus; Nigeri

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

Gross, histological and histomorphometric studies on the thyroid gland of one humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) found in the semi-arid region of North Eastern Nigeria

Thyroid glands are endocrine glands present in all mammals and secretes thyroxin, triiodothyronine and calcitonin as its major hormones which plays important role in metabolism, regulation of energy and nutrient absorption, as well as calorigenesis and normal reproductive function. We studied the thyroid gland of one humped camel found in the Northeastern part of Nigeria. A total of 18 pairs of thyroid glands(10 female and 8 male) were randomly collected from apparently healthy camels’ slaughtered at the Maiduguri municipal abattoir and were used for the studies. Grossly, the thyroid glands of both the male and the female camel studied appeared reddish brown in colour and irregular in shape. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) between the weights and lengths of the male and female thyroid gland with the female higher than the male on both parameters. Histologically, the thyroid gland studied is covered by a thick fibrous connective tissue capsule and consists of numerous follicles of various sizes. Lining the follicles are squamous to low cuboidal cells with basally located round or spherical nucleus. The area of the nucleus of the male thyroid gland (380.06 ± 20.484μm) was slightly greater than that of the female (366.09 ± 29.45μm). For the epithelial height and follicular diameter, the female thyroid gland showed a slight increase (49.597 ± 1.459μm and 362.16 ± 21.820μm respectively) compare to the male (48.75 ± 1.414μm and 363.93 ± 21.624μm respectively). Presence of parafollicular cells and fibroblast in this gland were also noted.Keywords: Thyroid gland, parafollicular cells, colloid, gross, histomorphometric

Seroprevalence of infectious bursal disease virus antibodies in some species of poultry in Maiduguri, Nigeria

This study was aimed at determining the antibodies of IBDV in some poultry species in Maiduguri, Nigeria. A total of 944 serum samples were collected from village chickens, broilers, layers, ducks, turkeys and geese in Maiduguri and tested for IBDV antibodies using inzyme linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a seroprevalence of 46.6% was recorded. The species distribution showed that 33.4% of local chickens (134/401), 67.3% of layers (35/52), 50.8% of broilers (159/313), 60.6% of turkeys (77/127), 65.5% of ducks (19/29) and 72.7% of geese (16/22) sampled were positive for IBDV antibodies. Males showed a seroprevalence of 70% while females recorded 30%. IBDV seropositive sera showed that samples from broilers reacted with 31.5% middle OD values and turkeys with 9.4% middle OD values. Samples from other species reacted with lower OD values. Samples from other species reacted with lower OD values. Presence of IBDV antibodies in species other than chickens suggested that different bird species might have IBDV and could serve as reservoirs for IBDV transmission. Because of this threat to poultry industry, there is need for continuous surveillance of IBDV in all poultry species so as to institute effective preventive measures against the disease.Keywords: ELISA, Infectious bursal disease virus, IgG, Poultry species, Serum sample

Remote sensing techniques in mapping spatial variability of salinity in Kano River Irrigation Project (KRIP), Nigeria

Salinity has become a major issue in most large scale irrigation schemes, assessing the extent of the spread has become daunting and laborious. Remote sensing techniques were used to map salinity and develop models for extracting and identifying salinity in soils. Sentinel-2B optical imaging satellite with 13 spectral bands and 10 m spatial resolution was used. SNAP Desktop, ERDAS Imagine, and ArcGIS 10.6 software were used as the main GIS packages for building models and running functions such as input, output, analysis, and processing. Stepwise Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) techniques were carried out for the assessment of the spatial distribution of ECe and to predict salinity level at different locations of the Kano River Irrigation Project (KRIP). Four models were developed, however, due to the lower Variance Inflation Factor (VIF), model 2 which is a combination of salinity Index and band 3 (Green band) was used in delineating the spatial extent of the salinity. Close monitoring of the salt development and application of reversal measures were recommended

Osteopetrosis rescue upon RANKL administration to Rankl(-/-) mice : a new therapy for human RANKL-dependent ARO

In the last decades the molecular basis of monogenic diseases has been largely unraveled, although their treatment has often remained unsatisfactory. Autosomal recessive osteopetrosis (ARO) belongs to the small group of genetic diseases that are usually treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, this approach is not effective in the recently identified form carrying mutations in the receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL) gene. In this subset, therapy replacement approach based on RANKL delivery has a strong rationale. Here we demonstrate that the systematic administration of RANKL for 1 month to Rankl-/- mice, which closely resemble the human disease, significantly improves the bone phenotype and has beneficial effects on bone marrow, spleen and thymus; major adverse effects arise only when mice are clearly overtreated. Overall, we provide evidence that the pharmacological administration of RANKL represents the appropriate treatment option for RANKL-deficient ARO patients, to be validated in a pilot clinical trial

Temperature patterns and mechanisms influencing coral bleaching during the 2016 El Niño

Under extreme heat stress, corals expel their symbiotic algae and colour (that is, ‘bleaching’), which often leads to widespread mortality. Predicting the large-scale environmental conditions that reinforce or mitigate coral bleaching remains unresolved and limits strategic conservation actions1,2. Here we assessed coral bleaching at 226 sites and 26 environmental variables that represent different mechanisms of stress responses from East Africa to Fiji through a coordinated effort to evaluate the coral response to the 2014–2016 El Niño/Southern Oscillation thermal anomaly. We applied common time-series methods to study the temporal patterning of acute thermal stress and evaluated the effectiveness of conventional and new sea surface temperature metrics and mechanisms in predicting bleaching severity. The best models indicated the importance of peak hot temperatures, the duration of cool temperatures and temperature bimodality, which explained ~50% of the variance, compared to the common degree-heating week temperature index that explained only 9%. Our findings suggest that the threshold concept as a mechanism to explain bleaching alone was not as powerful as the multidimensional interactions of stresses, which include the duration and temporal patterning of hot and cold temperature extremes relative to average local conditions