Effect of protein deficient diets on the growth and carcass protein ash ratio of African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822)

As the prices of fish feed ingredients continue to soar due to economic and environmental challenges, many fish farmers now produce practical fish diets deficient in protein, to minimize costs and maximize profits. This study evaluated the effects of such diets on the growth performance and carcass quality of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus. Five dietary treatments used contained 25%, 30%, 35%, 40% and 45% protein, respectively. Fish were fed for 70 days and the results showed high and improved growth performance in relation to the increasing dietary protein levels. Carcass protein, ash and minerals correlated positively with increasing dietary protein levels while the lipids had inverse relationship. Generally, fish fed diets of 25-35% protein had lower performance than those fed the control diets of 40 or 45% protein reported as the requirements for the fish. However, and in all cases, there were no differences in the performance of fish fed 40 or 45% protein diet, indicating no significant additional benefits from feeding the fish with 45% protein diet. The results also suggested the protein requirement of the fish to be above 35% and about 40%. The carcass protein-ash ratio was observed to be constant and ranged between 4.08 and 4.82. © JASE

Effect of protein deficient diets on the growth and carcass protein ash ratio of African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822)

As the prices of fish feed ingredients continue to soar due to economic and environmental challenges, many fish farmers now produce practical fish diets deficient in protein, to minimize costs and maximize profits. This study evaluated the effects of such diets on the growth performance and carcass quality of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus . Five dietary treatments used contained 25%, 30%, 35%, 40% and 45% protein, respectively. Fish were fed for 70 days and the results showed high and improved growth performance in relation to the increasing dietary protein levels. Carcass protein, ash and minerals correlated positively with increasing dietary protein levels while the lipids had inverse relationship. Generally, fish fed diets of 25-35% protein had lower performance than those fed the control diets of 40 or 45% protein reported as the requirements for the fish. However, and in all cases, there were no differences in the performance of fish fed 40 or 45% protein diet, indicating no significant additional benefits from feeding the fish with 45% protein diet. The results also suggested the protein requirement of the fish to be above 35% and about 40%. The carcass protein-ash ratio was observed to be constant and ranged between 4.08 and 4.82

Growth study on chrysene degraders isolated from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon polluted soils in Nigeria

Acinetobacter anitratus, Alcaligenes faecalis, Acinetobacter mallei and Micrococcus varians were isolated from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon polluted soils by enrichment culture using chrysene assole carbon and energy source. Physiochemical evaluation revealed that these isolates grew well at a temperature range of 20 - 40°C, pH 6.0-8.0 but less tolerable to various salt concentrations except Micrococcus varians which grew at 1.0 to 7.5% NaCl. These organisms utilized chrysene, anthracene, naphthalene, crude oil, kerosene, diesel and engine oil as sole carbon source. None could utilize benzene, hexane, xylene, phenol and toluene as carbon sources. Growth study of the isolates on 0.1%(w/v) chrysene resulted in highest cell density of 8.8x107, 7.9x107, 6.3x106, 6.3x106 cfu/ml for A. anitratus, Alc. faecalis, A. mallei and M. varians, respectively. There was statistical significant difference (P< 0.05) in the growth of these organisms on chrysene as sole carbon and energy source when compared with non-chrysene control. This study indicates the potential of these hitherto unreported tropical bacterial strains as chrysene degraders and their use in biodegradation processes involvingpetrochemical product

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENTS HOME PARTICIPATION IN PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPIL’S LEARNING AND PUPIL’S ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

The study sought to determine the relationship between parents’ home participation in primary school pupil’s learning and pupil’s academic achievement in Anambra State, Nigeria. The study was guided by five research questions and two null hypotheses. A correlational research design was used. Disproportionate stratified sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 1,680 students from a population of 90,411 primary school pupils in Anambra State. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire titled “Parental Participation Questionnaire (PIQ)”. It has internal consistency reliability coefficient alpha of 0.78. The instrument was used to collect data which was administrated through the direct delivery approach. Research questions 1, 2, and 3 were answered using a range of aggregate scores, research questions 4 and 5 were answered using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient while the null hypotheses tested using a t-test for correlation. Findings from the study revealed among others that there is a very low positive relationship existing between the primary school pupils’ parental participation in learning and their academic achievements in the English Language. Also, the findings revealed that there is a very low negative relationship existing between the primary school pupils’ parental participation in learning and their academic achievements in Mathematics. Based on the findings, it is recommended among others that guidance counsellors and school administrators should work together to help create fun and engaging educational programs that could engage parents in-home learning for their children as that may likely go a long way to help enhance their academic achievement. Article visualizations

Use of Lactic Acid Bacteria from Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus as Probiotics for Sustainable Production and Improvement in Fish Welfare

Two studies were conducted to investigate the effectiveness of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from the intestine, gills, and skin of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus as probiotics to promote growth, bolster the immune system, and improve general fish welfare. Results of the first study including LAB characterization indicated four major strains in the three organs as Lactobacillus fermentum (60.0%), L. brevis (16.7%), L. acidophilus (13.3%) and L. xylosus (10.0%). Safety tests of these LAB isolates conducted on some samples of the fish confirmed that they were non-pathogenic. In the second study L. fermentum, which showed the greatest promise as a probiotic, was used at different dilution levels to prepare diets for feeding O. niloticus juveniles weighing 18.1±0.1g. Diets 1-5 contained 0 colony forming unit (cfu)/g, 103cfu/g, 105cfu/g, 107cfu/g and 109cfu/g of L. fermentum, respectively. The feeding trials in fish fed diets 1-5, resulted in growth from the initial weight of 18.1g to 32.0e, 46.0a, 44.3b, 43.9c and 40.8d g, respectively. Inclusion of L. fermentum in the diets increased carcass protein, pack cell volume, hemoglobin, RBC, and reduced glutamate (P<0.05). Challenge tests conducted on the fish using pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa indicated that the diets supplemented with L. fermentum improved fish immune responses. In conclusion, the studies revealed that LAB from O. niloticus can act as probiotics to improve growth, immune responses, and fish welfare

Effect of cooking on glycemic index, antioxidant activities, α‐amylase, and α‐glucosidase inhibitory properties of two rice varieties

This study was designed to investigate the influence of cooking on the glycemic index (GI), amylose, and amylopectin contents of two rice varieties. Two rice varieties (foreign long rice and ofada) were sourced for, divided into two, one portion cooked and the other used raw. The sugar, starch, amylose, and amylopectin contents as well as glycemic indices, antioxidant properties, and the ability of the rice to inhibit carbohydrate‐hydrolyzing enzymes (α‐amylase and α‐glucosidase) were determined. In addition, polyphenol content was determined. The results revealed that cooking caused a significant increase in starch content of the rice varieties. In the same vein, cooking increases the amylopectin content but has no effect on the amylose content. In addition, cooking shows no effect on polyphenol content but significantly increases radical scavenging ability of rice varieties used in this study. Furthermore, cooking lower the α‐amylase and α‐glucosidase inhibitory properties of two rice varieties except for foreign rice. However, the inhibitory effect of both cooked and raw foreign and ofada rice on α‐amylase and α‐glucosidase coupled with their low GI may explain their important role in controlling blood glucose level

Assessment of sperm quality in Plasmodium berghei NK65 infected mice treated with brimstone (Morinda lucida Benth) tree plant

Malaria fever is a common infection in Nigeria while the uncontrolled usage of synthesized anti-malarial drugs might have contributed to the ineffectiveness of the male reproductive hormones and the sperm quality in humans. Brimstone plant called “Oruwo” by Yoruba tribe in Nigeria has been used locally for the treatment of symptomatic malaria with no information of its effect on sperm quality. This study sought to evaluate the anti-plasmodial activity, reproductive hormones and sperm quality of the aqueous extracts on mice infected with Plasmodium berghei NK65. Adult male mice were infected with Plasmodium berghei NK65 while infection was confirmed after 72 h.The mice were divided into 5 groups [group A control, group B infected and treated with 2.5mgkg/bwt chloroquine (standard drug), group C infected without treatment while groups D and E were given 200 and 400mg/kg btw of the extracts respectively]. The treatment was orally administered daily for 7 days and the parasitemia level was checked after which the mice were sacrificed and the semen collected for sperm characteristics [sperm count, sperm viability, sperm morphology and sperm motility] while the right testis was used for the in-vivo antioxidant assays The blood serum was used to assess reproductive hormones such as [serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)] using standardized methods. The results reveal that treatment of Morinda lucida caused a significant (p < 0.05) increase in serum testosterone and a decrease in LH, FSH levels in a dose-dependent manner as well as an increase in sperm count, motility and viability with a significant restoration of sperm morphology as seen in the histopathology plate. This observation might be due to the properties of the plant polyphenolic compounds identified. In conclusion, this study was able to prove that Morinda lucida used in folk-lore medicine to treat symptomatic malaria also improves sperm functions better than synthetic drugs and could be further explored as a natural product in the pharma industry

Biological effect of aqueous extract of Heinsia crinita on lipid peroxidation and angiotensin-1-converting enzyme in vitro

Heinsia crinita; a common vegetable in the south-eastern part of Nigeria with the local name “Atama” have been used as a component of various herbal portions in ethnomedicine. The plant part has been previously used in the treatment of umbilical hernia and skin rashes. There is dearth of information on the scientific rationale behind the use of this plant. This study was designed to investigate the pharmacological potentials of aqueous extracts of Heinsia crinita for the management/prevention of hypertension. Fresh, matured green leaves of Heinsia crinita were harvested from a local farm in Cross River State, Nigeria. The total phenol, total flavonoids, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging ability and ability of the extract to chelate Fe2+ as well as inhibition of Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation in rat penile homogenate arginase and angiotensin-1-converting enzyme inhibitory activity were assessed. The results revealed that the extract had high total phenol and total flavonoid content. The extract also exhibited inhibitory effect on Arginase (EC50 = 3.93 mg/mL) and angiotensin-1-converting enzyme (ACE) (EC50 = 0.77 mg/mL). Furthermore, the extract exhibited strong antioxidant capacity as typified by DPPH scavenging and Fe2+ chelating abilities coupled with the inhibition of Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation in rat penile homogenate in vitro. The bioactive constituents with beneficial medicinal properties coupled with the antioxidant activities and its inhibitory effect on key enzymes linked with hypertension may be the mechanism by which the extract manage and/or prevent hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases