Internet Web Communication Technology (WCT) and Information Communication Technology (ICT) Development and Use for Veterinary Medicine Education in Nigeria (2000 -2009)

Internet web communication technology (WCT) usage in Nigeria has increased tremendously over the last decade. Veterinary education and practices in Nigeria have also profited largely from advances in internetWCT mainly, in last two decade. Veterinary Medicine Electronic Journals such as Access to Global Online Research in Agriculture (AGORA), African Journal Online (AJOL), and Health Information Network Access toResearch Initiative (HINARI) are available free online. In particular, the(the official email group of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association NVMA), the interactive electronic mail communication network for members of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), has greatly stimulated Nigerian Veterinarians worldwide to active utilization of Internet WCT. The phenomenal increase in internet usage in education is attributable to massive collaborative support by such funding body asthe MacArthur Foundation, working along other partners in the project “Partnership for Higher Education in Africa (PHEA)". Contrarily, the level of ICT use in Nigerian education system, including veterinary medicine education, is still very low, with an estimated 90% of Nigeria's educational institutions still at the emerging/infancy stage due to low funding, paucity of ICT infrastructure, irregular and low quality power supply and high cost of ownership of ICT facilities including the capital and operational costs. There is a pertinent need to focus research into and actively promote the usage of ICT in enhancing research and education in developing countries, with collaborative funding by International Organizations

Participatory Epizootiology Research of Settled Pastoralists in Igangan Grazing Reserve, Southern Guinea Agro-Pastoral Zone, Oyo State, Nigeria: First Report

A Participatory Epizootiology Research of a Fulani agropastoralist settlement scheme, the Igangan Grazing Reserve, Oyo State, Southwest Nigeria between 2007 and date, is ongoing under a University of Ibadan, Nigeria Senate Research Grant Program. The objective is to identifyand rank the expressed epizootiological and livestock health problems, as well as the socio-economic needs related to livestock-keeping, of the pastoralists in the study area. After obtaining approval from the reserve authorities (the Oyo State Government), an initial field assessment,two interactive focus group discussions meetings and a second physical field visit took place between December 2007 and June 2009. Respondents included the traditional Fulani grazing reserve head, who has been a settler on the reserve for forty (40) years, his educated first son and heir apparent, as well as fifteen (15) other settler leaders/elders. There were between twenty-seven (27) and forty-seven (47) permanent settlers, depending on the season of the year, with cattle holding of 50 – 600 per household. Settlers were mainly Fulani pastoralists. Problems highlighted by settlers included inadequate space for settler families, crop farmer/pastoralist skirmishes, and non-availability of feed all year round and absence of veterinary / animal care services. Expressed needs werefor basic veterinary training in animal care (and not just drug usage), disease prevention and management practices and veterinary extension education. Four (4) major reserve diseases identified were Charbo (Foot-and- Mouth Disease), Samore (Trypanosomosis), Eheren/Unto(Contagious Bovine Pleuro-pneumonia) and Wolah (Skin eruptions)

Animal Health Management perspectives of rural livestock farmers in Southwest Nigeria: The place of community based Animal Health Workers

A case study of a typical community based rural livestock production system in South-west Nigeria was undertaken using participatory epizootiology (PE) to understand local preferences for animal health management practices and observe if there is any justification or place for community based animal health workers (CBAHW ) in rural livestock health and production management. Sheep and goats were the major animals kept by 46.7% of the respondents, followed by chicken (29.3%), dogs (13.3%), ducks (8.0%) and pigs (2.7%). The major health and production problems identified were Pestes des petit ruminants (PPR) (30.0% of respondents), mange (23.0%) and crop destruction (20.0%); while cannibalism by hawks/eagle was the major problem of poultry production as highlighted by rural women (15%). While more respondents (42.7%) rate modern animal health practitioners as more effective than Fulani pastoralists healers (33.67%) and indigenous local healers (25.0%), modern animal health practitioners were described as least truthful/ unreliable (91.7%), less available (91.7%), most expensive (66.7%) and inaccessible (25.0%). On the other hand, indigenous local healers were rated as very available and more accessible (66.7%) while Fulani pastoralist healers were rated as more available and ready to provide veterinary services (58.3%) compared to indigenous local healers (33.3%) and modern animal health practitioners (8.3%). These results are similar to those obtained in other African countries. In conclusion, despite the prevailing professional apathy to the CBAHW concept by influential veterinary authorities in Nigeria, health issues highlighted by the community-based rural livestock farmers could be adequately addressed by CBAHW

Molecular epidemiology of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia by detection, identification and differentiation of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides in Niger State, Nigeria

The study was aimed at epidemiologically detecting, identifying, and differentiating Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides strains according to their geographical origins in asymptomatic cattle populations of Niger State, North-central Nigeria between January and August 2013, using conventional and fingerprinting PCR assays without culturing or enriching of the field samples. Cross sectional molecular study of asymptomatic cattle sampled in the major abattoirs and livestock markets was carried out. Geographical lineage differentiation of the strains was performed on the basis of presence or absence of 8.84 kb genomic segment. With primers pair MM450/MM451, two 574 bp genomic fragments of DNA of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides were detected. Using fingerprinting PCR; with insertion element IS1296/R(all) primers pair the detected two strains of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides genomic DNA were specifically identified by generation of a fragment of 1.1 kb; with IS1296/R1 primers pair, identified Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides strains were differentiated to be of African cluster by generation of 1.4 kb. The PCR procedures were sensitive and produced rapid results that identified two strains of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides of African/Australian origin. The presence of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides African/Australian strains, which is useful for vaccine production, was therefore established in Niger State, Nigeria.Keywords: Cattle, Control, Cross-sectional molecular study, Mmm , Molecular fingerprinting, Nigeri

A comparative assessment of the the nutritional contents of 'wara' a west African soft cheese using Calotropis procera and Cymbopogon citratus as coagulants

The processing line of West African soft cheese varieties (processed with Calotropis procera (Sodom apple) and Cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass) leaf extracts was assessed for nutrient compositions (nitrogen, crude protein, fat, lactose, moisture content), pH, total aerobic plate count and trace elements (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Na, Ca, Mg and K). The percentage of nutrient composition, pH and the total aerobic plate count of microbes were: milk (nitrogen (2.05), protein (2.78), fat (5.33), lactose (1.86), moisture contents (88.75), pH (3.91) and total aerobic plate count (7.3logcfu/ml); Calotropis procera processed cheese (nitrogen (2.00), protein (2.56), fat (4.43), lactose (1.72), moisture contents (62.89), pH (3.58) and total aerobic plate count (7.34logcfu/ml); Cymbopogon citratus processed cheese (nitrogen (2.01), protein (2.53), fat (4.33), lactose (1.68), moisture contents (63.56), pH ( 3.56) and total aerobic plate count (7.43 logcfu/ml). There were significant differences between the parameters measured in the raw milk and processed cheese at 95% confidence limit. However, the parameters measured varied slightly in the two cheese varieties (Calotropis procera and Cymbopogon citratus). The total aerobic plate counts in milk and cheese were higher than international standards set by Codex alimentarius. Addition of leave extracts (Calotropis procera and Cymbopogon citratus) increased the total aerobic plate counts but the counts dropped at the curdling point during processing. Cymbopogon citratus cheese had a higher total aerobic plate count than the Calotropis procera cheese although not at a significant level. There was an increase in Fe, Zn, Cu and Na along the processing line, but a decrease ensued in Mn, Ca, Mg and K. There was no significant difference in the Zn, Cu, Mn, Ca, Mg, K, N, protein, fat and lactose contents of the two cheese types although all trace elements and nutrients assayed were higher in the Calotropis procera processed cheese with the exception of Fe content. The study suggests the use of Cymbopogon citratus leaf extract as a local milk coagulant due to reports of probable health hazard from the use of C. procera. However, further work on improving the yield of cheese when Cymbopogon citratus is used as coagulant is still necessary

Challenges and opportunities for smallholder livestock production in post-conflict South Kivu, eastern DR Congo

A survey on smallholder livestock production with emphasis on monogastric animals was conducted in 20 villages of seven so-called ‘groupements’ of South Kivu province in DR Congo, situated along a north to south-west axis with the town of Bukavu in the center. This land adjacent to Lake Kivu is located at elevations ranging around 900–1900 m asl, experiencing tropical highland climate. A diagnostic survey helped to rapidly obtain in-depth knowledge of constraints and opportunities in this environment. Correspondence analysis and multiple regression analysis were used to investigate the association of production constraints with particular livestock species and to understand the factors that govern the number of livestock that people owned (converted to tropical livestock units [TLU]), respectively. Responses of 112 informants demonstrated that livestock is an integral part of the region’s mixed farming systems. Low livestock numbers per household at present reflect the poverty as a consequence of recent violent conflicts. Currently, farmers focus on small livestock, like poultry, swine, cavies (i.e., Guinea pigs) and rabbits. Families keep livestock to accumulate household reserves that are strongly invested in children’s education. Major issues of animal husbandry were related to animal diseases and lack of feed resources, particularly in the dry season. Lack of feed or forages were unrelated to a particular livestock species. Livestock holdings depended on animal diversity, location, land size available and respondents’ education level. The potential introduction of improved forages is challenged by their dry-season tolerance, compatibility with cropping on small farms; and people’s readiness to cultivate forages

Emerging zoonoses: the public health role of veterinarians

No Abstract.Nigerian Veterinary Journal Vol. 29 (3) 2008: pp. 78-8

A Comparative Assessment Of The Nutritional Contents Of &Apos;Wara&Apos; A West African Soft Cheese Using Calotropis Procera And Cymbopogon Citratus As Coagulants

The processing line of West African soft cheese varieties (processed with Calotropis procera (Sodom apple) and Cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass) leaf extracts was assessed for nutrient compositions (nitrogen, crude protein, fat, lactose, moisture content), pH, total aerobic plate count and trace elements (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Na, Ca, Mg and K). The percentage of nutrient composition, pH and the total aerobic plate count of microbes were: milk (nitrogen (2.05), protein (2.78), fat (5.33), lactose (1.86), moisture contents (88.75), pH (3.91) and total aerobic plate count (7.3logcfu/ml); Calotropis procera processed cheese (nitrogen (2.00), protein (2.56), fat (4.43), lactose (1.72), moisture contents (62.89), pH (3.58) and total aerobic plate count (7.34logcfu/ml); Cymbopogon citratus processed cheese (nitrogen (2.01), protein (2.53), fat (4.33), lactose (1.68), moisture contents (63.56), pH ( 3.56) and total aerobic plate count (7.43 logcfu/ml). There were significant differences between the parameters measured in the raw milk and processed cheese at 95% confidence limit. However, the parameters measured varied slightly in the two cheese varieties (Calotropis procera and Cymbopogon citratus). The total aerobic plate counts in milk and cheese were higher than international standards set by Codex alimentarius. Addition of leave extracts (Calotropis procera and Cymbopogon citratus) increased the total aerobic plate counts but the counts dropped at the curdling point during processing. Cymbopogon citratus cheese had a higher total aerobic plate count than the Calotropis procera cheese although not at a significant level. There was an increase in Fe, Zn, Cu and Na along the processing line, but a decrease ensued in Mn, Ca, Mg and K. There was no significant difference in the Zn, Cu, Mn, Ca, Mg, K, N, protein, fat and lactose contents of the two cheese types although all trace elements and nutrients assayed were higher in the Calotropis procera processed cheese with the exception of Fe content. The study suggests the use of Cymbopogon citratus leaf extract as a local milk coagulant due to reports of probable health hazard from the use of C. procera. However, further work on improving the yield of cheese when Cymbopogon citratus is used as coagulant is still necessary