Haematology, Carcass and Relative Organ Weights of Growing Rabbits on Skip-A-Day Concentrate Feeding Regime

The potentials of two common weeds, Aspilia africana (Aa) and Tridax procumbens (Tp), as forages for rabbits were investigated in a study that lasted for 70 days. Thirty five (35) rabbit bucks of mixed breed of between 5 to 7 weeks of age, weighing 519 ±5g, were used for the study. The haematological, carcass and organ characteristics were examined. The rabbits were divided into 5 treatment groups of seven (7) rabbits each, with each rabbit serving as a replicate in a complete randomized design. Group 1 was placed on sole concentrate feeding while concentrate was skipped for 1, 2 and 3 days in groups 2, 3, and 4 respectively with ad-libitum forage (Aspilia africana {Aa} and Tridax procumbens {Tp}) feeding. Group 5 was fed on a sole forage diet of 250 g Aa: 250 g Tp for 56days, after which they were fed concentrate in addition to the forage for two weeks. The red blood cell count values for rabbits on sole concentrate feeding was significantly (P<0.05) higher than the values observed in rabbits on treatments 2, 3 4 and 5, that were similar (P>0.05). The final weights of the rabbits decreased linearly (P<0.05) as the number of days of concentrate feeding decreased. The dressing percentages in treatments 1, 2, 3 and 4 (64.21, 62.97, 64.73 and 62.51 % respectively) were similar (P>0.05) but significantly higher (P<0.05) than the value for rabbits in treatment 5 (56.88 %). Organ characteristics of the rabbits showed that, apart from the relative kidney weights, other organ weights were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by the dietary treatments. It can be concluded that although feeding rabbit with sole concentrate gave the highest weight gain, the use of these forages could reduce cost of production, especially feed cost, drastically, and where it is difficult to get concentrates, these forages can be fed to rabbits for maintenance. Their use would be expected to minimize cost of maintaining a clean environment and the use of non-competitive forages as rabbit feeds could encourage rural rabbit production.Keywords: Carcass, growing rabbit, forages, relative organs weights, skip-a day

Changes in mediators of inflammation and pro-thrombosis after 12 months of dietary modification in adults with metabolic syndrome.

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of a 12-month dietary modification on indices of inflammation and pro-thrombosis in adults with metabolic syndrome (MS). Materials and methods: This longitudinal study involved 252 adults with MS recruited from the Bodija market, Ibadan and its environs. Participants were placed on 20%, 30% and 50% calories obtained from protein, total fat and carbohydrate respectively and were followed up monthly for 12 months. Anthropometry and blood pressure were measured using standard methods. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)], interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were measured using spectrophotometric methods and ELISA as appropriate. Data was analysed using ANCOVA, Student\u2019s t-test, Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant. Results: After 6 months of dietary modification, there was a significant reduction in waist circumference (WC), while the levels of HDL-C, fibrinogen and PAI-1 were significantly increased when compared with the corresponding baseline values. However, WC and fibrinogen reduced significantly, while HDL-C and IL-10 significantly increased after 12 months of dietary modification as compared with the respective baseline values. Conclusion: Long-term regular dietary modification may be beneficial in ameliorating inflammation and pro-thrombosis in metabolic syndrome

Serological and pathological assessment of lymphoid organs in chicks fed with graded levels of fermented and unfermented cassava diets

Despite the myriad of investigations in literature on cassava utilization in domestic chickens, its effects on the avian specific humoral immune system still remains elusive. This study investigated the effects of graded levels of fermented (F) and unfermented (UF) cassava diets on the lymphoid organs and its subsequent humoral immunological response in domestic chicks. One hundred day-old Yaffa White cockerels were randomly divided into five groups (A to E) of twenty birds each. The replacement of maize with 0%, 20%, 30%, fermented or unfermented cassava root meal was on a quantitative basis in each group fed for 5 weeks. All other ingredients remained constant. The mean body weight in different cassava treated groups (CTGs) showed no significant difference (P>0.05) compared with the control. The bursa and thymic weights showed both decrease and increase significant difference (P<0.05). There was significant decrease in the IBD antibody titers of CTGs compared with the control at week 5. Macroscopically, mild to moderate enlargement and atrophy of bursa of Fabricius, with petechiation of cortical surfaces of the thymus were observed. Microscopically, lesions such as interfollicular edema, interfollicular fibrosis, follicular atrophy, lymphofollicular hypoplasia, dystrophic epithelium, thickened splenic capsule, splenic lymphoid hypoplasia, thymic lymphoid hypoplasia, diffuse medullary thymic haemorrhages and Myoid cells proliferation were the consistent histopathological changes in all the CTGs. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that cassava inclusion feeds could cause subtle sublethal effects to the lymphoid organs of domestic chickens, and consequently lead to vaccine failure when it is administered for a long period of time.Keywords: Lymphoid organs, fermented and unfermented cassava, serology, patholog

Acute Respiratory Disease Associated with Mannheimia Haemolytica Infection in a Herd of West African Dwarf Sheep

An acute severe fibrinonecrotic bronchopneumonia suggestive of Mannheimia haemolytica infection was diagnosed histopathologically in West African Dwarf (WAD) sheep submitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH), University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. Mannheimia spp was isolated from the nasal swab and lymph node and lung samples of the affected sheep. The isolated organism was found to have cultural, morphological and biochemical properties consistent with those of Mannheimia haemolytica biotype A. The organism was resistance to ampicilin, streptomycin, gentamcycin, oxytetracyclin and trimethoprim in agar disc diffusion method. It was however sensitive to furazolidone, ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin. The present finding is consistent with the view that M. haemolytica may occur in a proportion of small ruminants that exhibit respiratory problem. It is therefore suggested that in the present natural outbreak, climatic condition, environmental and/or transportation stress could have resulted in the break down of the defense barrier of the sheep resulting in eventual susceptibility to infection by Mannheimia haemolytica.Une bronchopneumonie fibrinonécrotique aiguë sévère, évocatrice d’une infection à Mannheimia haemolytica, a été diagnostiquée par examen histopathologique chez des moutons nains d’Afrique de l’Ouest (WAD: West African Dwarf) soumis à l’Hôpital d’enseignement vétérinaire (VTH) de l’Université d’Agriculture d’Abeokuta au Nigeria. Mannheimia spp a été isolée dans des écouvillons nasaux et des ganglions lymphatiques et des échantillons pulmonaires des moutons affectés. On a découvert que l’organisme isolé avait des spécificités de culture et des caractéristiques morphologiques et biochimiques correspondant à celles de Mannheimia haemolytica biotype A. L’organisme a montré une résistance à l’ampicilline, à la streptomycine, à la gentamcycine, à l’oxytétracycline et au triméthoprime dans la méthode de diffusion en gélose. Cependant, l’organisme a montré une sensibilité à la furazolidone, à la ciprofloxacine et à la norfloxacine. Le présent résultat concorde avec l’opinion selon laquelle M. haemolytica peut être présente dans une proportion de petits ruminants ayant un problème respiratoire. Il est donc sous-entendu que, dans les épidémies actuelles survenant naturellement, les conditions climatiques, le stress environnemental et / ou le stress du transport ont probablement été à l’origine de la dégradation de la barrière de défense des moutons, avec comme conséquence une sensibilité éventuelle à l’infection par Mannheimia haemolytica.Mots-clés: Pathologie des organes; Mannheimia haemolytica biotype A; Bronchopneumonie fibrinonécrotique aiguë; Moutons nains d’Afrique de l’Oues

Hepatic Histopathological Changes in a Dog with Natural Capillaria hepatica Infection in Nigeria

This study describes the appearance of Capillaria (C.) hepatica in an adult dog with a history of fever, which has been previously documented in different parts of the world, yet never in domestic animals in Nigeria. The infection was observed during a retrospective study on the pathology of liver diseases in dogs in the south-western part of the country. Fifty-six formalinised liver tissues of dogs were retrieved and examined from the archives of two veterinary schools and one veterinary clinic. Only one case of C. hepatica infection was found (1.79%). Macroscopically, multiple foci of yellowish-white areas were observed on the hepatic surface. Microscopically, randomly distributed multifocal areas of granuloma-like reactions were observed in the hepatic parenchyma intermingled with Capillaria eggs. The eggs showed characteristic bipolar lids positive for glycoprotein with Periodic acid Schiff andWarthin Starry silver stains. The double-layer shell showed radial striations in the outer shell. Portal and septal fibrosis with closely associated mast cells were also observed. In conclusion, this is the first reported case of the C. hepatica infection in dog in Nigeria. The public health importance of the parasite was also discussed

Canine trypanosomosis: Clinical observations and morphological pathology associated with natural infection of Trypanosoma congolense in exotic breeds of dog in Abeokuta, Nigeria

Clinical and pathological aspects of canine trypanosomosis were determined in naturally infected dogs presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, at different times between 2012 and 2013. The breeds, sexes, ages and body weights of the dogs were recorded.  Clinical signs were observed. Blood samples were collected to determine their packed cell volumes  (PCVs) and parasitaemia. Post-mortem examinations were carried out on 6 dogs that died of the disease and tissue samples were collected and fixed in 10% buffered formalin for histopathology. Trypanosoma species was characterized using polymerase chain reaction. Trypansoma species detected by microscopy was confirmed as T. congolense savannah sub-type by PCR. Clinically, the dogs were anorexic, lethargic and showed lymphadenopathy. Their body temperatures ranged from 40-41.6oC,  Respiratory rates were 28-34/minute, 4 out of 6 cases examined at post-mortem showed epistaxis. The gross lesions were pale mucous membranes, severe pulmonary congestions, haemorrhages and oedema (4/6), marked hydrothorax measuring 1-2 litres (5/6), misshapen heart with petechial and ecchymotic haemorrhages in the epicardium (4/6), severely enlarged and icteric livers and splenomegaly. The intestinal mucous membranes were haemorrhagic (2/6), the kidneys were pale and the testes were haemorrhagic (2/6). Microscopic lesions were severe pulmonary congestion, haemorrhages, oedema and infiltration by inflammatory cells, severe haemorrhagic myocarditis, hyperplastic lymphodenopathy, varying degree of degeneration and necrosis with inflammatory reactions in the lungs, hearts, livers,  spleens and kidneys. The liver sinusoids were dilated and the hepatocytes show varying degree of fatty change. In some cases, hepatocytes were atrophic. In all the six cases, Trypanosome species were characterized as T. congolense savannah type. The pathogenicity of trypanosomes in dogs was discussed.Keywords: trypanosomosis, clinical signs, parasitaemia, pathology, dogs. rhodesense