Effect of Environmental Temperature on Water Intake in Poultry

Water is an essential nutrient in animal nutrition, makes about 70 to 80% of lean body mass and plays important roles in poultry metabolism and thermal homeostasis. Water provided as drinking water constitutes the largest proportion of water available to poultry followed by metabolic water and that available in feed. The intake of water by birds varies depending on the age, environmental temperature, relative humidity, certain diet constituents, type of drinkers used and rate of growth. An increase in environmental temperature tends to cause an increase in water intake while decrease in environmental temperature causes decrease in water intake. Hence, in addition to its nutritional role, water is more important for thermoregulation in chickens especially under hot conditions

Fluoride Content in Drinking Water and the Health Implications of Fluoride-Rich Water Consumption: An Overview of the Situation in Canada and Nigeria

Fluoride is an inorganic monatomic anion of fluorine and forms part of essential reagents used by the chemical industry. It occurs naturally in several minerals and in trace quantities in water. Fluoride has been used to prevent tooth decay and in the treatment of osteoporosis. Extensive research has consistently demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of fluorides in the prevention of dental caries following the practice of water fluoridation. Despite these benefits, fluorides pose danger as an endocrine disruptor thus, affecting bones, brain, thyroid gland, pineal gland and blood sugar levels. In Canada, water fluoridation remains a contentious issue although dental decay constitutes the most common chronic disease. However, several Canadians are receiving the benefits of water fluoridation and about 1% have access to naturally fluoridated water. In Nigeria, the prevalence of dental caries has been documented to be greatly reduced following fluoridation of public water supplies in areas where the condition was endemic. Fluoride is therefore the only medicine added to public water, and at the recommended level, fluoride is safe and effective in the reduction of dental decay and poses no risk for health problems. Hence, this article highlighted fluoride content in drinking water and the health implications of consuming fluoride-rich water with a focus on the situation in Canada and Nigeria

Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2 infection: A synopsis of the host immune responses and viral immune evasion strategies involved

The novel coronavirus designated as SARS-CoV-2 is the etiological agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which rendered the care of the global health powerless and plunged the world economy into a historic decline. This disease is characterized by different clinical pictures; ranging from asymptomatic mild phase to severe illness with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), in addition to having no specific therapy. The protective immunity involving solid CD4+ T-cells, viral specific CD8+ T-cells and the neutralizing immunoglobulins have been established in most of the convalescent COVID-19 individuals. On the other hand, the host immune response to severe COVID-19 infection has been attributed to the inflammatory cytokine storm, and to influx of the activated immune cells to the lungs; leading to severe pneumonia, extensive ARDS and finally to death. Despite of this, the protective and pathogenic aspects of the human immunity have not been fully elucidated. Recent attempts conducted by several published research works have focused on information derived from the immune responses to the severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus diseases (mainly; SARS and MERS). However, these works lack sufficiency due to variations in the transmissibility, virulence, host-virus interactions and the immune evasion mechanisms. Hence, adequate understanding of the host immune response mechanisms to SARS-CoV-2 will generate the impetus towards effective control and preventive measures. The objectives of this article were to provide an overview of the host immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection, the viral immune evasion strategies, and to define certain knowledge gaps that require further studies

Effect of Extract (Interface) from Stem Bark of Antidiabetic Anogeissus leiocarpus (African Birch Tree) on Random Blood Glucose Levels of Adult Female Wistar Rats: Optimisation for Therapeutic Hypoglycaemic Dose

The LD50 of the interface portion of ethyl acetate and n-hexane extract from antidiabetic Anogeissus leiocarpus stem bark was greater than 2000mg/kg.bd.wt., with a wide range of safety value. In addition it caused no death 24hours and thereafter and had no effects on pregnancy, gestation, parturition, reproductive performance with no teratogenic effects on pups of Wistar-rats. This led to investigation of the effects of the extract on ovarian functions of adult female Wistar-rats but strategically optimized to obtain appropriate therapeutic hypoglycaemic-dose. On day 0, 20 adult-female Wistar-rats weighing between 155 and 235 g were separated, at random, into 4 cages (A-D) of 5 rats each, unadministered A (normal control), administered B (5 mg/kg.bd.wt.), C (10 mg/kg.bd.wt.) and D (20 mg/kg.bd.wt.); to each group, an adult male Wistar-rat was added. They were on feeds (superstarter chow) and water ad libitum. Groups B and C were reduced to 4 rats each due to exclusion criteria. On day0, baseline parameters, were collected from all rats. Thereafter, from day0 to day12, each female rat received the optimized dose of the interface and samples were collected for random blood glucose (RBG), vaginal cytology and assay for oestrogen and progesterone. Blood samples were collected after day 12 for clinical biochemistry analyses. At day 1, mean RBG values were significantly (P<0.05) higher (129.5±57.7 mg/dl) in group B than values of groups A,C&D which were 99.0±13.2, 101.8±3.2 and 102.0±11.9 mg/dl, respectively. From days 2 to 12, the mean RBG values significantly (P<0.05) decreased to 98.3±15.6 in group B. The mean bodyweights of group B decreased from day 2 to14. In group D, mean values of body weights equally decreased on day14, but after increase on day7 Conclusion: Daily administration of 5 mg/kg/bd.wt. of the extract (interface) of A. leiocarpus stem-bark is therapeutically hypoglycaemic as it reduced RBG significantly (P<0.05) up to day12. The clinical application of lower doses is suggested to maintain normoglycaemia for a while after “crashing” down the hyperglycaemia of DM with a much higher dose. The shelf-life of extract (interface) of A. leiocarpus stem bark is greater than 17 months, when stored at room temperatur

Pathologic basis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – An overview of cellular affinities, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, autopsy findings and sequelae

The global terror instigated by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cannot be underestimated and the need for drastic measures towards its control cannot be overemphasized. Coronavirus disease 2019 is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) following attachment of the virus to specific receptors in the body. The distribution of these specialized receptors in various organs and tissues of the body is responsible for the various clinical presentations associated with the disease after infection. Despite the higher risk of spread of the infection, autopsies have been carried out though with maximum precautionary measures and information provided to further elucidate the extent of damages caused by the disease. Pathologic mechanisms leading to death from COVID-19 include respiratory failure due to surfactant deficiency and consequent alveolar collapse, cardiac syncope from direct damage to cardiac muscles, peripheral paralysis, cytokine storm and excessive haemorrhage from impaired coagulation. In patients that recover, potential outcomes which could be short- and/or long-term have been recognized. As a means to develop effective control, eradication and prevention strategies, a proper understanding of the mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection will fully ensure a positive breakthrough. Hence, in this article, the pathologic basis of COVID-19 are provided based on extensive literature searches, and proposed mechanisms of pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, autopsy findings and sequelae are being described.</p