Haematology and serum biochemistry of dogs naturally infected with canine parvovirus-2

Canine parvovirus is a deadly virus affecting the Canid family, causing virus-induced destruction of rapidly dividing haemopoietic precursor cells such as crypts of intestinal epithelial cells, thymus, lymph nodes, bone marrow precursor cells, blood cells and cardiac cells leading to multi-organ dysfunctions. The aim of this study was to determine the haematological, serum biochemical and electrolytic changes associated with canine parvovirus (CPV) -2 infection. An immunochromatographic test was used to differentiate the virus-positive and negative dogs using faecal samples. One hundred and sixty whole blood and serum samples were collected from apparently healthy and CPV-2-positive dogs in Plateau State, Nigeria. Haematological, serum biochemical and electrolytic analyses were done using standard methods. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a student t-test. Significance was accepted at probability values of p < 0.05. The haematological effect of CPV-2 showed a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in mean Packed Cell Volume (PCV), total red blood cell count, haemoglobin concentration, total white blood cell count, neutrophils, lymphocytes and platelet count. In addition, the CPV-2 significantly (P < 0.05) increased the mean aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, urea, creatinine, triglyceride and malondialdehyde, while the mean total protein, sodium, potassium, chloride and cholesterol significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in the infected dogs. From the findings, CPV infection variably and significantly affected some haematological and serum biochemical parameters of infected dogs. Therefore, clinicians should endeavour to incorporate haematinics, haptatonics and immune-modulators during the management of canine parvoviral infection as supportive drugs with fluid therapy to improve the survivability of infected animals

Determination of Phytochemical and Antioxidant Properties of Some Rice Varieties and Hybrids Grown in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

A preliminary step to investigating the phytochemical and vitamin B contents of eleven rice lines designated as IWA (IRRI - WARDA - AGRA) lines, together with two popular and most preferred varieties (FARO 44 and R8) were carried-out. The phytochemical properties investigated included flavonoid, phenol and saponin whereas, the vitamin B included thiamine and riboflavin. The analysis revealed that the flavonoid contents of some of the IWA rice lines (IWA 3, 5 and 11) compared favourably with the control samples, FARO 44 and R8 (3.0 - 3.5 %). Phenol contents of the rice lines ranged from 0.6 - 0.74 % with IWA 1 having the least value (0.06%) and IWA 11 having the highest phenol content (0.74%). The rice samples had high contents of saponin with IWA 3 having the least (30.0 mg) and IWA 11 having the highest value (130.0 mg/100g). Results indicated that IWA 11 stands out with high values for all the phytochemical contents studied, except thiamine and will, therefore, exhibit significant antioxidant properties when consumed. Results equally indicated that five IWA rice lines (IWA 1, 2, 5, 7 and 11) had riboflavin values above the threshold required for children and adults ranges which was 0.5 %.Keywords: Rice, Phytochemical, Vitamin, Antioxidant and Varietie