Seroprevalence and Parasite Rates of Plasmodium malariae in a High Malaria Transmission Setting of Southern Nigeria.

Although Plasmodium falciparum continues to be the main target for malaria elimination, other Plasmodium species persist in Africa. Their clinical diagnosis is uncommon, whereas rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), the most widely used malaria diagnostic tools, are only able to distinguish between P. falciparum and non-falciparum species, the latter as "pan-species." Blood samples from health facilities were collected in southern Nigeria (Lagos and Calabar) in 2017 (October-December) and Calabar only in 2018 (October-November), and analyzed by several methods, namely, microscopy, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), and peptide serology targeting candidate antigens (Plasmodium malariae apical membrane antigen, P. malariae lactose dehydrogenase, and P. malariae circumsporozoite surface protein). Both microscopy and qPCR diagnostic approaches detected comparable proportions (∼80%) of all RDT-positive samples infected with the dominant P. falciparum malaria parasite. However, higher proportions of non-falciparum species were detected by qPCR than microscopy, 10% against 3% infections for P. malariae and 3% against 0% for Plasmodium ovale, respectively. No Plasmodium vivax infection was detected. Infection rates for P. malariae varied between age-groups, with the highest rates in individuals aged > 5 years. Plasmodium malariae-specific seroprevalence rates fluctuated in those aged < 10 years but generally reached the peak around 20 years of age for all peptides. The heterogeneity and rates of these non-falciparum species call for increased specific diagnosis and targeting by elimination strategies

Partnership for International Development:Finland-Nigeria Conference on Climate, Food, Health and Entrepreneurship

A joint collaboration between the Arctic Centre of the University of Lapland, Finland and the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, Lagos, Nigeria was organised as a hybrid conference on several topics that are related to climate, food, health and entrepreneurship. The utilisation of natural resources in both regions is an important theme in meeting the sustainable development goals agenda. The topics discussed were multidisciplinary, they include Nigerian indigenous foods, bioeconomy, circular economy, nutrition, health, innovation and entrepreneurship under four themes (Climate, Food, Health and Entrepreneurship). There were dignitaries from Finland and Nigeria. The presenters are researchers from Nigerian universities (University of Ibadan, University of Abuja and Eko university, Lagos), Nigerian Federal Institute of Industrial research centre and from the Finnish side we have the university of Lapland, Rovaniemi, University of Oulu, Oulu and the Centria University of Applied Sciences, Kokkola. The topics discussed will serve as training materials for students and learners, the discussion focussed on research opportunities for institutions in both countries. The experts from both countries will continue to dialogue on the possibility of promoting common topics as research agenda in these important areas with the possibilities of creating more jobs

Results of an international phosphorus digestibility ring test with broiler chickens

The objective of this ring test was to investigate the prececal phosphorus (P) digestibility of soybean meal (SBM) in broiler chickens using the trial protocol proposed by the World's Poultry Science Association. It was hypothesized that prececal P digestibility of SBM determined in the collaborating stations is similar. Three diets with different inclusion levels of SBM were mixed in a feed mill specialized in experimental diets and transported to 17 collaborating stations. Broiler chicks were raised on commercial starter diets according to station-specific management routine. Then they were fed the experimental diets for a minimum of 5 d before content of the posterior half of the ileum was collected. A minimum of 6 experimental replicates per diet was used in each station. All diets and digesta samples were analyzed in the same laboratory. Diet, station, and their interaction significantly affected (P &lt; 0.05) the prececal digestibility values of P and calcium of the diets. The prececal P digestibility of SBM was determined by linear regression and varied among stations from 19 to 51%, with significant differences among stations. In a subset of 4 stations, the prececal disappearance of myo-inositol 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakis (dihydrogen phosphate)-P; InsP6-P) also was studied. The prececal InsP6-P disappearance correlated well with the prececal P digestibility. We hypothesized that factors influencing InsP6 hydrolysis were main contributors to the variation in prececal P digestibility among stations. These factors were probably related to the feeding and housing conditions (floor pens or cages) of the birds in the pre-experimental phase. Therefore, we suggest that the World's Poultry Science Association protocol for the determination of digestible P be should extended to the standardization of the pre-experimental period. We also suggest that comparisons of P digestibility measurements among studies are made only with great caution until the protocol is more refined

Disappearance and appearance of an indigestible marker in feces from growing pigs as affected by previous- and current-diet composition

Abstract Background Indigestible markers are commonly utilized in digestion studies, but the complete disappearance or maximum appearance of a marker in feces can be affected by diet composition, feed intake, or an animal’s BW. The objectives of this study were to determine the impact of previous (Phase 1, P1) and current- (Phase 2, P2) diet composition on marker disappearance (Cr) and appearance (Ti) in pigs fed 3 diets differing in NDF content. Results When pigs were maintained on the 25.1, 72.5, and 125.0 g/kg NDF diets, it took 5.1, 4.1, and 2.5 d, respectively, for Cr levels to decrease below the limit of quantitation; or 4.6, 3.7, or 2.8 d, respectively, for Ti to be maximized. These effects were not, however, independent of the previous diet as indicated by the interaction between P1 and P2 diets on fecal marker concentrations (P < 0.01). When dietary NDF increased from P1 to P2, it took less time for fecal Cr to decrease or fecal Ti to be maximized (an average of 2.5 d), than if NDF decreased from P1 to P2 where it took longer for fecal Cr to decrease or fecal Ti to be maximized (an average of 3.4 d). Conclusions Because of the wide range in excretion times reported in the literature and improved laboratory methods for elemental detection, the data suggests that caution must be taken in considering dietary fiber concentrations of the past and currently fed diets so that no previous dietary marker addition remains in the digestive tract or feces such that a small amount of maker is present to confound subsequent experimental results, and that marker concentration have stabilized when these samples are collected

Whole Body Nutrient Accretion, Growth Performance and Total Tract Nutrient Retention Responses of Broilers to Supplementation of Xylanase and Phytase Individually or in Combination in Wheat-Soybean Meal Based Diets

Growth performance, total tract nutrient retention and whole body nutrient accretion rates responses of broilers to supplementation of enzymes containing phytase or xylanase activities were investigated using 300 broilers. At day old, 280 broilers were assigned to 5 dietary treatments which were: 1) positive control (PC) diet which met NRC (1994) nutrient requirement for broilers, 2) negative control (NC) diet which was marginally deficient in phosphorus and ME, 3) NC plus phytase added at 1,000FTU/kg, 4) NC plus xylanase added at 4,000U/kg and, 5) NC plus phytase and xylanase added at 1,000 and 4,000units/kg, respectively. Each treatment had 8 replicate cages with 7 birds per replicate cage. Comparative slaughter technique was used for determination of whole-body nutrient accretion rate. Twenty broilers with the same initial body weight as the 280 broiler chicks used in the growth trial made up the initial slaughter group killed at day 0. A final slaughter group of 40 birds, one bird from each cage, were slaughtered on day 21. The birds selected were those with body weight closest to the average body weight of the birds in each replicate cage. Phytase alone or combined with xylanase improved weight gain and bone ash (P&lt;0.05). Phytase alone improved (P&lt;0.5) total tract P retention and ME, phytase and xylanase combined improved (P&lt;0.01) total tract dry matter and ME. Phytase alone improved (P&lt;0.5) whole body daily accretion rates of dry matter, protein, fat, P, and Ca in comparison to NC treatment. Overall, phytase in wheat-based diet improved growth performance and whole body accretion of minerals and protein, the improvement in protein accretion is an indication of improvement in nutrient utilization resulting from phytase use

Metabolizable Energy Content of Meat and Bone Meal in Corn-Soybean Meal or Corn, Wheat and Soybean Meal Diets for Broilers

The experiment was conducted to determine the apparent metabolizable energy (AME) or nitrogen-corrected metabolizable energy (AMEn) content of a high protein meat and bone meal (MBM) in broiler diets contain graded levels of wheat. Two hundred eighty-eight 14-d old broilers were allocated to six dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design and a2&times;3 factorial arrangement of treatments namely two levels of MBM (0 and 80g/kg) and three levels of wheat (0, 100 and 200g/kg). Wheat replaced part of corn and soybean meal and MBM was added at 0 or 80g/kg at each level of wheat. The birds received the diets for 7 d, and excreta were collected on d 19 to 21. The substitution of corn and SBM by wheat (200g/kg) increased the total NSP content in the diet by 11g/kg. There was a 5% decrease in both AME and AMEn when the level of wheat in the corn-SBM was increased to 200g/kg but this decrease was not significant. On the average, irrespective of wheat levels, AME and AMEn of the MBM were 2,734 and 2,586kcal/kg, respectively. Dietary AME and AMEn were greater in the diets with 200g/kg wheat compared to corn-SBM diet (P&lt;0.05), and N excretion was greater (P&lt;0.01) in the diets with MBM. Our results suggest that replacing part of corn and soybean meal with up to 200g/kg of wheat similar to what was used in the current study would have no effect on metabolizable energy of MBM