Haematological and plasma biochemical parameters of the Nigerian laughing dove (Streptopelia senegalensis) and the Nigerian duck (Anas platyrhynchos)

As part of ongoing studies on the blood profiles of the Nigerian avian species, haematological and plasma biochemical parameters were determined in the Nigerian laughing dove (Streptopelia senegalensis). There were no significant sex differences in all the parameters studied. However, when the values that were observed in the Nigerian laughing dove were compared with those of the Nigerian duck (Anas platyrhynchos), the Nigerian duck had significantly higher mean corpuscular volume, total white blood counts, plasma urea, total protein and globulin, but significantly lower red blood cell counts, haemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, plasma potassium and albumin/globulin ratio than the Nigerian laughing dove. However, the packed cell volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, plasma sodium, creatinine and albumin were similar in the two species of bird

laughing dove (Streptopelia senegalensis) and the Nigerian duck (Anas platyrhynchos)

Nigeria

Genetic structure of wild and domesticated grasscutters (<i>Thryonomys swinderianus</i>) from south-western Nigeria

<p>Grasscutter (<i>Thryonomys swinderianus</i>) is a large rodent distributed across sub-Saharan Africa that is highly valued as a source of protein. There has been little effort to evaluate the genetic structure of grasscutters despite long-term harvesting pressure and over 40 years of grasscutter domestication in West Africa. Our objectives were to quantify the genetic structure of wild grasscutters, and to compare genetic variation from wild samples to those from various farmed samples within south-western Nigeria. We genotyped 145 wild and 88 domesticated individuals at 11 microsatellite loci and present results quantifying regional genetic structuring and the relative patterns of diversity among wild and domesticated grasscutter populations. Our data reflect high differentiation between wild and domesticated grasscutters, and significantly greater allelic richness and gene diversity in the former. Despite this, domesticated populations appear to have similar levels of observed heterozygosity and comparable levels of differentiation among domesticated samples relative to wild samples. This may be the result of high turnover within captive colonies, or frequent infusion of new animals. More detailed molecular and quantitative genetic studies are recommended on this species to be able to understand their natural variation, degree of connectivity and to improve strategies for domestication.</p