Physiological response of rabbit bucks to prolonged feeding of cotton seed cake-based diets supplemented with vitamin E

Sixty-four (64) weanling rabbit bucks, 5 to 6 weeks old, were involved in a 2 x 4 factorial experiment to evaluate the effects of prolonged feeding of cottonseed cake (CSC) – based diets with or without vitamin E supplementation on the physiological response of the bucks. There were eight treatment combinations comprising four CSC (0, 5, 10 and 15%) levels and two vitamin E supplementation levels (0 and 30 mg/kg diet). Bucks were fed treatment diets for a period of twenty weeks after which blood was collected for haematological and serum analyses. The haematological parameters assessed include: Packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC), haemoglobin concentration (Hb), white blood cell (WBC) and the differential counts. The serum parameters include the serum glucose, urea, creatinine, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total protein, albumin, globulin and total cholesterol. The PCV, RBC and neutrophils declined (P < 0.05) with increase in CSC level; while the WBC and lymphocytes increased (P < 0.05) with increasing level of CSC. Other haematological parameters were not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by CSC level. Bucks that were fed 0, 5, 10 and 15% CSC supplemented with vitamin E recorded higher values for PCV, RBC and Hb than those that were not supplemented. At 15% CSC level, supplementing the diet with vitamin E significantly (P < 0.05) reduced WBC and lymphocyte counts. Serum urea, total protein and albumin were significantly (P < 0.05) lowered by the increasing level of CSC. Significant (P < 0.05) increase was observed in ALT and AST with increase in CSC level. Glucose and total cholesterol were not affected by CSC level. Supplementing the diet with vitamin E at all CSC levels reduced creatinine, ALT and AST levels significantly (P < 0.05). It was concluded that prolonged feeding of CSC – based diets to rabbit bucks had adverse effects on blood constituents of the bucks. However, supplementing such diets with 30 mg/kg diet of vitamin E ameliorated the adverse effects.Key words: Rabbit bucks, haematology, serum chemistry, cottonseed cake, vitamin E

ABO BLOOD GROUP AND SECRETOR STATUS IN HIV INFECTION IN OSOGBO, SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT The present study was carried out to determine whether there is any association between ABO blood group, secretion of ABO antigens and HIV-1 infection. A total of 240 individuals of age ≥16 years consisting of 117 HIV-1 positive individuals and 123 HIV negative individuals (controls) participated in this study. A sample of 5 mL of blood was withdrawn from each participant for HIV and ABO blood grouping tests. Antibodies to HIV were carried out using determine rapid HIV-1/HIV-2 test kit and Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and then confirmed with Western blot (WB). Secretors and non-secretors phenotypes were determined by haemagglutination inhibition technique using saliva. Of the 117 HIV-1 individuals, 101(88.9%) were secretors and 13(11.1%) were non-secretors while 92 (74.8%) and 31(25.2%) of the 123 HIV negative subjects were secretors and non-secretors respectively. Secretors were significantly more associated with HIV infection than non-secretors (ᵡ 2 = 7.953, df = 1, p = 0.005). ABO blood group was not significantly associated with HIV infection (ᵡ 2 = 1.66, df = 2, p = 0.558). There was a significant association between group O and secretor in controls (ᵡ 2 = 5.964, df= 1, p = 0.015) but not in HIV infection (ᵡ 2 = 0.004, df = 1, p = 0.949). These findings suggest that while there is no association between ABO blood groups and HIV infection, secretion of ABH antigens is associated with HIV infection

Red blood cell susceptibility to oxidants in chronic cigarette smokers

ABSTRACT Smoking is an important preventable cause of mortality worldwide and has been implicated as a significant risk factor for the establishment and progression of several diseases. It has been argued that the increased production of reactive oxygen species associated with smoking may exceed the capacity of the oxidant defense system, resulting in oxidative damage. The aim of this study was to investigate a possible relationship between cigarette smoking and red cell destruction due to oxidative damage. Hundred (100) subjects were randomly chosen from a population of males (22 -38 years) within the Osogbo, Osun State metropolis. Blood samples were collected and drawn into an anticoagulated bottle with the aid of a 5ml sterile disposable syringe from one of the prominent veins of the cubital fossa of each of the subjects and used immediately for analysis. To understand the status of oxidative damage, we measured the level of lipid peroxidation using the malondialdehyde (MDA) method, activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in the plasma of both smokers and non smokers were also investigated. To establish a possible relationship between cigarette smoking and red blood cell destruction, the reticulocyte counts, haematocrit and total bilirubin levels of smokers and nonsmokers was examined. MDA levels were significantly higher in the plasma of smokers. Activities of GPx and the level of GSH where markedly decreased in smokers when compared with the control group. There was also a significant increase in the total bilirubin levels and the reticulocyte count values of smokers when compared with those of the non smokers. Haematocrit values were slightly increased in smokers when compared with control. The present study thus concluded that an increased oxidative burden decreases the function of the antioxidant systems which can in a long run ultimately lead to red blood cell haemolysis

ABO BLOOD GROUP AND SECRETOR STATUS IN HIV INFECTION IN OSOGBO, SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT The present study was carried out to determine whether there is any association between ABO blood group, secretion of ABO antigens and HIV-1 infection. A total of 240 individuals of age ≥16 years consisting of 117 HIV-1 positive individuals and 123 HIV negative individuals (controls) participated in this study. A sample of 5 mL of blood was withdrawn from each participant for HIV and ABO blood grouping tests. Antibodies to HIV were carried out using determine rapid HIV-1/HIV-2 test kit and Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and then confirmed with Western blot (WB). Secretors and non-secretors phenotypes were determined by haemagglutination inhibition technique using saliva. Of the 117 HIV-1 individuals, 101(88.9%) were secretors and 13(11.1%) were non-secretors while 92 (74.8%) and 31(25.2%) of the 123 HIV negative subjects were secretors and non-secretors respectively. Secretors were significantly more associated with HIV infection than nonsecretors (ᵡ 2 = 7.953, df = 1, p = 0.005). ABO blood group was not significantly associated with HIV infection (ᵡ 2 = 1.66, df = 2, p = 0.558). There was a significant association between group O and secretor in controls (ᵡ 2 = 5.964, df= 1, p = 0.015) but not in HIV infection (ᵡ 2 = 0.004, df = 1, p = 0.949). These findings suggest that while there is no association between ABO blood groups and HIV infection, secretion of ABH antigens is associated with HIV infection