Effect of ruminal plastic bags on haematological and biochemical parameters of sheep and goats

A study was carried out with the objective of determining the haematological and blood biochemical parameters in sheep and goats with plastic bags in the rumen for a period of 42 days. This was to indicate the possible influence of plastic bags in the rumen on blood parameters. 16, one-year old castrate Dorper sheep with a mean body weight of 26.8 kg (± 0.3 kg) and 16 one-year old castrate small East African goats with a mean weight of 24.5 kg (± 0.3 kg) were used for the study. The 16 sheep and 16 goats were divided into 4 groups of 4 animals each (n = 4). Three groups of each species were implanted with 129 g, 258 g and 387 g of plastic bags, respectively, in the rumen through rumenotomy and the fourth group of each species was control on which rumenotomy was done but with no implanting of plastic bags. Blood samples were obtained by jugular venipuncture from all sheep and goats every 2 weeks for analysis. The only haematological parameter that had significant change was platelets, which significantly (p < 0.05) increased in both sheep and goats with plastic bags in the rumen. However, mean values of erythrocytes, packed cell volume, haemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume decreased but not significantly in the sheep and goats with plastic bags in the rumen. The sheep and goats with plastic bags in the rumen had hyponatraemmia, hypochloridaemia and decreased aspartate aminotransferase enzyme activity. The changes observed in haematological and biochemical parameters could be an indication of adverse effects on the production and well-being of sheep and goats that ingest these plastic bags. These finding may be of diagnostic importance in cases of rumen impaction with indigestible foreign bodies, particularly, plastic bags

Clinical manifestations in sheep with plastic bags in the rumen

Sixteen 1-year-old castrate Dorper sheep were used for the study. The animals were divided into four groups of four animals (n = 4). Three groups were implanted with 129 g, 258 g and 387 g of thin plastic bags into the rumen through rumenotomy, while the fourth group was subjected to rumenotomy without implanting plastic bags, and served as control. All the animals were monitored daily for 6 weeks following implantation. Presence of plastic bags in the rumen was characterized by anorexia, severe depression, discomfort, dehydration, firmness and asymmetrical distension of the abdomen, ruminal hypomotility and diarrhoea with intermittent constipation, weight loss, terminal recumbency and death. The severity of these clinical manifestations increased with increased quantities of plastic bags and their duration in the rumen. Sheep implanted with 258 g and 387 g lost 7.8 percent and 14.2 percent of their initial mean body weight, respectively, by the end of 6 weeks. Presence of plastic bags in the rumen could interfere with digestion, with a gradual loss in body weight, productivity and occasional mortality. Plastic bags in the rumen should be considered as a differential diagnosis in sheep presenting the observed clinical signs, especially in urban and periurban areas

Use of Range Shrubs to Meet Nutrient Requirements of Sheep Grazing on Crested Wheatgrass during Fall and Early Winter

This study considered the feasibility of supplementing crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum Fisch.) forage with some common rangeland shrubs. The necessary proportions of shrub and grass in the diet to meet protein and energy requirements were calculated for gestating sheep during the late fall and early winter grazing season. Shrubs studied included fourwing saltbush Atriplex canescens Pursh. Nutt.), winterfat (Ceratoides lanata (Pursh Howell), rubber rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. albicaulis, (Nutt) Rydb.), and big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana Nutt.). The shrubs were consistently higher in both total and digestible protein than crested wheatgrass over the period of study. Fourwing saltbush and winterfat with 8.24 and 6.31% digestible protein, respectively, were found to be the most promising shrubs to be used to supplement the low protein content of crested wheatgrass for late fall grazing. To meet dietary requirements for gestating sheep would require a minimum of 56 to 69% of fourwing saltbush and winterfat respectively, in the diet. Sagebrush and rabbitbrush were lower in digestible protein content, 4.04 and 4.43%, respectively, and therefore could not be used alone with crested wheatgrass.This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries.The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform August 202

Sero-Prevalence of Pestes Des Petits Ruminant (PPR) in Sheep, Goats and Cattle in Ghana.

Peste des Petits ruminants (PPR) is an acute highly contagious, highly fatal viral disease of small ruminants, characterized by pyrexia, occulo-nasal discharge, stomatitis, pneumonia and diarrhoea. The disease is endemic in many regions of world and responsible for significant economic losses in goats and sheep due to high morbidity and mortality rates. The present study was carried out to determine the sero-prevalence of antibodies against PPRV in unvaccinated sheep, goats and cattle in Ghana. A total of 3,455 blood samples were collected from 1,617 sheep, 1,534 goats and 304 cattle, randomly sampled in 74 villages in 31 districts in the 10 regions of the country over a period of 38 months from July 2009 to September 2012. Competitive Enzyme Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (c-ELISA) was used to detect the antibodies in sera against PPR virus. The prevalence in of PPR antibodies in sheep was 50.34% (814/1617) while the prevalence in goats and cattle were 45.50% (689/1534) and 6.90% (21/304) respectively. The overall prevalence was found to be 44.37%.Keywords: Peste des Petits Ruminants, sero-prevalence, antibodies, sheep and goats

Academic Journals Toxicological assessment of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta for possible use in veterinary medicine

Acute and sub-acute oral toxicity assessment of the aqueous root extract of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta was studied in Sprague Dawley rats for possible use as animal medication. The extract (250 -3000 mg/kg, p.o) was administered daily for a period of 72 h and (500 -2000 mg/kg, p.o) for 14 days for acute and sub-acute studies respectively. Acute administration of the extract did not produce any physiological and behavioural changes. In the subacute toxicity studies however, a dose-dependent increase in the number of platelets (from a vehicle-treated control value of 353.00 ± 49.40 -958.00 ± 42.50 in animals treated with 2000 mg/kg) was observed. Granulocyte number also increased dosedependently (0.77±0.15 -3.70±0.20) from the vehicle-treated control to the group that received 2000 mg/kg, indicating possible inflammation. Central nervous system toxicity and marginal enlargement of liver and kidney were evident in the 2000 mg/kg treated group. These findings however did not correlate with the biochemical and histopathological studies as no pathological changes occurred in the renal or hepato-biliary systems. The present results suggest that the aqueous root extract of C. sanguinolenta < 500 mg/kg orally is generally safe. However, caution should be taken with doses > 500 mg/kg as these may induce thrombocytosis, inflammation and central nervous system toxicity

Effect of Aqueous Extract of Euphorbia hirta on Haematological and Biochemical Parameters of Sprague Dawley Rats

An oral toxicity assessment of the aqueous extract of the whole plant of Euphorbia hirta selected for use in animal healthcare in Ghana was carried out in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. The extract was administered at a dose rate of 500 - 2000mg/kg per os for 14 days. At the end of the period, blood samples were collected by jugular veno-puncture for haematological and biochemical analysis to assess liver and kidney function. Significant (P < 0.01) decreases occurred in the values of red blood cell (RBC) counts of the groups receiving 1000mg/kg and 2000mg/kg of the extract. Consequently haemoglobin concentrations also decreased significantly (P < 0.001) compared with the control. The haematocrit (HCT) value of these groups also decreased significantly (P < 0.05) below that of the control. Biochemical studies did not suggest any malfunction or abnormality of the renal or hepato-biliary systems. The present results indicate that aqueous extract of the whole plant of E. hirta up to a dose of 500mg/kg orally is generally safe. This finding perhaps justifies the widespread use of the plant in the treatment of several diseases all over the world and may also be used for the treatment of diseases in animals. However, caution should be taken with doses > 500mg/kg as these may induce anaemia.Keywords: Aqueous extract, toxicity, rats, Euphorbia hirta