The use of locally available materials in fish feed production

In Nigeria, the culture of fish is gaining importance, but local fish farmers face a set back because of the stoppage on importation of fish feed. Locally available raw materials such as yam, plantain, banana, cowpeas, macuna, maize, cassava, millet, sorghum, groundnut, sunnhemp seed and brewery wastes are considered as potential materials for fish feed. These have been examined on their minimum protein contributions since this is the most expensive part of the fish feed. Alternative sources to animal proteins are also examined. Plant protein from groundnut, melon, mucuna and others compare favourably with bloodmeal mixture and thus can be used to replace the more expensive animal proteins. Pellet feed can be produced on a small scale or commercial basis from the locally available raw materials and the fish farmer is advised to seek assistance from qualified fisheries personne

Responses of plasma lipids to edible mushroom diets in albino rats

The potentials of two tropical edible mushrooms: Pleurtotus tuber-regium and Termitomycetes clypeatus in altering the plasma levels of some lipids in male albino rats fed high fat diets were investigated. Rats were randomly assigned to diet containing 20% fat, P. tuber-regium diet and T. clypeatus diet. Total body weight gain of rats fed mushroom diets were not significantly different(P>0.05) from one another. After a 28-day feeding trial, plasma total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides concentrations were found to be significantly lower (

Phenotypic characterisation and assessment of the inhibitory potential of Lactobacillus isolates from different sources

Six strains of Lactobacillus spp. were isolated from fermenting corn slurry, fresh cow milk, and the faeces of pig, albino rat, and human infant. Their inhibitory action was tested against some spoilage and pathogenic bacteria. Lactobacillus acidophilus isolated from milk was found to display a higher antagonistic effect with zones of inhibition of 6 and 15 mm against E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa respectively. This isolate was incapable of inhibiting the other indicator bacteria. The other isolates have zones of inhibition ranging between 1 to 4 mm. Characterisation of the microbial metabolic product for antimicrobial agents reveals that lactic acid may be responsible for the inhibition of the indicator organisms. Keywords: Lactobacilli, biopreservatives, pathogenic bacteria. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol.3(7) 2004: 355-35

Performance of rats orogastrically dosed with faecal strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus and challenged with Escherichia coli

Albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) were orogastrically dosed with faecal strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus and simultaneously infected with Escherichia coli, while the control was challenged with E. coli alone. The treatment was repeated the second day and post ingestion period of 18 days follow. It was observed that rats dosed with L. acidophilus and simultaneously challenged with E. coli treatments have better performances when compared with the control for daily weight gain, total weight gain and feed conversion rate. Faecal materials of rats dosed and challenged do not show sign of diarrhoea which was observed in the E. coli only treated rats. Key Words: Rats, orogastric, Lactobacillus acidophilus. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol.3(8) 2004: 409-41

MICROBIAL LOAD AND ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTY OF TWO NIGERIAN HERBAL REMEDIES

The use of herbal remedies had increased significantly in the last one decade in Nigeria. This has led to the production of herbal products with bogus claims. The microbial quality and antibacterial properties of two Nigerian herbal remedies with such claimed efficacy of curing all manners of microbial diseases were assessed. The herbal remedies were discovered to be contaminated with the following microorganisms: Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus cereus, Basidiobotrytis sp, Oedocephalum sp, Varicosporium sp and Articulospora inflata. Antibacterial analysis using the killing rate revealed that the herbal remedies had bacteriostatic and not bacteriocidal effect. Qualitative phytochemical screening of the herbal remedies revealed the presence of saponin, tannins, alkaloids, anthraquinone and cardiac glycosides which suggest possible antimicrobial effect. However, the presence of microbial contaminants in the herbal remedies suggests that they may serve as source of infection to end users

Wild Termitomyces Species Collected from Ondo and Ekiti States Are More Related to African Species as Revealed by ITS Region of rDNA

Molecular identification of eighteen Termitomyces species collected from two states, Ondo and Ekiti in Nigeria was carried out using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. The amplicons obtained from rDNA of Termitomyces species were compared with existing sequences in the NCBI GenBank. The results of the ITS sequence analysis discriminated between all the Termitomyces species (obtained from Ondo and Ekiti States) and Termitomyces sp. sequences obtained from NCBI GenBank. The degree of similarity of T1 to T18 to gene of Termitomyces sp. obtained from NCBI ranges between 82 and 99 percent. Termitomyces species from Garbon with ascension number AF321374 was the closest relative of T1 to T18 except T12 that has T. eurhizus and T. striatus as the closet relative. Phylogenetic tree generated with ITS sequences obtained from NCBI GenBank data revealed that T1 to T18 are more related to Termitomyces species indigenous to African countries such as Senegal, Congo, and Gabon

Prevalence and pattern of small animal orthopaedic conditions at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Ibadan

Small animal orthopaedic case records of a 20-year period were surveyed to obtain the prevalence and pattern of orthopaedic conditions presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH), University of Ibadan, Nigeria, with the objective of  providing data for planning on small animal healthcare facilities, policy development and veterinary manpower training. Out of 618 small animal surgery cases managed within the period studied, 127 (19.6%) were orthopedic in nature across 22 canine breeds, consisting of dogs (45%), bitches (53%) and 2% unspecified sexes.  Orthopedic conditions were prevalent in Alsatian 34.65%, Rottweiler 19.69%, Mongrel 18.11%, Crossbreeds 4.72%, Boerboel 3.94%, Pomeranian 1.54%, Samoyed 1.54%, Caucasian 1.54%, Neapolitan mastiff 1.54%, Lhasa Apso 0.79%, Keeshond 0.79%, Chihuahua 0.79%, French mastiff 0.79%, Tosa 0.79%, Pit-bull 0.79%, Spitz 0.79%, Bull Mastiff 0.79%, Dachshund 0.79% and Doberman  pinscher 0.79%. Fracture cases were highest 61.42%, followed by hip dysplasia 14.17%, hip luxation 6.30%, lameness 2.36%, paralysis 1.57%, hock luxation 1.57%, sprain 1.57%, patella luxation 1.57%, abnormal gait 1.57%, arthritis  0.79%, osteosarcoma 0.79%, splayed limb 0.79%, congenital dysgenesis 0.79%, hypertrophic osteodystrophy 0.79%, stiffened stifle joint 0.79%, and unspecified 2.36%. fracture anatomic sites were: femur 57.69%, tibia and fibula 10.26%,  humerus 6.41%, radio-ulna 5.13%, mandible 5.13%, metacarpal 3.85%, tibia 3.85%, metatarsal 2.56%, radius 2.56%, rib 1.28% and tarsal 1.28%. The highest occurrence of orthopedic cases was in 2015 (11.02%), while 1998 (1.57%) and 2010 (1.57%) had the least. No case was recorded in 1995 and 1997 (0%). Young dogs (< 1year) were more involved (60.0%) than adult (> 1 year) (32.0%). More cases were recorded in the first quarter (27.56%)-(January-March) than second quarter (April-June (25.20%), than fourth quarter (October –December  (24.41%).The third quarter (July-September) had the least (22.83%). The implication of the data to orthopaedic patient management, and planning was discussed.Keywords: Dogs, Orthopaedic conditions, Prevalence, Small animal, Veterinary teaching hospital

Effect of garlic (Allium sativum) on Salmonella typhi infection, gastrointestinal flora and hematological parameters of albino rats

The effect of consumption of garlic (Allium sativum) in treating Salmonella typhi infection and on the gastrointestinal flora and hematological parameters of rats was investigated. Crude garlic extract inhibited the growth of S. typhi on agar plate with a zone of inhibition averaging 23.8 mm in diameter using the agar diffusion assay. This inhibition was superior to that of all the conventional antibiotics used except streptomycin which gave a growth inhibitory value of 24.0 mm. In the in vivo assay, although, pretreatment with the extract did not protect rats orogastrically dosed with the infective dose of S. typhi from the infection, the consumption of crude garlic extract however, caused a significant (p<0.05) reduction in the number of S. typhi in the feaces of the infected rats from 2.0 x 108 to 9.0 x 101 cfu/ml and also reduced the duration of infection from 5 to 3 days. On the effect of consumption of garlic extract on the type and load of gastrointestinal flora and hematological parameters of rats, garlic extract caused a significant (p<0.05) reduction in the type of bacteria present in the gastrointestinal tract of rats fed 1 ml daily for 7 weeks from six microbial types to one microbial species, reduction in microbial load of the flora from 1.64 x 1012 to 1.3 x 107 cfu/ml, reduction in packed cell volume (PCV), total white blood cells (WBC) and lymphocytes counts but caused an increase in neutrophils and monocytes counts of the rats. The observed increases in the neutrophils and monocytes counts of the blood suggested that garlic may possess immune-stimulatory effect in addition to its antibacterial effect.Key words: Salmonella typhi, Allium sativum, antibacterial activity, rats

Microbial Quality and Sensory Properties of Ogiri Produced from Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) Seed

The aim is to study the microorganisms involved in fermentation, their occurrence and the organoleptic properties of fermented watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) seeds. The watermelon seeds were dehulled, sorted, washed and boiled for 4 hours and fermented naturally for nine days. Microorganisms isolated from the fermenting watermelon seeds were Bacillus sp, Lactococcus sp, Pediococcus sp, Streptococcus sp, Micrococcus sp and Alcaligenes ps for bacterial, while the fungi obtained were Mucor sp, Rhizopus sp, Fusarium sp, Candida sp and Saccharomyces sp. The bacterial count increased from 4 x101 cfu/mL to 1.21 x 1010 cfu/mL while fungal count also increased from 8 x 101sfu/mL to 1.2 x 109sfu/mL during the period of fermentation. The pH and temperature increased from 6.3 to 8.7 and 29oC to 40oC respectively. The total titratable acidity decreased from 0.176% to 0.027%. The mean sensory characteristics value of fermented sample as scored by the panelist shows that the texture of the fermenting sample become softer as fermentation progressed. The aroma became more pungent with a strong ammonia odour responsible for the characteristic flavour and a darker colour of product. The overall acceptability of fermented sample was adjudged like very much while the sample bought from the market was adjudged like moderately