Growth Performance and Blood Chemistry of African Catfish, Clarias Gariepinus Fed Boiled Layer Chickens on a Poultry-fishery Integrated Farm, Kano State, Nigeria

Growth performance and blood chemistry of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus post juveniles (154.60 ± 0.55 g mean weight) fed boiled layer chickens that are unfit for human consumption was investigated over a 28-weeks period. Control fish were fed commercial fish feed alone while the test fish were fed equal mixture of the commercial fish feed and boiled layer chickens. Final mean body weights of both the control and the test fish were 538.70 ± 15.82 g and 503.30 ± 16.70 g, which were significantly (p<0.05) higher than their initial mean body weights but their final body weights and weight gains were insignificantly (p>0.05) lower in the test fish compared to the control fish. The crude protein, oil and Ash contents of the test fish (43.24 ± 0.81 %, 22.32 ± 0.26 % and 10.54 ± 1.08 %) were insignificantly (p>0.05) lower than those of the control fish (43.33 ± 0.80 %, 23.12 ± 0.39 % and 11.17 ± 1.88 %). Serum total glucose, total protein and total triglyceride concentrations were insignificantly (p>0.05) higher in the test fish (4.30 ± 0.75 mmoL,sup>-1, 45.07 ± 2.27 gL-1 and 3.80 ± 0.49 mgdL-1) compared to the control fish (2.61 ± 0.37 mmoL-1, 42.40 ± 1.46 gL-1 and 3.55 ± 0.55 mgdL-1). However, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities were significantly (p<0.05) lower in the test fish (202.70 ± 38.96 iuL-1 and 30.60 ± 2.89 iuL-1) compared to the control fish (352.50 ± 33.73 iuL-1 and 41.87 ± 1.66 iuL-1). The cost of producing a unit of the control fish was =N= 228.96 as against =N= 114.53 for a unit of the test fish. This was further reinforced by a production benefit-cost ratio of 1.76 for the test fish as against 0.94 for the control fish. The feeding of fish with boiled layer chickens that are unfit for human consumption along with commercial fish feed, which caused slight stress in the fish but greatly reduced their cost of production without obviously affecting their growth and nutritive values, is highly recommended on Poultry-Fishery integrated farms where chicken mortalities that are unfit for human consumption are readily available at negligible processing cost.Keywords: Body composition, boiled layer chickens, Clarias gariepinus, cost of production, growth, stressNigerian Veterinary Journal, VOL:33 (1) 376-38

Outbreak of Viscerotropic Velogenic form of Newcastle dis-ease in vaccinated six weeks old pullets

An outbreak of very virulent form of Newcastle disease in 6 week old pullets is reported. The flock was vac-cinated against Newcastle disease with Newcastle disease vaccine intra ocular at the hatchery and Newcastle disease vaccine Lasota at 4weeks of age at the farm. The signs noticed by the farm Manager were yellowish and greenish watery faeces, weakness and decrease in feed consumption. Response to treatment with Bioxin® (oxy tetracycline) was poor. The sick birds never recovered. The gross lesions observed were: Necrosis of the gastrointestinal tract (Payers patches), caecal tonsils and bursa of fabricius. The disease lasted for 11 days and the mortality rate was 99.7%. The high mortality rate suggested that the vaccine had failed to immunize the birds against Newcastle disease and the birds were highly susceptible and had been infected with a very pathogenic stain of Newcastle disease virus

Detection of avian influenza antibodies and antigens in poultry and some wild birds in Kogi state, Nigeria

The global spread of HPAI (H5N1) between 2005 and 2006 was blamed on movement of migratory wild birds and trade in live poultry across continents from infected regions. A survey was carried out to detect the presence of avian influenza (AI) antibodies in wild birds and AI viruses in poultry and wild birds from Kogi state, Nigeria. Haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test and enzyme link immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to detect AI antibodies in some species of apparently healthy wild birds during the survey. Using HI test, the wild birds were negative for AI (H5) antibodies but ELISA detected AI (NP) antibodies in Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) with an overall seroprevalence of 4.5% and mean titre of 24.50±2.400 EU. Cloacal swabs from the same species of wild birds that were tested for antibodies and 710 oropharyngeal swabs from poultry were tested for AI viruses using RT-PCR with primers targeting the AI matrix proteins but were negative for AI viruses. The detection of AI (NP) antibodies in wild birds but failure to detect the viruses showed that the exposure might not be recent. We recommend that poultry should be prevented from contact with wild water birds and a broad based surveillance for AI viruses in poultry and wild birds should be carried out in Kogi state, Nigeria.Keywords: Avian influenza, Black stork, ELISA, HI, RT-PC

Humoral immune response of chickens following vaccination with different Newcastle disease vaccines

In spite of numerous vaccines and different vaccination schedules used in the control of Newcastle disease (ND), prevention and control remain a challenge. This study evaluated three different ND vaccines. A total of one hundred and twenty, day-old brown pullets obtained from a commercial hatchery in Ibadan, Nigeria were used for the experiment. The birds were randomly assigned into 4 groups in which groups A, B and C were vaccinated on days 1, 21 and 42 of age, while group D served as unvaccinated group (control). Hitchner B1 (HB1), Clone-30 and F-Strains were used as the primers for the 3 vaccinated groups respectively. Blood samples were collected from all birds in each group on vaccination day and assayed for NDV antibody by Haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test. Twenty five chickens from each group were challenged with virulent Newcastle disease virus (Kudu 113 strain) at 3rd week after the last vaccination. The mean antibody titres of the chickens from the vaccinated groups at 3rd week post primary vaccination showed no significant difference. However, a significant difference existed following secondary vaccination with La Sota and Komarov strains at 3rd and 6th weeks of age. A good immune response and clinical resistance were observed in group of chickens vaccinated with Hitchner B1 and Clone-30 as primers than those vaccinated using F-strain. Therefore, Hitchner B1 or Clone-30 is better primer for vaccinating chickens against Newcastle disease.Keywords: Chickens, Vaccination, antibody, Newcastle disease, Challenge viru

Molecular screening and isolation of Newcastle disease virus from live poultry markets and chickens from commercial poultry farms in Zaria, Kaduna state, Nigeria

Newcastle disease is one of the major economic threats to poultry population  because of its high morbidity and mortality varying from 90-100%. It is caused by Avian Paramyxovirus-1 (APMV-1). This research work was carried out to identify Newcastle disease virus (NDV) by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay and further isolate the virus in embryonated chicken eggs. A total of 127 cloacal swabs were collected from local chickens in live bird market and exotic chickens in commercial poultry farms in Zaria and environs, Nigeria between November, 2014 and January, 2015. Five commercial poultry farms and four live bird markets were purposively sampled. Molecular screening of NDV Matrix-gene (M-gene) was performed on all the samples using Reverse  Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Newcastle disease positive samples were further inoculated into embryonated chicken eggs for isolation of Newcastle disease virus. Isolates were confirmed as Newcastle disease virus by haemaggulitination inhibition (HI) test. Newcastle disease virus Matrix-gene was detected in 16 (12.5%) out of 127 cloacal swabs; 13 (10.2%) from live bird markets and 3 (2.3%) from commercial poultry farms. However, only 10 Newcastle disease viruses were isolated in embryonated chicken eggs as confirmed by Haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test. Due to the higher detection rate recorded by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), it is therefore important that molecular technique be made easily accessible so that samples from each suspected outbreaks of NDV be screened so that rapid and confirmatory diagnosis can be achieved.Keywords: Embryonated chicken eggs, Haemagglutination inhibition test, Newcastle disease virus, RT-PC

Survey for Newcastle disease viruses in poultry and wild birds in Kogi state, Nigeria

Newcastle disease (ND) outbreak even in the face of vaccination is a common problem in Nigeria. A survey was carried out between June, 2012 to February, 2013 to detect ND viruses in poultry and wild birds in 12 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kogi state, Nigeria. Oropharyngeal swabs from 710 poultry and cloacal swabs from 100 species in eight families of wild birds were tested using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction with set of primers targeting the ND virus matrix protein with 60.5% swabs being positive. The prevalence of ND viruses was highest in live bird market with 62.5% and lowest in backyard farm with 57.7%, while based on species of birds, Swallow (Hirundo spp.) had the highest prevalence with 83.3% and zero in Laughing dove (Streptopelia senegalensis). The χ2 value of the prevalence of ND viruses in contiguous areas A against contiguous areas B was significant (χ2 =6.59, p≤ 0.01, OR = 4.10 at 95% CI = 1.34 – 12.28). The study revealed the circulation of ND viruses in poultry and wild birds in Kogi state. This is the first report of ND viruses in Hirundo spp and Swift (Apus spp) in Kogi state, Nigeria. There is need for sequencing of the F-protein of the ND viruses circulating in Kogi state to compare with already known strains in Nigeria. Vaccination against ND should be stepped up in backyard poultry and instituted in rural poultry for effective control.Keywords: Backyard poultry, Newcastle disease viruses, RT-PCR, Swallow and Swift, Wild bird

Retrospective studies on pullorum disease in chickens in Zaria, Nigeria

A twelve-year study (January, 1995 - December, 2006) of case reports on Pullorum disease (PD) and other poultry diseases diagnosed at the Ahmadu Bello University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Zaria, was conducted. A total of 3, 265 outbreaks were documented with 173 (5.3%) of the outbreaks diagnosed as PD. The annual increase in the number of PD outbreaks implied a decline in the hygienic standards of hatcheries where the first cycle of transmission should be broken. It was observed that chickens raised between June and August, layers and broilers, chicks under 4 weeks of age, and chickens raised under intensive system of management were at greatest risk of suffering from PD outbreaks. It is imperative that regular blood testing of parent stocks for S. Pullorum infections be conducted routinely to eliminate carriers. There is also the need for poultry farmers to institute and intensify biosecurity measures on their farms to minimize horizontal transmission of PD

Retrospective analysis of Newcastle disease diagnosed at the poultry clinic of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria

Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly contagious viral disease of domestic and wild birds with devastating impact on poultry health and production. Many vaccines and vaccination schedules are in use in controlling the disease but prevention and control are still a problem. A ten-year retrospective study (2002-2011) of Newcastle disease and other poultry diseases diagnosed at the Poultry Clinic of Ahmadu Bello University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (ABUVTH), Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria was conducted. Out of 2,649 cases of poultry presented, 43.9% (1,164 cases) were confirmed as ND. The highest number of cases of the disease was in August followed by July and May. The cases of ND were observed to be higher in the rainy season (July to September), but it seems to be 1.43 times more likely to occur during pre-dry season (October to December). Most of the cases of ND were recorded in chickens and turkeys. Birds between the ages of 9 and 20 weeks were 2.01 times more likely to suffer from ND than younger birds. Most of the cases of ND were reported in birds that were vaccinated against ND than non-vaccinated ones. It was recommended that monitoring of Newcastle disease antibody titre should be intensified during rainy season and birds should be vaccinated against the disease as at when due.Keywords: Newcastle disease, Poultry, Seasonal distribution, Vaccine, Zari

Review of highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in poultry in Zaria, Nigeria

All the confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza cases that were diagnosed in Zaria at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, were reviewed in this study. The outbreaks occurred between the months of December, 2006 and March, 2007. The clinical signs and postmortem lesions were similar to those observed in avian influenza outbreaks elsewhere. It was observed that the cold windy harmattan condition, the addition of new birds into an already existing flock, the low compensation rate paid to farmers; and poor biosecurity measures on the affected farms might have contributed to the spread of the disease in Zaria and environs

Some reproductive abnormalities in domestic fowls

Of the 102328 birds presented to the avain ambulatory clinic of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital for diagnosis between March, 1976 and February, 1992, only 261 were found to have reproductive abnormalities. The abnormalities recorded were, oophoritis (39.2%), egg yolk peritonitis (11.9%), salphingitis (7.7%), rudimentary ovary (7.0%), ruptured ovary (2.8%), ectopic eggs (2.1%), hermophrodism (2.1%), oviduct discontinuity (1.4%), oviduct impaction (1.4%), atrophied (1.4%). cystic (1.4%) and ruptured oviduct (0.8%), sex reversal (0.7%) and regressed testis (0.7%). Most reproductive abnormalities occurred in the second phase of egg production except rudimentary ovary which was common in the first phase of egg production. The results also showed that most of the cases of reproductive disorders were recorded in improved (exotic) breed of chickens and only a few cases were recorded in local birds. Oophoritis, egg yolk peritonitis and salphingitis were found to be the most important reproductive abnormalities of domestic fowls. These conditions are usually caused by infectious agents like bacteria and viruses, which can be controlled by very good management practices. Keywords: Birds, abnormalities, phase, egg, production, reproductio