Effects of Zinc Supplement on Rabbits Performance and Growth Rate

Improvement on the quantity and quality of non traditional animal protein sources has become necessary in order to meet the need for adequate food and nutrition action plans of government at all level to ensure consistent and continuous supply of basic health need such as protein, vitamins and energy food. Dietary supplementation of rabbits with zinc was carried out to determine its effects on reproduction performance and growth rate of rabbits. Fifteen adult does were randomly assigned to 3 groups of 5 rabbits per group: the control group and two treatments groups. The control group was not supplemented with zinc while treatment groups A and B were supplemented with zinc of 20μg and 40μg respectively for 60 days. Zinc enhanced increase in litter size of treatment groups that recorded 25 and 22 kittens for 20μg and 40μg respectively against 7 kittens for the control. The difference was statistically significant at P <0.001. Though, there was geometric increase in size and weight in all the groups following weaning but the growth rate was independent of zinc treatment. Mortality was 60% and 81.87% among kittens kindled by does supplemented with 20μg and 40μg of zinc respectively against 42.86% of the control does. It is not unlikely that adaptive immunity from mammary gland of does fortified with zinc impacted the kittens and improved their survival rate

Weight gradient and physiological responses to cation-treatment by Salmonella enterica-infected rabbits

Interest in immunomodulators is increasing following the recognition that positive immunomodulators could be useful intervention tools in the control of diseases and infections. An attempt to determine the effects of some of the cations on body weight and physiological reactions was carried out. Thirty five female adult New Zealand white rabbits grouped into seven, 5 pairs per each of these cations (Zn 2+, Cu 2+ and Mg 2+ ), and supplemented with 1ml/day of single and double strength concentrations of cation for 24 days; the control was not supplemented with any cation. During the study period the rabbits were fed with Guinea grower mash and water ad libitum. There was regular taking of body weight of the rabbits using a top- loading weighing balance, while feed consumption, rectal temperature, stool frequency, physical appearance and behavioural changes were noted. Weight gradient studies show gradual increase in body weight following cation treatment of rabbits, but after challenging the various groups with oral administration of 0.5 ml of 10 6 CFU / ml of saline suspension of Salmonella. enterica for three exposures on alternative days, there was a progressive decrease in body weight of rabbits. However, there was no significant difference in stool dropping, body weakness, dullness and rough furs in all the groups. Effects were more pronounced in control group than in cation supplemented groups. This result, therefore, provide evidence of the significance of zinc, copper and magnesium oral supplementation in mammals and, of course among these three cations, copper appears to be more effective in improving body weight gain, though the mechanism is not known.Keyword: Trace elements, Body weight, Physiological responses, Salmonella entericadoi: 10.4314/ajcem.v12i3.

Effects of Cations on the Haematological Indices of Salmonella enterica Challenged Rabbits

Attempt to study the effects of trace elements on the immune indices of Salmonella enteric challenged rabbits was carried out to evaluate the degree of correlation between the level of these cations and the proliferation of white blood cells. Thirty-five female adult New Zealand White rabbits were grouped into seven, 5 pairs per each of cations Mg2+ , Zn2+ and Cu2+ , and supplemented with 1 ml / day of single (x1) and double (x2) strength concentration of the cations for 24 days; the control was not supplemented with any cation. All the groups were challenged with oral administration of 0.5 ml of 106 CFU / ml of saline suspension of S. enterica with a sterile syringe for three exposures on alternative days. Blood samples were collected aseptically from the venous puncture of the ear lobes or otherwise anaesthetized and cardiac blood sampled. The haematological indices studied showed significant differences among those supplemented with magnesium and zinc from the control group at P < 0.05, but there was no statistically significant difference between copper – supplemented group and control group at P<0.05. The result also revealed leucopenia lymphocytosis in all the supplemented groups but not in the control group. These findings suggest an immunological enhancement, particularly of zinc being the most effective modifier; copper would have been considered most efficacious but for the reduction effect on red blood cell volume.Keywords: Immune indices, Salmonella entrica, Cations, Rabbits

A retrospective study on incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus co-infection among patients attending National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, Owo centre

Introduction: the incidence of co-infection of PTB and HIV/AIDS in sub-Sahara is alarming. The exotic nature of the duo infection may be responsible for high mortality among TB patients. Methods: a five year retrospective study from January 2008 to December 2012 was carried out using profiles of new cases of PTB individuals that attended National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP), Owo centre. A total of 342 new cases were retrieved using a pre-designed case record forms. Vital information on demographic data, social and medical history were retrieved including laboratory results, treatment access and mortality report.Results: the prevalence of HIV sero - positive individual with PTB among the 342 new cases retrieved was 14.0%. In the studied population, incidence of infection was higher among 35 - 44 years age group, 53.8% are males and 46.2% are females. A total of 28.1% was classified as cured, 9.1% died, and 10.5 % defaulted or transferred out.Conclusion: mortality due to co-infection is high; there is therefore the need to put-in more efforts to stem the trend of PTB and HIV/AIDs co-infection. The variation in the pattern of co-infection in different localities may be associated with the living condition, cultural and socio-economic factors. Other possible factors are enlightenment campaigns and easy access to treatments which should be step-up