Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of rams brought into Abeokuta small ruminants markets in preparation for a festive season

In an effort to gain a better understanding into the role played by food animals in the epidemiology of gastrointestinal parasites, we assessed the prevalence of  gastrointestinal parasites in different breeds of rams brought into Abeokuta during a festive  season by microscopic examination of faecal samples. A total of 206 rams of different breeds were randomly sampled. The faecal samples collected were  subjected to simple floatation and sedimentation tests. McMaster egg counting  technique was used to estimate the faecal oocyst load in positive samples. Overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was 51.46%. There was significant (p < 0.05) difference between the prevalence of Eimeria spp (37.38%)and helminth eggs (13.59%).Among the 29 samples that tested positive for helminth eggs, 6 (20.7%), 19 (65.5%) and 4 (13.8%) were cestode, nematode and trematode eggs,  respectively. The genera of nematodes eggs identified include Strongyloides spp, Haemonchus spp, Mashallagia spp,  Bunostomum spp, Ascaris spp, Dictyocaulus spp, Gongylonema spp and Ostergia spp; trematodes were Fasciola spp and Dicrocoelium spp while cestodes were Moniezia spp and Avitellinaspp. The only protozoan parasite identified was Eimeria spp. This study has  clearly shown that rams brought to Abeokuta during festive seasons carry different gastrointestinal parasites of which Eimeria spp had the largest share. Parasites of zoonotic importance (Fasciola and Moniezia) were also detected. Therefore, there is need for  regular screening of animals being introduced from one state to the other and also from neighbouring countries for effective  monitoring and control of parasitic diseases in domestic animals and human population.Keywords: GIT parasite, ram, helminth, protozoan

Management of west African dwarf goats fed value-added cassava-based diets in semi humid zone of Nigeria

The need to assist the rural small ruminant farmers in the proper feeding of their animals brought about the formulation and recommendation of value-added cassava-based diet(s) which the low income rural farmers can adopt for the feeding of their West African Dwarf (WAD) goats. This was premised on the observation of the common practice of uninhibited feeding of goats on wastes of cassava (Manihot esculenta) in the cassava producing parts of the Nigeria, where cassava is a staple food and its peels are largely wasted. Value-added cassava diets were formulated with graded levels of cassava wastes, cowpea haulms, bone meal, sulphur and salt. Each ration was fed to an experimental and a control group of WAD goats for 16 weeks and the pathological effects monitored. There were progressive increases in the blood residual cyanide concentration values of the groups of goats fed formulated diets. No clinical manifestation of cyanide poisoning was observed in any of the goats treated with VAC diets but histology showed dilation of the tubular lumens, the most severe was observed in goats fed diet 4. VAC diets 1, 2 and 3 are recommended for goat feeding in rural communities due to minimal toxicity which can be minimised by incorporation of elemental sulphur or addition of sulphur-rich plants into the diets.Keywords: Antioxidant, Cyanide, Cassava-based diet, Goats, Rural farmers, Sulphu

Determination of cyanide concentration in blood and histopathological effect of cassava waste-based feeding on goats

Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is a major staple food for both humans and animals and feeding goats with its waste is common practice in southwest Nigeria. However, it contains endogenous cyanogenic glycosides that are readily hydrolyzed to liberate hydrogen cyanide that is poisonous. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cassava waste (peels and leaves) on the kidney and liver of goats fed different inclusion level and determine the cyanide concentration in the blood of the goats. Ten West African dwarf male goats were divided into five groups and fed four diets of cassava waste ad-libitum for 16 weeks. Diet 1; 70% peels and 10% leaves, Diet 2; 50% peels and 20% leaves, Diet 3; 30% peels and 30% leaves, Diet 4; 10% peels and 40% leaves while the control were fed grass only. Blood samples were collected before the onset of the feeding, at the 8th week and 16th week. There were no clinical manifestation of cyanide poisoning in the animals and the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) shows that haematological and biochemical parameters were not significantly different (p<0.05) across the 4 diets. High concentration of cyanide (80 ppm) was observed in the blood of animals fed Diet 4. Also the histopathological lesions of liver and kidney were more severe in animals fed Diet 4. The study therefore concludes that the high  concentration of cyanide and the severity of the histopathology finding in Diet 4 can be attributed to the higher level of cassava leaves in the diet and hence, the leaves should be further processed before been feeding to goats.Keywords: Cassava waste, Cyanide, Histopathology, Liver, Kidney, Goats. Determination du taux de cyanure dans le sang et effet histopathologique de l’alimentation a base de dechets de manioc sur les caprinsLe manioc (Manihot esculenta) est un aliment de base à la fois pour les humains et les animaux, et l’alimentation des chèvres avec les déchets de cette plante est une pratique courante dans le sud-ouest du Nigeria.  Cependant, le manioc contient des glycosides cyanogénétiquess  endogènes qui sont facilement hydrolysés pour libérer du cyanure d’hydrogène qui est toxique. Cette étude a pour objectif d’évaluer l’effet des déchets de manioc (pelures et feuilles) sur les reins et le foie des chèvres nourries à différents niveaux d’inclusion et de déterminer le taux de cyanure dans le sang des chèvres. Dix chèvres naines d’Afrique de l’Ouest ont été divisées en cinq groupes et nourries ad libitum pendant 16 semaines avec quatre régimes contenant des déchets de manioc. Le Régime 1 comportait 70% de pelures et 10% de feuilles ; le Régime 2 était constitué de 50% de pelures et 20% de feuilles ; le Régime 3 était composé de 30% de pelures et 30% de feuilles ; le Régime 4 comportait 10% de pelures et 40% de feuilles ; tandis que le régime témoin n’était constitué que d’herbe. Des échantillons de sang ont été prélevés avant le début de l’administration des régimes, à la 8ème semaine et à la 16ème semaine. On n’a noté aucune manifestation clinique d’intoxication au cyanure chez les animaux et l’Analyse de Variance (ANOVA) a montré que les paramètres hématologiques et biochimiques n’étaient pas  significativement différents (p <0,05) dans les 4 régimes. Un taux élevé de cyanure (80 ppm) a été détecté dans le sang des animaux soumis au Régime 4. Les lésions histopathologiques du foie et des reins étaient plus sévères chez les animaux nourris au Régime 4. L’étude conclut donc que le taux élevé de cyanure et la sévérité du résultat histopathologique dans le régime 4 peut être attribué à une importante inclusion de feuilles de manioc dans le régime et, par conséquent, les feuilles doivent être traitées avant d’être données aux chèvres comme aliments.Mots-clés : déchets de manioc, Cyanure, Histopathologie, foie, rein, caprin

Lethal Doses and Histopathological Changes in Liver and Kidney of Healthy Clarias gariepinus Sub-adult Exposed to Red Allium cepa Linn. Bulb

Adverse effects of Allium cepa bulb has been well overlooked because it is natural and assumed safe. This study investigated the lethal doses and histopathological changes in liver and kidney of healthy Clarias gariepinus sub-adult exposed to red Allium cepa bulb at varying concentrations (200, 150, 100, 50 and 25 g/kg) of A. cepa via diet and bath (5, 3, 1.5, 0.7 and 0.4 g/L) for two weeks. Specimens were sacrificed, liver and kidneys collected, processed and examined for histopathological changes. Proximate analysis, qualitative and quantitative phytochemistry was determined using standard methods. Brine Shrimp lethality assay (BSLA), LD50 and LC50 of the onion on experimental fish were investigated. Saponins, tannins, phenols, flavonoids and alkaloids were present. LC50 of the onion extract was between 0. 51 mg and 0.64 mg in the BSLA while mean LD50 and LC50 for dietary and bath treatments were 447.1 g/kg and 12.2 g/L. Liver histopathology showed vacuolar degeneration of the hepatocytes and congestion of central vein, while necrosis of the epithelial cells and haemosiderosis were observed in the kidney at high concentrations. Allium cepa is safe in fish when administered in lower dose either through diet or bath exposure but was toxic at high dose