Erythrocyte Osmotic Fragility and Excitability Score in Rabbit fed Hibiscus sabdariffa in Graded Level

Summary: This study was conducted for 10 weeks with the aim of investigating the erythrocyte membrane integrity as measured by erythrocyte osmotic fragility and excitability scores of rabbits fed graded level of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyx (HSC). Twenty weaners’ rabbit of both sexes were used for the study and were placed on four experimental diets which contain the following percentages of HSC 0 %, 25 %, 50 %, 75 %, as feed additive and were added at 0 g, 62.5 g, 125 g, 187.5 g designated as T1, T2, T3 and T4 experimental diets. Excitability scores were measured weekly as described by Voisnet et al. (1997). At the end of the experiment, the rabbits were slaughtered by severing the jungular vein. A Blood sample (2 ml) was collected from each rabbit into sampled bottles, containing the Na EDTA as anticoagulant for hematological analysis. Packed cell volume (PCV) Haemoglobin concentration (Hb), Total red blood cell (RBC) count, Total leukocyte count as well as differential leukocyte was determined using standard method. The percentage haemolysis recorded at 0.3 % to 0.8 % was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in rabbits in T1 compared to the remaining 3 diets. The result of excitability score shows that rabbit on diet 1 and 2 had a lower value which was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than rabbits on diets 3 and 4 with a value of 65.5 ± 5.0 and 70.00 ± 5.50 % respectively. In conclusion this study demonstrated for the first time that chronic administration of HSC improves haematological parameters, brain mood and function as well as maintaining erythrocyte membrane integrity.Keywords: Erythrocyte osmotic fragility, Excitability score, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Rabbits, Haematological parameters

Physiological and behavioural responses of livestock to road transportation stress: A review

Physiological and behavioural responses of livestock to road transportation stress are reviewed. Livestock transported by road in most part of the world are predisposed to many stressors which affect the haematological, hormonal function as well as the behavioural activities of the livestock thereby disrupting body homeostasis.Key words: Road transportation, livestock, physiological parameters, behavioural activities

Serum malondialdehyde concentration, rectal temperature and excitability score in road transported rams administered with vitamins C + E combination and vitamin C

Experiment was done to investigate the effect of administration of vitamin C + E and vitamin C alone on serum malondialdehyde concentration, rectal temperature and excitability score in road transported rams. On experimental day, 7 rams (Group 1)were administered with vitamin C at the dose of 250 rug/kg dissolved in 10 ml of water and also vitamin E at the dose of 75 mg/kg, per os while another 7 rams (Group 2) was administered with vitamin C (250 mg/kg) only. The 3rd groups (7 rams), the control, were administered with 10 ml of sterile water. The RT was taken at 07:00,13:00 and 18:00 h, a total offive times, twice in a week and during the journey, at 1h, 4h and 8h, and also three consecutive day's post-transportation. Blood samples were taken a day before transportation, immediately after, on arrival and a 3 days after transportation in which the serum was harvested for MDA determination. Excitability scores was recorded before loading into the vehicle, and immediately after unloading. The results indicated that the rectal temperature (RT) value was lowest at 07:00 hr in the Group 1, and even maintained 13:00 hr which was significantly (P < 0,05) different. The RT value fluctuates during the journey however this values in group 1 and group 2. was not significantly (P > 0.05) different. The serum malondialdehyde concentration value rose in the first hour (2.13 ± 0.51 ng/ml) of the journey to 2.43 ± 0.22 ug/ml in the 8th hour in control group, which was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the values in the other groups. In conclusion, road transportation of ram is stressful but this was reduced 3- days post-transportation and also administration of antioxidants vitamins VE +VC, and VC, alleviated adverse effect of road transportation stress in rams.Keyword: Serum malondialdehyde, rectal temperature, excitability score, road transported ram, vitamin C vitamin E

Effects of road transportation on excitability scores of pigs administered with ascorbic acid during the hot-dry season

This study was carried out in order to determine the effect of eight-hour road transportation on the excitability scores of pigs administered ascorbic acid (AA) during the hot-dry season in Northern Nigeria. Thirteen experimental pigs were administered with AA orally at 100 mg/kg, while ten control pigs were given only distilled water orally. Excitability score of each pig was determined 30 min before and immediately after transportation by a single ‘blind’ observer during weighing. An excitability score of 4 indicated the highest excitability. Percent excitability of experimental and control pigs with each score was also determined. Post-transportation, an increase in the percentage of experimental pigs with excitability score of 4 was recorded (38.5 to 69.2%), while a decrease was obtained in the control pigs (40.0 to 10%). Road transportation decreased the excitability scores and percent excitability in control pigs with high scores. In conclusion, administration of AA increased the nervous excitability of pigs transported by road during the hot-dry season in northern Nigeria

Erythrocyte osmotic fragility of pigs administered ascorbic acid and transported by road for short-term duration during the harmattan season

The experiment was carried out with the aim of investigating the effect of an antioxidant ascorbic acid on erythrocyte osmotic fragility of pigs transported by road for 4 h during the harmattan season. 16 pigs administered with ascorbic acid at the dose of 250 mg/kg per os and individually served as experimental animals and 13 others administered orally with sterile water were used as control animals. The animals were then transported for 4 h at a speed of 40 - 50 km/h covering a distance of 140 km. Blood samples for erythrocyte osmotic fragility determination which was done using standard procedure, were taken early in the morning a day before transportation, immediately after and a week after transportation. Erythrocyte osmotic fragility decreased significantly (P < 0.05) at NaCl concentration of 0.85, 0.80 and 0.70% in both experimental and control pigs following road transportation and the difference in the post-transportation values was higher (P < 0.05) in experimentalcompared to control pigs. The results indicated that ascorbic acid protected the integrity of the erythrocyte membrane in experimental pigs administered ascorbic acid following road transportation as demonstrated by lower percentage haemolysis immediately after road transportation and thus may alleviate the risk of increase in haemolysis due to road transportation stress in pigs during the harmattan season

Changes in erythrocyte membrane properties following exposure to premium motor spirit (petrol vapour) and modulatory effects of moringa oleifera and vitamin c in wistar rats

Background: The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of petrol vapour on properties of Erythrocyte: osmotic fragility(EOF), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and red cell indices as well as the comparative beneficial effect of Moringa oleifera and Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) on the values.Methods: Forty adult male Wister rats randomly divided to four with ten rats in a group. Group 1: control, was given water and feed ad-libitum without any treatment. Group 2 (petrol only) were exposed to petrol vapour only without any pretreatment. Group 3 (Vit C group) pretreated wit Ascorbic acid (100mg/kg) before exposure to petrol vapour; and group 4 were (Moringa group) were pretreated with Moringa oleifera extract (40mg/kg) before exposure to petrol vapour. The exposure to petrol vapour was done 10 minutes every day for eight weeks. Exposure to petrol fume was generated by using human compressor nebulizer adopted for rats and connected to fume chamber where the rats were kept. The pretreatment was effected by gavage using the oral cannula, 30 minutes before exposure. At the end of the exposure, period 0.2ml of blood samples obtained from individual rat in each group were suspended in separate sets of Phosphate buffer saline (PBS) solution of decreasing concentrations to evaluate erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF). RBC, PCV and Hb were analyzed from heparinised blood sample. The red cell indices were thereafter calculated. 1.2ml of blood kept inside sodium oxalate bottle was suspended in the Westergren tube for one hour.Results: There was significant increase in the fragility of the group exposed to petrol vapour only compared with control and the pre-treated groups. There was zero sedimentation with little or no rouleaux of the erythrocyte in the petrol only group compared with control. There was sedimentation with rouleaux formation in the control, Moringa and vitamin C groups, the difference was however not significant (p>0.05).Conclusion: The study concluded that Erythrocytes membrane became more fragile on exposure to petrol vapour, The degree of amelioration shown by pretreatment with Moringa oleifera was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of Ascorbic acid. Moringa oleifera was found to be more effective in protecting the erythrocyte properties following exposure to petrol vapour than vitamin C.Keywords: Erythrocyte osmotic Fragility, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, Moringa oleifera, Ascorbic aci

Behavioural Responses in Pigs administered with Ascorbic acid and Transported by Road for Eight Hours during the Harmattan Season

Abstract Experiments were carried out with the aim of investigating the modulatory role of ascorbic acid (AA) on responses to 8-h road transportation, covering a distance of 260 km at a speed of 40 -50 km/h, during the harmattan season. Twentynine adult local pigs aged 9 -12 months served as subjects. Seventeen pigs administered with AA, prior to the transportation, at the dose of 250 mg/kg orally and individually served as experimental animals, and 12 others administered orally with sterile water were used as control animals. The behavioural activities of pigs which included resting (that is, either lying down or standing idle), defaecating, urinating, sniffing, threats of attack (fight), attempts to escape, mounting on one another, hurdling together and routing the floor were monitored with the aid of a video camera without the pigs knowing that they were being observed. Recordings were done based on the number of pigs found performing each activity within 30 min of direct observation, alternated by 30 min of rest and this continued for a period of 4 h. The tape was later watched, analysed and the number of pigs exhibiting each behavioural activity was recorded. Post-transportation, the behavioural activities of standing (94.1 ± 5.8 %), aggressiveness indicated by the percentage of pigs involved in fighting (23.5 ± 6.00 %) and attempts to escape (66.67 ± 14.21 %) were higher in experimental pigs (P < 0.05) post-transportation than control pigs with the corresponding values of 25.00 ± 3.00 %; 0.00 % and 35.29 ± 11.95 %, respectively. The results showed that road transportation induced considerable behavioural stress resulting in depression of the central nervous system. AA administration pre-transportation reduced the manifestation of stressful behavioural activities in experimental pigs following road transportation. In conclusion, long-term road transportation of pigs during the harmattan season induces behavioural stress, alleviated by AA administration

Fatal abomasal sand impaction in a giraffe calf (Giraffa camelopardalis) at the University of Ilorin zoological garden

A post-mortem examination was carried out on a 4-month-old giraffe which was reported dead early hours of the morning in the zoological garden, University of Ilorin. The carcass of the animal appeared slightly emaciated and on opening of the carcass the abomasum was distended with a hard mass felt inside the organ. On opening of the organ, it was filled with sand and weighing 3.8kg. Geophagia due to various  factors were queried in the cause of the condition including seasonal prevalence, nutrient deficiencies,  feeding regimen and also housing inadequacies. Although poor milk intake, absence of maternal nurturing  and inadequate captive conditions are the most likely causes of geophagia which eventually led to the  death of the animal.Keywords: Abomasum, Sand impaction, Geophagia, Giraffe, Nigeri

The Physiological potentials of Ghrelin in enhancing Feed intake in Livestock

Ghrelin is an orexigenic protein with a unique lipid chain modification and is known to be an important gut-brain signal for appetite control and energy balance. It is neuroendocrine hormone secreted mainly by the oxyntic cells of gastric fundus and travels to the brain. There it interacts with both the hypothalamus (the brain’s physiological eating center) and the brain’s pleasure centers to arouse hunger. The ghrelin receptor, growth-hormone secretagogue receptor type 1a, is able to bind acylated ghrelin. The first recognised effect of ghrelin was the induction of growth hormone release from the somatotroph cells of the anterior pituitary. It is also expressed in the pancreatic islets, hypothalamus, pituitary and several tissues in the periphery. The aim of this review is to see some of the effects of ghrelin on feeding behaviour in selected livestock specie

Učinak askorbinske kiseline na stupanj razdražljivosti svinja tijekom prijevoza u sezoni hladnoga pustinjskoga vjetra harmattan

Experiments were performed with the aim of investigating the effect of ascorbic acid (AA) administration on the excitability of pigs transported by road for four hours. Sixteen pigs served as experimental animals and were administered AA orally and individually at a dose of 250 mg/kg dissolved in 20 mL of sterile water, while thirteen pigs were administered only 20 mL each of sterile water per os as controls. While the pigs were being weighed, excitability scores were recorded for each pig, before and immediately after road transportation using a standard method. A score of one to four was allocated to each pig, a higher score representing greater excitability. Excitability scores decreased significantly (P<0.05) in control pigs immediately after transportation. The results show that road transportation induced considerable stress followed by depression, as evidenced by a lower excitability score recorded post-transportation in control pigs. The administration of AA pre-transportation resulted in the maintenance of excitability of the central nervous system in the experimental pigs following road transportation. In conclusion, AA administration to pigs prior to road transportation during the harmattan season ameliorates the depression induced by the journey, and may enhance their health and productivity.Pokusi su provedeni s ciljem istraživanja učinka askorbinske kiseline na razdražljivost svinja tijekom četverosatnog prijevoza. Pojedinačno je svakoj od 16 pokusnih svinja dana askorbinska kiselina u dozi od 250 mg/kg otopljena u 20 mL sterilne vode, dok je 13 svinja kojima je svakoj dano samo 20 mL sterilne vode per os poslužilo kao kontrola. Stupanj razdražljivosti svinja određivan je za vrijeme vaganja prije i neposredno nakon cestovnoga prijevoza. Svakoj svinji dodijeljeni su bodovi od jedan do četiri s tim da je veći broj označavao veću razdražljivost. Stupanj razdražljivosti bio je značajno manji (P<0,05) u kontrolnih svinja neposredno nakon prijevoza. Rezultati su pokazali da cestovni prijevoz potiče značajan stres praćen potištenošću kao što je vidljivo na osnovi manjega stupnja razdražljivosti nakon prijevoza u kontrolnih svinja. Davanje askorbinske kiseline prije prijevoza dovelo je do održavanja podražljivosti središnjega živčanoga sustava u pokusnih svinja nakon cestovnoga prijevoza. Davanje askorbinske kiseline svinjama prije cestovnoga prijevoza u sezoni pustinjskoga vjetra harmattan smanjilo je potištenost uzrokovanu prijevozom, a može poboljšati njihovo zdravlje i proizvodnost