Morphometric Study of the Skull of the Greater Cane Rat (Thryonomys swinderianus, Temmnick)

This study was designed to investigate some morphometric characteristics of the skull of the Greater cane rat (GCR) involving 30 morphometric parameters. A total of 10 adult GCR were used for this study comprising of both sexes (5 males and 5 females). Student t-test was used to analyze the values obtained and to determine differences between the sexes. Morphological features were found in the zygomatic bone which occurred as a large and thick bone on both ends. From 30 parameters analyzed, 12 were statistically significant (p≤ 0.05) between both sexes, confirming the presence of sexual dimorphism in the skull of this rodent. This study provided baseline research data on the typology of the skull of the GCR.KEYWORDS: Greater cane rat, morphometry, skull, sexual dimorphism, craniometry

Sex Hormonal Pattern of the Female African Giant Rat (Cricetomys gambianus, Waterhouse) at Different Stages of the Oestrous Cycle

Enzymeimmunoassay (EIA) system was used to measure the serum concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone(LH), estrogen, progesterone and prolactin in a total of thirty-five sexually matured female African giant rats (cricetomys gambianus, Waterhouse) atdifferent stages of the oestrous cycle in order determine sex hormonal pattern. Exfoliative cytology of vaginal smears was used to classify therats into different phases of the oestrous cycle. The results showed lack of LH surge at late proestrus/early estrus when estrogen had highestserum concentration of 88.7 ± 0.14ng/ml and, estrogen and progesterone had inversely related cyclic pattern. Progesterone serum concentration(96.8 ± 11.21ng/ml) was significantly high (p<0.05) at late metestrus/early diestrus but was at its basal level at late diestrus/early estrus. Prolactin serum concentration (20.7 ± 2.92ng/ml) decreasedsignificantly (p>0.05) at late diestrus/early proestrus and was at its peak during mid estrus. Prolactin serum concentration displayed inverse relationship with the FSH whereas it exhibited synergism with estrogen serum concentration. The hormonal pattern suggested that probably ovulation occured at late diestrus/early proestrus and perhaps femaleAfrican giant rat was a spontaneous ovulator. KEY WORDS: African giant rat, Oestrous cycle, Sexhormone

Anatomical Studies on the Spinal Cord of the Greater Cane Rat (Thryonomys swinderianus, Temminck) I: Gross Morphometry

No Abstract

Dicephalus and diprosopus foetuses: Gross and radiological observations in White Fulani cattle in Nigeria

No Abstract

Bacteria and digestive enzymes in the alimentary tract of the giant African land snails, Archarchatina marginata and Achatina achatina

A study was carried out to investigate the bacteria flora in the gut of the Giant African Land Snails (GALS), Archarchatina marginata and Achatina achatina. Microflora cultures from snail gut contents were prepared to isolate and identify microorganisms within the snail digestive tract. Enzyme assays were carried out on a few of the microorganisms to determine the presence and level of enzymatic activities. Results showed that a wide range of bacteria inhabit the alimentary tract of GALS. Bacteria isolates from the stomach (Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas syringae) and mouth regions (Aeroccus viridians and Azobacter chroococcum) in the two species of GALS effectively digested starch, cellulose and casein. However, Bacillus species from the stomach region in A. achatina exhibited the highest enzymatic activities for cellulase (10.00 μmol/min/ml at 18 h), protease (23.97 μmol/min/ml at 18 h) and amylase (9.56 μmol/min/ml at 24 h) during incubation. Consequently, results from the present study confirmed that amylolytic, cellulolytic and proteolytic bacteria within the digestive tract of the two species of GALS do aid in the snail's digestive processes.Keywords: Microorganisms, snail gut, enzyme activity and Giant African Land Snail

Comparative immunogenicity of local and imported infectious bursal disease (IBD) vaccines administered to chicks at different days of age

A comparative immunogenicity and efficacy study of local and imported infectious bursal disease (IBD) vaccines administered to chicks (cockerels) at varying regimes (10 and 18, 10 and 28, 14 and 35 days of age) was carried out. The test birds were challenged seven days after the booster dose of the IBD vaccine by administering six drops of 20% suspension of infected Bursa of Fabricius homogenate in saline intraoccularly. The results showed that the control (unvaccinated) birds as well as those that were vaccinated on the 14th and 35th days of life showed signs of IBD and up to 80% of the birds in these two categories died two days post-challenge. The birds that were vaccinated on the 10th and 18th and 10th and 28th days of life were apparently protected from clinical infection as there was no morbidity or mortality among them as a result of the IBD virus challenge. The results of the study suggest that both local and imported vaccines are immunogenic and vaccination of chicks on the 10th and 18th and 10th and 28th days of life is effective and protective.Keywords: Chickens, IBD, vaccines, vaccination, Immunogenicit