Enterotoxicigenicity profile of Escherichia coli, Vibrio, and Salmonella species isolated from well and river water sources in Oproama town in the Niger Delta, Nigeria

Well water is the only source of drinking water in Oproama Town in Rivers state, Nigeria. Water from these sources is consumed without treatment, and potentially poses a health risk to the local population. The Enterotoxigenicity profile of Escherichia coli, Vibrio and Salmonella species isolated from well and river water sources in Oproama were investigated using fluid accumulation (FA) ratio. The study revealed that Salmonella isolate (S9) from the river showed doubtful toxicity out of the ten Escherichia coli, ten Vibrio and ten Salmonella isolates. This study revealed a near-absence of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Vibrio and Salmonella organisms from the waters in Oproama. More studies are required to further test the overall safety of these water sources due to the potential risk of consuming untreated water. KEYWORDS: Escherichia coli, Vibrio, Salmonella, Enterotoxigenicit

Plasma progesterone profile and ovarian activity of forced-moult layers

Different techniques of moult induction were used to force moult 360 commercial old layers, aged 85 weeks. The techniques were: natural day length with feed and water ad libitum, natural day length with water but no feed, natural day length with no feed and no water, reduced day length with feed and water ad libitum, reduced day length with water but no feed, reduced day length with no feed and no water, designated as T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6, respectively. The T1 served as the control. Sixty hens wererandomly assigned to each treatment which was replicated 3 times. The moult induction period was for 10 days coupled with 50 days of recovery period when the birds were fed low protein moult diet. At day 7, the ovaries of T2, T3, T5, T6 regressed weighing 3.43, 7.03, 5.00, 4.80 g, respectively. These were significantly (P<0.05) lower than the ovarian weights of 34.73 and 35.13 g of T4 and control (T1), respectively. By day 35 of moult induction, the ovaries of T2, T3, T5 showed the greatest recoveryincreasing to 18.53, 20.73, 13.27 g, respectively, while T4 decreased to 13.00 g. The number of large yellow follicles of T2, T3, T5, T6 decreased from 3.33 on day 0 to 0.00 on day 7. By day 21 the large yellow follicles of T2, T3, T5 and T6 started regenerating, ranging between 2.33 and 3.00 and by day 49 were significantly (P<0.05) higher than T4 (1.67). Plasma progesterone levels decreased from between 0.50 and 0.60 ng/ml on day 0 to undetectable levels by days 7 and 14 in T2, T3, T5, T6. By day 21,plasma progesterone levels (ng/ml) started rising in T2 (0.40), T3 (0.33), T5 (0.40), T6 (0.33) although these were significantly (P<0.05) lower than those of T1 (0.77) and T4 (0.81). As the number of large yellow follicles increased, the concentration of progesterone in the plasma increased

Morphological characteristics and egg production of forced-moult layers under different moult induction techniques

A study was conducted to investigate the morphological characteristics and egg production of forcedmoult layers. Different feeding patterns designated T1, T2 and T3 representing ad libitum supply of feed and water, no feed but water given ad libitum and no feed or water, respectively, were used to induce moult. T1 served as the control. One hundred and twenty 84-week old layers in their 64 weeks in lay were randomly assigned to each treatment, which was replicated 4 times with 30 hens per replicate.Forced-moult treatments were imposed for 10 days, after which the moulting hens were fed moult diet for 50 days and returned to the same feed as the control. The results of the study revealed that morphological characteristics following moult induction included loss of feathers, dullness of theeyeballs, shriveling and paleness of the comb, wattle and ear lobes. Also the moulting birds emaciated with T2 and T3 losing 18.18 and 25.97%, respectively, of their initial body weights by day 7 of moult induction. The forced-moult groups T2 and T3 stopped egg production by  6 days of moult induction and resumed egg production by day 25. T2 and T3 attained a peak egg production of 71% by the second month following resumption of lay. On the other hand, in the T1 egg production progressively decreased with age

Controversies concerning the diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder in children

This commentary grows out of an interdisciplinary workshop focused on controversies surrounding the diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder (BP) in children. Although debate about the occurrence and frequency of BP in children is more than 50 years old, it increased in the mid 1990s when researchers adapted the DSM account of bipolar symptoms to diagnose children. We offer a brief history of the debate from the mid 90s through the present, ending with current efforts to distinguish between a small number of children whose behaviors closely fit DSM criteria for BP, and a significantly larger number of children who have been receiving a BP diagnosis but whose behaviors do not closely fit those criteria. We agree with one emerging approach, which gives part or all of that larger number of children a new diagnosis called Severe Mood Dysregulation or Temper Dysregulation Disorder with Dysphoria

Effect of Feed Restriction on Principal Component Measures of Body Size and Conformation in Commercial Broiler Chickens

Three levels of feed restriction, namely 5, 10 and 15% of ad libitum intake of control individuals were imposed in both the starter and finisher phases of growth of commercial Cobb broiler chicks. Groups tbat were restricted in the starter phase were full-fed in the finisher phase, and vice-versa. With the exception of tbe market age of 9 weeks, the control did not show clear superiority for body size index to all restricted groups. In general, better body conformation was observed In finisher-restricted than in control and starter- restricted groups. The indications are that feed restriction did not adversely affect principal component body size index in a manner expected for body weight, and that some measure of feed restriction in the finishing phase enhanced good body conformation.Keywords: Feed Restriction, Body Size, Conformation, Broile

Repeatability of growth traits in Nigerian local chickens using early records

No Abstract

Growth performance of normal frizzle and naked-neck chickens in a tropical environment

Growth performance of normal-feathered, frizzle and naked neck indigenous chickens of Nigeria during an   18-week growing period was studied. Differences in body weights among the three genotypes (sexes   combined) were not significantly different at all ages, although those with normal feathering showed general superiority over the other two genotypes. Male normal-feathered individuals had significantly higher body  weights than the females from week 6, whereas differences between male and female naked necks were  significantly from the females at all ages. No significant differences were obsened among the genotypes and  between the sexes in both absolute and relative growth rates in the 18-week growing period. It therefore  seems that any advantage the two major genes investigated may have as a consequence of their direct effects on efficiency of thermoregulation of chickens in hot environments would probably be manifested after the  growing period. This justifies the exploitation of these genes for egg production in the tropics.Keywords: Indigenous chickens, frizzled feather, naked neck, major genes, growth performance

HIV/AIDS awareness study of fresh students in tertiary institutions in Rivers State of Nigeria

This study examined the knowledge, attitude and preventive practices (KAP) of 285 first year University of Port-Harcourt students regarding HIV/AIDS, in December 2002. Data was collected using structured questionnaires administered by two trained interviewers. Students had partial knowledge of the definition of HIV/AIDS, the mode of transmission, prevention and cure. Only 56.1% were concerned about contracting the virus although 70.2% had had sex, 57.0% had had sex without condom and 42.1% had had multiple sex partners. Similarly, 82.5% believed HIV/AIDS was in their institution but majority, 86.0%, had never tested for HIV. There is urgent need for more education, counselling and testing for HIV in order to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in tertiary institutions due to ignorance and risky behaviours. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management Vol. 9(1) 2005: 11-1

Effects of Quantitative Feed Restriction on Broiler Growth and Economics of Production

The effects of quantitative feed restriction on broiler growth and monetary returns were investigated using two hundred and forty Cobb broiler chicks. Three levels of restriction namely, 5 10and 15% of ad libitum intake, were randomly imposed on different groups. Birds that were restricted in the starter phase of growth were full-fed in the finisher phase, and vice versa. Body weight was depressed by all levels of feed restriction considered. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was however not significantly affected. Although quantitative feed restriction significantly reduced feed cost, the highest revenue was realized from control birds. All economic parameters considered did not show feed restriction as having advantage over full-feeding.Keywords: Feed Restriction, Broiler Growth, Economics of Productio