A Comparison of xylazine/ketamine, diazepam/ketamine and acepromazine/ketamine anaesthesia in Rabbit

The efficacy and safety of the recommended intramuscular (im) clinical doses of xylazine-ketamine (5mg-35mg/kg), diazepam-ketamine (5mg-60mg/kg) and acepromazine-ketamine (5mg-75mg/kg) post administration were obtained, evaluated and compared using the following parameters in 10 apparently healthy rabbits: vital parameters (means of heart rates, respiratory rates and temperature), onset of loss of righting reflex, onset of analgesia, duration of analgesia, duration at recumbency and attempts to stand. Onset of loss of righting reflex was not significantly different (p>0.05) with xylazine-ketamine, diazepam-ketamine and acepromazine-ketamine at 3.4±0.3, 2.0±0.0 and 2.6±0.3 minutes respectively. Diazepam-ketamine and acepromazine-ketamine showed no analgesia while xylazine-ketamine had onset of analgesia and duration of analgesia of 4.2±0.1 and 57.0±0.7 minutes respectively. Duration of recumbency and first attempt to stand were longest with diazepam-ketamine, intermediate with acepromazine-ketamine and shortest with xylazine-ketamine of 184.4±3.3 and 42.0±1.4; 169.9±3.0 and 26.6±1.7; and 62±1.5 and 11.2±0.9 minutes respectively. Mean heart rate ranged between 173.2±6.6 to 187.2±7.5; 188.6±6.4 to 206.0±3.1 and 190.8±1.3 to 202.8±1.9 beats/minute with xylazine-ketamine, diazepam-ketamine, and acepromazine-ketamine respectively. Mean respiratory rate ranges were 58.4±3.5 to 133.0±11.2; 71.4±6.9 to 121.2±12.6 and 80.8±6.2 to 137.0±4.3 breaths/minute with xylazine-ketamine, diazepam-ketamine and acepromazine-ketamine respectively. Mean temperature ranges were 39.9±0.1 to 40.0±0.1; 39.0±0.3 to 39.9±0.1 and 39.6±0.1 to 40.2±0.0:C with xylazine-ketamine, diazepam-ketamine and acepromazine-ketamine respectively. In conclusion, all the three ketamine drug combinations produced unconsciousness and immobility, but only xylazine-ketamine provided additional analgesia. They were associated with normal heart rate and rectal temperature, as well as polypnoea of some clinical concern. Only xylazine-ketamine is potentially useful for painful procedures. Addition of specific analgesics to diazepam-ketamine and acepromazine-ketamine may make them useful for painful procedures.Keywords: Acepromazine, Anaesthesia, Diazepam, Ketamine, Rabbit, Xylazin

Morphological alteration of seminiferous tubules of testes of Wistar rat offspring exposed to alcohol during pregnancy and/or lactation

This paper presents the effects of alcohol on the morphology of seminiferous tubules of testes of Wistar rat offspring exposed to alcohol during pregnancy and/or lactation. Seventy five adult female Wistar rats divided into 3 groups of 25 each and their offsprings were used. The offspring of group 1 served as control, those of group 2 were exposed to 2 g/kg body weight of 30% ethanol (v/v) during pregnancy and lactation (APL) while those of group 3 were exposed to the same dose of ethanol during lactation only (AL). At Day (D) 7, 14, 21, 35 and 49 of postnatal life, 5 male offspring were randomly selected from the three groups and sacrificed. After the sacrifice, the two testes were dissected out and then prepared for routine histological evaluation. The result of the study showed that the seminiferous epithelia of the testes of the alcohol-exposed groups were characterized by few adluminal as well as defoliated germ cells. The result further showed significant reduction (P<0.05) in the diameter of the seminiferous tubules of the testes in alcohol-exposed groups. This histomorphometric effects which persisted into adulthood may have implications on the fertility of male offspring of dams who abuse alcohol during pregnancy and/or lactation.Keywords: Alcohol, pregnancy, lactation, testes, histomorphometry, Wistar rat

Morphometric studies of thyroid gland of Wistar rats exposed to alcohol during pregnancy and/or lactation

Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy and lactation results to some developmental defects such as microcephaly, impairment of central nervous system and mental retardation in the offspring. However,information is limited on the effects of alcohol on the organs of dams being exposed during pregnancy and/or lactation including the thyroid gland. Rat model was employed to investigate the morphometric effects ofalcohol on the thyroid gland in dams. 75 female Wistar rats assigned to 3 groups of 25 each were used. Group 1 served as control (C), group 2 and 3 were exposed to alcohol during pregnancy and lactation (APL) and duringlactation only (AL) respectively. At Day (D)7, D14, D21, D35 and D49 postpartum, 5 lactating rats were randomly selected from the three groups and sacrificed. After the sacrifice, the thyroids were dissected out andtheir weights determined. Thereafter, thyroid tissues were fixed in Bouin’s fluid and prepared for routine histological examination. The results of the investigation showed significant reduction (p<0.05) in the weightsof the thyroid glands. Histological evaluation showed reduced diameter of thyroid follicles, disorganization of follicular cells and desquamation of follicular cells of thyroid glands in alcohol-exposed rats. Our findingssuggest that alcohol intake during pregnancy and/or lactation could be injurious to the thyroid glands.Keywords: Alcohol, pregnancy, lactation, thyroids, Wistar rats

Detection of Influenza A Virus in Pigs in Lagos, Nigeria

This study detected and subtyped strains of influenza virus from pigs in Lagos, South-western Nigeria. A total of 116 (58 nasal and 58 throat) samples from healthy pigs were analysed from two different sites in Ayedoto farm at Ojo Local Government between June and September, 2010 using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Influenza virus type A 31(26.7%) was detected. Subtyping was done using RT-PCR with H1, H3 and H5 primers and only subtypes H1 [5(16.1%)] and H5 [5(16.1%)] were detected. No positive detection was made for subtype H3. This research work is the first documented detection of influenza A virus in pigs in Lagos, Nigeria and demonstrates the need for a sustainable surveillance mechanism of swine and other influenza viruses to be able to prevent influenza epidemic in the environment.Keywords: Subtype, Influenza A, Pig, Lago

Have you seen a rape kit? A snapshot at the quality of care of rape survivors in Nigerian tertiary hospitals

Context: The rape kit has become a fundamental tool in the evaluation of the rape survivor in many countries. Itsavailability and use in Nigeria has however not been documented.Objective: To assess the current availability and usage of the rape kit in Nigerian tertiary hospitals, and evaluate the management of rape survivors.Methodology: Resident Doctors attending the Obstetrics and Gynaecology update course, held in Abuja in March,2009 were interviewed using a self-administered questionnaire assessing experience in rape management, knowledge about the rape kit and its availability, as well as current management of rape survivors.Results: There were 138 respondents from 25 tertiary hospitals, with a male-to-female ratio of 2.8:1 and a meanduration of 3.3 (SD 1.4) years in training. 120 (87%) had personally managed one or more rape survivor(s), but none of the respondents had ever seen a rape kit, and only 29% were aware of it. Although all the respondents indicated availability of emergency contraception, antibiotics and tetanus prophylaxis in their centres, only 32.4% had access to HBV vaccine, and about 8% indicated lack of HIV prophylaxis. Only 28.7% and 45.6% indicated access to clinical psychologists and medical social workers respectively.Conclusion: The rape kit is not available in Nigerian tertiary hospitals. We recommend its provision, and regulartraining of doctors, especially Obstetrics and Gynaecology Residents on rape management, to improve the care ofrape survivors in Nigeria.Key Words: Rape, Rape kit, Rape survivor, Nigeria

Seasonal climatic effects and feedbacks of anthropogenic heat release due to global energy consumption with CAM5

Anthropogenic heat release (AHR) is the heat generated in global energy consumption, which has not been considered in global climate models generally. The global high-resolution AHR from 1992 to 2013, which is estimated by using the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP)/Operational Linescan System (OLS) satellite data, is implemented into the Community Atmosphere Model version 5 (CAM5). The seasonal climatic effects and possible feedbacks of AHR are examined in this study. The modeling results show that AHR increases the global annual mean surface temperature and land surface temperature by 0.02 ± 0.01 K (1σ uncertainty) and 0.05 ± 0.02 K (1σ uncertainty), respectively. The global climatic effect of AHR varies with season: with a stronger climatic effect in the boreal winter leading to global mean land surface temperature increases by 0.10 ± 0.01 K (1σ uncertainty). In the selected regions (40°N–60°N, 0°E–45°E) of Central and Western Europe the average surface temperature increases by 0.46 K in the boreal summer, and in the selected regions (45°N–75°N, 30°E–140°E) of northern Eurasia the average surface temperature increases by 0.83 K in the boreal winter. AHR changes the height and thermodynamic structure of the global planetary boundary layer, as well as the stability of the lower troposphere, which affects the global atmospheric circulation and low cloud fraction. In addition, at the surface both the shortwave radiation flux in the boreal summer and the down-welling longwave flux in the boreal winter change signifi- cantly, as a result of the change in low clouds caused by the effect of AHR. This study suggests a possible new mechanism of AHR effect on global climate through changing the global low-cloud fraction, which is crucial for global energy balance, by modifying the thermodynamic structure and stability of the lower troposphere. Thus this study improves our understanding of the global climate change caused by human activities

Design-with-Nature for Multifunctional Landscapes: Environmental Benefits and Social Barriers in Community Development

Since the early 1970s, Ian McHarg’s design-with-nature concept has been inspiring landscape architects, community and regional planners, and liked-minded professionals to create designs that take advantage of ecosystem services and promote environmental and public health. This study bridges the gap in the literature that has resulted from a lack of empirical examinations on the multiple performance benefits derived through design-with-nature and the under-investigated social aspect emanated from McHarg’s Ecological Determinism design approach. The Woodlands, TX, USA, an ecologically designed community development under McHarg’s approach, is compared with two adjacent communities that follow the conventional design approach. Using national environmental databases and multiple-year residents’ survey information, this study assesses three landscape performance metrics of McHarg’s approach: stormwater runoff, urban heat island effect, and social acceptance. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was used to assess the development extent and land surface temperature distribution. Results show that McHarg’s approach demonstrates benefits in reducing runoff and urban heat island effect, whereas it confronts challenges with the general acceptance of manicured landscapes and thus results in a low safety perception level when residents interact with naturally designed landscapes. The authors argue that design-with-nature warrants multifunctionality because of its intrinsic interdisciplinary approach. Moreover, education and dissemination of successful examples can achieve a greater level of awareness among the public and further promote multifunctional design for landscape sustainability.The open access fee for this work was funded through the Texas A&M University Open Access to Knowledge (OAK) Fund

Integrated pest management of Tuta absoluta: practical implementations across different world regions

The South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), has invaded most Afro-Eurasian countries and is threatening worldwide tomato production. Various strategies have been developed and implemented to manage this pest. Here, we present a timely review on the up-to-date development and practical implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) programs for tomato crops across different world regions infested by T. absoluta. While insecticide resistance is a growing concern, biological control via releasing or conserving arthropod natural enemies and sex pheromone-based biotechnical control are the most successful management practices. Agronomic control-related research is an emerging area where the soil fertilization and/or irrigation, as well as breeding of resistant cultivars, has the potential to enhance IPM effectiveness. Grower survey responses in the native areas (i.e., South America), early-invaded areas (i.e., first report between 2006 and 2012) and newly invaded areas (i.e., first report after 2012) showed that the control programs evolved along with the areas and time since invasion. Growers in the early-invaded areas shifted more rapidly from chemical control to biological control compared to those from the native area. In all concerned regions, the pest control failure risk following chemical insecticide applications and the high cost associated with either biological or biotechnical control methods have been the greatest concerns for growers. The information gathered from the native and/or early-invaded areas may help achieve a more effective management in newly invaded areas. Lastly, researchers are expected to break the bottlenecks of some key issues that would enable lowering application cost of novel biorational alternative management options

The Vertebral Formula of the African Sideneck Turtle (Pelusios castaneus)

An osteological analysis of the vertebral column of the African sideneck turtle (Pelusios castaneus), was carried out with the view of deriving its vertebral formula which could be useful in the comparative systematic anatomy of sea and freshwater turtles as well as in paleontological and archaeological investigations. A total of sixty five adult African sideneck turtles comprising twenty five females and forty males picked up at different times in various river banks in Ibadan, Nigeria, were used for the study. The average body weight of the turtles used for the study was 0.82 ±0.03kg. The curved carapace and plastron lengths of the turtles were 26-4 ±1.87cm and 19.3 ± 1.13cm, respectively. The turtle has eight cervical vertebrae of which the first seven (craniocaudally) were mobile and the last fused with the ventral surface of the carapace and articulated caudally with the first thoracic vertebra. The thoracic vertebrae were seven in number, the last thoracic vertebra articulated with the first sacral vertebra. Three sacral vertebrae were identified in the animals while 15 caudal vertebrae were constantly encountered in all the turtles. The vertebral column of the African side neck turtle consists of 33 vertebrae and its formula can be expressed as C8T7S3Cd15. This formula, the first of its kind in literature is therefore named as the African sideneck turtle vertebral formula (of Olukole) and therefore serves as baseline information on the vertebral column of the turtle.KEY WORD: Anatomy; Carapace; Freshwater Turtle; Skeletal System; Vertebral Column