HBV/HIV co-infection: The dynamics of HBV in South African patients with AIDS

Objective. As sub-Saharan Africa is highly endemic for hepatitis Bvirus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections,and their co-infection requires special management, we aimedto assess the serological and molecular characteristics of HBV inpatients with AIDS.Design. This was a cross-sectional, case control study, whichenrolled 200 patients with AIDS and 200 HIV-negative controls.HBV serology was done in all participants and HCV serologyin participants with a hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) onlyserological pattern. Nested HBV polymerase chain reaction (PCR)and HBV viral load assays were used for HBV molecular detection.Results. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) prevalence was3-fold higher while the ‘anti-HBc only’ pattern was 6-fold higher inthe AIDS group compared with the controls. Mean HBV viral loadwas significantly higher in HBsAg-positive patients with CD4+cell counts <100 cells/ìl than in patients with CD4+ cell counts of100-200 cells/ìl (p=0.019). There were markedly reduced hepatitisB surface antibody (anti-HBs) titres in the AIDS group comparedwith the controls (p=0.002). A significant proportion of AIDSpatients with an ‘anti-HBc only’ pattern had CD4+ cell counts <100cells/ìl (p=0.004). Occult HBV prevalence was 3.5% in the AIDSgroup compared with 1% in the controls (p=0.092). When occultHBV infection was taken into consideration, the overall HBVprevalence became 10% in the AIDS group and 3% in the controlgroup.Conclusion. We showed an increased HBV prevalence in patientswith AIDS and identified a CD4+ cell count <100 cells/ìl as amajor risk factor for the ‘anti-HBc only’ pattern and increasedHBV replication. These data have significant public healthimplications for HBV in developing countries, especially in areaswhere antiretroviral (ARV) guidelines do not cater for HBV/HIVco-infection

Evaluation of forage legume Lablab purpureus as a supplement for lactating Bunaji cows

The effects of forage legume lablab (Lablab purpureus) as a supplement for Bunaji cows was investigated both on-station and on-farm. The results of the on-farm trial involving five herds in each of two villages (control and supplemented) showed that supplementation with 3 kg of lablab increased milk off-take significantly (P<0.001) (1.27±0.09 vs. 0.71±0.1 kg per cow/day for supplemented and non-supplemented cows, respectively). Cows in the supplemented group showed a higher gain in body weight compared to non-supplemented animals (411±1.4 vs. 127±1.8 g/day respectively). They also showed a higher (P<0.001) body condition score than those in the non-supplemented group (3.5-4.5 vs. 2.0-3.5). Overall mean weight gain for calves was however, similar for both supplemented and non-supplemented groups (428±5.3 vs. 428±1.5 g/day). Supplementation of suckling Bunaji cows with lablab improved the performance of the animals and the income of the farmers

Yield and Composition of Milk and Their Relationship with Preweaning Lamb Growth in Yankasa Ewes and their Crosses with Sires of Suffolk X Wenselydale Breed

Milk production in Yankasa ewes and their crosses with sires of Suffolk/Wenselydale breed was measured at weekly intervals following oxytocin administration. The influence of age and breed of dam on yield and composition were investigated and the relationships between milk yield, milk composition and lamb weight gain were determined. Daily milk production in Yankasa and crossbred ewes averaged 348.1 and 505.7g respectively. The mean fat and protein content over the entire lactation were 5.86 and 5.07% for Yankasa and 6.19 and 4.96% for crossbreds, respectively. Crossbred ewes produced significantly bigher (P&lt;0.01) milk than Yankasa at all stages of lactation. Age of tbe ewe had Significant effect (P &lt; .05) on total milk yield but not on fat or protein content. The correlations between lamb weight gain and milk yield at various stages of lactation ranged from 0.51 to 0.66 and 0.62 to 0.71, respectively, for Yankasa and crossbred lambs. Sheep milking can make a significant contribution to rural dally production in Nigeria.Keywords: Milk Yield, Milk Composition, Lamb Growth, Yanicasa, Suffolk X Wenselydale Crosse

Effect of Stocking Density on Performance of Growing Rabbits in Semi-Humid Tropics

In order to evaluate the adoption possibility of Maize- Mucuna-Fertiliser (mineral) System (MMFS), for soil fertilisation in the southern part of Togo, 52 farms from three representative villages of the region were analysed and classified into three types according to their adoption potential for the innovation: type A characterised by heads of farm being in majority land owners; type B whose head of farm are young, literate and in majority land tenants; and type C whose heads are old mainly land tenants. Participatory surveys, based on contingent ranking of the constraints, conducted with homogenous groups of farmers chosen according to three types of farm, helped to sort out the major constraints to the adoption of MMFS. These constraints, having a high degree of severity (≥ 45%), were in order of importance: the lack of money/loan, the land problem (lack of arable lands and insecurity on rented ones), the suppression of mixed cropping by the MMFS and the non availability of mucuna seed. For the farmers of type A, the non availability of mucuna seed and the lack of money/loan presented a degree of severity of 100% each. For those of type B and C, the land problem was the most important: it presented a degree of severity of 100% for the farmers of type B and 80% for those of type C. Sixty growing rabbits were housed at densities of 6.7, 10, 13.3, 16.7 and 20 rabbits/m2 in wood and poultry wire mesh cages for six weeks and fed a common diet of 22.6% CP and 2600 kcal/kg ME. Parameters measured were feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, body condition, fur condition and body bites. Stocking density significantly (P&lt; 0.05) affected feed intake and weight gain but not feed conversion ratio of rabbits. Rabbits stocked at densities of 6.7, 10 and 13.3 rabbits/m2 had higher average daily gain than those stocked at higher densities. Feed intake was higher at higher densities. The trend shows a significant decrease in feed intake by individual rabbits as stocking density increases in week 1-2 and 3-4. Feed conversion ratio was poorer at higher densities (16.7, 20 rabbits/m2) than at lower densities (6.7, 10, 13.3 rabbits/m2). There was no definite relationship between stocking density and mortality rate of rabbits. Rabbits stocked at 6.7 to 13.3 rabbits/m2 had significantly higher body condition score and fur condition compared with those stocked at 16.7 and 20 rabbits/m2. There were no differences in fighty bites for all the stocking densities. It is concluded from this study that the optimum stocking density for rabbits in the semi-humid tropics is 13.3 rabbits/m2

Repeatebility of temperament scores in Bunaji and friesian-Bunaji crosses

Repeatabilities of temperament scores were estimated by breed, sex, age, weight and body condition in  an enclosed weighbridge (method 1) and in a cattle crush (method 2). The model used included animal, scorer, animal x scorer and replicate within scorer effects. The within and between animal variation accounted for 44 and 54%, respectively, for method 1 and 67 and 32%, respectively, of total variation for method 2. Animal x scorer interaction was not significant. For both methods, repeatabilities for temperament scores were 0.56 and 0.54, for method 1 and 0.33 and 0.32, for method 2. Scoring animals in seclusion seems to enhance expression of temperament and hence is more repeutahle and reproducible.Key words: Bunaji; Friesian-Bunaji cattle; Temperament scores; Repeatability

Effects of urea - Ammoniation and cotton seed cake supplementation on the utilization of sorghum stover by sheep

No Abstract

The influence of date of planting and fertilizer application on growth components of Columbus grass (Sorghum almum)

Trials were conducted at Gangara in the Northern Guinea Savanna ecological zone of Nigeria during the 1990 and 1991 rainy seasons. The effects of date of planting (4th, 14th, 24th June and 4th July) and levels of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 5O, 100, 150 and 200 kg/ha) on growth components of Sorghum almum were investigated. Planting in mid-June (14th June) in 1990 and early-July (4th July) in 1991 resulted in superior stand establishment and dry matter yields (P &lt; 0.05) than older dates. In mid-June and early-July planting 14 days post-planting, plant densities were 7 .0 and 9.0 culms/m2 while plant heights were 20.4 and 11.3cm for the respective years. It had high tillering capacity and irrespective of date of planting (except for early-June planting) plant densities by 56 days post-planting (OPP) were greater than, 100 culms/m2 Plant heights at this stage were greater than 100 culm//m2 and were generally above 200cm. Ninety DPP the pasture was at full bloom/hard dough stage. DM yields then ranged from 8.0 to 11.4 tDM/ha in 1990 and 9.6 to 14.7 tDM/ha in 1991. Similarly seed yield for the respetive years were 894.7 and 836.3 kg/ha. Fertilizer application (P &lt; 0.05) plant vigour, tillering and dry matter yield up to the higliest N applied. In the first year's trial, plant density at 35 days post-planting ranging from 12.0 to 29.0 culms/m2 while in the second year the range was 13.0 to 26.0 culms/m2 'The corresponding values at 56 DPP (i.e.. 42 days following N application were 32.0 to 81.0 and 45.0 to 101.0 culms/m2 Dry matter yields rose steadily from 6.5 to 12.5 tDM/ha m 1990 and from 8.9 to 13.6 tDM/ha in 1991 as fertilizer was increased from 0 to 200 kgN/ha. Seed yield during the same period for the respective years varied from 416.0 to 753.0kg/ha. This study has shown that planting between mid-June and early-Joly with fertilizer application or 100 to 200 kgN/ha favour S. almum establishment and production in the Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria.Key Words: Columbus grass, planting date, fertilizer, plant density, height, seed yield, Guinea Savanna