THE PREVALENCE OF LIVER FLUKE (Fasciola Gigantiga) INFECTION OF CATTLE IN ISOKO NORTH AND SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS, DELTA STATE, NIGERIA.

Kperegbeyi, J. I and Onwumere, O.S.

Department of Agricultural Technology

 School of Agriculture, Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, Nigeria

E-mail:jameslovekperegbeyi@gmail.com,james_kperegbeyi@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of fascioliasis in cattle slaughtered in Isoko North and South Local Government Areas of Delta State was studied. The species of importance was fasciola gigantica. There were two phases of the study. In the first phase a retrospective analysis was made on the monthly abattoir records from different towns in Isoko North and South Local Government Areas from January 2003 to December 2004 kept by the veterinary division of the Delta State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Production (MAFP). The second phase involves actual meat inspection at the Isoko North and South abattoir from August to October, 2013. In the first phase, the result shows that only seven of the towns in Isoko North and South Local Government Areas had complete figures of cases of fascioliasis in cattle, and the prevalence rates were quite significant ranging 0.06% in Owhelogbo to 0.073% inOleh town in Isoko North and South Local Government Area. The overall prevalence rate of fascioliasis in cattle for the whole area during the one year period was 0.486%. In the second phase 486 of the 1444 cattle examined were infected with fascioliasis giving a prevalence rate of 0.38% for the period. The liver was found to be the predilection site.

ANTI-DIABETIC ACTIVITY OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF ANACARDIUM OCCIDENTALE (LINN) STEM BARK IN NORMAL AND ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC ALBINO RATS

Sambo, Sarah Haruna, Olatunde, Ahmed and Luka, Carrol Domkat

Department of Biochemistry,

University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.

E-mail: bchresearchers@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The present study was carried out to investigate the anti-diabetic activity of aqueous extract of Anacardium occidentale stem bark in both normal and alloxan induced diabetic rats. Alloxan-induced diabetic and non-diabetic rats were administered orally with aqueous extract of Anacardium occidentale stem bark at 400 mg/kg for 28 days, after which the blood glucose, total protein, albumin, marker enzymes, lipid profile and some haematological indices were determined and compared with the normal control. There was a significant (p<0.05) increase in the level of blood glucose, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride (TG) and a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the level of high density lipoprotein (HDL), total protein, albumin, packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) of the diabetic untreated rats. Oral administration of aqueous extract of Anacardium occidentale stem bark at a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight for 28 days to diabetic rats resulted in a reversal of the above diabetic conditions. Phytochemical screening of the aqueous extract of Anacardium occidentale stem bark revealed the presence of alkaloid, balsam, cardiac glycoside, flavonoid, phenol and terpenes/steroids. The results from this study suggest that the aqueous extract of Anacardium occidentale stem bark used in the study possesses anti-diabetic activities and could be used for the management of diabetes and associated metabolic alterations.

COMPARATIVE PHYSICO-CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF NATURAL HONEY COLLECTED FROM TRADITIONAL BEE-BREEDERS IN OGUN STATE.

*Adebowale, O.J.¹, Salaam, H.A¹ and Agboola, O.A².

¹Department of Food Technology, The Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, Nigeria.

²Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.

E-mail: jimiolalekan@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Comparative studies on the physico-chemical composition of natural honey produced by traditional bee- breeders from the three senatorial districts in Ogun state were investigated. These districts were: Ogun-East, Ogun-Central and Ogun-West consisting of nine, six and five local government areas respectively. Double-stage multistage clustered sampling was used to carry out the studies on the selected six (6) local government areas that were finally chosen for the studies. Fresh natural honey samples were collected in sterile pet bottles and were analyzed for hydroxymethyfurfural, reducing sugar, pH, specific gravity, refractive index, total solids, titratable acidity, moisture and ash contents, and sucrose. Values range of 43.4 to 53.1(ppm); 70.2 to 76.4 (%); 2.73 to 3.74; 1.255 to 1.402; 1.446 to 1.448; 73.5 to 77.5(%); 0.62 to 1.63; 22.5 to 26.5 (%); 1.2 to 2.8 (%) and 3.23 to 4.72 (%) for hydroxymethyfurfural, reducing sugar, pH, specific gravity, refractive index, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, moisture, ash contents and sucrose respectively were recorded. Results obtained from the study however, showed that moisture and ash contents do not conform with the standards (Codex Alimentarius Commission and European Union) in that, values obtained were higher the those of the standards. Conversely, data obtained for titratable acidity, refractive index, reducing sugars, sucrose and to some extent the hydroxymethyfurfural were in agreement with the standards. Generally, all the honey samples investigated were highly acidic with high total soluble solids (sugars) and hence, a good-preserve.

TESTICULAR AND ANDROLOGICAL EFFECTS OF THE METHANOL EXTRACT OF THE ROOT OF CISSAMPELOS MUCRONATA (A. RICH) IN RATS

S.H. Garba¹, T.W. Jacks¹, P.A. Onyeyili² and H.A. Nggada³

¹Department of Human Anatomy, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria.

²Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria.

³Department of Human Pathology, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria.

E-mail: saniwakawa@yahoo.co.uk

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to determine the potential toxicological effects of the methanol root extract of Cissampelos mucronata (A. Rich) on testicular tissue and some andrological parameters in the male rats. A total of 20 male rats weighing 200-253 g were used for the study which was randomly divided into four groups of 5 rats per dosage group (I-IV). Group I served as the control group and were administered normal saline equivalent to the volume administered to the highest dosed experimental rats. Rats in Groups II, III and IV were administered with 100 mgkg^-1, 200 mgkg^-1 and 300mgkg^-1 doses of the extract respectively for 28 days. At the end of the experimental period the rats were anaesthetized, sacrificed and orchidectomy performed to obtain testicular tissues for semen and histopathological analysis while blood obtained was analysed to determine the serum levels of Testosterone, Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH). Administration of 100, 200 and 300 mgkg^-1 of the extract for 28 days caused a significant (p<0.01) decrease in both body and testicular weights in a dose dependent manner. There was a decrease in sperm count, motility and the percentage of total viable sperm and an increase in the percentages of non motile and abnormal sperm cells that was not biologically significant and dose dependent. Hormonal analysis also revealed that the extract elicited a decrease in testosterone levels at 200 and 300 mgkg^-1 all the changes were not biologically significant while LH and FSH levels were not affected. Histopathological assessment of the testicular tissue revealed paucity in the number of spermatogenic cells, atrophy of Leydig cells and moderate basement membrane thickening. The study suggests that prolonged and constant use of the extract has testicular toxicity potentials but further studies to assess if the damages caused are reversible or not is suggested.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF TOXIC AND ESSENTIAL TRACE ELEMENTS IN CAT FISH SPECIES FROM LAKES AND FISH POND LOCATED IN SOUTH EAST, NIGERIA.

¹Olisah, C.M., ²Dioka, C.E., ²Meludu, S.C., ³Nwozor, C.M., ⁴Okafor, I.J.

¹Department of Medical Biochemistry, Anambra State University, Uli, Nigeria.

²Department of Chemical Pathology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nnewi Campus, Nigeria.

³Department of Physiology, Anambra State University, Uli, Nigeria.

⁴Department of Anatomy, Anambra State University, Uli, Nigeria.

E-mail: corneliusnwozor@gmail.com   

ABSTRACT

The concentration of some toxic elements (mercury, lead, cadmium and arsenic) and some essential trace elements (cobalt, zinc, manganese, selenium, chromium and copper) in fish obtained from Oguta Lake, Agulu lake and fish pond in South East Nigeria were determined using a rapid, highly sensitive method. A stepwise digestion procedure using concentrated nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide was used for complete oxidation of organic tissues. The concentrations of the various elements were measured using Varian AA240 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. A total of 46 fish samples covering three Species of cat fish namely: Clarias lazera, Clarias anguillaris and Clarias gariepinus were analyzed for their elemental contents. Results of the study indicate low level of exposure to mercury, cadmium, lead, chromium, zinc, copper, manganese, cobalt selenium and high level of arsenic and mercury in fish species found in Oguta Lake. Higher values of these toxic metals detected may pose a significant health risk to the individuals and to a greater extent the general population buying fish from this source.