1 Differences between whites and blacks have been described in the incidence and patterns of cardiac disease and in electrocardiographic features. 2 The objective of the present study was to see if the ECG response to the same plasma and red blood cell quinidine concentration differed between whites and blacks. 3 It was found that following a standard single oral dose of quinidine both plasma and red blood cell quinidine concentrations tended to be lower in seven healthy white British subjects than in seven healthy Nigerians. 4 The change in QTc interval (delta QTc) after quinidine, however, tended to be greater in the white British subjects than in the Nigerians. 5 At a single plasma quinidine concentration the delta QTc tended to be higher in white British subjects than in Nigerians. 6 At a single blood cell quinidine concentration, delta QTc was significantly higher in British white subjects than in Nigerians. 7 The inter‐ethnic differences found could be due to both environmental and genetic factors. Further work will be required to decide the relative importance of both these factors on plasma quinidine levels and QTc responses.

Abstract:The comparative studies on anthelmintic potency of Carica papaya seeds was investigated in naturally infected Red Sokoto goats. Forty Red Sokoto goats (average 12 ± 0.25 kg body weight) infected naturally with helminthes were used to compare anthelminthic potency of Carica papaya seeds in aqueous and crude extract forms and Thiabendazole treatment against intestinal worms. The animals were randomly assigned into four treatment groups (A, B, C and D) consisting of 10 Red Sokoto goats per group. The animals in group A were not treated (negative control) while B undergone thiabendazole anthelmintic treatment (positive control). Groups C and D were given the powdery and aqueous forms of C. papaya seed extract via feed at 300 mg/ kg body weight/day and at 1:10 ml (w/v) of water respectively for 3 days. Before anthelmintic treatments and 1 st and 2 nd weeks after administering the anthelminthics, faecal and blood samples were collected for parasitological and haematological analysis. Data collected were subjected to one-way ANOVA. Treatments of both aqueous and powdery forms of C. papaya seed extract resulted a significant increase (p < 0.05) in packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC) and haemoglobin concentration and lymphocyte counts. Conversely, there was significant (p > 0.05) decrease in the eosinophil counts. The reduction in the faecal egg counts of helminth when C. papaya seed extracts applied was significantly (p < 0.05) comparable to those obtained for Thiabendazole treatment. However, the efficacy of aqueous form of C. papaya seed extract was more significant (p < 0.05) than the crude (powdery) extract administered via the feed. The study therefore concludes that C. papaya seed extracts have comparable anthelmintic potency to Thiabendazole and that aqueous forms were more efficient than powdery forms when administered in Red Sokoto goats as an alternative to anthelmintic to synthetic dewormers in rural areas in controlling helminthosis.

The study was carried out to determine the effect of road transportation on some blood and physioclinical indices in West African Dwarf (WAD) goats. Nineteen (19) WAD goats aged between 6 and 8 months weighing between 4.16Kg and 5.90Kg were transported in a wagon for 3 hours 18 minutes. Collection of data on rectal temperature (RT) and heart rate (HR), and blood sampling were carried out just before loading the animals into the wagon and repeated immediately on arrival at the destination. The blood samples were analyzed for packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration (HB), red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil (NEU), lymphocyte (LYM), eosinophil (EOS), corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV). Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aminotransferase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) concentrations were also determined. Except the reduced (P<0.05) haemoglobin (Hb) after transportation, the results showed that haematological parameters and pulse rate were comparable before departure and on arrival(P>0.05). Rectal temperature was however slightly higher(P<0.05) on arrival compared to departure in mixed sex and male goats. Serum AST, ALT and ALP were higher (P<0.05) before transportation compared to the values obtained on arrival. The findings showed no remarkable influence of transport by road on the haematological parameters and pulse rate of WAD goats except reduced HB, serum AST, ALT and ALP and increasedrectal temperature observed after transportation.

Changes in the concentration of serum cortisol in blood samples of twenty healthy West African Dwarf (WAD) bucks were determined during electro-ejaculation. The animals were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. Group I consisted of bucks that had rectal probe inserted but were not electroejaculated (NEE), and group II consisted of bucks that were electroejaculated (EE) in the morning (0900hr), afternoon (1400hr) and late afternoon (1800hr). The results showed that serum cortisol values found in both groups were similar (P>0.05). Increase in cortisol levels were observed (P<0.05) in the afternoon in both EE and NEE animals in comparison with morning and late afternoon. The findings of this study indicate that the increase observed in cortisol concentrations in the afternoon in both groups reflects stress stimuli due to slight increase in ambient temperature.

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