The aim of this study was to obtain epidemiological estimates of bovine tuberculosis (TB) prevalence in cattle in the highlands of Cameroon using two population-based tuberculin skin test (TST) surveys in the years 2009 and 2010. However, prior to the TST survey in 2010, blood was collected from already chosen cattle for serological assay. Anti-bovine TB antibodies was detected in 37.17% of tested animals and bovine TB prevalence estimates were 3.59%–7.48%, 8.92%–13.25%, 11.77%–17.26% and 13.14%–18.35% for comparative TST at ≥4 mm, ≥3 mm and ≥2 mm cut-off points and single TST, respectively. The agreement between TST and lateral flow was generally higher in TST positive than in TST negative subjects. TheKcoefficients were 0.119, 0.234, 0.251 and 0.254 for comparative TST at ≥4 mm, ≥3 mm and ≥2 mm cut-off points and the single TST groups, respectively. Chi square statistics revealed that strong (P<0.05;χ2>48) associations existed between seroprevalence rates and TST reactors. The study suggested that using lateral flow assay and TST at severe interpretations could improve the perception of bovine TB in Cameroon. The importance of defining TST at modified cut-offs and disease status by post-mortem detection and mycobacterial culture of TB lesions in local environments cannot be overemphasised.

An abattoir study was conducted to evaluate the ovarian potential of 201 local zebu cattle from Ngaoundere, Adamawa region (Cameroon) for in vitro embryo production (IVEP). The ovaries were excised, submerged in normal saline solution (0.9%) and transported to the laboratory for a detailed evaluation. Follicles on each ovary were counted, their diameters (F) measured and were grouped into 3 categories: small (F < 3 mm), medium (3 = F = 8 mm) and large (F > 8 mm). Each ovary was then sliced into a petri dish; the oocytes were recovered in Dulbecco’s phosphate buffered saline, examined under a stereoscope (x10) and graded into four groups based on the morphology of cumulus oophorus cells and cytoplasmic changes of the oocytes. Grade I (GI): oocytes with more than 4 layers of bunch of compact cumulus cells mass with evenly granulated cytoplasm; grade II (GII): oocyte with at least 2–4 layers of compact cumulus cell mass with evenly granulated cytoplasm; grade III (GIII): oocyte with at least one layer of compact cumulus cell mass with evenly granulated cytoplasm; grade IV (GIV): denuded oocyte with no cumulus cells or incomplete layer of cumulus cell or expanded cells and having dark or unevenly granulated cytoplasm. The effects of both ovarian (ovarian localization, corpus luteum, size and weight of ovary) and non-ovarian factors (breed, age, body condition score (BCS) and pregnancy status of cow) on the follicular population and oocyte recovery rate were determined. There were an average of 16.75±0.83 follicles per ovary. The small, medium and large follicles were 8.39±0.60, 8.14±0.43 and 0.21±0.02 respectively. Oocyte recovery was 10.97±0.43 per ovary (65%). Oocytes graded I, II, III and IV were 3.53±0.19 (32.21%), 2.72±0.15 (24.82%), 2.24±0.15 (20.43%) and 2.47±0.20 (22.54%) respectively. The oocyte quality index was 2.26. Younger non pregnant cows having BCS of 3 and large ovaries presented higher number of follicles and oocyte quality (P < 0.05) compared with other animals. Oocytes with quality (grade I and II) acceptable for IVEP constituted 57.15% of the harvest. This study indicated that factors such as age, pregnancy status, BCS and ovarian size must be taken into account to increase the potential of the ovary for IVEP.

Les caractéristiques du sperme de coqs locaux de la région sahélienne du Nigeria (âgés de 60,9 ± 10,6 semaines) ont été enregistrées de mai à septembre 1998. Les valeurs moyennes ont été de 0,28 ± 0,14 ml pour le volume du sperme, 2,26 ± 1,08 x 109 spermatozoïdes/ml pour la concentration du sperme, 0,64 ± 0,44 x 109 spermatozoïdes par éjaculat, 86,6 ± 8,4 p. 100 pour les spermatozoïdes vivants, 73,9 ± 0,2 p. 100 pour la motilité individuelle, 7,4 ± 0,2 pour le pH et 11,6 ± 8,5 p. 100 pour les spermatozoïdes anormaux. Les valeurs de la concentration du sperme, du nombre de spermatozoïdes total et du volume du sperme ont été corrélées positivement (valeurs respectives de r : 0,25, 0,24 et 0,16) à la motilité individuelle des spermatozoïdes. Le pourcentage de spermatozoïdes anormaux a eu tendance à diminuer lorsque le nombre de spermatozoïdes mobiles ou vivants a augmenté (r = -0,42, r = -0,30). Des variations significatives (p < 0,05) dans les caractéristiques du sperme ont été observées entre les coqs lors de la saison des pluies. La concentration du sperme a augmenté à partir de mai atteignant une valeur maximale en août. La répartition des fréquences du volume du sperme a été d’ordre binaire avec des valeurs de 0,13 et 0,38 ml. Il y a une corrélation positive entre le volume du sperme et le nombre total de spermatozoïdes, suggérant que le nombre de ces derniers chez les coqs locaux peut être amélioré par la sélection du volume de sperme le plus important (0,38 ml).

The reproductive status (RS) of 2,103 cows slaughtered at the Ngaoundere Municipal Slaughter House (NMSH) in view of highlighting potential losses resulting from the slaughtering of pregnant cows (PC) were assessed. Concurrently, 390 of the cows evaluated for RS were randomly selected for a detailed identification of the possible causes of infertility from the gross reproductive pathologies (GRP) observed in the reproductive tract. Data were collected between July and December, 2004 and analyzed using SAS program (1991). Of a sample of 2,426 animals slaughtered, 2,103 (86.6%) were cows. The prevalence of PC slaughtered was 37.3%. Majority (83%) of the cows slaughtered were below 9 years of age. The PC slaughtered (7.5 years) were significantly (p<0.001) older than that of the non PC (6.9 years). Thirty-three percent of the slaughtered cows were infertile. The common GRP observed were ovarian inactivity (24.8%), metritis (5.1%) and vaginometritis (0.8%). Although the prevalence of metritis was found very low, it may be useful to identify its causes together with those of ovarian inactivity which were the principal factors that justify the slaughter of some cows below 9 years in the Region. However, there is need to check for pregnancy in all cows before slaughtering in all national abattoirs to minimise economic losses related to pregnancy losses and to contribute to the growth of the cattle industry.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproductive and growth performances of pig breeds in Douala, Cameroon. The reproductive performance of gilts and multiparous sows (38 per group) from 8 selected farms were monitored and controlled. Thereafter, piglets were controlled from birth to weaning age. The age at first service (AFS), fertility index (FI), fecundity, age at first farrowing (AFF), weight at first farrowing (WtFF) and litter size (LS) of gilts were 179.97 ± 25.40 days; 1.76 ± 0.77; 100 ± 0.00; 350.47 ± 40.58 days; 107.26 ± 31.85 kg and 7.18 ± 1.93 piglets, respectively. In sows, the FI, fecundity, LS and farrowing interval (FarI) were 1.13 ± 0.34; 100 ± 0.00; 9.03 ± 2.14 piglets and 179.63 ± 25.14 days, respectively. FI and LS were better in sows compared to gilts (P = 0.000). The sex ratio was 0.63. Local breed animals reared in semi-modern farms and fed mixed feed showed the lowest WtFF. In piglets, the average birth weight (kg), the average weaning weight (kg), age at weaning (days) and survival rate (%) until weaning were 1.32 ± 0.20, 10.60 ± 1.41, 56.86 ± 8.24 and 48.43, respectively. These results indicated that reproductive performance is strongly influenced by breed, feed and farm type.