Albendazole (ABZ) is a typical broad-spectrum benzimidazole drug used for the treatment of parasitic worm infestations in humans and animals. The present study investigated the oxidative stress biomarkers and hematological parameters in juvenile African Catfish (also known as Sharptooth Catfish) Clarias gariepinus exposed to ABZ for 96 h. Fish were exposed to 0 (control) 20, 40, and 60 mg/L ABZ. The liver and gill tissues were sampled at regular intervals of 24 h, and the results showed significant concentration- and time-dependent increases in the values of lipid peroxidation but reductions in glutathione peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione reductase in both tissues. Erythrocytes were sampled to evaluate hematological parameters. The results showed significant concentration- and time-dependent increases in white blood cells but no significant differences in mean cellular hemoglobin. Hemoglobin values, red blood cell counts, packed cell volume, mean cell volume, and mean cellular hemoglobin concentration decreased significantly over the experimental period. The activities of lymphocytes and neutrophils increased significantly, whereas there were no significant differences in basophils, eosinophils, and monocytes among the treatment groups. Albendazole should be used with caution, as sublethal concentrations induced oxidative stress in the liver and gill tissues along with hematological changes that were more evident in liver cells. Received November 20, 2015; accepted May 4, 2015.

Carbendazim (CBZ) is a widely used, systemic, broad‐spectrum benzimidazole fungicide. It is used worldwide against fungal diseases on a wide range of agricultural products and in domestic gardens. The activities of brain oxidative stress biomarkers and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in juvenile African Catfish Clarias gariepinus exposed to CBZ were investigated. Juveniles were exposed to sublethal concentrations of 0.22, 0.43, and 0.64 mg/L CBZ, which corresponded to 5, 10, and 15% of the 96‐h LC50 (the concentration that was lethal to 50% of the test organisms over the first 96 h) of CBZ fungicide for 21 d. Individuals were allowed an extra 7‐d recovery period. The brain tissues were sampled and analyzed on days 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 (including the 7‐d recovery period). The results indicated significant concentration‐dependent inhibition of the brain AChE activities in all exposed groups. The lipid peroxidation was significantly elevated while the antioxidant enzymes and protein values were significantly inhibited by CBZ exposure. However, the values of catalase on days 7, 14, and 21 were significantly higher than day 1 values. Overall, CBZ altered brain oxidative stress parameters and led to the inhibition of AChE. This fungicide should be used with utmost caution to protect and safeguard fish, ensuring that fish production and survival in the environment remain unaffected.

The prevalence of some parasitic infections and other disease conditions of cattle slaughtered in Nsukka urban abattoir was studied from November to December 2001. The tongues, hearts, masseter muscles, intercostal muscles, lungs, spleens, and livers o cattle were examined for various parasitic infections and disease conditions. The examinations were done by dissection, palpation and other physical procedures. Of the organs examined, the lungs, spleen, and liver were infected. The only case of Cysticercus bovis infection found was in a liver. Also, all cases of Fasciola infections were detected from the liver. Cases of tuberculosis and pneumonia were detected from the lungs. Other disease conditions seen were splenomegaly, jaundice, and telangiactasis. Out of the 150 cattle examined, 30 (20%) were infected or have disease. A total of 150 cattle comprising 116 males and 34 females were examined. The distribution of infections is as follows: 1(0 70%) was infected w th Cysticercus bovis, 15 (10%) with Fasciola gigantica, 4 (2.70%) with tuberculosis. Other disease conditions include 2 (1.33%) with pneumonia, 3(2%) w th telangiactasis, 2(1.33%) with splenomegaly and 2(1.33%) with jaundice. The overall prevalence of the conditions studied in the slaughtered cattle include Cysticercosis bovis 3.33%,

Parasitological investigation of bagrid fishes in Anambra River

Recently, considerable attention has been focused on dietary supplements that possess hypoglycaemic and hypolipidemic properties in lieu of the synergistically synthesized drugs like statins and metiform which have been proven to have adverse effects. This present work was carried out to study the potential effects of Lipton tea aqueous extract (LTAE) on normal male albino rats. 36 six male Wistar rats weighing 115-150 g were assigned into four main groups; each group was divided into three subgroups, consisting of three replicates namely R1, R2 and R3 making a total of nine rats in each of the main groups. Group 1 served as the control and received only water, Group 2 received 200 mg/kg of LTAE, Group 3 received 400 mg/kg of the LTAE, while Group 4 received 800 mg/kg of LTAE. All treatment was given orally on daily basis for 28 consecutive days, but the parameters were assessed on weekly basis. The result revealed that, weight gain, fasting blood sugar and serum (total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-c and VLDL-c) significantly (p < 0.05) decrease in all the treated groups while HDL-c significantly (p < 0.05) increased when compared to the control group. The Lipton tea aqueous extract induced both a dose-dependent and a time-dependent effect in the parameters measured, apart from the total cholesterol which did not show a dose-dependent effect. This led to an overall decrease in the antherogenic index and coronary risk index, suggesting that LTAE possesses hypoglycaemic and hypoglycaemic activities in normal male rats.