Metal pollution and exposure is an increasing global problem. One of the best ways to assess the impact of this problem on the brain is by using animals raised in such environments. As a prelude to this, the goat was used in this study to determine its normal metal and protein level in the brain. Ten metals and total crude protein were each analysed in the brains of twenty adult goats belonging to Red Sokoto (RS) and West African Dwarf (WAD) breeds. The dry weight concentration of Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, and I obtained in the brain using the A tomic Absorption Spectrophotometer were 189.10+42.99 p pm, 3.08+0.55ppm, 0.90+0.52ppm, 73.00+10.63ppm, 0.05+0.03ppm, and 188.91+61.13ppm 3.43+0.71ppm, 1.19+0.64ppm, 73.92+7.88ppm and 0.05+0.02ppm in West African Dwarf(WAD) and Red Sokoto(RS) goats respectively. The male RS goats had significantly higher levels (P<0.05) of Mn than the females. While the male WAD goats had higher levels of total crude protein, the concentration between the sexes of the RS goats was the same. This study has given information on metal and protein concentration in the brain of goat for use in comparative neurochemistry and toxicological studies.

Deciduous teeth eruption of the Nigerian local pig.

African animal trypanosomosis (AAT) is one of the major constraints to the development of effective livestock production systems. Dogs are human companion and are believed to be sentinels for infection with the human species. This study was to detect subclinical and clinical infection of trypanosomes among hunting dogs in Abeokuta and its environs using molecular technique. A total of 87 dogs comprising of 49 males and 38 females were ramdomly screened for trypanosomes by polymerase chain reaction technique. Among 87 dogs screened, 17.2% were positive for Trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma brucei. Prevalence of trypanosomosis in males was 14.3% while the females accounted for 21.1%.Hematological examination revealed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in mean white blood cells (20.9 ± 2.11) and monocyte counts (5.9 ± 0.62) of the infected dogs compared to uninfected dogs. Packed Cell Volume (36.0 ± 3.73) and haemoglobin concentration (13.9 ± 2.10) decreased insignificantly, while, red blood cells (7.1 ± 0.87), lymphocyte (60.9 ± 9.63), neutrophil (33.3 ± 9.16) and eosinophil (1.4 ± 0.42) counts increased insignificantly (p > 0.05) in infected dogs compared to uninfected dogs. In conclusion, trypanosomosis is prevalent in hunting dogs, in Abeokuta.

An eleven month old male, juvenile lion brought for rehabilitation at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Wildlife Park was diagnosed with gastrointestinal foreign body and intussusception based on the history of persistent vomiting following ingestion of a cotton towel, and radiographic findings of a radiopaque gastric foreign body extending from the fundus to the pylorus and a cylindrical soft tissue mid-abdominal mass. The lion was premedicated with an intramuscular injections of ketamine (5 mg.kg−1) and midazolam (0.25 mg.kg−1), while anaesthesia was induced with an intravenous injection of propofol (2 mg.kg−1). A celiotomy followed by gastrotomy and subsequent intestinal resection and anastomosis was performed to remove the gastrointestinal foreign bodies and correct the intussus ception. The lion recovered well without any complication and was gradually introduced back into the group housing three weeks later following successful alimentation process. This report is probably the first case of intussusception in a lion that was associated with a gastrointestinal foreign body.

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