Congenital abnormalities are common among avian and mammalian species. They could be partial or total drift from the normal structural organization of the organ-systems. This article is aimed at reporting the occurrence of multiple abnormalities in a 3-week-old broiler chick. Ante mortem, post-mortem, radiological and osteological investigations were carried out, to ascertain the number and form of abnormalities present in the chick. A total of four different congenital abnormalities were discovered in this chick. These include: polymelia (presence of supernumerary or accessory limb which is usually malformed); double vents (vent duplex); double cloacal bursae (bursa duplex) and triple caeca. Radiological and postmortem examinations revealed the attachment of the accessory limb to the caudal depressor muscle as a form of synsarcosis, via a tendon that originated from the deep fossa of the modified femoral head of the accessory limb. The right vent was patent whereas the left was not. The two cloacal bursae were almost the same size, while the three caeca showed slight variation in length but typical features of the avian caecum (base, middle (body) and apex) were clearly visible. However, most cases of congenital anomalies in the avian species occur as multiple defects, with the most common being polymelia. The latest finding in this report is the discovery of double cloacal bursae (bursae of Fabricius), which has not been reported in the avian species.

Parrots are ornamental birds that are found in the wild and those in domestication end up in animal units of schools and houses of the wealthy individuals. The wild African Senegal parrot population is at risk of extinction due to its high popularity with urban dweller. Despite their high popularity, there is scanty documentation of the anatomical features of its gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The Wild West African Senegal Parrots were caught around forested area of a farm settlement in Shika, Zaria, Kaduna state, in the Northern part of Nigeria. The mean body weight of the wild Senegal parrot was observed to be 120.50 ± 5.42 g. The mean weights of the GIT with content and without content were 18.01 ±4.80 g and 13.54 ± 5.51 g respectively which accounted for 12.95 % and 10.24 % of the total body mass. The mean weights (small and large intestines) were 2.10 ± 1.09 g and 0.70 ± 0.27 g. The caecum was not noticed and gall bladder had the least mean weight 0.17 ± 0.007 g. while the gizzard the highest of all mean weight 4.28 ± 2.25 g. The mean lengths (GIT, small and large intestines) were; 82. 61 ± 2.36 cm, 41.75 ± 2.97 cm and 18.06 ± 2.01 cm. The glandular area of the proventriculus was longer than the non glandular portion and the left liver was longer compared to the right 3.03 ± 1.53 cm. The ileum is the longest segment of the small intestine which constituted 22.90 ± 2.92 cm.Keywords: Macrometry, Gastrointestinal Tract, Senegal Parrots

No abstract

Fourteen brain samples (Ten for morphometry, two for gross and two for histological studies) were used in this study. The mean body weight of the wild ferret pigeon was 214 ± 13.37 g. The brain weight, length and width obtained from this study was 1.61 ± 0.07 g, 11.41 ± 0.25 cm and 15.62 ± 0.25cm. The mean height and volume were 12.04 ± 0.30 cm and 1.66 ± 0.9 cm 3. There were significant differences between mean brain weight and volume. Morphologically, the olfactory lobe was observed to be bilobed structures on the rostro-ventral aspect of the cerebral hemispheres and was smaller compared to the entire cerebrum. The cellular layer was observed to be made up of; the olfactory nerve layer, glomerular layer, mitral cell layer and granule cell layer. The mitral or tuft cells resembles small pyramidal cells whose nuclei were centrally located, dark stained and are principal neurones of the olfactory lobe. Some of the processes were directed towards the granule and glomerular layers. The granular cells were numerous with dark stained nuclei. There is a corresponding increase in the brain volume as the brain weight increases. Grossly, the olfactory bulb is not developed. The mitral cell confers olfaction in animals as such, this bird has better olfaction compare to other birds.