Copper sulphate is widely used not only in livestock production especially in the treatment of foot rot in small ruminants but also in aquaculture as algaecide and an ectoparasiticide in hatcheries. Meanwhile, it is a common environmental contaminant of water bodies, with carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic effects in humans and animals. The present study was therefore designed to evaluate the toxic effects of copper sulphate and the protective activities of vitamin E on haematological and biochemical parameters as well as oxidative stress status in the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Sixty juvenile African catfish with an average weight of 120g were used for the study. They were assigned into six groups (A-F) consisting of ten fish per group. Group A served as the control group and was fed with normal pelletized fish feed only, group B was fed with Vitamin E-supplemented feed only, groups C and D were exposed to copper sulphate (20mg/L and 5mg/L) respectively, plus normal pelletized fish feed while groups E and F were exposed to copper sulphate (20mg/L and 5mg/L), respectively, plus Vitamin E-supplemented feed (240mg/kg feed). Blood samples were collected for haematology and plasma biochemical parameters while gills, liver and kidney samples were collected for evaluation markers of oxidative stress. Exposure to copper sulphate led to a significant decrease in PCV, RBC, Hb concentration, MCV, MCH and total WBC when compared with the unexposed control and those fed with vitamin E-supplemented feed. Furthermore, exposure to copper sulphate caused liver and kidney damages and cell impairment by increasing plasma ALT, AST and ALP activities. It also led to increased oxidative stress as the concentrations of antioxidant endogenous enzymes - GPx, GST and GSH were depleted while potentiating lipid peroxidation and hydroxyl radical generation. The changes in the haematological, biochemical and antioxidant parameters were restored in the fish fed with vitamin E-supplemented feed. In conclusion, the study showed that exposure to copper sulphate is toxic to African catfish, causing anaemia and liver damage through free radical generation and depletion of antioxidant defence system. Vitamin – E supplementation is therefore recommended during the use of CuSO4 in aquaculture. Release of the compound to the environment must however be avoided at all cost.

The African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) is an insectivorous animal, native to Africa. The central nervous system (CNS) consists of the brain and the spinal cord, protected by the cranium and vertebral column respectively. Assessment of the gross appearance and morphometries of the African pygmy hedgehog CNS were carried out using six adults (3 males and 3 females). The gross examination showed the brains to be lissencephalic, with relatively large olfactory bulbs, similar to that observed in some rodents. The rootlets of the first cervical spinal nerves were observed to emerge before the foramen magnum. Linear measurements were obtained from both the brain and spinal cord. The mean weight of the animals was 199.00 ± 16.09 g, with the males having an average body weight of 183.50 ± 12.02 g and the females 206.80 ± 11.95 g. Although not statistically significant, the males had a higher encephalisation quotient (0.40 ± 0.08) relative to the females 0.36 ± 0.04). The values for the brain weight, length of spinal cord and heights of the telencephalon and diencephalon at different points were higher in the males, while the spinal cord weight, length of brain and cerebellar height were higher in the females. The spinal cord showed slight enlargements at the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral segments. This study aimed to provide baseline data for the study of the gross appearance and neuromorpho-metrics of the hedgehog, with possible application in regional anaesthesiology and comparative wildlife neuroanatomy.

Effect of potassium dichromate was studied experimentally in African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) with and without vitamin E in induced haematoxicity and oxidative stress. Blood samples were collected for haematology and plasma biochemical parameters while gills, liver and kidney samples were collected for evaluation of markers of oxidative stress. Exposure to potassium dichromate led to a significant decrease in PCV, RBC, haemoglobin concentration, MCV, MCH and total WBC when compared with the unexposed     control and those fed with vitamin E-supplemented feed. Nephrotoxicity was also observed as evidenced by increases in plasma creatinine levels. Exposure to potassium dichromate also led to increased oxidative stress as the concentrations of antioxidant endogenous enzymes - GPx, GST and GSH were depleted while potentiating lipid peroxidation and hydroxyl radical generation. The changes in the haematological, biochemical and antioxidant parameters were restored in the fish fed with vitamin E-supplemented feed. The study showed exposure to potassium dichromate to be toxic to African catfish, causing anaemia and kidney damage with free radical generation and depletion of GSH and other antioxidant defence system but the toxic effect can be minimised along with weight gain in fish supplemented by vitamin – E in aquaculture.