No abstract

No abstract

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an endemic disease of small ruminants globally and, the disease controlled primarily by vaccination. The aim of this study was to determine the changes in haematological parameters of pregnant goats vaccinated against PPR. Ten pregnant female goats were obtained for the purpose of this study. The pregnant goats were at about the same stage of pregnancy, confirmed by ultrasonography. Vaccination using the Nigeria 75/1 PPR virus vaccine was done at first trimester of pregnancy. Protective antibodies against PPR were detected one week post-vaccination using competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA). Blood samples were collected in sample bottles containing ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) before vaccination and at two weeks interval post-vaccination for ten weeks. Microhaematocrit and thin blood smear techniques were used for the haematological analyses. Haemoglobin concentration (Hb) was determined using the cyanmethaemoglobin method. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were calculated. There was no statistically significant difference in all the haematological parameters before and after vaccination against PPR. In conclusion, the vaccination of apparently healthy pregnant goats against PPR produced no alteration in the haemogram.

In this study, the authors determined whether vvIBDV could be transmitted from chickens to pigeons and vice versa, and the relative severity of the lesions in the two species. Thirty 3-to 6-week-old pigeons and thirty 3-week-old chickens were grouped as follows: A (10 uninoculated pigeons), B (10 inoculated pigeons+10 sentinel chickens), C (10 inoculated chickens+10 sentinel pigeons) and D (10 uninoculated chickens). Inoculated birds were administered 0.20 mL of vvIBDV (titre of 109.76 CID/mL) followed by introduction of their respective sentinels post-inoculation. Post-inoculation/exposure (pi/ pe), dead birds were necropsied, organs grossly examined, weighed, and sections processed for histopathology. Results revealed mild, gross and histopathological lesions in pigeons at 7 and 14 dpi/dpe. In chickens, gross and histopathological lesions were severe at 3 and 4 dpi/dpe, moderate at 7 dpi/dpe and mild at 14 dpi/dpe. Carcass weight showed no statistical difference (P > 0.05) in all pigeons, but was statistically higher in uninoculated compared to inoculated and sentinel chickens. Relative weight (RW) of the liver was significantly lower at 14 dpi/ dpe in pigeons. In chickens, RW of the bursa of Fabricius (BF) was significantly higher in inoculated and sentinel at 3 and 4 dpi/dpe. In conclusion, there was transmission of vvIBDV from pigeons to chickens and pathological changes due to vvIBDV infection were less severe in pigeons than in chickens.

Fluoride is an inorganic monatomic anion of fluorine and forms part of essential reagents used by the chemical industry. It occurs naturally in several minerals and in trace quantities in water. Fluoride has been used to prevent tooth decay and in the treatment of osteoporosis. Extensive research has consistently demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of fluorides in the prevention of dental caries following the practice of water fluoridation. Despite these benefits, fluorides pose danger as an endocrine disruptor thus, affecting bones, brain, thyroid gland, pineal gland and blood sugar levels. In Canada, water fluoridation remains a contentious issue although dental decay constitutes the most common chronic disease. However, several Canadians are receiving the benefits of water fluoridation and about 1% have access to naturally fluoridated water. In Nigeria, the prevalence of dental caries has been documented to be greatly reduced following fluoridation of public water supplies in areas where the condition was endemic. Fluoride is therefore the only medicine added to public water, and at the recommended level, fluoride is safe and effective in the reduction of dental decay and poses no risk for health problems. Hence, this article highlighted fluoride content in drinking water and the health implications of consuming fluoride-rich water with a focus on the situation in Canada and Nigeria.