International Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics

International Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics Vol. 7 (4), pp. 001-005, April, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Haematological and plasma biochemical parameters of the young grasscutter (Thyronomys swinderianus) reared in northern Nigeria

Byanet, O.^1*, Adamu, S.², Salami, S. O.³ and Obadiah, H. I.⁴

¹Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue state, Nigeria.

²Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna state, Nigeria.

³Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna state, Nigeria.

⁴Department of Biological sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria;

Accepted 15 October, 2017

Abstract

To determine the haematological and serum biochemical parameters of young grasscutters, ten young reared African grassscutters ( Thyronomys swinderianus-a wild rodent) were used. Results obtained indicates that the mean values of packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration (HB) and total white blood cell count (WBC) were 38.5 ± 5.1%, 12.8 ± 1.7g/dL and 10.4 ± 2.8 x 10⁹/L, respectively. Differential leukocyte count revealed values to be 59.5 ± 5.9, 38.8 ± 1.9, 1.4 ± 0.8, 1.2 ± 0.6, 0 and 0.1 ± 0.3% for neutrophil (NEU), lymphocyte (LYM), monocyte (MON), eosinophil (EOS), basophil (BAS) and band neutrophil (BAN), respectively. The study also revealed the values for serum biochemical parameters to be 2.53 ± 0.5mmol/L, 4.2 ± 0.8mmol/L, 21.4 ± 2.9 mg/dl, 1.3 ± 0.3 mg/dl, 134.1 ± 7.13 mmol/L, 4.1 ± 0.5 mmol/L and 97.4 ± 8.2 mmol/L for triglyceride, cholesterol, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, sodium, potassium and chloride, respectively. These results indicated that both haematological and serum biochemical parameters in young reared grasscutter are comparable with those of reared captive and wild animals of this species, thus suggesting that age is not a factor in consideration and interpretation of haematological and many serum biochemical values in grasscutters found, at least, in northern Nigeria

Key words: Grasscutter, haematological, plasma biochemical, young reared

International Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics Vol. 7 (4), pp. 001-006, April, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Genetic evaluation of Ethiopian Boran cattle and their crosses with Holstein Friesian for milk constituent traits in central Ethiopia

Aynalem Haile¹²³*, B.K. Joshi¹, Workneh Ayalew², Azage Tegegne², Avtar Singh¹ and Zelalem Yilma⁴

¹National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal-132001, India.

²International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P. O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

³Jimma University College of Agriculture, P. O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia.

⁴Holeta Agricultural Research Institute, P. O. Box 2003, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Accepted 16 October, 2017

Abstract 

Breed additive and non-additive effects, and genetic parameters of milk fat, protein, solids not fat (SNF) and total solids (TS) percents, were estimated in Ethiopian Boran cattle and their crosses with Friesian in central Ethiopia. Ethiopian Boran cattle were consistently superior (P<0.01) to the Ethiopian Boran-Holstein Friesian crosses for the milk composition traits studied. When the crosses were compared, the fat, protein, SNF and TS percents of 50 and 62.5% Holstein Friesian crosses were higher (P<0.01) than those of 75 and 87.5% genetic groups. The 50 and 62.5% genetic groups did not differ (P>0.05) in milk constituents. It was apparent, therefore, that as the exotic gene level increased the percentages of the milk constituents declined significantly. The individual additive genetic breed difference for milk composition traits were all significant (P<0.01). The estimates were -1.45 for fat, - 0.97 for protein, -1.13 for SNF and -2.47 for TS percents. Crossbreeding of the Holstein Friesian with the Ethiopian Boran resulted in desirable and significant (at least P<0.05) individual heretosis for all milk composition traits. The estimates were 0.54 ± 0.09, 0.25 ± 0.10, 0.33 ± 0.15 and 0.72 ± 0.18 for fat, protein, SNF and TS percents, respectively. The maternal heterotic effects were non-significant (P>0.05) for all traits except for fat percent. Heritabilities of fat, protein, SNF and TS percents for Ethiopian Boran were 0.49 ± 0.03, 0.26 ± 0.05, 0.46 ± 0.04 and 0.45 ± 0.04, respectively. The corresponding estimates for crosses were 0.32 ± 0.04, 0.49 ± 0.03, 0.39 ± 0.04 and 0.41 ± 0.04, respectively. Within Ethiopian Boran breed selection accompanied by crossing should enormously improve these traits in crossbreds under such production system.

Key words: Genetic evaluation, genetic parameter, Ethiopian Boran, Holstein Friesian.

International Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics Vol. 7 (3), pp. 001-006, March, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Cell passaging rapidly affects expression, secretion and activity of MMP9 as well as mobility of HL60 leukemia cells

Yohann Bernard, Sébastien Plançon, Chantal Melchior, Eric Tschirhart and Jean-Luc Bueb*

Université du Luxembourg, Life Sciences Research Unit, 162a, avenue de la Faïencerie, L-1511 Luxembourg, Luxembourg.

Accepted 21 August, 2017

Abstract

The HL60 cell line, derived from acute promyelocytic leukemia cells, can differentiate into neutrophil-like cell following DMSO treatment. Mobility of HL60, or DMSO-differentiated HL60 cells ( HL60), requires surface expression of adhesion molecules and production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The aim of this study was to investigate in HL60 and HL60 the effects of cell passaging (over 5 passages after delivery (P and P+5)) on i) surface expression of adhesion molecule CD11b, which is considered a neutrophil differentiation marker ii) MMP9 mRNA expression, protein release and zymographic activity and iii) cellular mobility. As expected, CD11b expression at both cell passages increased in HL60 relative to undifferentiated HL60, but expression levels of this neutrophils marker did not change over 5 passages. MMP9 mRNA expression however, in basal conditions was increased in HL60 at P+5. At P+5 versus P, MMP9 protein levels, MMP9 zymographic activity and cellular mobility in HL60 and HL60 were elevated. Stimulation by N-formyl-L-Methionyl-L-Leucyl-L-Phenylalanine had no effects on HL60, but raised MMP9 protein concentration and zymographic activity in HL60. Since passage history is likely to also influence cellular functions other than MMP-related effects, it is important to carefully consider passage numbers when designing experiments.

Key words: Matrix metalloproteinases, mobility, cell passaging, HL60 cell line, DMSO-differentiation.

International Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics Vol. 7 (3), pp. 001-005, March, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of the lactoperoxidase system and container smoking on the microbial quality of goats’ milk during storage at an ambient temperature

Helen Nigussie¹ and Eyassu Seifu²*

¹Department of Animal Sciences, Ambo University College, P. O. Box 19, Ambo, Ethiopia.

²Department of Animal Sciences, Haramaya University, P. O. Box, 287, Alemaya, Ethiopia.

Accepted 09 September, 2017

Abstract 

The effect of the lactoperoxidase (LP) system in combination with container smoking on the microbial quality of goats’ milk was assessed during storage at ambient temperature. The titratable acidity, coliform count (CC) and total bacterial count (TBC) in LP activated milk samples (T₂) decreased by 0.13%, 1.6 and 1.33 log₁₀ units, respectively as compared to their respective values in the control (T₁) at 7 h of storage. Coliform count and TBC in T₂ decreased by 0.33 and 0.20 log₁₀ units, respectively at 7 h of storage as compared to the initial count. When container smoking was combined with the LP system (T₄), no acid development was observed in the milk samples. It can be concluded that container smoking combined with the LP system could effectively control microbial growth and extend the shelf life of goats’ milk stored at an ambient temperature by at least 7 h.

Key words: Goat milk, lactoperoxidase system, shelf life, smoking.

International Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics Vol. 7 (1), pp. 001-006, January, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Comparative histological features of the pancreas in fruit-eating bat (Eidolon-helvum) and pangolin (Manis tricuspis)

Adeeyo O. A^1*, Caxton-Martins E. A², Ofusori D. A³,Ashamu E. A¹, Omotoso E. O¹, Odukoya S. A ² and Yusuf U. A¹

¹Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.

²Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.

³Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Igbinedion University, Okada, P.M.B 0006, Benin City, Edo State. Nigeria.

Accepted 22 May, 2017

Abstract

Mammals have varying histological features in their gastrointestinal tract to enable them cope with their dietary preferences. Fruit-eating bat (Eidolon helvum) is a frugivore while Pangolin (Manis tricuspis) is an insectivore, pancreases of the two animals were investigated histologically to know if the histological features of pancreas could have any implication on their dietary preferences. The animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and the pancreases of the two mammals were harvested. The pancreases were divided into three regions of head, body and tail and fixed in 10% formol saline for histological analysis. The sections were stained with routine Haematoxylin and Eosin and Halmi’s modified Gomori Aldehyde Fuchsin method. The results revealed that the pancreas of the bat consisted of acini as well as islet of Langerhans but that of Pangolin contained only acini with no stainable islet of Langerhans. Despite being a mammal, pangolin still retains some primitive features like third tronchater and convex head. Absence of islet of Langerhans in the pancreas may be one of its primitive features and the islet of Langerhans may be located in other part of gastrointestinal tract higher up than the location of pancreas. Also, it is possible that pangolin may metabolize glucose via another pathway aside insulin/glucagon mechanism which may not yet be elucidated.

Key words: Pancreas, food preference, histological investigation, pangolin, bat.