Coccidiosis is one of the most economically important diseases of poultry. This study determined the preponderance of chicken Eimeria in southern Nigeria and assessed the parasite’s resistance to three anticoccidial drugs: Amprolium hydrochloride; Amprolium hydrochloride + Sulfaquinoxaline-Sodium; and Toltrazuril. Multiplex PCR amplification of the SCAR region was used to confirm Eimeria preponderance. Resistance was assessed following the inoculation of 2.32 × 105 infective oocysts into broilers. Data on weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion and fecal oocyst shed were recorded. At 7 days post inoculation 9 birds per treatment were sacrificed and assessed for macroscopic lesions in four intestinal regions. Percent optimum anticoccidial activity (POAA), Anticoccidial index (ACI) and Anticoccidial sensitivity test (AST) were used to access resistance. The preponderance of Eimeria spp. were E. tenella (77%), E. necatrix (55%), E. acervulina (44%) and E. mitis (11%), with multi-species infection occurring in 55% of samples assessed. Fecal oocyst shedding was low (P < 0.05) in the medicated groups. Lesions in the cecal region were present in all infected groups regardless of treatment and accounted for 27.8% of lesion scores by severity and 37.5% of lesion scores by frequency. Overall, lesion scores were less (P < 0.05) in birds of the medicated groups compared with the infected-unmedicated group. The high preponderance of E. tenella in the field, and the occurrence of cecal lesions – caused mainly by E. tenella- despite drug administration, indicate resistance in populations of this species in our isolate. Based-on the POAA, ACI and AST values, the Eimeria isolate showed reduced sensitivity to toltrazuril.

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The role of dopaminergic agents in prolactin (Prl) release and the luteotrophic role of Prl and luteinizing hormone (LH) were investigated in pseudopregnant female ferrets. A single injection of the dopamine antagonist pimozide (0.63 mg/kg) resulted in a tenfold elevation of plasma Prl in anestrous females. Subcutaneous injection of pimozide on alternate days from Day 2 through Day 16 of pseudopregnancy elevated both Prl and progesterone levels. Daily treatment with the dopamine agonist 2 alpha-bromoergocryptine (bromocriptine, 4 mg/kg), from Day 2 through Day 16 of pseudopregnancy lowered levels of both plasma Prl and progesterone. Neither pimozide nor bromocriptine had a direct effect on progesterone secretion by luteal cells in vitro. Daily intraperitoneal administration of a monoclonal antibody against gonadotropin-releasing hormone from Day 2 through Day 10 of pseudopregnancy lowered both plasma LH and progesterone, but had no effect on plasma Prl concentrations. Daily administration of equine antisera against bovine LH or 100 IU of human chorionic gonadotrophin to pseudopregnant ferrets lowered progesterone levels. It is concluded that Prl release is influenced by dopaminergic compounds, and both Prl and LH are required for luteal maintenance in the ferret.

Background and aim Decoctions and infusions from the aerial parts of Portulaca oleracea Linn., especially the leaves and stems, are used by traditional medicine practitioners in Nigeria to enhance fertility in humans. The scarcity of literature on the use of this plant for the said purpose as well as its efficacy prompted this research. Study investigated effect of lipophilic and hydrophilic leaf extracts of Portulaca oleracea on oestrous cycle, female sex hormones at various phases of oestrous cycle and ovarian and uterine histomorphology in albino rats. Experimental procedure Experimental animals were randomly divided into 7 groups of 5 rats each. Group A (control) received 0.5 ml 20% Tween 80 (vehicle), groups B, C & D received 125, 250 & 500 mg/kg of the lipophilic extract respectively and E, F & G received 125, 250 & 500 mg/kg of the hydrophilic extract respectively for 21 days. Oestrous cycle was assessed daily. At the end, blood samples (for hormones) and ovarian &uterine sections (histoarchitecture) were collected. Results and conclusion Both extracts had no significant (p > 0.05) effect on oestrous cycle, ovarian & uterine histoarchitecture and female sex hormones except at proestrus phase where significant (p < 0.05) decrease in LH and FSH was recorded. P.oleracea as used in this study may have deleterious effect on female reproductive system as shown by the disruption of the hormones at proestrus phase. This can form a basis to refute the use of P.oleracea leaf extracts in enhancing fertility as it has been shown to affect the gonadotropins involved in folliculogenesis.

Portulaca oleracea Linn. is among the medicinal plants used globally in the treatment of diseases and management of health challenges. The dearth of information on the long term effect of Portulaca oleracea on hepatic and renal toxicity prompted this study. The study investigated the subchronic effect of the oral administration of chloroform leaf extracts of Portulaca oleracea (CLEPO) and methanol leaf extracts of Portulaca oleracea (MLEPO) on plasma activity of some enzymes (ALT, ALP & AST) and levels of other biochemical parameters such as blood electrolytes, total protein, albumin, bilirubin, urea and creatinine in male albino rats. One hundred and twelve (112) animals were randomly divided into seven (7) groups of sixteen ( 16) rats each. Group A (Control) received 0.5ml/kg of 20% Tween 80 (vehicle), Groups B, C & D received 125, 250 & 500