In 2017, cases of generalized tuberculosis ( TB ) were identified in a cow and a bull‐camel, slaughtered at the Gusau abattoir in Zamfara State Nigeria. The objective of this study was to identify the cause of the gross pathology on the account of disseminated lesions widely distributed in different body parts of the animals. Tissue samples were analysed using Ziehl–Neelsen ( ZN ) stain and region of difference ( RD ) deletion typing. Results obtained by laboratory investigations revealed infection with acid‐fast tubercle bacilli in affected tissues from the cow and the dromedary bull‐camel. This study presents the first molecular evidence of Mycobacterium bovis infection in a Nigerian dromedary camel, demonstrated the ease of identification of the acid‐fast bacilli using molecular method which improves diagnosis and can aid epidemiological studies.

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This study was carried out to compare oestrus responses in unsynchronized jennies and jennies synchronized using single treatment of PGF2& (Lutalyse®). Eight (8) cycling Jennies aged 3.0±2.0 years were used for this study. The jennies were randomly assigned to 2 groups of 4 jennies each; Group 1 (n=4): Jennies in this group were not treated with any agent; Group 2 (n=4): jennies treated with a single injection of 10mg of Lutalyse® . The synchronized and unsynchronized jennies were observed for behavioural oestrus three times daily (8-10 am, 12-2 pm and 4-8 pm) for two oestrous cycles. The fertility parameters determined in this study were: Oestrus response rate (ORR), Time to onset of oestrus (TOO), Duration of oestrus (DOO) and Intensity of synchronization (IS) within 48 hours. The ORR and IS were expressed in percentages while TOO and DOO were expressed as mean ± SEM. Comparisons between the groups were carried out using T- test. Onset of oestrus in group 1 (2.34±0.32 hours) was lower (P<0.01) than 10.07±4.91 hours in group 2. The duration of oestrus in group 1 (48±24.0 hours) was longer (P<0.05). than 24.0±0.0 hours in group 2. Oestrus response rate were 50 and 25% in both groups 1 and 2 while intensity of synchronization within 48 hours for groups 1 and 2 were both 50% (P>0.05). In conclusion, single treatment of PGF2á injection did not improve oestrus response rate and intensity of synchronization. However, more than a single treatment of PGF2& injection is recommended for effective oestrus synchronization in jennies.

Key words:Camel, Heartwater, Trichurosis, whipworms, Ehrlichia ruminantium, Nigeria A 5 year old male camel was reported dead in an institutional farm, and a routine postmortem was conducted on it. Adult worms were found in the lumen of the large intestines and segments of all intestines were sent to the parasitology laboratory for helminth identification. Rectal contents were also sent to the laboratory for oocyst screening. Lung and brain samples were also sent to the parasitology laboratory based on history. The result from the parasitology laboratory confirmed a helminth infection known as trichurosis and heartwater infection was also confirmed from presence of purple colonies of Ehrlichia ruminantium on the endothelium of capillaries close to the nuclei. Although it was hard to establish which of the infections caused the death of the animal but it is noteworthy that this case confirms natural susceptibility of the camel to both diseases and is capable of causing mortality in camels.

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A case of female conjoined twins was found in Red Sokoto goat, delivered alive along with a free male kid without obstetrical assistance. The abnormal twins were examined clinically and at postmortem. Based on morphological features, they could be classified as thoraco-omphalopagus symmetrical conjoined twins. Autopsy showed that fusion occurred at ventral-midline from the cranial region of the thorax to abdomen caudal to the umbilicus; thus, only head, neck and pelvis were separated. Genetic factors could be suspected in this case. This is the first report of thoraco-omphalopagus symmetrical twinned goat in Nigeria.

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding raw or parboiled rice offal diet on rumen metabolite and haematological characteristics of bulls.20 Bunaji bulls aged 2-3 years with live weight 210-249kg were allotted to five dietary treatments having Four bulls per treatment in a 2x2 factorial arrangement with a common control. Feeding trials lasted 90 days. Rumen fluid was collected at 0, 2, 4 and 6 hrs intervals to determine the rumen pH, rumen ammonia nitrogen (RAN) and rumen total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) for all the bulls. Blood sample were obtained at the beginning, middle and end of the feeding trial to determine haematological parameters. A concentrate and basal diets of Digitaria smutsii were offered at 2% body weight. The CP contents of the experimental diets vary between 19.69 and 20.44% while the ME ranged from 10.86 to 11.16MJ/kg DM. Rumen parameters were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by rice type but significantly (P<0.05) affected by inclusion level. Rumen pH at 6hrs after feeding at 0% (6.63) and 30% (6.76) were similar (P>0.05), but differed (P<0.05) significantly from 20% (6.93) inclusion level. Bulls on diet containing 20% (44.70 µmol) and 30% (23.49 µmol) inclusion levels had the highest and least TVFA values respectively. Varying inclusion levels of RRO and PRO was not significant (P>0.05) on rumen pH and TVFA at different sampling time. However, significant (P<0.05) difference was observed for RAN at 2hrs post feeding. Bulls on 30% PRO had the highest value (22.41g/100g) while 20% PRO (14.80g/100g) had the least value. Haematological parameters were not significant (P>0.05) with rice offal type. Blood glucose was however significant (P<0.05) at the middle of the experiment with varying level of inclusion. There was no significant (P>0.05) difference for all the haematological parameters measured for Animals on varying levels of inclusion of raw or parboiled rice offal. It was concluded from this study that raw or parboiled rice offal may be used to replace up to 30% of maize offal as source of energy in the diet of Bunaji bulls without any detrimental effect on rumen metabolite and haematological composition of the bulls. Hence it can be adopted by farmers.