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Infectious bursal disease virus ( IBDV ) is an immunosuppressive pathogen of poultry causing great economic losses to the poultry industry. In this study, the IBDV antibodies were detected in captured free-living wild birds in Zaria, Nigeria. One hundred and fifty free-living wild birds, comprising 30 birds each of 5 different species, were sampled over a period of 9 months. Blood samples were collected from each bird, and harvested sera were tested for IBDV antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results indicated IBDV seroprevalences in speckled pigeon (6.67%) and cattle egret (3.33%). In conclusion, the detection of IBDV antibodies in free-living wild birds in this study is indicative of previous natural exposure of these birds to the virus. These species of wild birds could therefore serve as carriers of these viruses and, consequently, transmit these viruses to chickens.

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Background Helminthiasis, usually a chronic problem in poultry, is the major cause of economic losses in the poultry industry. This study was undertaken with the aim of evaluating the in vitro and in vivo anthelmintic effects of Vernonia amygdalina methanol leaf extract and fractions on Ascaridia galli in experimentally infected birds. Standard protocols for extraction, phytochemical screening, isolation and infection of parasite and histological examination were followed. Result At 50 mg/ml albendazole (ALB) caused the highest inhibition of embryonation (97.3%) followed by crude methanol extract (CME) (94.5%), ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) (81.3%) and butanol fraction (BF) (80.3%). The lowest faecal egg counts (FEC) and highest FEC at 21 days post-treatment were observed in the group treated with albendazole (99.2%) and CME at 800 mg/kg (96.9%). Deparasitization at 200 mg/kg caused by ALB was (93.8%), while at 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg, CME was (77.5%, 87.5% and 91.86%), BF was (75.51%, 79.61% and 85.73%) and EAF was (73.48%, 75.5% and 81.63%), respectively. At post-mortem, broiler chickens infected with A. galli and treated with CME, BF and EAF at 200 mg/kg had desquamation of the villi while at 400 and 800 mg/kg treatments, the intestines were intact. Conclusion The extract and fractions of V. amygdalina were found to possess anthelmintic activity against A. galli due to the inhibition of embryonation of eggs and the reduction in faecal egg count; further research is required to fully ascertain their mechanism of action of the extract.

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.