A survey study was conducted from June to December 2009 using standard parasitological procedures to determine the prevalence of tick infestation among cattle of different breeds in Maiduguri, Northeastern Nigeria. The tick species identified were Boophilus microplus, Amblyomma variegatum, Hyalomma spp., Rhipicephalus sanguineous and Ornithodorus spp. Of the 205 cattle examined, 63.4% (95% CI: 56.8 -70.0) were tick infested. Males had a non -significantly (P > 0.05) higher infestation rate of 63.4% (56.7 -71.7) compared with the females 60.9% (46.8 -75.0). Younger animals aged ≤ 3 years had a significantly (P < 0.05) higher prevalence of 85.4% (74.6 -96.2) as compared with the adults aged > 3 -7 years 55.8% (46.3 -65.3) and older animals > 7 years 35.0% (22.9 -47.1). Among breeds, Wadara and Kuri had significantly (P < 0.05) higher infestation rates of 66.1% (57.9 -74.3) and 66.7% (13.4 -120.0) respectively. Gudali had 60.9% (41.0 -80.8), Rahaji 58.0% (44.3 -71.7) and Bunaji 50. 0% (19.3 -119.3). Based on the predilection sites, the udder and external genitalia, inner thigh and under the tail/perineum were the most tick-infested sites with 84.3% (78.3 -88.5), 79.0% (73.4 -84.6) and 69.8% (63.5 -76.1) respectively (P < 0.05). While the less preferred sites eyes, neck/dewlap, ears and all over the body each had prevalence of 26. 3% (20.3 -32.3), 14.6% (9.8 -1.4), 12.2% (7.7 -16.7) and 11.2% (6.9 -15.5) respectively. This study reveals high prevalence of tick infestation among indigenous cattle in Maiduguri. This might hamper cattle production and productivity in Nigeria. Thus, it is recommended that appropriate control strategies be instituted to control ticks in the study area.

Newcastle disease is one of the major economic threats to poultry population because of its high morbidity and mortality varying from 90-100%. It is caused by Avian Paramyxovirus-1 (APMV-1). This research work was carried out to identify Newcastle disease virus (NDV) by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay and further isolate the virus in embryonated chicken eggs.

We present a study on the histologic developmental horizons of the dromedary tongue using abattoir samples. The 13 month dromedary gestation period was divided into four quarters, giving the dromedary four prenatal growth phases. Feotuses were recovered from slaughtered camels and 1 cm 2 samples were cut from dorsum and lateral parts of the apex, body and base of tongues of associated foetuses in each growth phase for histological analysis. The dorsal and lateral parts of the apex of the tongue showed variable sizes of underdeveloped filiform and fungiform papillae formed from the folding of non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium. The filiform papillae were interspersed with fungiform papillae. A brief glandless propria-submucosa of vascularized connective tissue was continuous with their lamina epithelialis. The muscularis showed vertical, longitudinal and transverse (X, Y, Z) directions of skeletal muscles. Same arrangement was found at the lingual body. Underdeveloped lentiform papillae extended from the terminus of the caudal aspect of the lingual body to the rostral aspect of the lingual base. The lingual base showed underdeveloped fungiform and vallate papillae. The lingual body and base were highly muscularized. The muscularity became more obvious at the second and third quarters. Unique to the third phase was apical keratinization of filiform papillae, marking its full development. The propria-submucosa was highly vascularized. The fourth growth phase marked the stage for full development of most of parts of the tongue except the mucosa of the lingual base, where taste buds were not observed in gustatory papillae, eventhough an earlier study had observed taste buds in gustatory papillae of the adult dromedary. It was concluded that most of the salient features of the postnatal dromedary tongue, such as gustatory and non-gustatory papillae, were already evident as early as the first growth phase.