Joseph Tchoumboue

Prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in abattoirs of the littoral and western highland regions of Cameroon: a cause for public health concern.

Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) is widespread but poorly controlled in Africa and M. bovis is posing threats to human health. The risk of cattle handlers to M. bovis prevalence and public health significance of BTB in Cameroon were assessed. Slaughter inspection records from major cities revealed that BTB detection rates in cattle from 0.18% to 4.25% and BTB lesions were most common. Analyses of tissues and sera confirmed BTB in 31% (Ziehl-Neelsen), 51% (culture), and 60% (antibody detection) of test cattle. Among cattle handlers, 81.9% were aware of BTB, 67.9% knew that BTB is zoonotic, and 53.8% knew one mode of transmission but over 27% consumed raw meat and/or drank unpasteurized milk. Respondents who had encountered tuberculosis cases were more informed about zoonotic BTB (P < .05). Tuberculosis is prevalent in cattle destined for human consumption in Cameroon with serious public health implications. Targeted monitoring of infected animal populations and concerted veterinary/medical efforts are essential for control.

Guinea-pig productivity under traditional management.

Results of a 12 month study of traditional guinea-pig production in the western highlands of Cameroon are reported. The mean age of guinea-pigs (Cavia porcellus L.) at first parturition, kidding interval and litter size at birth were 126.30±10.40 d, 64.8±1.70 d and 1.63±0.26 kids respectively. The annual reproductive rate was 9.18 kids/breeding doe while the doe post-partum weight was 530 g. Mean body weights at birth, presumed weaning (21 d) and 15 weeks of age were 78.36±3.20, 147.51±8.10 and 418.88±32 g respectively. Type of birth and sex had a significant effect on body weight at all ages. Birth weight dropped significantly from 83.88±2.87 g for singles to 81.57±3.40 g for twins, 74.25±2.39 g for triplets and 73.75±4.12 g for quadruplets. These differences were maintained to maturity (15 weeks). Males were generally heavier than females. Mortality rates were relatively high among kids: 24% at birth, 39% at 3 weeks and 40% at 15 weeks. Productivity indices were 0.827 kg of young weaned per doe per year, 1560 g of young weaned per kg of doe per year and 2.52 kg of young weaned per kg metabolic weight (kg0.75) of female per year.

Growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with graded levels of charcoal from maize cob or seed of Canarium schweinfurthii Engl

Growth performances and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with graded levels of Canarium schweinfurthii Engl seed (charcoal A) or maize cob (charcoal B) were studied using a total of 110 3-week-old male chicks. 11 experimental diets including a control and other containing either 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 or 1% charcoal from C. schweinfurthii Engl seed (A0.2, A0.4, A0.6, A0.8, and A1%, respectively) or from maize cob (B0.2, B0.4, B0.6, B0.8, and B1%, respectively) supplements were used. Each of the diets was fed to ten individually birds caged in a completely randomized design. Results indicated that birds fed 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6% of either charcoal A or B had significantly (P < 0.05) higher final body weights as compared to control birds, while, above 0.6% slightly depressed average final body weights and weight gain. The best growth performance was achieved with 0.2% inclusion of charcoals. There was no significant (P > 0.05) influence of charcoal B on the overall feed intake. Only the B0.6 feed significantly (P < 0.05) improved feed conversion ratio as compared with the control. Dressing percentage, liver weight and abdominal fat were not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by charcoal. However, there was a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in gizzard weight with charcoal B. Charcoal had no significant (P > 0.05) influence on intestine length and weight. More than 0.6% of charcoal A significantly (P < 0.05) depressed intestine density. It was concluded that under the conditions of this study, charcoal from maize cob or Canarium seeds could be used to improve growth performances and some carcass traits in broiler chickens.

Effect of dietary plant charcoal from Canarium schweinfurthii Engl. and maize cob on aflatoxin B1 toxicosis in broiler chickens

residual oil. These disposable clays are the byproduct that could be considered for animals feeding purposes. As mentioned previously, the limiting factor for their use, is mostly the high Al content. Therefore restricted consumption by animal species should be estimated, to avoid bioaccumulation. If Al accounts for 5.3% in wasted clays as an average, maximum intake of clays depending on animal tolerance is (g anim d): 151 in bovines, 19 in sheep, 7 in swine, 0.38 in poultry, 15.1 in horses and 2.3 in rabbits.

Estimation of live body weight in West African dwarf goats from heart girth measurement.

Animal live body weight is an important feature, but can seldom be measured in rural areas due to a lack of reasonably accurate scales. The chief method of weighing animals without scales is to regress body weight on a certain number of body characteristics which can be measured readily (Bhadula et aL, 1979; Poivey, et aL, 1980; Worman et aL, 1980; Buldgen et al., 1984). Such procedures are almost non-existent, however, for the West African Dwarf (WAD) goat. Also, the accuracy of the existing prediction equations has not been reliably ascertained. The objectives of this study were to derive a prediction equation using heart girth circumference as sole regressor and to assess its accuracy.

Spectrum of melliferous plants used by Apis mellifera adansonii in the Sudano‐Guinean western highlands of Cameroon

The frequency and intense usage of melliferous plants by Apis mellifera adansonii is documented through the melissopalynology analysis of 30 honey samples collected between September 2002 and March 2003 in the Sudano‐Guinean western highlands of Cameroon (LN 5°21.45′–5°35.44′ and LE 10°04.72′–10°26.24′). A diverse spectrum of 88 genera from 46 families was identified from pollen in the honey samples. The most common were members of the Asteraceae, Euphorbiaceae and Myrtaceae. The frequency of utilisation of melliferous plants is grouped into three categories: most frequently gathered melliferous plants (e.g. Eucalyptus, Coffea, Bidens and Terminalia); averagely gathered melliferous plants (e.g. Elaeis, Phoenix, Lannea and Julbernardia) and less frequently gathered melliferous plants with pollen present in less than 30% of honey samples (e.g. Salix, Casuarina and Pterocarpus). The most intensively utilized species by Apis mellifera adansonii represent 22.7% of the genera from 16 families. Pollen of only 8.0% of the taxa appeared as predominant in the honey samples and these belonged to six families. Eucalyptus was the only genus which had pollen that was predominant, important minor and minor in honey samples. Sixty percent of honey samples were unifloral for Eucalyptus and Helichrysum whilst the remaining 40.0% were multifloral.

Effects of propoxur on the reproductive system of male rats.

The reproductive toxicity of propoxur (2-isopropoxy-phenyl-N-methylcarbamate), a carbamate pesticide, was investigated in adult male Wistar rats exposed to 0, 1.73, 2.6, and 5.2 mg/kg body weight/day for 90 successive days. Results obtained from this study showed a significant (p < 0.05) concentration-dependent increase in food consumption, relative weights of testis, epididymis and kidneys with maximum effects observed at the highest dose of propoxur (5.2 mg/kg) compared to the control. On the contrary, there was a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the body weight gain, sperm density, serum and intratesticular total cholesterol concentrations, and intratesticular total proteins in rats treated with propoxur at the dose of 5.2 mg/kg body weight. Propoxur had no significant effect on gestation, fertility and parturition indices, average birth weight, litter size and pups sex ratio of untreated female rats mated with treated males rats. These results suggested that propoxur increased food consumption, relative weight of reproductive and detoxication organs, decreased body weight gain and sperm density per gram of cauda epididymis without affecting the reproductive performances.

Effects of heat stress on some reproductive parameters of male cavie (Cavia porcellus) and mitigation strategies using guava (Psidium guajava) leaves essential oil

Climate changes, particularly the increase of temperature are among the main causes behind the decline of fertility in humans as well as animals. In this study, the effects of heat stress on some reproductive parameters of male cavies and mitigation strategies using guava leaves essential oil (GLEO) were studied. For this purpose, 40 male cavies aged 2.5-3 months and weighing between 348 and 446g were divided into 4 groups of 10 animals each and subjected to the following temperatures: Ambient temperature (20-25°C) for the control group, 35°C for group 1, 45°C for group 2 and 45°C+100µl GLEO/kg body weight, administered by gavage to animals for group 3. Exposure time of heat was 7h per day for 60 days. Results reveal that the relative weights of testes, epididymis, vas deferens and seminal vesicles were hardly affected by the temperature levels considered (P>0.05). The mass and individual sperm motility was significantly lower (P<0.05) in cavies exposed to the temperature of 35 and 45°C as compared with those which received GLEO and controls. The percentages of abnormal sperm and altered sperm DNA were higher in animals exposed to temperature of 35 and 45°C as compared with the controls. The activity of superoxide dismutase significantly increased (P<0.05) in animals exposed to temperature of 45°C and in those of 45°C and orally treated with GLEO, compared with cavies exposed to temperature of 45°C without receiving GLEO. The level of malondialdehyde was significantly increased (P<0.05) in animals exposed to temperature of 35 and 45°C, whereas the level of nitric oxide was significantly lower (P<0.05) in exposed animals as compared with controls. It was concluded that the exposure of male cavies at 35 and 45°C for 60 days induce heat stress that causes deterioration of sperm characteristics. These effects that can be mitigated by the administration of guava leaves essential oil.

Effect of Salmonella typhimurium infection on rat's cell oxidation and in vivo antioxidant activity of Vitellaria paradoxa and Ludwigia abyssinica aqueous extract

Abstract Objective To evaluate the effect of bacterial infection on cell oxidation and to study the in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activity of aqueous extract of Ludwigia abyssinica and Vitellaria paradoxa . Methods The Salmonella typhimurium -infected rats (1.5×10 8 CFU) concurrently received either different doses of plant extract (55, 110, 220 and 440 mg/kg) or ascorbic acid (vitamin C 100 mg/kg) daily for 18 d. The parameters like, lipid profile, reduced glutathione content, superoxide dismutase, catalase activities and bilirubin were assessed. Results Infection has resulted in an increase of heart reduced glutathione, heart and kidneys malondihaldehyde and liver superoxide dismutase activity followed by decreases of that of heart. The administration of the extract at 55, 110, 220 and 440 mg/kg body has resulted in the correction of some of these injuries. Conclusions The present study demonstrates that aqueous extract of Ludwigia abyssinica and Vitellaria paradoxa can fight against bacterial infection and cell oxidation induced by infection with Salmonella typhimurium .

Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity of Insecticides

Ferdinand Ngoula1, Omer Bebe Ngouateu2, Jean Raphael Kana1, Henry Fualefac Defang1, Pierre Watcho3, Pierre Kamtchouing2 and Joseph Tchoumboue1 1Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang 2Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaounde I 3Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Dschang Cameroon