Assessment of biometrics and stress indicators of the adult Village Weaver birds (Ploceus cucullatus) during breeding and post-breeding seasons in Jos, Nigeria.

In this era of climate change, some biological conservationists' concerns are based on seasonal studies that highlight how wild birds' physiological fitness are interconnected with the immediate environment to avoid population decline. We investigated how seasonal biometrics correlated to stress parameters of the adult Village Weavers (Ploceus cucullatus) during breeding and post-breeding seasons of the Weaver birds in Amurum Forest Reserve. Specifically, we explored the following objectives: (i) the seasonal number of birds captured; (ii) whether seasonal baseline corticosterone (CORT), packed cell volume (PCV), and heterophil to lymphocytes ratio (H:L) were sex-dependent; (iii) whether H:L ratio varied with baseline (CORT); (iv) whether phenotypic condition (post-breeding moult) and brood patch varied with baseline (CORT) and H:L ratio; and (v) how body biometrics co-varied birds' seasonal baseline (CORT), (PCV) and (H:L) ratio. Trapping of birds (May-November) coincided with breeding and post-breeding seasons. The birds (n = 53 males, 39 females) were ringed, morphologically assessed (body mass, wing length, moult, brood patch) and blood collected from their brachial vein was used to assess CORT, PCV and H:L ratio. Although our results indicated more male birds trapped during breeding, the multiple analyses of variance (MANOVA) indicated that the seasonal temperature of the trapping sites correlated (P < 0.05) significantly to baseline (CORT). The general linear mixed model analyses (GLMMs) indicated that the baseline (CORT) also correlated significantly to H:L ratio of the male and female birds. However, PCV correlated significantly to body size of the birds (wing length) and not body mass. Haematological parameters such as the baseline CORT and the H:L ratio as indicators of stress in wild birds. Hence, there is the possibility that the Village Weaver birds suffered from seasonally induced stress under the constrained effect of environmental temperature. Hence, future studies should investigate whether the effect observed is also attributable to other passerine species.

Changes in the morphometry of the uterus, ovary, and foetus, and biochemistry of allantoic and amniotic membrane fluids of Yankasa ewes across the gestation period.

This study evaluated the uterine and fetal morphometric changes and fetal membrane fluids biochemistry across the gestation of Yankasa sheep. The amniotic and allantoic fluids are actively involved in the constant physiologic exchange between the fetus and maternal circulation. Hence, the knowledge regarding changes in the composition of fetal membrane fluids is important for understanding fetal metabolism, and the diagnosis of pathophysiological conditions during gestation. Gravid uteri from 37 ewes and their corresponding ovaries were sampled. The number and size of the placentomes in the second and third terms of gestation were significantly higher relative to the first term. The total protein, albumin, glucose, urea, creatinine, and calcium levels as well as alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were higher in the allantoic fluid. In the allantoic fluid, the levels of total protein, globulin, and the activity levels of ALT and AST increased progressively with the advancement of gestation; contrarily, the levels of calcium, chloride, and the activity level of ALT decreased. For the amniotic fluid, the levels of total protein, globulin, urea, calcium, and the enzyme activities in the second and third terms did not differ but were higher than the level in the first term of gestation. In addition, the most significant increases in creatinine level and white blood cell count were observed in the third term of gestation. Therefore, notable differences in the levels of ALT, AST, total proteins, glucose, urea, creatinine, and WBC counts were observed in the two fetal membrane fluids.

Occurrence of Wounds in Nigerian Horses.

This study investigated the occurrence of wounds in Nigerian horses. The study population was 1,621 horses sold at the Obollo Afor horse lairage in Enugu State, Nigeria, during a 6-month period: 3 months of dry season and 3 months of rainy season (February-April and June-August 2012). A total of 207 horses were systematically sampled and subjected to a comprehensive physical examination. Those with wounds were marked, recorded, and clinically examined. Of the 207 horses sampled, 21 (10.1%) had wounds. The body distribution of the wounds was 9.5% head, 9.5% forelimbs, 19.1% hind limbs, 4.8% tail, 14.3% flank, 9.5% loin, 19.1% hip, 9.5% barrel, and 4.8% croup. The occurrence of the wounds was not significantly associated with sex or season, but the occurrence in adults was significantly (p < .05) higher than that in the young and aged horses. It was concluded that the occurrence of wounds is relatively high (10.1%), and mainly the hind limbs, hip, and flank of adult horses are affected. It was recommended that horse guardians and handlers should be properly educated on the care of horses.