The effect of dietary protein on the productivity of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats infected with Haemonchus contortus.

The effects of increased dietary protein on the performance of West African Dwarf (WAD) goats infected with Haemonchus contortus were investigated. 28 pubertal 9-12-month-old female goats were divided into two equal groups A and B and fed on high and low protein diets, respectively, from day 1 of pregnancy (day of mating) to 6 weeks post-partum. Each animal was trickle infected with a total of 2400 infective larvae of H. contortus over 4 weeks starting from day 1 of pregnancy and the prepatent period recorded. Live weights and body condition scores were measured weekly and the changes determined by subtracting the initial value from each of the subsequent values. Birth and weaning weights of kids as well as stillbirths and foetal loses were also determined. High protein diet improved the ability of goats to resist worm establishment and patency, which was manifested as significant increase in the prepatent period in group A than in the low protein diet group B (p<0.001). Also high protein diet resulted in significantly higher increase in body weight during pregnancy (p<0.01). During lactation both groups rapidly lost weight although body weight increase relative to preinfection value remained significantly higher in group A than B (p=0.05). Between weeks 3 and 13 post infection, the body condition scores increased but were significantly higher in group A than in group B (p<0.001). From weeks 16 to 27, the body condition scores remained significantly higher in group B than group A although both experienced severe losses during lactation. Group A delivered significantly heavier kids than group B (p<0.001) and had no foetal losses as occurred in the latter. However, the level of supplementation had no influence on weaning weights as there was no significant difference in the weaning weights of kids of both group (p>0.05). It is concluded that lactation demand for dietary protein is higher than that for gestation since both body weights and body condition scores deteriorated in both group during lactation, and that improved dietary protein enhances resistance to parasite establishment (increased prepatent period) and resilience in terms of kidding performance, birth weight and survival of neonates.

Phytochemical and antimicrobial properties of constituents of "Ogwu Odenigbo", a popular Nigerian herbal medicine for typhoid fever.

The ethylacetate-insoluble fraction of the methanol extract of "Ogwu Odenigbo" a popular Nigerian traditional herbal medicine for typhoid fever prepared from the stem bark of Cleistropholis patens Benth, (Annonaceae), was separated into 13 semi-characterized constituents by preparatory TLC. The in vitro antimicrobial activities of the 13 fractions were quantitatively and/or qualitatively assessed by the agar well diffusion method using Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhinium, Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. The steroidal fraction was about 20 and 15 times more potent than penicillin and chloramphenicol respectively against B. subtilis, and about twice as active as penicillin G. or chloramphenicol against Klebsiella pneumoniae. The glycoside fractions 4/5, 6, 7 and the alkaloidal fraction 11 showed significant activity comparable to those of the controls against Klebsiella pneumoniae. The saponin fraction 1 was the only fraction active against Salmonella typhinium. Its activity was comparable to that of the controls against this organism.

A preliminary evaluation of antifertility activity of a triterpenoid glycoside (DSS) from Dalbergia saxatilis in female Wistar rats.

Antifertility activity of a triterpenoid glycoside, DSS, isolated from the root of Dalbergia saxatilis was investigated in female Wistar rats of breeding age. When administered by gastric intubation at a dose rate of 200 mg kg(-1)body weight at the premating period, conception was inhibited in 71.4% of the treated animals. Fertility Index (FI) for this group was 107.82 compared with 373.5 value for control rats that received 30% aqueous Tween 20 vehicle. DSS, did not significantly alter the fertility of rats at the first and second trimesters of pregnancy but did cause a significant decrease (P<0.05) in the mean Day 20 foetal crown-rump length when administered at the premating period and at the third trimester of pregnancy; with a concurrent decline in the mean maternal body weights. The potential use of DSS as a chemosterilant in fertility control are discussed.