1,720,967 research outputs found
Efficacy of different concentrations of aloe chabaudii leaf gel as a substitute for a sulfonamide for the control of avian coccidiosis
No full textThe objectives of this study were to investigate the effectiveness of Aloe chabaudiiSconland juice as a potential substitute of sulphonamide drugs and to measure its effects when administered at different concentrations in the control of avian coccidiosis. Thirty Cobb 500 broiler chickens were used for the
experiment. The broilers were randomised into six groups of five birds each and the groups were assigned
to six treatments in a Complete Randomised Design (CRD). Four of the groups were given any one of the
following treatments, different concentrations of Aloe (weight/volume: 10%, 20% and 30%) and a sulphonamide. There was a control group which was not given a treatment and one cohort group which
was neither infected nor treated (Control). At two weeks of age, 25 of the birds were infected with coccidia
via drinking water using infected chicken feacal matter, while the remaining five birds were left uninfected.
Infection proceeded for 1 week and after the infection period, feacaloocysts were counted from each individual bird using the McMaster technique. Treatments started one day post infection and continued for one week where after 20 gram samples of feacal matter were taken from each bird per treatment and oocysts were counted. After oocyst counting, all birds were slaughtered and lesion scoring was done on the intestines using the Johnson and Reid technique. Data was analysed for oocysts count in different treatments, feacal egg count reduction, relative risk of coccidiosis and the effectiveness of aloe concentrations as a substitute for a commercial sulphonamide. The results showed that the concentrations of aloe used in the experiment were not effective as compared to the sulphonamide in controlling coccidiosis as the feacal egg reduction was below 90% for all concentrations. The relative risk of coccidiosis infection in the farm was found to be 100% meaning coccidiosis is a disease of economic importance at the farm. However there was a reduction in the feacaloocyst count with increase in aloe juice concentration to control coccidiosis, though this could be not be compared to the sulphonamide used (ESB3) which was more effective (p<0.05). This study has shown that there is potential for use of Aloe chabaudii leaf gel as a chemotherapeutic though much research is needed to determine absolute concentrations which will make it comparable to commercially available drugs in terms of efficacy
An Investigation into the Efficiency of Utilization of Artificial Game Water Supplies by Wildlife Species in the North Eastern Kalahari Region of Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe
No full textAn observational study was carried out to determine the efficiency of utilization of artificial game water supplies and the demand for water by wildlife species at selected water points in the North Eastern Kalahari region of Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. Six water points were randomly selected from the two distinct vegetation types. Data was collected from May to November 2005 and this included borehole yield, evaporation and seepage rates as well as wildlife water consumption. Analysis of variance was then carried out in a two level nested design to analyse the data using the GENSTAT 7th edition statistical package software. The study showed that they were significant differences (p<0.001) in the borehole yield, evaporation, seepage and the amount of water consumed during different times of the year and at water points within the different vegetation types. The study has shown that the amount of water pumped by a borehole will meet the dry season water requirements of wildlife species early in the dry season but will fail as the dry season progresses. It is recommended that pumping of water begins early in March and that as the dry season progresses there is need to supplement water supply at certain water points
An update on the ecological distribution of the Ixodidae ticks in Zimbabwe
No full textIn total 7657 ticks were collected from 121 dip tanks in 12 districts repre- sentative of Zimbabwe’s five ecological regions between September 2013 and May 2014. Based on morphological traits four genera and 13 species of ticks were identified. Am- blyomma hebraeum (60.3 %), Rhipicephalus microplus (58.7 %), Rhipicephalus decol- oratus (47.1 %), Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (56.2 %), Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi (67.8 %), Rhipicephalus (near) punctatus (13.2 %), Hyalomma truncatum (38 %) and Hyalomma rufipes (46.3 %) were found in all the ecological regions of the country. Am-
blyomma variegatum and Rhipicephalus compositus (0.8 %) were only found in the north
central part of the country while Rhipicephalus simus (5 %) had a sparse distribution. The Haemaphysalis leachi group (1.7 %) and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (1.7 %) were found whenever dogs were sampled suggesting these could be widespread throughout the country. The study confirmed the continued limited distribution of A. variegatum (3.3 %) in the north central parts of the country, whereas A. hebraeum was found to have a wide distribution also encroaching areas of high rainfall and lower temperatures where it was not previously recorded. A parapatric relationship existed between these two Amblyomma species. Rhipicephalus appendiculatus was also widely distributed although its presence was dominant in the cooler and wetter parts of the country. The traditionally held view that Hyalomma species and R. evertsi evertsi can survive well under diverse conditions is upheld in this study. Rhipicephalus microplus was also present in dry regions but its adaptability to these regions requires further investigation
Communal farmers’ perceptions of tick-borne diseases affecting cattle and investigation of tick control methods practiced in Zimbabwe
No full textTick borne diseases (TBDs) are responsible for huge economic losses in cattle production in most African countries where the majority of cattle owners are the resource poor communal farmers. Governments have initiated and co-ordinate tick control programs with farmers required to contribute funds for their sustenance. The success of these programs will hinge upon the involvement of communal farmers in their design, implementation and evaluation. To this end, 313 communal farmers (approximately 8.4% response rate) were interviewed and 3 focus group discussions were carried out in the southern low-veld part of Zimbabwe with the objectives of investigating communal farmers' perceptions on TBDs affecting cattle, level of participation in government initiated tick control programs, other tick control methods practiced, types of acaricides used and their perceived effectiveness. There was a general awareness of TBDs with 67.7% (n=212) farmers being able to describe tick diseases with names or clinical and post-mortem signs. The diseases or problems frequently associated with ticks were cowdriosis (38%, n=119), mastitis (36.7%, n=115), anaplasmosis (36.1%, n=113), body damage (28.4%, n=89), babesiosis (24.6%, n=77) and poor body condition (16.6%, n=52). Cattle mortalities due to TBDs were reported by 23.8% (n=74) of the farmers. The plunge dip was consistently used by farmers (70.3%, n=220) to control ticks. Other tick control methods practiced were the hand spraying (67.4%, n=211), hand dressing (16.6%, n=52), traditional methods (5.4%, n=17), use of pour-ons (4.5%, n=14) and smearing (2.2%, n=7). The formamidines were the most common class of acaricide used (59.4%, n=186), followed by synthetic pyrethroids (29.1%, n=91), macro cyclic lactones (12.8%, n=40) and organophosphates (4.5%, n=14). Most farmers (75.2%, n=231) perceived these acaricides to be effective in controlling ticks. The results of focus group discussions showed that a number of factors influenced the success of government initiated tick control programs and these included inconsistent supply of acaricides, unaffordable dipping fees, lack of water, long distance to the dip tank, lack of information on dipping procedures and lack of knowledge on strategies for delaying acaricide resistance. This study demonstrates that while farmers can be a valuable source of information with regards to the epidemiology of tick borne diseases affecting their cattle, there is still need for further training in understanding the TBDs and strategies for their control
Validity of weight estimation models in pigs reared under different management conditions
No full textA study was carried out to determine the relationship between linear body measurements and live weight in Landrace and Large White pigs reared under different management conditions in Zimbabwe. Data was collected for body length, heart girth, and live weight in 358 pigs reared under intensive commercial conditions. The stepwise multiple linear regression method was done to develop a model using a random selection of 202 records of pigs.The model showed that age, body length, and heart girth were useful
predictors of live weight in these pigs with significantly high positive correlations observed.The model was internally validated using records of the remaining 156 pigs and there was a significantly high positive correlation between the actual and predicted weights. The model was then externally validated using 40 market age pigs reared under communal conditions and there was a significantly low positive correlation between the actual and predicted weights. The results of the study show that while linear measurements
can be useful in predicting pig weights the appropriateness of the model is also influenced by the management of the pigs. Models can only be applicable to pigs reared under similar conditions of management
The prevalence of Taenia saginata cysticercosis in the Matabeleland Provinces of Zimbabwe
No full textRecords were collected for Taenia saginata cysticercosis infections in cattle slaughtered at the Cold Storage Company Abattoir in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, between January 2006 and December 2007. The cattle were drawn from the two Matabeleland provinces in the dry western and southern parts of the country. A total of 86,080 cattle were slaughtered during the period. The average prevalence of T. saginata cysticercosis was found to be 1.6 % (n = 1 364) with Matabeleland North having a higher prevalence of 2.8 % (n = 629) and Matabeleland South 1.2 % (n = 735). There were no significant seasonal differences (p > 0.05) in incidences of T. saginata cysticercosis during the study although numerically, the prevalence of T. saginata cysticercosis was higher in the wet season. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the prevalence of T. saginata cysticercosis in different age classes of cattle slaughtered. Of the infected carcasses, a great proportion of these had live cysts (1.4 %) while few had dead cysts (0.2 %). Most of the cattle condemned were below the age of 2 years and some were full adults (p < 0.05). There was a significant association between farm type (p < 0.05) and prevalence of T. saginata cysticercosis with most infections being observed in the communal farming system. Though the prevalence of T. saginata cysticercosis appears to be low, there is a need to conscientize the farmers to avoid losses due to carcasses condemnation at slaughter houses which will have a negative financial impact to the individual farmer. There is also a need to investigate such cases even further to reduce zoonotic consequences due to the undetected cases in communal areas
Shifts in the distribution of ixodid ticks parasitising cattle in Zimbabwe
No full textIxodidae) in Zimbabwe, a crossâ€sectional survey was carried out between September 2013 and May 2015 at 322 dip tanks. A total of 15 tick species were collected, namely: Amblyomma hebraeum Koch (65.2%, n = 210/322), Amblyomma variegatum Fabricius (14.9%, n = 48/322), Hyalomma rufipes Koch (62.4%, n = 201/322), Hyalomma truncatum Koch (37.9%, n = 122/322), Rhipicephalus appendiculatus Neumann (60.6%, n = 195/322), Rhipicephalus compositus Neumann (0.3%, n = 1/322,), Rhipicephalus decoloratus Koch (61.8%, n = 199/322), Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi Neumann (65.2%, n = 210/322), Rhipicephalus lunulatus Neumann (4%, n = 13/322), Rhipicephalus microplus Canestrini (32%, n = 103/322), Rhipicephalus near punctatus Walker and Horak (7.1%, n = 23/322), Rhipicephalus simus Koch (5.6%, n = 18/322) and Rhipicephalus cf. turanicus Pomerantsev (3.4%, n = 11/322). Compared with previous surveys, changes in the distribution of A. hebraeum, A. variegatum and R. microplus were recorded. The distributions of other tick species have largely remained unchanged. Factors which might have influenced these changes and the possible impacts on the epidemiology of tickâ€borne diseases are discussed
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Get PDFThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
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