Zoologist (The)最新文献

{"title":"Effects of water depth on digestive enzymes activities of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) fingerlings","authors":"K. Salisu, B. Suleiman, S. Abdullahi","doi":"10.4314/TZOOL.V16I1.5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/TZOOL.V16I1.5","url":null,"abstract":"The effects of water depth on the digestive enzymes activities of Clarias gariepinus was investigated. Ten concrete tanks (50x150x100 cm capacity) were used; each tank was filled with water at different experimental water depths (25, 50, 75,100 and 125 cm) under static culture system. The activity of protease, lipase and amylase from the pancreas of Clarias gariepinus was determined. Digestive protease, lipase and amylase showed optimum activities at 125 cm water depth with amylase activity showing greater variation across treatments compared to the other two digestive enzymes. Water depth positively influenced the release of these enzymes for feed digestion to occur with lipase being the most influenced by water depth. In conclusion water depth affects digestive enzymes activities in Clarias gariepinus fingerlings and it is recommended that 125 cm water depth should be used in culturing Clarias gariepinus.Keywords: Amylase; Clarias gariepinus; lipase; protease; water depth.","PeriodicalId":426223,"journal":{"name":"Zoologist (The)","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130197961","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Insecticidal activities of three weed varieties against the Bamboo Powder Post Beetle Dinoderus minutus Fabricius (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae)","authors":"K. Popoola, J. A. George-Onaho, O. T. Alamu, A. E. Ayandokun","doi":"10.4314/tzool.v16i1.6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/tzool.v16i1.6","url":null,"abstract":"The insecticidal activities of crude ethanol extracts of leaves of three weed species, Siam weed, Chromolaena odorata Linn., Milk weed, Euphorbia heterophylla Linn. and Tree Marigold Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A, Gray on the insect, Dinoderus minutus Fabricius, were investigated on bamboo as substrate. Bamboo blocks were treated with different concentrations: control (positive), control (negative), 20% and 25% of each plant extracts. Twenty-five active adult D. minutus insects were introduced into each setup of five bamboo blocks in 0.32 L jars for 60 days and were replicated four times in a Completely Randomized design in the laboratory. Data were collected on mortality of D. minutus at 5, 10 and 15 days after introduction. The number of holes bored by D. minutus on bamboo blocks after 60 days of storage were counted and the percentage weight loss of bamboo block was calculated using standard procedure. The result showed that the highest and the lowest percentage mortality of D. minutus were recorded in 25% T. diversifolia (94.67±2.67) and control (–) respectively at 15 days after treatment. The number of holes bored by D. minutus on bamboo blocks in the control treatments was higher than the number of holes bored on bamboo blocks treated with different concentrations of the three extracts. The mean percentage weight loss of bamboo blocks obtained at 20% and 25% concentrations of each extract was lower than that of the two control treatments. The maximum wood protection (1.33±0.22) against D. minutes was recorded at 25% concentration of T. diversifolia. The number of D. minutus holes on bamboo block correlated positively (R 2 = 0.538; p<0.0001) with the percentage weight loss of bamboo. The three weeds at 20% and 25% concentrations could be used in the management of D. minutus on bamboo. Keywords : Plant extract; Dinoderus minutus ; bamboo pest; mortality; weight loss.","PeriodicalId":426223,"journal":{"name":"Zoologist (The)","volume":"100 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114594242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of artemether on parasite burden and liver pathology in mice infected with Ibadan isolate of Schistosoma mansoni","authors":"F. Adejoro, E. Ilo, O. G. Ohore, A. Odaibo","doi":"10.4314/tzool.v16i1.8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/tzool.v16i1.8","url":null,"abstract":"This study aimed at evaluating the pathological features associated with Schistosoma mansoni infection and assessment of the efficacy of artemether in the treatment of intestinal schistosomiasis in laboratory mice. Cercariae harvested from naturally infected Biomphalaria pfeifferi obtained from Odo Ona River in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, were used to infect Swiss albino mice in the laboratory. A total of 50 mice were divided into 5 groups and artemether (300mg/kg) was administered to two of the groups at 15th and 42nd day post-infection respectively, Praziquantel (600mg/kg) was administered to a group as the control drug and another group was used as the infected control group while the last group was uninfected. Mice were sacrificed and perfused at 8th week post-infection for worm recovery, examination of the visceral organs and histopathology were conducted on liver and spleen of infected and uninfected groups. Schistosoma mansoni isolate from Ibadan, caused severe liver pathology in mice, and thus presents features indicative of epidemiological importance in human schistosomiasis. Worm burden reduction (98%) was observed in mice treated at day 15 post-infection with artemether (300 mg/kg) while 77% worm reduction was observed in the group of mice treated at day 42 post infection with artemether (300 mg/kg). Granulomas were not observed in the liver of mice treated at day 15 post-infection while those of untreated group, which had multiple granulomas. Inflammatory cellular infiltrations were observed in liver of infected mice however, the mice treated at day 15 post-infection had mild infiltration likely due to fewer eggs present in the liver. Praziquantel used as the routine control drug was less effective compared to artemether. Worm reduction (53%) was recorded for mice treated with praziquantel, gross and histopathology also revealed eggs diffusely deposited in the liver of the mice. Artemether, a derivative of artemisinin, showed a good antischistosomal effect that could be an alternative and/or complement praziquantel in the control of schistosomiasis in endemic areas. Keywords : Artemether; Schistosoma mansoni; Ibadan isolate; Swiss albino mice; gross pathology; histopathology.","PeriodicalId":426223,"journal":{"name":"Zoologist (The)","volume":"4 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133665824","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Estimates of home range sizes of Arvicanthis niloticus Desmarest, 1822 (Muridae) in savannah fields near Kano, Nigeria","authors":"S. Rabiu, R. K. Rose","doi":"10.4314/TZOOL.V16I1.7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/TZOOL.V16I1.7","url":null,"abstract":"Determination of rodent home range (HR) is invaluable for characterizing population distribution and strategies for accessing food, mate and nest sites, as well as, dispersal into new fields. The present study, in savannah fallow fields near Kano, Nigeria, was aimed at estimating HR sizes of Arvicanthis niloticus , a species widespread in much of Africa. By Capture-Mark-Recapture (CMR) in a five to six-day/month sessions on replicate grids during 1990-1992; and 25 years later followed by a one year, quarterly, appraisal surveillance during 2015-2016, the movement patterns of A. niloticus were analyzed by means of Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) calculations. With GLM ANOVA, comparisons between sexes, seasons and periods of study were made. Further HR comparisons were made with Kruskal-Wallis tests. Predictors (year of study, sex of the rodent and season) which contributed to significant differences in HR sizes were also identified with stepwise regression. Overall, ANOVA results showed that sex had significant effect (p<0.05) on HR, larger (1,036 m 2 ) mean HR sizes than that of females (850 m 2 ). Seasonal differences were also significant (p<0.05). Kruskal-Wallis tests also indicated significant (p<0.05) differences between sexes, seasons and age groups, being higher in males than females; greater in dry than in rainy season; but marginally greater in adults than juveniles (p=0.056). Generally, HR size values for 2015-2016, the second segment of the study, had shown similar patterns as those of the 1990s, again with significant (p<0.05) differences between sexes, seasons, and between sexes within seasons. However, overall HR values in 2015-2016 were lower than those of 1990-1992 composite year. From the forgoing, we may conclude that though long-term temporal lapse and ensuing environmental degradation may reduce HR sizes in A. niloticus , the general patterns of age-sex and seasonally related differences do not change. Keywords : Africa; grassfields; home range; Nile rat; movement; rodents.","PeriodicalId":426223,"journal":{"name":"Zoologist (The)","volume":"115 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126364440","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cryptosporidium infection among children attending some hospitals in Funtua Local Government Area, Katsina State, Nigeria","authors":"A. Agba, T. Aken'Ova, P. Audu","doi":"10.4314/TZOOL.V16I1.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/TZOOL.V16I1.1","url":null,"abstract":"Four hundred stool samples (76 watery and 324 soft-formed) obtained from children attending three hospitals in Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina State were examined for Cryptosporidium oocysts. A structured questionnaire was administered to determine the factors that enhance the prevalence of infection. Stool samples were examined for Cryptosporidium oocysts using formol-ether concentration technique and the modified Ziehl Neelson staining technique. The overall prevalence of infection obtained was 4%. The results showed that 10.5% watery stools and 2.5% soft-formed stools contained Cryptosporidium oocysts (p 0.05). More male children were infected (4.9%) than females (3.2%), but the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Infection was more prevalent in children who defaecated in open fields than those who used pit latrines and water closets (p>0.05). This study showed that source of drinking water, eating of food served in the same plate, washing of hands prior to eating, washing of fruits and vegetables before eating, washing of hands after use of toilet, contact with animals as well as other children did not influence Cryptosporidium infection.Keywords: Cryptosporidium; immunocompetent; immunocompromised; microvilli.","PeriodicalId":426223,"journal":{"name":"Zoologist (The)","volume":"7 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116566980","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development and appraisal of new biodiversity loss and conservation game (BLACOG) in assessing students’ knowledge, attitude and perception of biodiversity conservation","authors":"A. Aladesida, G. Dedeke, E. O. Onifade, J. Bamidele, U. Ekpo","doi":"10.4314/tzool.v16i1.2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/tzool.v16i1.2","url":null,"abstract":"Educational programmes have for long been used in biodiversity conservation; however introduction of board games in these efforts is a new concept, which is believed, will result in greater achievements. This study developed and used a new educational board game, biodiversity loss and conservation game (BLACOG) and a test-questionnaire to appraise the knowledge, attitude and perception of biodiversity (KAPOB) among secondary school students in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Students (n=283) were selected randomly from three schools, two of the schools serving as Experimental Groups while the third served as the control-group. The test-questionnaire, rated on a Likert scale, was administered to both the control and experimental groups prior to and after five exposures to the game, though the control-group did not have any exposure to the game. Data obtained were tested for significant differences in the mean scores of the respondents in the tests prior to and after the game. T-test comparison of the mean scores of the pre- and post-tests of the Control Group was not significantly different (p=0.207). The mean scores in the post-test were significantly higher than the pre-test scores in both of the experimental schools. The results also showed that, though the mean scores of the pre-tests of the control and experimental groups were not significantly different, the mean score in the post-test of the Experimental Group was significantly higher than in the control group. This study showed that the use of BLACOG had significantly positive effects on the KAPOB of the experimental group and that the game could become a veritable educational tool for teaching biodiversity conservation in schools.Keywords: Conservation education; biodiversity conservation; biodiversity loss; biodiversity education game.","PeriodicalId":426223,"journal":{"name":"Zoologist (The)","volume":"40 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126812571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Morphometric characteristics and condition factor of Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (Lacepede, 1803) and Sarotherodon melanotheron (Ruppell, 1852) in the Lagos Lagoon","authors":"B. Emmanuel, O. Akinniyi, E. G. Inegbedion","doi":"10.4314/tzool.v16i1.4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/tzool.v16i1.4","url":null,"abstract":"One hundred and fifty (150) specimens of Sarotherodon melanotheron and 150 specimens of Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus were collected from Better-life Fish Market in Makoko area of Lagos State between June-August 2016 to provide information on the size distribution, length-weight relationship, determine regression equation and coefficient of determination of morphometric parameters and condition factor of the species. Size ranges of 10-22 cm and 15-33 cm were observed in S. melanotheron (20-158 g) and C. nigrodigitatus (30-279 g) respectively. Length-weight relationship of S. melanotheron and C. nigrodigitatus were described by the equation Log W = -1.107 + 2.4478 Log L and Log W = -1.9287 + 2.8484 Log L respectively. The b values (growth exponent), 2.4478 and 2.8484 for body weight on total length of S. melanotheron and C. nigrodigitatus respectively indicate negative allometric growth which implies that the fishes become slenderer as they increase in weight. The least coefficient of determination ( r 2 ), 0.4305 ( S. melanotheron ) and 0.2221 ( C. nigrodigitatus ) were obtained in snout length on total length and pelvic fin length on total length respectively. High values coefficient of determination, obtained indicates a high degree of positive correlation between the different morphometric parameters with the reference length (total length). All mean condition factors ( k ) calculated for species, size classes and sexes are all above 1 and this reveals that they are all in good conditions and that the environment is suitable for both species with regards to the feeding condition. This study provides some biological information on the condition of the species in the Lagos Lagoon as at the period of the study. Keywords : Morphometric characteristics; condition factor; Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus ; Sarotherodon melanotheron ; Lagos Lagoon.","PeriodicalId":426223,"journal":{"name":"Zoologist (The)","volume":"6 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124654740","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}