This cross-sectional survey assessed choices of canine delivery methods among 384 dog ownersin Southeast Nigeria. It focused on patterns of natural birth versus caesarean section (C-section),owner perceptions, and reported neonatal outcomes. Data were collected between August andDecember 2025 using structured questionnaire. Natural birth alone was the predominant method(76.0%), while C-section alone was used by only 7.8% of owners while 16.1% had used bothmethods. Majority of those who used C-section, did so only on emergencies (55.5%), with only2.3% opting for elective procedures. Owners perceived natural birth as superior for neonatalsurvival (mean rating 4.26±1.06 vs. 3.79±1.22 for C-section), and 63.8% believed natural birthyields the highest survival rates. There was a significant association between the delivery methodand reported puppy survival (χ²=81.77, p<0.001), though causality cannot be inferred. Notably,25.5% of owners reported no assistance during their bitches’ deliveries. Only 27.6% had licensedveterinarians present, indicating substantial gaps in professional obstetrical care. The findingsrevealed a strong preference for non- interventional delivery methods, a preference for C-sectiononly on emergency, and critical deficiencies in access to veterinary obstetric services. There isneed for targeted education on dystocia recognition, breed-related risks, and timely veterinaryassistance to improve canine neonatal outcomes in resource-limited settings.
The brachial plexus is a complex network of nerves that originates from the ventral rami of C5 through T1 nerve roots and provides sensory and motor innervation to the forelimb and pectoral region. There has been an increased use of the Greater Cane Rat (GCR) (Thryonomys swinderianus, Temminck) as an indigenous research rat model in studying the nervous system. There is, however, a dearth of information on the anatomical origin of the brachial plexus of this rodent. In this study, the brachial plexus of the GCR was investigated using six adult greater cane rats, (three males, three females). The brachial plexus primarily originated from the caudal branch of theventral rami of cervical nerve 5 (C5), cervical nerve 6 (C6), cervical nerve 7 (C7), cervical nerve 8 (C8), and cranial branch of the ventral ramus of first thoracic nerve (T1). The smaller cranial trunk was formed by the caudal branch of the ventral rami of C5 and C6, while the larger caudal trunk was formed by the ventral rami of C7, C8, and T1. The branch formed by the joining of the ventral rami of C5 andC6 gave off the phrenic nerve before participating in the formation of the brachial plexus. This study highlighted some of the gross characteristics of the brachial plexus of the GCR, as they provide baseline information on their anatomy. The information generated provides a basis for the GCR’s use as research models for comparative and translational brachial plexus studies, for an increased understanding and management of brachial plexopathies, and to provide a clinical reference point in the assessment of the GCR spinal nerves.
This study evaluated the bacteria from homogenized midgut of Hyalomma ticks of goats in Maiduguri, Nigeria using cultural isolation and biochemical characterization of homogenized migut of Hyalomma ticks. A total of eleven (11) isolates were obtained including Staphylococcus aureus with the highest frequency of 3(27.3%), Enterococcus species, Proteus mirabilis and Bacillus species with 2 (18.2%) each and Escherichia coli and Corynebacterium species with 1 (9.1%) each. Descriptive analysis of the bacterial isolates revealed Escherichia coli appearing greyish white with large, thick, moist, smooth, opaque or mucoid colonies on MacConkey agar, and as pinkish, rod or bacilli, gram negative, indole, nitrate reduction and MR-VP positive but oxidase negative. Staphylococcus aureus appeared fairly large golden yellow colonies on rich medium and round opaque and as purple violet colour, spherical or cocci in cluster, gram positive,catalase, glucose and coagulase positive but oxidase negative. Proteus mirabilis appeared swarming with a characteristic smell on MacConkey Agar, slender rods, gram negative, indole, citrate, lactose, sucrose, mannitol, urease positive. Enterococcus Species appeared mucoid on MacConkey Agar, in pairs or chain with rod shape, gram positive and lactic acid fermenters. Bacillus species appeared as circular ridges, smooth, moist, sticky and medium sized colonies, arranged in long chain, rod, gram positive, and catalase positive. Corynebacterium species appeared small, grayish colonies with granular appearance, mostly translucent but with opaque centers, convex with continuous borders, rod or bacilli and shows metachromatic granules when stained with methylene blue, gram positive, catalase positive some are oxidase negative. Further study is needed to understand the relationship between midgut bacterial community and tick– pathogen interaction.
Respiratory diseases are major causes of morbidity and mortality in captive birds. This reportdescribes the clinical, pathological, and microbiological features of a case caused by a multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus in a small flock of exotic Brahmachickens at the University of Ibadan Zoological Garden. It highlights its zoonotic andantimicrobial-resistance implications. This paper reports a case of small Brahma birds thatexperienced an initial respiratory infection compounded by moderate intestinal coccidiosis. Twocarcasses were necropsied. Samples from the liver, trachea and intestine were collected for aerobicbacterial culture and identification using API kits while antimicrobial susceptibility testing wasperformed using Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method. Intestinal scrapings were examined forcoccidia species by light microscopy, and representative tissues were processed for histopathology.Three (75%) out of the four affected chickens died. Post-mortem examination revealed severe airsacculitis, pulmonary congestion, hepatomegaly with steatosis, and: catarrhal enteritis withpetechiae haemorages. Aerobic cultures isolated E. coli and S. aureus from multiple organs.Antimicrobial testing confirmed the isolates as multidrug resistant, including resistance togentamicin, amoxicillin, and cephalosporins (cefotaxime, ceftriaxone). Histopathologycorroborated air sacculitis, tracheitis, hepatic steatosis, and enteritis. Empirical oxytetracyclinetherapy failed to control the infection. The case shows that small captive bird flocks can serve as reservoirs of multidrug-resistant, potentially zoonotic pathogens and highlights the limitations ofempirical treatment without laboratory confirmation.
The study aims to evaluate the reproductive toxicity of Povidone iodine (PVI) in male Wistar rats.Sixty male Wistar rats, weighing 150–160 g and ranging from 12–14 weeks, were split into groupsarbitrarily A-D (n=15). Group A served as the control and received 1 mL of distilled water orally,whereas Groups B, C, and D received graded doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg body weight (bw)of PVI orally. All administration was done once daily for 10 days. Five (5) rats were randomlyselected from each group at days 3, 5, and 10 for the evaluation of reproductive toxicity. A bloodsample was collected and the serum harvested for the evaluation of Malondialdehyde (MDA),catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) using a standard protocol. Following the bloodcollection, the rats were caringly sacrificed. The testes and epididymides from both the control andtreated groups were removed. The left testes were individually macerated for sperm analysis, whilethe right testes and epididymides were fixed and processed for histomorphological evaluation. ThePVI at test doses causes oxidative stress by increasing MDA and decreasing CAT and SOD,affecting enzyme activities over 3, 5, and 10 days. Sperm motility, concentration, viability, Leydigcell population, testicular membrane thickness, and epididymal sperm reserves are significantlyreduced. Sub-acute PVI above 250 mg/kg bw impairs male reproductive parameters by inducingoxidative stress, linked to decreased sperm quality and architecture of the testes and epididymis
