Analysis of nutritional components of eight famine foods of the Republic of Niger

In the western Sahel, indigenous plants become important staples when cereal harvests are inadequate to support populations inhabiting that region of Africa. The purpose of this study was to assess the nutrient content of several of these edible wild plants. The leaves of the following seven plant foods were analyzed: Ziziphus mauritiana, Cerathotheca sesamoides, Moringa oleifera, Leptadenia hastata, Hibiscus sabdarifa, Amaranthus viridi, and Adansonia digitata. The fatty acid, vitamin E, carotenoid, selected mineral and amino acid contents of these plant foods were determined. These same analyses were performed on the fruit of the Adansonia digitata. In quantitative and qualitative terms, Amaranthus viridis was found to be an excellent source of protein. Its amino acid composition compared favorably to that of a World Health Organization (WHO) protein standard. It also contained considerable amounts of the two fatty acids that are essential in humans (linoleic and -linolenic) and a number of minerals including iron, magnesium, calcium and zinc. The leaves of Hibiscus sabdarifa contained an appreciable quantity of protein the composition of which was comparable to the WHO standard. The mineral content of the leaves of this plant was also exceptionally high; noteworthy was its high zinc content. H. sabdarifa also contained significant quantities of the two essential fatty acids. Ziziphus mauritiana was an excellent source of the essential fatty acid linoleic acid and several of the metals including iron, calcium, magnesium and zinc. Its content of other essential nutrients, however, was rather low. In general, Adansonia digitata leaves were nutritionally superior to the fruit of the tree; however, the fruit did contain useful quantities of potassium, phosphorus, zinc and -linolenic acid. The Leptadenia hastata leaves were an especially good source of lutein and -carotene. These data should be useful to the people who inhabit the western Sahel in helping them devise healthy diets during times when cereal staples are in short supply.     

Volvulus of the colon in a horse associated with a mesocolic-umbilical band

A 7-years-old Clydesdale mare was presented with severe abdominal distension and acute colic. Dilated large intestine was palpated per rectum and a ventral midline exploratory laparotomy was performed. A 180 degrees volvulus of the pelvic flexure was present, associated with an inelastic band of tissue connecting the mesocolon to the umbilicus. The band was ligated and transected, and the volvulus reduced. Postoperative complications included hyponatraemia, metabolic acidosis and laminitis. The possible aetiology of the mesocolic-umbilical band is discussed.     

Liquorice and canine Addison's disease

Abstract

Extract

Hypoadrenocorticism, or Addison's disease, is an uncommon en-docrinopathy of dogs (Feldman and Nelson 2004 Feldman, EC and Nelson, RW. 2004. “Hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's disease)”. In Canine and Feline Endocrinology and Reproduction, 3rd, 394–439. Philadelphia, , USA: WB Saunders.  [Google Scholar]). Long-term management of affected dogs in New Zealand involves treatment with oral fludrocortisone acetate (Florinef tablets; Bristol-Myers Squibb (NZ) Ltd, Auckland, NZ), which is a relatively expensive synthetic adrenocortical steroid. Table salt may be added to the food, in an attempt to reduce the amount of fludrocortisone required. Despite fludrocortisone therapy, many Addisonian dogs remain hyponatraemic and hyperkalaemic and the required dose of fludrocortisone may need to be increased during the first year of treatment. Increasing the dose of fludrocortisone is not only expensive, but may also have undesirable effects through its potent glucocorticoid action.     

The effect of some cryoprotectants on dromedary camel frozen‐thawed semen

The cryopreserved camel semen is often associated with poor quality and fertility. This study aimed to improve the dromedary frozen semen quality by comparing the efficiency of four cryoprotectant agents (CPAs) on sperm freezability. Semen samples were collected from seven male Maghrabi camels, diluted with Shotor diluent supplemented with glycerol (Sh‐G), dimethyl formamide (DMF, Sh‐DF), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, Sh‐DS) or ethylene glycol (EG, Sh‐EG), all at 6% final concentration, and the samples were subjected to cryopreservation. The results revealed the superiority of Sh‐DF over Sh‐G and Sh‐DS in terms of post‐thaw motility (55.83 ± 2.20 vs. 47.50 ± 4.33 and 45.00 ± 2.89%, respectively), sperm membrane (49.00 ± 0.58, 39.33 ± 3.33 and 42.67 ± 1.45%, respectively) and acrosomal integrities (53.00 ± 0.58, 57.33 ± 0.88 and 52.33 ± 1.45%, respectively). Sh‐EG group showed the lowest post‐thaw motility, plasma membrane and acrosome integrities (12.50 ± 1.44, 22.67 ± 1.45 and 30.67 ± 1.45, respectively). In conclusion, the protocols of dromedary camel semen cryopreservation could be enhanced using 6% DMF as a cryoprotectant agent.     

The trypsin inhibitor content of 61 wild edible plant foods of Niger

In the western Sahel and many other regions of sub-Saharan Africa,wild edible plants contribute significantly to human diets, notonly during periods when cereal staples are scarce, but also whenthey are readily available. Although there have been publishedreports regarding the nutrient contents of these plant foods,little attention has been devoted to their content of antinutrientssuch as calcium chelators and inhibitors of the pancreas-derivedproteases, trypsin and chymotrypsin, which are required for theefficient digestion and absorption of dietary proteins. In thisstudy, aqueous extracts of 61 different leaves, seeds, fruits andflowers of edible plants gathered in the Republic of Niger wereanalyzed for their content of trypsin inhibitory substances using-N-benzoyl-DL-arginine-p-nitroanilide as the substrate andbovine trypsin as the enzyme source. Twelve of these plant foodscontained more antitrypsin activity than soybeans (1.34–8.18 vs.1.32 g trypsin inhibited/mg dry weight). Boiling for 3 mindid not inactivate the antitrypsin activity in most of the plantextracts. These data confirm that more than half of the wildedible plant foods widely consumed by various populations whoinhabit the western Sahel contain significant quantities of heat-stable trypsin inhibitor that could possibly compromise thebioavailability of proteins present in the diets of these populations.     

Use of ketoprofen as an antipyretic in cats.

The antipyretic effectiveness of Ketoprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, was investigated in pyretic cats with a variety of bacterial and viral infections. Cats were randomly assigned to receive either a broad-spectrum antibiotic or a broad-spectrum antibiotic plus ketoprofen. Body temperature was monitored 3 times daily, and attitude and appetite were evaluated once daily. The treatment groups were compared with respect to mean body temperatures, using a one-way analysis of variance. Mean temperatures were significantly different (P < 0.05) during the 4 and 8 h post-treatment observations, with a reduction to normal temperatures in the ketoprofen group compared with no change in the group treated with antibiotics alone. The antipyretic effect of ketoprofen was rapid and persisted for at least 8 h, but for less than 24 h. The overall recovery period from pyrexia, depression, and inappetance was also shorter in cats treated with antibiotics and ketoprofen (3 d) than in cats treated only with antibiotics (5 d). Ketoprofen was a useful adjunct in the treatment of pyretic cats.     

An epidemiological study of sheep deaths before and during export by sea from Western Australia

A study was conducted to record the deaths that occurred during export, and to examine the temporal pattern of pellet feeding in the feedlot and ascertain the variation in mortality between groups of sheep from different farms. Between November 1985 and April 1987, 5 cohorts of sheep were selected on arrival at a feedlot before live export by sea from Western Australia to the Middle East. Each cohort consisted of 4,118 to 9,612 Merino wethers from 15 to 35 farms (lines). There were few deaths during trucking to the feedlot (rate 0.9, range 0.0 to 3.0 per 10,000 sheep) and during lot-feeding (rate 6.2, range 1.2 to 12.2 per 10,000 sheep). Most of the deaths occurred aboard ship (rate 210.7, range 152.7 to 271.5 per 10,000 sheep). The proportion of sheep that ate pelleted feed increased with increasing length of time in the feedlot. By the end of lot-feeding the percentage of sheep that had not eaten pellets was 23.3, 4.4, 1.2, 2.1 and 0.2 in a representative sample of each of the 5 cohorts. It was considered that offering hay throughout lot-feeding was undesirable for the purpose of maximising the number of sheep that ate pellets before loading on the ship. Half of the deaths aboard ship occurred in 25% of 133 lines of sheep in the 5 cohorts. In each cohort the median per cent death rate (and range) per line was 1.3 (0.3 to 11.9), 1.1 (0.0 to 5.7), 1.8 (0.0 to 6.8), 2.3 (0.0 to 14.3) and 0.9 (0.1 to 5.4).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)