In ovo injection of black cumin (Nigella sativa) extract on hatching and post hatch performance of thermally challenged broiler chickens during incubation.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects in ovo injection of black cumin (BC) extract on chick's quality and response of thermally challenged broiler chickens. A total of 700 hatching eggs of broiler chickens (Marshall) were assigned to 7 treatments of 100 eggs each and incubated using the conventional protocol (37.8°C) for the first 10 d and then exposed to a high temperature (39.6°C) for 6 h daily from day 10 until day 18 of the incubation. At embryonic day 17.5, the eggs were randomly allotted to 7 treatment groups, viz.: eggs without in ovo injection (WA), eggs injected with 0.9% saline solution (SA), 3 mg ascorbic acid (AA), 2 mg BC (TB), 4 mg BC (FB), 6 mg BC (SB), and 8 mg BC (EB) extracts. Experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design. After hatching, the chicks were reared separately according to in ovo treatments for 8 wk. Data were collected on hatchability, chick quality, internal organs, growth performance, plasma superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, and triiodothyronine (T3). The results showed that the hatchability of the eggs in the AA group was similar to that of SB eggs and higher than that of the other treatment groups. The intestinal weights of SB and EB birds were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those of TB, SA, and WA. The final weights of the birds of SB and AA were higher (P < 0.05) than those of other treatments. The feed conversion ratio of the birds of TB and FB was comparable to that of EB and WA but higher than that of SB and AA. At hatch, the creatinine of the birds in SA and WA was similar to that of EB, FB, and TB but higher (P < 0.05) than that of AA and SB. Also, the plasma malondialdehyde, T3, and superoxide dismutase of SB and AA birds were better (P < 0.05) than those of the control groups. Overall, it was concluded that 6 mg of BC extract improved the antioxidant status and posthatch performance of thermally challenged broiler chickens.

PARAPARESIS IN A PATIENT WITH ADVANCED HIV DISEASE WITHOUT MANIFESTATIONS OF OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTION.

HIV infection had been associated with many symptoms and signs but the least expected is paraparesis in the absence of constitutional clinical features. This case presentation is to highlight the unusual presentation of a 43 year old who presented with difficulty in walking due to gradual weakness in his lower limbs (more on right than left) and difficulty in passing urine of 8 months duration. All the common symptoms and signs associated with advanced HIV infection were absent. Urethroscopy and prostate biopsy were done and showed normal findings. Cranial computerised tomography (CT) scan finding was normal, but lumbo-sacral Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) showed degenerative disease suggestive of immunosuppression. HIV screening (Unigold and ELISA) and HIV confirmatory tests were done that showed reactivity to HIV-1 antibody and CD4 count and plasma viral load results were 226 cells/ mm3 and 126,000 copies/ml respectively. The patient was commenced on antiretroviral therapy and paraparesis started resolving.