Occurrence of equine metabolic syndrome, clinical manifestations, and associated risk factors in Nigeria.

Insulin dysregulation (ID) is central to the pathophysiology of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), putting the horse at risk of laminitis. There is a paucity of information on the status of EMS in Nigeria. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of EMS, clinical manifestations, and associated risk factors in Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was carried out. Selected horses underwent an insulin 2-step response test to ascertain insulin dysregulation; a physical examination was carried out to diagnose laminitis and obesity. Risk factors were assessed using a questionnaire. The overall prevalence of EMS was 43.10%. Breed and sex were significantly associated with EMS, but age was not. Horses diagnosed with laminitis showed two signs of laminitis, namely, divergent hoof rings and widened white lines. Risk factors significantly associated with the prevalence of EMS were as follows: being a West African Barb horse (60.00%), being a stallion (67.86%), being a leisure horse (67.86%), only walking horses during exercise (68.00%), exercising horses once every 5 months (82.76%), tethering horses to a stake in the ground (67.86%), obesity (92.86%), and abnormal neck crest (83.33%). The risk of ID remains higher in obese horses. However, some of the horses with ID were not obese, indicating that there are other possible underlying causes of EMS.

Effects of crude methanol extract of Adansonia digitata fruit pulp on Naja nigricollis venom-induce toxicity in Wistar rats.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the effects of Crude Methanol Extract of Adansonia digitata Fruit Pulp on Naja nigricollis Venom-Induce Toxicity in Wistar rats. METHODS: A. digitata was extracted using 70% methanol and median lethal dose (LD50) of both the extract and venom were determined using the up-and-down method. Sixty Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 10 groups of 6 rats each and were administered with normal saline, venom only, venom + antivenom, 125 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg crude methanol extract (CME) pre-envenomation, 125 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg CME post-envenomation, and venom + antivenom + 250 mg/kg CME, respectively. Blood samples were collected 8-h post-envenomation in EDTA and plain sample bottles. Erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF) test was carried out on the EDTA blood samples while serum was harvested and used for Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) assays. RESULTS: LD50 of the CME and venom was >5,000 mg/kg and 0.889 mg/kg, respectively. N. nigricollis-induced oxidative stress was evident in group B through increased % haemolysis, MDA and lowered SOD activities. The groups treated with antivenom only, 250 mg/kg CME post-envenomation and antivenom +250 mg/kg CME significantly (p<0.05) reduced EOF, MDA values and increased SOD. The CME revealed better ameliorative effect than protective via inhibition of EOF, MDA values and increased SOD activity. CONCLUSIONS: The CME when administered singly showed more ameliorative properties and the combination of CME with antivenom for protection was not as effective as when compared to single administration.