Information theory and thermodynamic properties of diatomic molecules using molecular potential.

Owing to the devise applications of molecules in industries, the bound state solution of the non-relativistic wave equation with a molecular potential function has been obtained in a closed-form using the Nikiforov-Uvarov method. The solutions of the bound state are then applied to study the information-theoretic measures such as the one-dimensional Shannon and Renyi entropic densities. The expectation values for the position and momentum spaces were obtained to verify the Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. Utilizing the energy spectrum equation, the thermodynamic vibrational partition function is obtained via the Poisson summation. Other thermodynamic function variations with absolute temperature have been obtained numerically for four diatomic molecules (H2, N2, O2, and HF) using Maple 18 software. The Shannon global entropic sum inequality has also been verified. The Renyi sum for constrained index parameters satisfies the global entropic inequality. The thermodynamic properties of the four molecules are similar and conform to works reported in the existing literature. The obtained vibrational energies are in fair agreement with the ones obtained using other forms of potential energy. The result further indicates that the lowest bounds for the Shannon, Renyi, and Heisenberg inequalities are ground states phenomena.

Nutrient digestibility of rabbit does in different stages of reproductive cycle under tropical conditions.

Effect of stages of reproductive cycle on body weight, feed intake and apparent nutrient digestibility of rabbits was investigated. Pregnant/lactating (PL) does increased their feed intake above pregnant lactating does. Dry matter (DM) digestibility was higher in pregnant does than in lactating, PL or open does. Digestibility of crude fibre, crude protein (CP) and nitrogen-free extractives (NFE) were significantly higher for open and pregnant does than lactating and PL does. Ether extract (EE) digestibility was similar for pregnant, lactating and PL does. Digestible CP requirement of does increased with physiological state from open to PL states. Open and pregnant does were meeting their protein requirement while lactating and PL does were not meeting their requirement. Feed intake was higher for first week pregnant, fourth week pregnant, first week lactating, first week pregnant/fourth week lactating and second week pregnant/fourth week lactating does than open does. DM digestibility was higher for first and fourth week pregnant does than the other physiological stages. EE digestibility was similar for all physiological stages. CP digestibility was higher in fourth week pregnant does than the other physiological stages. Fourth week pregnant does had higher NFE digestibility than first and fourth week lactating and the various stages of concurrent pregnant and lactating does. Open does, first and fourth week pregnant does were meeting their protein requirement while does in the first and fourth week of lactating and stages of concurrent PL were not meeting their requirement.

Fertility of Bunaji (zebu) cows after treatment with PRID with or without PGF2alpha.

A study was undertaken to determine the oestrus response and fertility rates of zebu cows treated with PRID alone or in combination with PGF2alpha. A total of 184 non-suckled cycling Bunaji cows were allotted randomly to four treatment groups of 46 animals per group as follows: group 1 (PRID-12), PRID was inserted for 12 days; group 2 (PRID+7+PGF2alpha-6, PRID was inserted for 7 days and PGF2alpha was administered intramuscularly 1 day prior to PRID withdrawal; group 3 (PRID-7+PGF2alpha-7, PRID was inserted for 7 days and PGF2alpha was administered intramuscularly on the day of PRID withdrawal; group 4 (2 x PGF2alpha-13, two intramuscular injections of PGF2alpha 13 days apart. At the end of each treatment period, the cows were observed for 7 days for behavioural oestrus and were inseminated 12 h following detection of oestrus. Pregnancy was diagnosed by rectal palpation 30-40 days post-insemination. The respective oestrus response rates were 78.3%, 76.1%, 87.0% and 89.1% for groups 1-4. While the corresponding pregnancy rates were 39.1%, 41.3%, 52.2% and 52.2%, the conception rates were 50.0%, 54.3%, 60.3% and 58.6% for groups 1-4. Although individual variations in progesterone levels were observed, the progesterone profiles were generally typical and normal. The results of the study have confirmed the effectiveness of the four regimes in synchronizing and controlling oestrus and ovulation in Bunaji cows. However, groups 3 and 4 showed some superiority over the other treatments. The results of this study provide feasible options from which clinicians involved in intensive breeding programmes and herd health fertility programmes can choose.

Detection of oestrus in Bunaji cows under field conditions.

The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of some aids for detecting oestrus in 72 Bunaji cows synchronized using two injections of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) 13 days apart. Blood samples to determine the accuracy of the aids and ovarian activity by radioimmunoassay technique were collected daily from the day of the second PGF2 alpha injection until oestrus or for 168 hours for 'non-responders'. The aids for detecting oestrus, tail painting, KaMar detectors and a chin-ball mating device (CMD) were applied at the time of the second injection. The oestrus response rate was 73.6% and 61.1%, from the serum progesterone concentration and visual observation, respectively. Based on the total number of oestrus events observed, unaided visual observation, tail painting, KaMar and CMD detected 52.2%, 82.6%, 82.6% and 76.8%, respectively. Visual observation of standing oestrus alone failed to detect 47.8% of the occurrence of oestrus as shown by the concentration of progesterone in the serum and 30.4%, 30.4% and 24.6%, respectively, of the oestrus periods recorded by tail painting, KaMar and CMD. Twenty-eight cows showed abnormalities in progesterone concentration. These investigations showed that oestrus may be detected by using the aids in cows that have been regarded as 'anoestrous' by visual observation of standing heat.

The role of pheromones and biostimulation in animal reproduction.

It is now known that pheromonal communication plays an important role in mammalian behaviour and reproductive processes. Chemical communication with pheromones is one means of transmitting such information. In mammals, signalling and priming pheromones are thought to act either singly or in combination through olfaction, auditory, visual (sight) or tactile stimuli. Pheromones are air-borne chemical substances ("signals") released in the urine or feces of animals or secreted from cutaneous glands that are perceived by the olfactory system and that elicit both behavioural and endocrine responses in conspecifics. Extensive studies in insects, rodents, swine, sheep, goats and cattle have established the importance of pheromones in the strong influence exerted by the male on reproductive activity in the female. There is a pheromone produced by the queen honey bee, which has two functions: inhibition of queen rearing and suppression of oogenesis in workers and in addition attracts drones during nuptial flight. It has also been demonstrated that the urine of male mice, rats, feral species and other wild rodents contains a priming pheromone that is responsible for hastening puberty in the females. Pheromones in the wool, wax and urine of a ram are sufficient to stimulate ewes to ovulate, while the buck has a strong characteristic seasonal odor and a buck jar containing the odor of the buck can be used as an aid in the detection of oestrus in does. The mere presence of the boar at the time of insemination of the sow improves sperm transport and ovulation, while the presence of the vasectomised bull has been reported to hasten the onset of puberty in heifers and also early resumption of ovarian activity in cattle following parturition. The role of pheromones in bovine reproduction is not as clearly defined as in sheep, goats and swine. Pheromones and other allelomimetic cues can exert profound effects on reproductive activity via the hypothalamic system that generates pulses of gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Manipulations of these factors and other pathways linking environmental inputs to reproductive output can lead to developing the concept of "control systems technologies", aimed at controlling reproductive performance. The knowledge acquired on the effectiveness of biostimulation; the factor which conditions it and the biological mechanism which produces it in livestock species, allows its use as a breeding management tool. The understanding of the role of pheromones could be of potential economic importance in addressing some of the problems associated with livestock production in the tropics. The biostimulation technique offers a potentially useful and practical way to improve reproductive efficiency in livestock species in the tropics. The exact nature of the cues and the role of biostimulation in livestock species especially swine, sheep, goats and cattle in developing countries require more attention.

Effects of Trypanosoma vivax on pregnancy of Yankasa sheep and the results of homidum chloride chemotherapy.

Three groups of pregnant Yankasa ewes, made up of six ewes in each group were assigned at random to first, second and third trimester of pregnancy studies. The ewes were experimentally infected with T. vivax to study the effects of the infection on pregnancy and the results of Novidium Chemotherapy. Three pregnant uninfected ewes served as controls. Fourteen days post infection, the ewes in each trimester study, were paired by weight and assigned to two groups of three ewes each. One group was treated with Novidium while the other group remained untreated. Of the three ewes in each group, one ewe was killed humanely at 21 days post infection and another at the end of the trimester period. In the first trimester, a ewe with partial fetal resorption was observed among the untreated ewes. Fetal death in-utero and expulsion of an autolyzed fetus was observed among the treated ewes. In the second trimester, abortion and almost complete fetal resorption were observed among the untreated ewes. Fetal death in-utero and expulsion of an autolyzed fetus was observed among the treated ewes. In the third trimester, abortions were observed among the untreated ewes. Abortion of a live fetus and a case of dystocia were observed among the treated ewes. Ewes in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy were more susceptible to the infection, with ewes in the third trimester being most susceptible, as measured by the number of abortions and death of ewes. Fetuses from the untreated ewes in the three trimesters of pregnancy were lower in body weights, than the fetuses from the treated ewes. The uninfected control ewes carried the pregnancies to term. Novidium chemotherapy at 14 days post infection was not beneficial in ameliorating the pathogenicity of T. vivax infection on pregnancy in Yankasa ewes. T. vivax infection of only 14 days was enough to cause irreversible pathology in Yankasa fetuses evidenced by death of fetuses in-utero, dystocia and abortions irrespective of Novidium chemotherapy.

Effects of bull exposure and body growth on onset of puberty in Bunaji and Friesian x Bunaji heifers.

A total of ninety seven pre-pubertal Bunaji (BJ) and Friesian-Bunaji (FR x BJ) heifers were allotted randomly to two treatments groups for a period of 15 months. The treatment groups consisted of the followings: Mature Bull Exposure (MBE) and No Bull Exposure (NBE). Heifers were body condition scored and their live weights recorded on 28 days consecutive intervals. A heifer tactile stimulation in bull bio-stimulation. was considered to have attained puberty if she displayed oestrus, had a palpable corpus luteum with an associated P4 concentration > 1 ng x mL(-1). The onset of puberty was significantly earlier in MBE heifers (23.1 +/- 0.4 months) than NBE heifers (26.4 +/- 0.4 months). The mean ages at puberty for MBE-BJ, NBE-BJ, MBE-FR x BJ, NBE-FR x BJ were 24.3, 27.8, 22.1 and 25.0 months respectively. More MBE heifers (70.8%) attained puberty between 17 and 24 months of age than NBE heifers (18.3%) and on the same ages, more FR x BJ heifers (62.0%) than BJ heifers (25.5%). The mean live weight of MBE heifers at puberty (224.4 +/- 4.2 kg) was significantly lower than that of the NBE heifers (255.8 +/- 4.2 kg). The FR x BJ heifers attained puberty at a significantly higher live weight (270.2 +/- 4.2 kg) than the BJ heifers (228.6 +/- 4.2 kg). The use of a vasectomised bull especially in some elite farms that rely on artificial insemination services may be an effective management tool that can decrease age at puberty. More work is required to determine the relative contribution of visual, auditory, olfactory, pheromonal and tactile stimulation in bull biostimulation.

Influence of bull biostimulation, season and parity on resumption of ovarian activity of zebu (Bos indicus) cattle following parturition.

A total of 135 postpartum suckled zebu cows were assigned randomly at calving to two treatments: cows exposed to vasectomised bulls (Mature Bull Exposure, MBE) and cows not exposed to bulls (No Bull Exposure, NBE) for a period of 150 days postpartum. This study was conducted to determine the influence of bull biostimulation, season and parity on postpartum reproductive performance of Bos indicus cattle. The trials were conducted in two seasons: cows calving in the dry season and cows calving in the rainy season. Cows with an increase in serum progesterone (P(4)) concentration of >1 ng/ml from the weekly blood samples were used to analyse the number of days from calving to the time of resumption of ovarian activity. The introduction of vasectomised bulls shortened the postpartum anoestrus in cattle following calving. Mean interval from calving to resumption of ovarian activity for the MBE cows was 71.7 days, which was significantly earlier following calving than the NBE cows with a duration of 77.8 days. By 60 to 80 days postpartum, the proportion of cows at resumption of postpartum activity for MBE cows was greater than for the NBE cows. Mean interval from calving to resumption of ovarian activity for cows that calved in the dry season was 71.3 days, which was significantly earlier than for cows that calved in the rainy season (78.6 days). At 60 days postpartum, the proportion of cows at resumption of postpartum ovarin activity for cows that calved in the dry season was greater than the cows that calved in the rainy season. Mean interval from parturition to resumption of ovarian activity for cows with three to five calvings was 65.1 days, which was significantly earlier than the value of 71. 2 days for cows with one to two calvings. By 60 to 80 days postpartum, the proportion of cows at onset of ovarian activity for cows with three to five calvings was greater than those cows with one to two calvings. Cows that calved in the dry season completed uterine involution by 24.4 days, which was significantly shorter than the duration of 26.5 days for cows that calved in the rainy season. Cows with three to five calvings completed uterine involution earlier than those with one to two calvings. It is concluded that bull-cow biostimulation influences reproductive activity in the cow possibly through olfactory cues (pheromones).

Serum progesterone profiles of zebu cattle (Bos indicus) in relationship to conception and repeat breeding after artificial insemination.

Sixty-four zebu cows, comprised mainly of Bunaji cattle aged between 3 and 7 years old, were involved in an intensive artificial insemination programme. The study was conducted during the breeding period (May-October), and cows were inseminated with freshly prepared Friesian semen when they stood to be mounted by the vasectomised bull or herdmates. Fertility was measured by serum progesterone (P(4)) concentrations and pregnancy diagnosis by rectal examination post-insemination. From the records of oestrus detection and P(4) profiles of cattle following breeding, 39 oestrous cycle lengths were classified into short, normal and long cycles. The mean duration for short, normal and long oestrous cycles were 15.6+/-2.0, 21.5+/-1.5 and 29.5+/-2.5 days, respectively. Mean inter-oestrus intervals between the treatment groups were not different. The percentage frequency distribution was 48.7% for normal oestrous cycles. The short oestrous cycle lengths of 11-17 days were observed in 12.8% of the cases, while 38.5% of the cases of oestrus returns had long luteal phases with oestrous cycle lengths of 26-32 days. Out of the 64 cows, 48.4% conceived to the first breeding while 18.8% conceived to the second breeding. Five and nine cows became acyclic after the first and second breeding, respectively, constituting 22. 0%. Cows that displayed irregular oestrous cycles (repeat breeders) constituted 10.9%. Average number of services per conception was 1.3. Serum P(4) is of practical value in monitoring ovarian activity in cattle and in the identification of acyclic and repeat breeder cows. Repeat breeder cows could be investigated by a combination of radioimmunoassay and clinical examination of the ovaries and reproductive tract. In cattle management, it is economical and profitable to diagnose pregnancy early after insemination so that cows which fail to conceive may be rebred.

Reduced ovulatory and oestrous activity in zebu heifers following Trypanosoma vivax infection.

This paper describes a study on the oestrous and ovarian activity and responses to prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) administration and artificial insemination in zebu heifers. Four cycling heifers were artificially infected with 5 x 10(6) Trypanosoma vivax organisms. Two heifers served as controls. Two injections of PGF2 alpha were given 11 days apart, commencing at the peak of parasitaemia in the infected animals, followed by artificial insemination 72 and 96 h after the second administration of PGF2 alpha. Sera were analysed for progesterone by radioimmunoassay, while ovarian activity and oestrus were determined by rectal palpation and visual observation, respectively. All the infected heifers developed the clinical disease. All control and infected heifers had progesterone profiles consistent with luteolysis and the occurrence of oestrus following the second administration of PGF2 alpha. Progesterone levels did not return to normal luteal values in infected animals, however, whilst they did so in control animals. No control or infected heifers became pregnant. The findings suggest that PGF2 alpha will induce a non-fertile oestrus in zebu heifers acutely infected with T. vivax. Re-ovulation is also inhibited within 22 days in a majority of infected animals.

Adrenal and thyroid dysfunctions in experimental Trypanosoma congolense infection in cattle.

Severe pathological changes were observed in the adrenal and thyroid glands of Zebu (Bos indicus) heifers infected with Trypanosoma congolense. In the adrenal glands, severe inflammatory changes characterised by mononuclear cellular infiltration in the subcapsular areas, zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata and zona reticularis were observed. In addition, there were hyperaemia, haemorrhage and hyperplasia resulting in increased adrenal weight in the two heifers slaughtered on Days 50 and 70 post-infection (p.i.). In the medullary areas of these two heifers, there was only mononuclear cellular infiltration. In the two heifers slaughtered on Day 113, localised mononuclear cellular infiltration was observed in addition to cortical cell depletion and fibrosis, resulting in reduced adrenal weight when compared with the controls. In the thyroid glands of the infected heifers, gross enlargement of the follicles filled with pale staining colloids were observed in association with squamous metaplasia of the follicular epithelium and fibroplasia. Serum cortisol concentrations showed an appreciable but non-significant increase (P less than 0.05) between Weeks 2 and 6 p.i. in the infected heifers (5.6 +/- 0.86 ng ml-1 vs. 4.4 +/- 0.34 ng ml-1) when compared with the uninfected controls or the pre-infection level. Thereafter, cortisol levels declined though non-significantly throughout the rest of the study. However, there was a steady increase towards normal levels from Week 12 p.i. until the end of the experiment. Changes in the basal serum concentrations of thyroxine (T4) were also measured weekly. There was a progressive decrease in the levels of T4 from the third until the 11th week p.i., when the decrease became significant (P less than 0.05) and remained so until the 16th week when the experiment ended.

An abattoir survey of female genital disorders of imported camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Kano, Nigeria.

An abattoir survey of 850 female genital organs of imported camels was conducted at the Kano abattoir between October 1987 and April 1988. An incidence of 4.49% of disorders was recorded, including follicular cystic degeneration (0.12%), ovarian haemorrhagic cysts (0.47%), pyometra (0.35%), early embryonic mortality (0.12%), endometrial haemorrhages (0.47%), fetal maceration (0.12%), abscess (0.24%), vulvar tick infestation (1.77%) and cervical hypoplasia (0.12%).

Effect of chemotherapy on semen characteristics of Balami rams infected with Anaplasma ovis.

Six intact Balami rams were experimentally infected with Anaplasma ovis. Another six were infected one month after splenectomy and six others served as controls. Clinical manifestations of the disease, first observed between 5 to 7 days post-infection, were more severe and prolonged in the splenectomised-infected than in the intact-infected group. There was progressive deterioration in semen quality, which was also significantly more severe and prolonged in the splenectomised than in the intact-infected rams. Following treatment with long-acting terramycine, clinical recovery occurred earlier in the intact-infected (1-4 weeks) than in the splenectomised-infected group (5-7 weeks). A similar pattern was observed in post-treatment improvement in the sperimiogram. However, although the infected animals recovered clinically by 1-7 weeks post-treatment, restoration of the reproductive potential did not occur for 20 to 25 weeks. It appears that stress factors may aggravate the deliterious effects of anaplasmosis.

Effect of pregnancy on clinical manifestation of bovine trypanosomiasis.

Four groups of non-pregnant, first second and third trimester pregnant Zebu heifers were used to study and compare the clinical manifestations of Trypanosoma vivax infection. All the infected heifers developed clinical trypanosomiasis manifested by massive parasitaemia, fluctuating pyrexia, anaemia, dull hair coat, emaciation, jugular pulse and enlarged superficial lymph nodes. There were group variations in the severity of signs shown. Infected non-pregnant heifers and heifers in the third trimester of pregnancy developed a more severe form of the disease than pregnant heifers in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy.

Effects of experimental Trypanosoma vivax infection on first-, second-, and third-trimester pregnancy in heifers.

The effects of Trypanosoma vivax on pregnancy were studied in 18 heifers. The heifers were bred by a proven bull and divided into three groups of six heifers each. In the first group, four heifers were infected with T . vivax on Day 60 (first trimester) of pregnancy; two other pregnant heifers were uninfected controls. The second and third groups were similarly infected in the fourth (second trimester) and seventh (third trimester) month of pregnancy. One infected heifer in the first-trimester group aborted 39 days postinfection (p.i.); the remaining three had relatively normal gestation and parturition. In the second-trimester group, the pregnancies were carried to term with normal deliveries. In the third-trimester group, three infected heifers (75%) had premature deliveries while the fourth died about three hours after the full-term calf was pulled out. All of the control heifers had normal gestation and parturition. No gross abnormalities were seen in the placentae of the infected heifers, but histological sections of the heifers infected in the third trimester of pregnancy revealed more mononuclear cells than in those of the uninfected controls. Postmortem examination of the dead premature calves showed lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, serous atrophy of perirenal and pelvic fat, epicardial petechiae, and blood-tinged peritoneal and pericardial fluids. Histologically, there were slight myocardial haemorrhages and edema. T. vivax was recovered from the blood of one of the premature calves. Both birth weights and PCV were affected by the experimental maternal infection in the first- and third-trimester calves. The birth weights and PCV of calves of infected dams were lower than those for the calves of the control heifers. This work therefore demonstrates transplacental transmission of T. vivax in heifers.

Effect of different husbandry systems on the reproductive development of post-weaning ram lambs under tropical conditions.

Two groups of three-to four-month-old weaning ram lambs were studied for 20 months, beginning with weaning at between three and four months. Group 1 was comprised of nine ram lambs which were reared under an intensive husbandry system, and given standard nutrition and mineral supplements throughout the study. Group 2 was comprised of nine rams which were reared under the traditional nomadic/extensive management system, in which the only source of feed was the available pasture. The reproductive traits studied include: age, weight and scrotal circumference at puberty and at all corresponding ages up to 23 months, libido and sexual dexterity and semen characteristics at puberty and all corresponding ages. In the intensively managed rams, the average age at puberty was 6.4+/-0.5 mos. The averages of the other parameters at puberty were: body weight (BW), 21.7+/-2.5kg; scrotal circumference (SC), 18.5+/-1.3cm; libido score, 1.7+/-0.7 and sexual dexterity, 1.7:0.8. In the extensively managed rams, the average age at puberty was 7.8+/-0.3 mos. The average values of the various parameters at puberty were: BW, 17.3+/-1.2kg; SC, 15.2+/-1.4cm; libido score, 3.2+/-0.6 and sexual dexterity, 3.2:1.8. The inter- and intra-group variations in all the parameters at puberty and at all corresponding ages were significant. The average morphological sperm cell abnormalities at puberty were: 25.2+/-3.4% and 31.6+/-8.3% for rams reached puberty and at all corresponding ages than the extensively reared flock. Certain factors that influence post-weaning reproductive development and performance are discussed.

Prevalence of antibodies to Crimean-haemorrhagic fever-Congo virus in cattle in northern Nigeria.

A seroepidemiological survey was carried out to determine the prevalence of antibodies to Crimean-haemorrhagic fever - Congo(CHF-C) virus among cattle in 3 ranches with varying degree of tick infestation. Sera were collected from 1164 animals and were tested by agar gel diffusion precipitation test (AGPT) for antibodies to CHF-C virus. About 25.7% of the sera had precipitating antibodies against CHF-C virus. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of antibodies between the ranches despite the varying degree of tick infestation.

Quantitative estimation of spermatogenesis in bulls (Bos indicus) in a tropical environment of Nigeria.

Spermatogenesis in bulls (Bos indicus) indigenous to Nigeria, and the significance of Sertoli cell index (SCI) as a measure of testicular degeneration were studied. The mean testicular weights and dimensions were lower than reported for Bos taurus breeds. The diameters of the seminiferous tubules were lower than reported for Bos taurus, although within the same range. Inter-month and intra-month variations were highly significant (P less than 0.01). A mean annual spermatogenesis of 77.60% was reported. Active spermatogenesis was observed throughout the year, with a peak during the rainy season and extending toward the pre-dry season. This was consistent with previous reports. Severe testicular degeneration was found to influence spermatogenesis. This was reflected in the decrease in SCI. Mild degeneration had no significant effect on spermatogenesis, and did not significantly change the SCI. The SCI was defined as the ratio of the number of germinal cells to the number of Sertoli cells in the same cross sections of tubules.

Bovine streptothricosis and reproduction in Northern Nigeria: a case study.

A group of cows, which were naturally infected with streptothricosis, was observed for 17 months. The genitalia were examined per rectum, at least twice monthly to determine the ovarian activity. During the period of observation, 83.3% of the lightly affected cows were pregnant or had calves, while only 33.3% of the moderately/severely affected cows had calves. It is suggested that streptothricosis, like any other debilitating disease, affects reproductive performance, and in the case of severe, localized, perineal infection, the disease results in mechanical interference with mating.