Evaluation of Telfaria occidentalis and sorghum bicolor extracts as potent haematinics in domestic rabbits

A total of 20 domestic rabbits divided into 4 groups of animals per group were used in this study. Group A animals (control) were not bled but those in groups B-D were bled to induce anaemia. Group B animals were left to recover by normal haemopoesis while those in groups C and D were treated respectively with Haematopan B12 ® (a commercially prepared haematinic) and alcohol extracts of a combination of Sorghum bicolor and Telfaria occidentalis, reconstituted at concentration of 4mg/100ml of distilled water. The post-haemorrhage treatment haematologic values were obtained at given intervals (7 days) and compared with the pre-haemorrhage values earlier obtained. The study showed that the group B animals recovered gradually by physiologic haemopoesis while animals in group C and D showed accelerated recovery with group D animals having a faster and better response in terms of packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), haemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and mean corpuscular volune (MCV). Thus the combination of the extracts used in the treatment of the anaemic rabbits was a potent haematinic.

Nutritional evaluation of forage as feed resources on the haematological parameters of pigs

A feeding trial was conducted with a total of 30 pigs to evaluate the potential of fresh Pannicum maximum forage on pigs. The trial lasted for 63 days. Five diets were formulated which contained 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% levels of the fresh grass forage. Each diet formed a treatment which was offered to the pigs. Each treatment was replicate, arranged in Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The pigs were feed 4% of their body weight and water was offered ad-libitum. The blood composition of pig in terms of packed cell volume, haemoglobin, white blood cell, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration significantly (P<0.05) improved even with the inclusion of fresh grass forage of 20%, while mean corpuscular volume did not significantly (P>0.05) differ from the control which contained 0% forage. It is therefore concluded that fresh Pannicum maximum forage could be used in pig ration at 25% inclusion level without any effect on the animal.

Responses for blood morphological indices in a 60-km horse endurance race depending on the season

The aim of this study was to find whether the magnitude of changes in blood before and after horse endurance competitions was the same at the beginning and the end of the season and if the studied indices could be useful in assessing the impact of such changes on the length of the endurance racing season. The study was conducted on 36 clinically healthy horses. Blood samples were taken during 60-km endurance competitions in 2014, three times in total. The study revealed an increase of lymphocytes (× 1.89-2.05; P < 0.001), red blood cell count (× 1.11-1.12; P < 0.001), and a decrease in the mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (× 1.20-1.27; P < 0.001), red cell distribution width (× 1.11; P < 0.01), platelet concentrations (× 1.33-1.40; P < 0.05), when compared at the beginning and in the end of the horse endurance racing season. During the entire season, haematocrit values significantly increased after the race but were at their lowest in the mid-season period. The results proved a significant increase in the white blood cell and granulocyte counts following the finish of a 60-km endurance race, when comparing the values at the beginning and in the end of the horse endurance racing season, and a significant reduction in lymphocytes when comparing the values at the beginning (35.7%) and at the end (29.7%) of the season. The endurance competition season highly influences haematology indices in horses' blood, however, to determine the season's impact on the results of the race, additional studies must be conducted.

Stability of haematological parameters in stored blood samples of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum, 1792)

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of storage time at +4 °C on haematological indicators in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum, 1792). For this purpose, 60 Italian trout were evaluated and red blood cells, white blood cells, thrombocyte count, haematocrit, haemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration were determined. After blood collection (T₀), all samples were immediately analysed using an automatic method to assess the haematological parameters and then divided into two different aliquots and stored at +4 °C. The first aliquot was refrigerated for 168 h (T₁), the second one for 336 h (T₂). Statistical analysis (one-way repeated-measures ANOVA) showed a significant effect of storage time (P &lt; 0.05) on red blood cells, thrombocyte count, haematocrit, haemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration. The obtained data expand our knowledge of haematological evaluation techniques and could contribute to the development of an appropriate method for haematological analysis that is suitable for the evaluation of the health status of wild and farmed fish.

Physiological values of some blood indicators in selected dwarf rabbit breeds

<p>The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of breed on haematological and biochemical indicators in 3 dwarf rabbit breeds. In the experiment, 30 sexually intact dwarf rabbit females aged 6 mo were used. With the sole exception of white blood cells and haematocrit value, breed had the most significant effect on the majority of haematological indicators monitored. The red blood cell count was higher in the Dwarf Lop compared to the Netherland Dwarf (+1.91×10¹² cells/L; P&lt;0.05) and also the Teddy Dwarf (+1.32×10¹² cells/L; P&lt;0.05). For haemoglobin concentration, a higher value was found in the Netherland Dwarf than in the Teddy Dwarf (+39.29 g/L; P&lt;0.05) and the Dwarf Lop (+26.36 g/L; P&lt;0.05). For erythrocytic indicators, the highest values of mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration were found in the Netherland Dwarf. The breed had a significant effect on the urea and potassium values. A higher value of urea was recorded in the Dwarf Lop compared to the Teddy Dwarf (+1.56 mmol/L; P&lt;0.05). For potassium, a higher value was found in the Netherland Dwarf compared to the Teddy Dwarf (+0.85 mmol/L; P&lt;0.05). In addition, a significantly positive correlation (P&lt;0.05) was found between the live weight of dwarf females and values of haematocrit (0.49), albumin (0.54), alanine aminotransferase (0.51), and aspartate aminotransferase (0.41), while a significantly negative correlation (P&lt;0.05) was found between their live weight and values of triacylglycerols (–0.44), alkaline phosphatase (–0.38) and inorganic phosphorus (–0.52). </p>