Browsing by Author "Max, Robert Arsen"

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Antibody response, viral load, viral clearance and growth rate in Tanzanian free-range local chickens infected with lentogenic Newcastle disease virus
(Academic Journals, 2021-04-15) Gallardo, Rodrigo; Kelly, Terra; Lamont, Susan; Dekkers, Jack; Zhou, Huaijun; Muhairwa, Amandus; Mushi, James Richard; Chiwanga, Gaspar Honorati; Mollel, Esther Lemburis; Walugembe, Muhammed; Max, Robert Arsen; Msoffe, Peter Makenga; Rodrigo Gallardo
This study is aimed at evaluating antibody responses, viral loads, viral clearance and growth rate of Tanzanian free-range local chicken (FRLC) challenged with LaSota strain of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) as indicator traits for selection of chickens for breeding with enhanced resistance to the disease and economic value. Three popular free-range local chicken ecotypes: Kuchi, Ching’wekwe and Morogoro-medium from three ecological zones of Tanzania were used for the experiments. Progenies from the breeder chickens were challenged with 10 7 titer of 50% egg infectious dose (EID 50 ) of the virus at 28 days of age. The viral loads and viral clearance rates evaluated by qRT-PCR from tear samples collected at 2- and 6-days post infection (dpi) showed that Kuchi could clear NDV better than Morogoro- medium and Ching’wekwe. Anti-NDV antibody levels determined from blood samples collected at 10 dpi using ELISA showed that Kuchi ecotype expressed higher mean anti-NDV antibodies compared to Morogoro-medium and Ching’wekwe. Growth rates determined from body weights collected for 38 days from day of hatch (D0) to 10 dpi showed higher growth rate for Kuchi than Morogoro-medium and Ching’wekwe chickens. Kuchi chickens were potentially more resistant to ND compared to Morogoro- medium and Ching’wekwe.
Effect of A. nilotica pods and A. lebbeck stem bark extracts on the reproductive system of male mastomys natalensis: an anti-fertility studies
(African journal of biological sciences, 2022) Mwangengwa, Lusekelo Msomba; Bakari, Gaymary George; Kanuya, Noel Lemree; Max, Robert Arsen
The contraceptive potential of Acacia nilotica pods and Albizzia lebbeck stem bark methanolic extracts were evaluated in male rodent pests. Ninety (90) multimammate rats (M. natalensis) were randomized into a 3 × 3 factorial design for treatment groups (control, A. lebbeck and A. nilotica) (n = 10) and treatment durations (15, 30, or 60 days). Control rats consumed plain feed. Treated rats consumed feed with 2% w/w of either of the plant extract. Following treatment, male rats were mated to untreated females before they were sedated in ether and humanely sacrificed. Assessments were done on fertility success rates (number of impregnated females), weight of testes and reproductive glands, sperm cell parameters, and testes histopathology. Fertility success rate was reduced to 0% in the A. nilotica treated rats at all the treatment durations and in the A. lebbeck treated rats after 60 days of treatment. Also, the extract-treated rats revealed a significant reduction in the testes, seminal vesicles, and epididymides weights compared to the control group. Moreover, sperm cell density and the proportions of live and progressively motile spermatozoa were significantly reduced and there were numerous damaged seminiferous tubules reflected by sloughed off germ cells, thinned germinal epithelium and widened empty lumen in the extract- treated rats. Thus, treatment with A. nilotica or A. lebbeck extract in male M. natalensis reduced their fertility success rates through distortion of testicular structure and disruption of spermatogenesis.
Effect of A. nilotica pods and A. lebbeck stem bark extracts on the reproductive system of male mastomysnatalensis : anti-fertility studies
(African Journal of Biological Sciences, 2022-04-05) Mwangengwa, Lusekelo Msomba; Bakari, Gaymary George; Kanuya, Noel Lemree; Max, Robert Arsen
The contraceptive potential of Acacia nilotica pods and Albizzia lebbeck stem bark methano lic extracts w ere ev aluated in male ro d ent pests. N inety (90) multimammate rats ( M. natalensis ) were randomized into a 3 × 3 factorial design for treatment groups (control, A. lebbeck and A. nilotica ) ( n = 10) and treatment durations (15, 30, or 60 days). Control rats consumed plain feed. Treated rats consumed feed with 2% w/ w of either of the plant extract. Following treatment, male rats were mated to untreated females before they were sedated in ether and humanely sacrificed. Assessments were done on fertility success rates (number of impregnated females), weight of testes and reproductive glands, sperm cell parameters, and testes histopathology. Fertility success rate was reduced to 0% in the A. nilotica treated rats at all the treatment durations and in the A. lebbeck treated rats after 60 days of treatment. Also, the extract-treated rats revealed a significant reduction in the testes, seminal vesicles, and epididymides weights compared to the control group. Moreover, sperm cell density and the proportions of live and progressively motile spermatozoa w ere significantly reduced and there w ere numerous damaged seminiferous tubules reflected by sloughed off germ cells, thinned germinal epithelium and widened empty lumen in the extract- treated rats. Thus, treatment with A . nilotica or A. lebbeck extract in male M . natalensis reduced their fertility success rates through distortion of testicular structure and disruption of spermatogenesis.
Effects of sweet potato leaves, roselle calyces and beetroot on body weight, selected hematological and biochemical parameters in broiler chicken
(Macrothink Institute, 2019) Max, Robert Arsen; Kitimu, Shedrack Reuben; Mshamu, Shaabani; Temba, Benigni Alfred; Muhairwa, Amandus P.
The study was conducted to assess the effects of sweet potato leaves, roselle calyces and beetroot tubers on body weight, selected hematological and biochemical parameters in broiler chickens. Eighty four (84) broiler chickens aged four weeks were randomly assigned into six groups of 14 chickens each. The first group (G0) remained as untreated control while the other groups were the treated groups which received 25% of ground sweet potato leaves (G1), rosella calyces (G2), beetroot tubers (G3) and their mixtures (G4 and G5) for 28 days. Following inclusion of these different vegetables, blood samples were collected and analyzed for selected hematological and biochemical parameters on day 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28. Results showed that consumption of the three vegetables caused significant decreases (p < 0.05) in body weight, serum glucose and cholesterol. On the other hand, hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume (PCV) and total white blood cell (WBC) counts were shown to increase significantly (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. It is concluded that the hypoglycemic and hypocholesteremic effects in chickens following consumption of the three vegetables together with their positive effects on PCV and WBC counts are important qualities which can be utilized in the management of conditions such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular diseases (atherosclerosis and coronary disease) in humans. Further studies in other animals are recommended.
Evaluation of stress hormone (cortisol) levels andsome biochemical parameters of pigs kept under intensive management systems in Morogoro, Tanzania
(Journal of biology and life science, 2018) George Bakari, Gaymary; Mollel, Ester; Max, Robert Arsen; Muhairwa, Amandus P
The worldwide increase in demand for animal products in recent decades has necessitated raising of food animals under intensive systems that have been demonstrated to cause stress to animals. A cross sectional study was carried conducted to evaluate the welfare of pigs kept under intensive system using serum cortisol levels and some biochemical parameters as indicators of stress. A total of 302 pigs, aged three months to two years, from urban and peri-urban areas of Morogoro township were purposively involved in the study which assessed farm management aspects (housing and feeding) and blood levels of cortisol and some biochemical parameters (glucose, total protein and cholesterol). Results showed that serum cortisol levels were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in pigs from the peri-urban farms than those dwelling in the urban settings. Weaner pigs and boars had the highest serum cortisol levels compared to growers, gilts and sows. Significantly high levels of plasma cholesterol (p < 0.05) were measured in boars followed by gilts and weaners all kept in the urban areas whereas insignificant differences were observed as far as plasma glucose and total proteins were concerned. Result on farm management assessment showed that urban piggery housing was of better quality than in the peri-urban and that feeding was largely influenced by local availability of the major feed ingredients such as maize bran and vegetable residues. About 80% of urban pigs were maintained on high concentrate feed due to availability of swills (restaurant leftovers) and maize bran whereas low concentrate feed with mainly vegetable residues dominated in the peri-urban settings. It is concluded that, serum cortisol levels observed in the current study were a reflection of stress to different groups of pigs kept under the intensive system and that feeds had some direct effect on biochemical parameters such as plasma cholesterol levels.