Nigeria

Knowledge of the chromosome morphology of a species is valuable in detecting chromosomal abnormalities, taxonomy and evolution. Despite this, chromosomal studies on rabbits is scarce in Nigeria. This study presents a description of the chromosome morphology of Oryctolagus cuniculus from Ilorin, Nigeria. Two male and one female samples received intraperitoneally 0.01% colchicine (1ml/100g body weight). The chromosomes were investigated by examining the metaphase chromosome spreads obtained from the bone marrow of the femur and humerus.

Pests and diseases have largely contributed to the declining productivity of cocoa in Nigeria. About 25 – 30% loss in yield of cocoa has been attribute to the cocoa mired, Sahlbergella singularis. 17% is lost through the feeding of the cocoa pod borer Characoma strictigrapta while losses attributable to the major disease of cocoa (the black pod disease caused by Phytophtora megakarya) range from 30 – 90% in Nigeria. The estimated farm holdings of peasant farmers account for 90% of the 700,000 hectares of land under cocoa cultivation.

The anticoccidial efficacy of the aqueous neem leaf extract in comparison to amprolium showed that the aqueous extract dose of 800mg/kg compared favourably with 10mg/litre of amprolium in treating the disease, both showed 100% survival rates for infected and treated chickens with zero oocyst per gram at day 4 post treatment. Also, the mean weight (grams) of infected and treated chickens improved significantly (P<0.05) at day 7-post treatment.

The diversity and abundance of fish species was studied in a sampling site on the Lake Kainji over a period of three months. A total number of four hundred and thirteen (413) fish from forty (40) species and fifteen (15) families were recorded during the study. The family bagridae dominated the catches with 18.37% in terms of abundance by number followed by Mochokidae with 13.5%% while Channidae had the lowest with 0.24%. The highest number of different species (8) was from bagridae followed by Mormyridae (6), then Characidae (5) and Mochokidae (4).

The nematode specimens from Clarias species were confirmed to be the larval forms of nematode Eustrongytides africanus that occurs in a wide diversity of fish-eating aquatic animals. And its effective third- and fourth-stage larval development was also described. The physical presence of this parasite in Clarias species is manifested by swellings or undulations on skin surfaces as grub-like.

This study aims at documenting the awareness, approach and use of contraception amongst women and female youths in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. 100 respondents; 60 female youths and 40 women aged within 18-45 years were cross-examined using a structured questionnaire and informal dialogues. Data gathered were analyzed using appropriate statistical tools. Results show that respondents between ages 23 and 27 (female youths and young married women) attending higher institutions were most represented in this study.

An ecological survey of acridoid grasshoppers was conducted in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria from January to November 2001. A total of 34 taxa distributed in 3 families, 12 sub-families and 27 genera were encountered. The family Acrididae had the highest number of species (28), followed by pygomorphidae with 5 species. The family Tetrigidae was represented by only one species. Several species showed ecological plasticity and were found in all the locations while many others showed ecological restriction.

The causal organism(s), and percentage infection of thread blight disease observed on some tea stands established in 1985 at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Ibadan, experimental plot was investigated for a period of one year (12 months). For the first months, the percentage infection ranges between 41.4% and 47.9%. Out of three fungi isolates (Botryodiplodia theobromae, Fusarium sp. and Marasmius pulcher) only M. pulcher produced the characteristic symptom observed in the field.

Sustainable use of soil on which agriculture depends is absolutely necessary for agricultural productivity. Soil samples were collected from two auto-mechanic workshops sited at Technical College Road (Station A) and Textile Mill Road (Station B) while the control was at EDPA Housing Estate, all in Benin City with the aid of a split soil core sampler at a depth of 0  10cm. The Physicochemical parameters of the samples were analysed using standard methods and revealed pH mean value of 7.27 at station A and 6.83 at station B respectively.

A study of the problems and prospects of fish farming was conducted in Kwara State. Questionnaires were used to collect data from Fish farmers, Traders and Civil Servants. The response showed that the major constraints to fish farming were lack of funds to procure land, water supply to farmers, unstable prices of feeds and fingerlings and poor management of the ponds.  Fish farming has many prospects which include: enhancing the income of the farmer, nutritionally.