Scienceline Publication Repository: No conditions. Results ordered -Date Deposited. 2024-03-29T13:06:34ZEPrintshttp://eprints.science-line.com/images/Scienceline.pnghttp://eprints.science-line.com/2022-05-27T17:34:42Z2022-05-27T17:34:42Zhttp://eprints.science-line.com/id/eprint/110This item is in the repository with the URL: http://eprints.science-line.com/id/eprint/1102022-05-27T17:34:42ZPoultry and Wild Bird Interactions: An Assessment of Risk Factors in Kogi State, NigeriaWild birds are involved in the spread of avian pathogens such as avian influenza and Newcastle disease viruses over long distances. This study aimed to identify conditions that can promote poultry-wild bird interactions and consequently enhance risk of introduction, spread, and maintenance of avian pathogens within poultry population in Kogi State, Nigeria. Data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to poultry farmers and poultry sellers in farms, live bird markets (LBMs), and households and cross checked by observers using a checklist. Of the 108 respondents, 86.4% affirmed that wild birds scavenge for food on their farms, households, and LBMs, 73.1% kept poultry on free range and 67.9% indicated the presence of trees, where wild birds settle, on their farms, households, or LBMs. However, 53.3% were near major rivers/wetlands while 9.3% had fish ponds near their farms or households. Nonetheless, 94.7% of respondents dispose dead poultry and litter in refuse dumps and 77.2% of the respondents had farms along transit routes. Spearman’s rho showed strong positive correlations between poultry and wild bird interaction with high rates of scavenging by wild birds on farms and around households, presence of major rivers, free-range poultry and transit routes for live bird trade, spillage of poultry feed and presence of tress for roosting of wild birds on the farms. The frequencies of risk factors for poultry and wild bird interactions were high in Olamaboro, Ajaokuta, Dekina, Ofu, Ankpa, Lokoja, Okene, and Ogori-Mangogo local government areas of the State. There is a need to train poultry farmers and sellers of Kogi State on biosecurity practices to reduce the level of poultry and wild bird interactions to prevent the risk of the introduction and spread of avian pathogens by wild birds.N. O. Amejiamejivet@gmail.comA. AssamP. A. AbduL. Sa’iduM. Isa-Ochepa2022-05-23T18:24:59Z2022-05-23T18:24:59Zhttp://eprints.science-line.com/id/eprint/313This item is in the repository with the URL: http://eprints.science-line.com/id/eprint/3132022-05-23T18:24:59ZClinicopathological Findings in Suspected Cases of Virus-induced Neoplastic Diseases in Commercial Layer Chickens in NigeriaAvian neoplastic diseases, including Marek’s disease (MD), avian leukosis (AL), and reticuloendotheliosis (RE), are of economic importance in the chicken industry. However, it is difficult to differentiate MD from AL and RE by clinical signs and postmortem examination. Therefore, the present study aimed to classify the avian neoplastic diseases affecting commercial layer chickens in Nigeria using clinical history, postmortem examination, and histopathological technique. Carcasses of commercial layer chickens from 7 and 20 poultry farms in Kaduna and Plateau States were studied, respectively, from February 2017 to March 2018. The age, morbidity, and mortality rates in each of the affected farms were determined. Detailed postmortem examinations were carried out on the carcasses from the affected farms, and organs observed to have neoplastic lesions were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin for histopathology. The age means of the affected layers were 20.6 weeks and 20.8 weeks in Kaduna and Plateau States, respectively. The average morbidity rates of neoplasm in the affected layers were 3.9% and 9.3% in Kaduna and Plateau States, respectively, while the average mortality rates were 8.6% and 8.5% in Kaduna and Plateau States, respectively. The clinical observation of affected chickens indicated that they were anorexic and emaciated. Generally, the neoplastic lesions were characterized by white to gray, multifocal, firm nodules of varying sizes on the affected organs. In Kaduna State, the neoplasms were commonly observed on the liver (85.7%), spleen (71.4%), heart (42.9%), and kidneys (42.9%), while in Plateau State, the affected organs included liver (50%), spleen (25%), proventriculus (25%) and lungs (25%). The histopathological changes in the affected tissues were similar and characterized predominantly by the infiltration of lymphocytes, lymphoblasts, and macrophages. The patterns of distribution of the pleomorphic neoplastic cells within the liver were multifocal and perivascular in most cases. Findings from the current study indicated that cases of neoplasms in commercial layer chickens in Kaduna and Plateau States, Nigeria, could be attributed to MD.N. A. Saninuhu.sani@uniabuja.edu.ngC. I. UgochukwuS. E. AbalakaA. SalehM. S. MuhammedS. B. OladeleP. A. AbduC. Njoku