Abstract Newcastle Disease (ND) has been identified as a major constraint to local poultry production with its impact being felt more in rural poultry production which forms about 80% of Ghana poultry population. However documented evidence on ND virus activity in rural poultry in Ghana is still lacking. Hence, this study was conducted to evaluate the level of circulating antibodies against ND using the Haemagglutination Inhibition (HI) technique. Sera collected from unvaccinated 292 chickens and 153 guinea fowls randomly selected from households and a live bird market in Kumasi and its environs were evaluated for Newcastle disease virus antibodies. Results showed 81.8 % (239/292) of local chickens and 24.2 % (37/153) of guinea fowls tested positive for ND antibodies. Comparison was made between the seroprevalence of ND antibodies in household and live bird market as well as between sexes. Significantly higher prevalence rate (p<0.05) was observed with chickens sampled from households compared to those from the live bird market. Higher ranges of titers were also observed in chickens from households than those from live bird markets. The presence of ND antibodies in these unvaccinated local chickens and guinea fowls indicated the presence of the virus amongst the rural poultry population, hence aneed for improvement in vaccine campaignand delivery against ND for rural poultry especially with the use of thermostable and improved oral or feed-based vaccine delivery systems.

The study evaluated the effect of dietary inclusion levels of walnut leaf (WL) and onion bulb (OB) residues on dermal wound healing of Clarias gariepinus. The experiment was carried out in 9 experimental tanks (1.8 m x 2 m x 1.2 m) for 14 days. Nine experimental diets were formulated at 40% crude protein representing the following inclusion levels: Control (0%), OB2 (0.5%), OB3 (1.0%), OB4 (1.5%), OB5 (2.0%), WL6 (0.5%), WL7 (1.0%), WL8 (1.5%) and WL9 (2.0%). Fish (mean weight of 1kg) were fed twice daily at 3% body weight. Percentage healing and daily healing rate on lateral and caudal parts of the male and female Clarias gariepinus were investigated at 0, 7 and 14 days. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at P < 0.05. The results demonstrated that the fish fed with walnut leaf and onion bulb residues showed better performance than the control. Dermal wound healing of Clarias gariepinus was better on lateral and caudal parts (100%, 14.29; 100%, 14.29) in WL 8 compared to the control (98%, 14.00; 80%, 11.43) respectively. The results obtained showed that the male Clarias gariepinus had better healing compared to the female (100%, 14.29; 82%, 11.71), respectively. Diets with walnut leaf and onion bulb residues had wound healing properties and they could be use in fish farming. Also, the inclusion of 1.5% of walnut leaf residue in fish feed promotes wound healing in Clarias gariepinus.

El presente estudio evaluó el efecto de la inclusión en la dieta de distintos niveles de hojas nogal (WL) y residuos de bulbo de cebolla (OB) sobre la cicatrización de heridas en la dermis de Clarias gariepinus. El experimento se llevó a cabo en nueve tanques experimentales (1,8 m x 2 m x 1,2 m) durante 14 días. Se formularon nueve dietas experimentales al 40% de proteína bruta con los siguientes niveles de inclusión: control (0%), OB2 (0,5%), OB3 (1,0%), OB4 (1,5%), OB5 (2,0%), WL6 (0,5%), WL7 (1,0%), WL8 (1,5%) y WL9 (2,0%). Los peces (peso promedio 1 kg) fueron alimentados dos veces al día con 3% del peso corporal. El porcentaje de cicatrización y la tasa diaria de cicatrización en las zonas laterales y caudales de macho y hembra de Clarias gariepinus se investigaron a los 0, 7 y 14 días. Los datos fueron analizados mediante estadística descriptiva y ANOVA (P < 0,05). Los resultados mostraron que los peces alimentados con hojas de nogal y residuos de bulbo de cebolla mostraron un mejor rendimiento que el control. La cicatrización dermal de heridas en Clarias gariepinus fue mejor en la parte lateral y caudal (100%; 14,29%; 100%; 14,29%) en WL 8 en comparación con el control (98%; 14,00; 80%; 11,43), respectivamente. Clarias gariepinus macho tenía una mejor cicatrización en comparación con la hembra (100%; 14,29; 82%; 11,71), respectivamente. Las dietas con hojas de nogal y residuos de bulbo de cebolla tienen propiedades curativas y podrían ser usadas en acuicultura, además la inclusión de un 1,5% de nogal en la alimentación de los peces favorece la cicatrización de heridas en Clarias gariepinus.

Levamisole hydrochloride (Lev.HCl) has been acclaimed to boost immune response particularly in immunocompromised state. Its routine use as an immunomodulator in poultry production is yet to be well embraced, thus its effects of on cellular immunity and flock performance of commercial broilers were evaluated. One hundred and fifty Anak broiler chicks were separated into two groups of 75 each. Broilers in group 1 were sensitized with 150µg of Staphylococcus aureus antigen each at 4 and 5 weeks, while those in group 2 were not sensitized. Each group was further divided into subgroups A, B, and C. Levamisole hydrochloride (40 mg/kg) was administered orally to 1A and 2A at 45 and 46 days of age and to 1B and 2B at 47 and 48 days of age, while 1C and 2C were not treated. At 47 days of age, 12 broilers from all subgroups were challenged with 75µg of S. aureus antigen each at the right wattle. Wattle thickness was measured till 72 hours post challenge (pc) and delayed wattle reaction (DWR) was determined. Tissues were harvested at 72 hours pc for histopathology. Morbidity, mortality and live weights at 8 weeks of age were recorded. DWR peaked at 4 hours pc in 1A (2.22 ± 0.21 mm) and 1B (2.96 ± 0.21 mm) and 24 hours pc in 1C (3.39 ± 0.34 mm), the difference being significant (p<0.05). Inflammatory lesions were observed in wattles of sensitized subgroups and were more severe in 1C. Mortality rates were 4.17% and 29.17% in 1A and 1C respectively. Mean live weights in A and B i.e. 1.57± 0.06 kg and 1.56 ± 0.06 kg respectively, were significantly higher (p<0.0) than 1.43 ± 0.08 kg in C. Levamisole enhanced DTH via an early response, improved broiler liveability, and its anti-inflammatory property was confirmed.