Background
Traditional medicines have been used for nearly 90% of livestock populations in Ethiopia where complimentary remedies are required to the modern health care system All plants with pharmacological activity complimentarily prescribed as best choice against livestock diseases A community based cross - sectional survey was conducted to investigate ethno-veterinary knowledge and practices of study area by purposive sampling techniques The data from respondents were collected through face-to face interview using pre-tested semi-structured questionnaires, which was further accompanied by field observations of the medicinal plants The vast majority of the statistics were analyzed descriptively by SPSS 16 Windows version to extrapolate our findings in ethno-botanical knowledge

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Ethnoveterinary medicines in four districts of Jimma zone, Ethiopia: cross sectional survey for plant species and mode of use

Sixteen African giant rats ( Cricetomys gambianus Waterhouse ), consisting of
8 male and 8 female rats, were used to determine neurocranial measurements
of the skulls. The mean neurocranial volume was 5.06 ± 0.05 mL, neurocranial
length was 3.33 ± 0.08 cm, and the neurocranial height and index were 1.39 ±
± 0.04 cm and 41.74%, respectively. The mean whole skull length and height
were 6.32 ± 0.06 cm and 2.98 ± 0.05 cm, respectively. The skull without the
mandible was 1.83 ± 0.02 cm in height, and the skull index was 28.41 ± 0.58.
The height of the skull of the African giant was approximately half (47%) of the
skull length. The mean height and width of the foramen magnum were 0.78 ±
± 0.01 cm and 0.96 ± 0.02 cm, respectively, while the foramen index was below
100 at 81.46 ± 1.42. Parameters for the whole skull height and foramen magnum
width showed significant difference between both sexes at p < 0.05. The
foramen magnum showed shape variations and there were multiple hypoglossal
foramina in over 87% of the rats. This study, in conclusion, highlighted the possibility
of the estimation of the brain density and the use of the African giant rat
for cranial pressure experiments.

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Some aspects of the neurocraniometry of the African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus Waterhouse)

The olfactory system typically consists of two parallel systems: the main olfactory system and the accessory olfactory system. The main olfactory bulb (MOB) acts as the initial processing site for volatile chemical stimuli and receives input from the olfactory receptor cells located in the olfactory epithelium. The African giant rat is reputed to have abilities to detect landmines and tuberculosis samples by sniffing. This study therefore is a preliminary study on the histological and immunohistochemical anatomy of the olfactory bulb of the African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus, Waterhouse). Nissl and Kluver–Barrera histological staining of the olfactory bulb revealed a cytoarchitecture typical of most mammals with 6 cell layers, and 1–2-layered glomeruli measuring approximately 150 μm each in diameter. Immunohistochemical staining with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3-phosphodiesterase (CNPase) revealed cellular conformations relative to most mammals. GFAP immunohistochemistry also revealed cell bodies and processes within the periglomerular area which may potentiate signaling from the olfactory receptor cells, while CNPase largely showed soma and evidence of myelin sheath deposition, confirming myelination at different layers of the bulb. Neurogenesis was examined using the neurogenic markers doublecortin (DCX) and Ki-67. Migration of newly generated cells was observed in all layers of the MOB with DCX and in most layers with Ki-67. The anatomy of the olfactory bulb is described as relatively large in the African giant rat, having a neuroarchitecture similar to most rodents.

The olfactory bulb structure of African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus, Waterhouse 1840) I: cytoarchitecture.

Forty African giant rats (AGRs), (Cricetomys gambianus) were used for the macrometric study. The rats were sacrificed according to the method of Adeyemo and Oke (1990) and the various segments of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and the digestive glands of each of the rats were weighed and measured. The large intestine was observed to have the highest mean weight (19.98 } 0.39 g) followed by the stomach (19.47 } 0.26 g) and then the small intestine (17.19 } 0.30S g), respectively. Of all the digestive glands, the liver was found to have the highest mean weight (21.29 } 0.43 g). The small intestine was observed to be the longest (109.17 } 28.68 cm) followed by the large intestine (75.57 } 1.78 cm). Out of all the intestinal segments (small and large), the jejunum was observed to be the longest (72.26 } 2.39 cm) followed by the colon (57.30 } 1.58 cm).

Macrometric study of the digestive system of the African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus,Waterhouse 1840)

Forty African Giant Rats (AGRs) were used for the present studies. The mean weight and length of the esophagus were 1.39 g (± 0.08) and 11.78 cm (± 0.53) respectively. These values accounted for 0.13 % and 5.5 % of the weight and length of the gastrointestinal tract, respectively. Grossly the esophagus was observed to lie dorsal to the trachea throughout its length. The epithelial lining of the esophagus was observed to be made up of non-keratinized stratified squamous cells. The lamina muscularis and mucous glands were absent. Histochemical studies revealed that the esophagus was Alcian Blue (AB), Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) and Alcian Blue-Periodic Acid Schiff (AB- PAS) negative.

https://jva.journals.ekb.eg/article_44900_0a0c0d5a5ee1edafde3af10691f531fc.pdf

Gross anatomical, histological and histochemical studies of the esophagus of the African Giant Rat (AGR) (Cricetomys gambianus-Waterhouse, 1840).

Morphometric studies were undertaken using the brains of six African giant rats. The mean of weights and lengths (tip of the olfactory bulb to the caudal border of the cerebellum) were observed tobe 4.88  0.183g and 4.40  0.193g, respectively. Similarly, the mean weight and length of the cerebellum and the forebrain were fund to be 0.642  0.61g and 3.317+0.119g and 1.133+0.056cm and 2.75+0.1057cm. These values account for 13 and 68.4% and 23.90 and 57.09% of the total weight and length, respectively. The olfactory bulb accounts for 19.01% of the total brain length. Grossly, the olfactory bulb was observed to be large, this may facilitate many kinds of experimental procedures such as studies on the general neurobiology of olfaction. The low position of the rhinal sulcus restricts the paleocortex to a relatively small region (about one quarter of the total cerebral hemisphere). The surface of the cerebral cortex was observed to be smooth (lissencephalic). Keywords : Morphometric, cerebellum, forebrain, African giant rat. Tropical Veterinarian Vol. 23 (3 &4) 2005: pp. 87-92

Morphometric Studies Of The Cerebellum And Forebrain Of The African Giant Rat (Agr) (Cricetomys Gambianus, Waterhouse)

One hundred homesteads in ten sedentary villages situated north of the State capital were selected because of high density of livestock and used for this study. Questionnaire was used to obtain data on production constraints and types of husbandry practices. The predominant husbandry system is extensive constituting (53.06%). Production constraints in order of importance are diseases (59.0%); feed (37.0%) and theft, (4%). Diseases that affect animals are FMD (36.0%); Helminthosis (31.0%); Pneumonia (10.0%); Dermatophilosis (8.0%); whilst Foot rot and Trypanosomiasis accounted for 5.0% each, with abortion and Blackquarter having 3.0% and 2.0% respectively. Most homesteads (64.28%) treat the animals using their knowledge of ethnoveterinary medicine whilst 15.31% call for veterinary services (orthodox medicine) and 20.41% combine ethnoveterianry and orthodox medicine. Ethnoveterianry and orthodox practices have existed for long together in the treatment of animal ailments, but the basis for which some of the practices are employed might not be explained, it simply works. Though there are limitations, these may be the reasons why orthodox medicine practices are sought.

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J. O. Okpara

Papers

Morphometric Studies Of The Cerebellum And Forebrain Of The African Giant Rat (Agr) (Cricetomys Gambianus, Waterhouse)

Ethno-veterinary practices: the perception among the Fulani cattle rearers in Adamawa State, Nigeria