A survey was conducted in the Sudano-Sahelian, High Savannah, and Western Highlands agroecological zones of Cameroon to assess the morphometric features and to determine the population structure of the native common g...A survey was conducted in the Sudano-Sahelian, High Savannah, and Western Highlands agroecological zones of Cameroon to assess the morphometric features and to determine the population structure of the native common guinea fowl breed. A total of 1021 adult common guinea fowls were sampled in the dominant pastoral production system. The main results showed that there was a phenotypic variability (p < 0.01) of the morphometric characteristics of common guinea fowls with a dominance of pearl gray coloring of the plumage (23.02%), bluish red barbels (29.09%), black eyes (36.04%) and tarsi (39.18%). The development of the barbels and the shape of the comb are determinants of the sex (p < 0.01), as well as the live weight which presents a dimorphism in favor of the females (p < 0.01). The average measurements (in cm) were: Crest height (2.07 ± 0.03), Crest length (2.79 ± 0.03), Barbel length (3.35 ± 0.04), Barbel height (2.28 ± 0.02), Spout length (2.11 ± 0.01), Caruncle length (0.69 ± 0.01), Baleen length (4.32 ± 0.04), Chest circumference (31.81 ± 0.99), Wing length (25.99 ± 0.18), wingspan (41.82 ± 0.32), Thigh diameter (9.17 ± 0.10), Thigh length (11.30 ± 0.07), Tarsus length (6.62 ± 0.04), Tarsus diameter (1.20 ± 0.07), Body length (40.13 ± 0.15), and Live weight (1.68 ± 0.02 kg). The highest positive correlation (r < 0.70) was observed between thigh and ridge length. The PCR revealed that three (3) components (F1, F2 and F3) make it possible to better explain phenotypic variability (50.21%). The variables that contributed most to the explanation of the observed total variability are the length of the crest (0.70%), the beak (0.61%), the wattle (0.70%), the body (0.44%), the wing (0.35%), thigh (0.68%), tarsus (0.29%) and wing span (0.41%) for the main component F1 while the F2 and F3 components mainly concern the length of the barbel (0.43%) and the height of the crest (0.48%) respectively. The F1 factor constitutes the most discriminating variable (89.40%). The AFD and the CAH made it possible to detect 03 sub-populations (T1, T2, and T3) which can be grouped into 2 subgroups on the basis of intra/inter population variations and genetic distances. Morphometric assessment coupled with genomics would increase the efficiency of selection, improvement, and conservation of common guinea fowl in Cameroun.展开更多
This study was conducted from June 2021 to January 2023 to assess the genetic diversity of giant African snails in the western highlands of Cameroon. A total of 652 snails were randomly collected from the wild in thre...This study was conducted from June 2021 to January 2023 to assess the genetic diversity of giant African snails in the western highlands of Cameroon. A total of 652 snails were randomly collected from the wild in three localities in the western highlands (Bafang, Bafoussam, and Santchou). The study revealed significant variations in morphobiometric characteristics both between species and localities. The predominant shell coloration was brownish with yellow zigzag stripes (65%), while the dominant coloration for shell openings was whitish (48%). Regarding foot coloration, both brown with spotted black and black with spotted brown colorations were dominant (29%). The highest recorded live weight of snails (39.33 ± 34) was found in the species Archachatina marginata. In terms of length measurements (in mm), the length of the right and left sides of the shell was higher in the A. fulica species (49.8 ± 19.7 mm and 40.07 ± 18 mm, respectively). Bafang exhibited the highest values for shell length (56 ± 11 mm) and shell width (46.52 ± 11.46 mm). A. fulica recorded the highest shell length (81.5 ± 27 mm), while A. marginata recorded the highest shell width (49.6 ± 12.1 mm), with the highest values observed in A. fulica from fulica having a slightly higher aperture width value (30 ± 10 mm) compared to A. marginata, while A. marginata had the highest value for aperture length measurement (54.5 ± 12 mm). A. fulica also exhibited the highest values for the length from apex to the first whorl and the length from left to right of the first whorl (43.2 ± 18 mm and 39 ± 19.8 mm, respectively). Strong and positive correlations were observed between the live weight of snails and body measurements regardless of species, except for the number of whorls, which showed very weak or negative correlations with other body measurements. The results of Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) revealed three distinct snail population types. These findings provide valuable insights into the phenotypic diversity of edible land snails in the western highlands of Cameroon and can be considered in improvement and conservation programs aimed at enhancing snail meat yield.展开更多
Ticks induce huge production and economic losses in the livestock industry and create serious environmental, animal and human health problems. The study was carried out to characterize tick species and determine the p...Ticks induce huge production and economic losses in the livestock industry and create serious environmental, animal and human health problems. The study was carried out to characterize tick species and determine the prevalence of tick infestation and tick-borne diseases in cattle in Cameroon. Tick and blood samples were collected from a total of 742 animals and analyzed to determine the type of tick and haemoparasites using standard procedures. Overall, four tick species namely Amblyomma variegatum (75.09%), Rhipicephalus microplus (19.43%), Rhipicephalus decoloratus (0.88%) and Hyalomma marginatum (0.18%) and six blood disease agents including Anapalasma marginale (11.29%), Ehrlichia ruminantium (3.52%), Babesia bovis (1.32%), Babesia major (0.44%), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (0.29%) and Dermatophilus congolensis (3.37%). Various co-infections were recorded and the predominant associations were Amblyomma variegatum-Rhipicephalus microplus (4.06%) and Amblyomma variegatum-Hyalomma marginatum (0.36%);Anaplasma-Ehrlichia (12%), Anaplasma-Dematophylus (8%), Babesia-Anaplasma-Ehrlichia (14%) and Babesia-Anaplasma-Ehrlichia-Dermato-phylus (5%). Breed, sex, age and locality significantly influenced the rate of tick infestation while locality, breed and age significantly influenced the detection of blood disease agents in the study.展开更多
文摘A survey was conducted in the Sudano-Sahelian, High Savannah, and Western Highlands agroecological zones of Cameroon to assess the morphometric features and to determine the population structure of the native common guinea fowl breed. A total of 1021 adult common guinea fowls were sampled in the dominant pastoral production system. The main results showed that there was a phenotypic variability (p < 0.01) of the morphometric characteristics of common guinea fowls with a dominance of pearl gray coloring of the plumage (23.02%), bluish red barbels (29.09%), black eyes (36.04%) and tarsi (39.18%). The development of the barbels and the shape of the comb are determinants of the sex (p < 0.01), as well as the live weight which presents a dimorphism in favor of the females (p < 0.01). The average measurements (in cm) were: Crest height (2.07 ± 0.03), Crest length (2.79 ± 0.03), Barbel length (3.35 ± 0.04), Barbel height (2.28 ± 0.02), Spout length (2.11 ± 0.01), Caruncle length (0.69 ± 0.01), Baleen length (4.32 ± 0.04), Chest circumference (31.81 ± 0.99), Wing length (25.99 ± 0.18), wingspan (41.82 ± 0.32), Thigh diameter (9.17 ± 0.10), Thigh length (11.30 ± 0.07), Tarsus length (6.62 ± 0.04), Tarsus diameter (1.20 ± 0.07), Body length (40.13 ± 0.15), and Live weight (1.68 ± 0.02 kg). The highest positive correlation (r < 0.70) was observed between thigh and ridge length. The PCR revealed that three (3) components (F1, F2 and F3) make it possible to better explain phenotypic variability (50.21%). The variables that contributed most to the explanation of the observed total variability are the length of the crest (0.70%), the beak (0.61%), the wattle (0.70%), the body (0.44%), the wing (0.35%), thigh (0.68%), tarsus (0.29%) and wing span (0.41%) for the main component F1 while the F2 and F3 components mainly concern the length of the barbel (0.43%) and the height of the crest (0.48%) respectively. The F1 factor constitutes the most discriminating variable (89.40%). The AFD and the CAH made it possible to detect 03 sub-populations (T1, T2, and T3) which can be grouped into 2 subgroups on the basis of intra/inter population variations and genetic distances. Morphometric assessment coupled with genomics would increase the efficiency of selection, improvement, and conservation of common guinea fowl in Cameroun.
文摘This study was conducted from June 2021 to January 2023 to assess the genetic diversity of giant African snails in the western highlands of Cameroon. A total of 652 snails were randomly collected from the wild in three localities in the western highlands (Bafang, Bafoussam, and Santchou). The study revealed significant variations in morphobiometric characteristics both between species and localities. The predominant shell coloration was brownish with yellow zigzag stripes (65%), while the dominant coloration for shell openings was whitish (48%). Regarding foot coloration, both brown with spotted black and black with spotted brown colorations were dominant (29%). The highest recorded live weight of snails (39.33 ± 34) was found in the species Archachatina marginata. In terms of length measurements (in mm), the length of the right and left sides of the shell was higher in the A. fulica species (49.8 ± 19.7 mm and 40.07 ± 18 mm, respectively). Bafang exhibited the highest values for shell length (56 ± 11 mm) and shell width (46.52 ± 11.46 mm). A. fulica recorded the highest shell length (81.5 ± 27 mm), while A. marginata recorded the highest shell width (49.6 ± 12.1 mm), with the highest values observed in A. fulica from fulica having a slightly higher aperture width value (30 ± 10 mm) compared to A. marginata, while A. marginata had the highest value for aperture length measurement (54.5 ± 12 mm). A. fulica also exhibited the highest values for the length from apex to the first whorl and the length from left to right of the first whorl (43.2 ± 18 mm and 39 ± 19.8 mm, respectively). Strong and positive correlations were observed between the live weight of snails and body measurements regardless of species, except for the number of whorls, which showed very weak or negative correlations with other body measurements. The results of Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) revealed three distinct snail population types. These findings provide valuable insights into the phenotypic diversity of edible land snails in the western highlands of Cameroon and can be considered in improvement and conservation programs aimed at enhancing snail meat yield.
文摘Ticks induce huge production and economic losses in the livestock industry and create serious environmental, animal and human health problems. The study was carried out to characterize tick species and determine the prevalence of tick infestation and tick-borne diseases in cattle in Cameroon. Tick and blood samples were collected from a total of 742 animals and analyzed to determine the type of tick and haemoparasites using standard procedures. Overall, four tick species namely Amblyomma variegatum (75.09%), Rhipicephalus microplus (19.43%), Rhipicephalus decoloratus (0.88%) and Hyalomma marginatum (0.18%) and six blood disease agents including Anapalasma marginale (11.29%), Ehrlichia ruminantium (3.52%), Babesia bovis (1.32%), Babesia major (0.44%), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (0.29%) and Dermatophilus congolensis (3.37%). Various co-infections were recorded and the predominant associations were Amblyomma variegatum-Rhipicephalus microplus (4.06%) and Amblyomma variegatum-Hyalomma marginatum (0.36%);Anaplasma-Ehrlichia (12%), Anaplasma-Dematophylus (8%), Babesia-Anaplasma-Ehrlichia (14%) and Babesia-Anaplasma-Ehrlichia-Dermato-phylus (5%). Breed, sex, age and locality significantly influenced the rate of tick infestation while locality, breed and age significantly influenced the detection of blood disease agents in the study.
