Brazilian Journal of Science

Effect of dietary supplementation of Picralima nitida seed powder on haemato-serological profile and meat quality of broiler chickens

Moshood Abiola Haruna — 2025-06-27

The residual effects and microbial resistance associated with the use of synthetic drugs in animal bodies necessitate the use of phytoadditives as organic-based medications in poultry diets. An organic alternative is Picralima nitida with promising antimicrobial, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic activities that could possibly improve poultry health. This study, therefore, evaluated the response of broiler chickens to Picralima nitida Seed Powder (PnSP) using 300 day-old Arbor Acre (AA) broiler chicks. They were allotted to five dietary treatments with 6 replicates each and were fed 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, and 0.2% PnSP-based starter (21 days) and finisher (28 days) diets in a Completely Randomised Design (CRD). Cooking Loss (CL), Crude Protein (CP), Ether Extract (EE), and sensory attributes of the meat were determined. For blood profile, Glycemic Index (GI), globulin, glucose, creatinine, Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Packed Cell Volume (PCV), and Red Blood Cell (RBC) were determined. Data collected were subjected to One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at p < 0.05%. No significant (p = 0.47) effect on GI; however, the values reduced with an increase in PnSP. CL (p < 0.001), CP (p < 0.001), and EE (p = 0.04) were significantly influenced in a non-definite pattern, and the sensory attributes of the boiled meat were (p > 0.05) influenced by PnSP. Globulin (p = 0.01), glucose (p = 0.01), and ALT (p < 0.001) increased with the use of PnSP, while creatinine (p = 0.03) decreased with an increase in PnSP. However, ALP was (p < 0.001) influenced in a non-definite pattern. In conclusion, 0.1% PnSP improved globulin, glucose, PCV, RBC, and reduced the creatinine level of broiler chickens.

Snake diversity and their morphometric parameters in a Guinea Savanna forest of Nigeria

David Olayinka Oyeleye — 2025-07-04

Snakes play a crucial ecological role; however, they remain one of the least studied groups of species in Nigeria. Since the last comprehensive evaluation in 2007, no research has been conducted on snake diversity and morphometric characteristics in the study area. We assessed snake diversity and their morphometric parameters in the Guinea savanna forest of Nigeria. Ten transect strips, each measuring 2 km by 10 m, were randomly laid out across five selected ranges. A Visual Encounter Survey was conducted along each transect to observe snake abundance and diversity. Surveys were conducted both during the day (9:00-12:00 h) and at night (19:00-21:00 h). Morphometric parameters of snakes were also measured using a standard procedure. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at α 0.05. Twenty-one species of snake were identified. Bitis arietans had the highest abundance at 38.0%, followed by Boaedon lineatus at 15.5%, Dendroaspis jamesoni at 8.0%, and Naja nigricollis at 7.0%. The least encountered species were Bitis gabonica, Causus lichtensteini, and Mehelya crossi, each at 1.0%. The Ibbi range had the highest diversity index (Simpson’s = 0.781 and Shannon’s = 1.667), while the Kali range showed the best evenness (0.957). Significant differences were observed in the number of ventral scales (0.023), Inter-orbital length (0.025), snout-vent length (0.004), and head width (0.009) of different snake species. Family Viperidae were shorter (43.29 ± 3.05 cm) in body length compared to Columbridae (95.50 ± 8.77 cm) and Elapidae (81.25 ± 12.67 cm). The results of this study contribute to the limited knowledge of snake diversity in Nigeria. The findings call for further research and conservation efforts to protect these species and their habitats, considering increasing environmental pressures.

Assessing species diversity and abundance in farm fallow: Seasonal dynamics across wet and dry seasons

Fumilayo Lewiska Oni — 2025-07-16

Nigeria is endowed with exceptional ecological diversity, which supports a broad spectrum of wildlife species. Despite this richness, escalating anthropogenic pressures have accelerated habitat loss. Ecologically valuable yet understudied landscapes, such as fallow farmlands, remain overlooked in biodiversity assessments and conservation planning. This study examines the potential for wildlife diversity in fallow farmlands. A systematic line transect was employed across 11 transects to record wildlife presence across wet and dry seasons. A total of 253 individual organisms representing 23 taxonomic families were documented, with avian species comprising the majority (60%), followed by insects (28%), mammals (9%), amphibians (2%), and reptiles (1%). Species abundance exhibited substantial seasonal variation, with higher abundance and variability during the wet season. Conversely, diversity indices (Shannon H′, Simpson’s 1-D) indicated a more even species distribution in the dry season. Overall, diversity was high (Shannon H′ = 2.839; Simpson’s 1-D = 0.9249), and low dominance values (Berger-Parker = 0.1462; dominance = 0.0751) affirmed the presence of a functionally balanced community. These findings highlight the ecological value of fallow farmlands as supplementary habitats that support diverse wildlife assemblages. Integrating fallow lands into conservation strategies through agroecological practices and biodiversity-sensitive land management can enhance habitat connectivity and resilience.

Integrative machine learning reveals potential signature genes using transcriptomics in colon cancer

Mostafa Amir Hamza — 2025-06-27

Colon cancer is a significant health burden in the world and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Despite advancements in diagnosis and treatment, identifying potential biomarkers for early detection and therapeutic targets remains challenging. This study used an integrative approach combining transcriptomics and machine learning to identify signature genes and pathways associated with colon cancer. RNA-Seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas- Colon Adenocarcinoma (TCGA-COAD) project, comprising 485 samples, were analyzed in this study. Differential gene expression analysis revealed 657 upregulated and 8,566 downregulated genes. Notably, EPB41L3, TSPAN7, and ABI3BP were identified as highly upregulated, while LYVE1, PLPP1, and NFE2L3 were significantly downregulated in tumor samples. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) identified dysregulated pathways, including E2F targets, MYC targets, and G2M checkpoints, underscoring cell cycle regulation and metabolic reprogramming alterations in colon cancer. Machine learning models-Random Forest, Neural Networks, and Logistic Regression-achieved high classification accuracy (97–99%). Key genes consistently identified across these models highlight their potential translational relevance as biomarkers. This study integrates differential expression analysis, pathway enrichment, and machine learning to uncover critical insights into colon cancer biology. The study lays the groundwork for developing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, with the identified genes and pathways serving as potential candidates for further validation and clinical applications. This approach exemplifies the potential of precision medicine to advance colon cancer research and improve patient outcomes.

Evaluation of TFR2 rs7385804 polymorphism as a genetic marker for hemochromatosis in the pakistani population

Farhan Ikhtiar — 2025-07-01

Hemochromatosis is an autosomal recessive iron overload disorder. The TFR2 gene variant rs7385804 has been implicated in hemochromatosis, but its role in the Pakistani population remains unexplored. This study intended to examine the association of the TFR2 gene variant rs7385804 with hemochromatosis in Pakistani individuals. We employed a case-control study design, recruiting 200 hemochromatosis patients and 200 healthy controls from the Pakistani population. Deoxyribonucleic acid was isolated from blood samples using the phenol-chloroform method. Sanger sequencing and Tetra-ARMS PCR were used to identify the TFR2 genes and their variant rs7385804. Our results showed a significant association between the TFR2 gene variant rs7385804 and hemochromatosis in the Pakistani population (p < 0.001). The rate of the abnormal alleles was (35%) higher than that of the control (15%). Sanger sequencing confirmed the presence of the variant in 70% of patients, while Tetra-ARMS PCR showed 90% concordance with sequencing results. This study demonstrates the utility of Sanger sequencing and Tetra-ARMS PCR in detecting the TFR2 gene variant rs7385804 in the Pakistani population. Our findings suggest that this variant may serve as a genetic marker for hemochromatosis in this population. More research is required to validate these outcomes and discover the clinical consequences of this association.