Assessment of Plasma Biochemistry Profile of Corvus and Environmental Factor that Bridges the Gap between Corvus albus and Man in Nsukka
Assessment of Plasma Biochemistry Profile of Corvus and Environmental Factor that Bridges the Gap between Corvus albus and Man in Nsukka
Ikechukwu Eugene Onah*, Ifeoma Esther Aniaku, Jude Ifeanyi Okwor and Ada Sylvester Haruna
ABSTRACT
The African pied crow, Corvus albus is a widely distributed and common African bird whose close association with man could be of public health risk. Data on plasma biochemistry profile which is indicative of the health condition of the birds in the wild is scanty while knowledge of the environmental factor that bridges the gap between the crow and man is lacking. This study evaluated the plasma biochemistry profile of C. albus and the environmental factor that bridges the gap between man and crow through which disease pathogens could be transmitted. The plasma biochemistry parameters of C. albus determined in this study are higher in females than in the males but the mean plasma biochemistry parameters are not significantly different between the sexes (p > 0.05). A total of 388 crows comprising 276 (71.13%) and 112 (28.87%) from food and water sources respectively were recorded in the study. The population of pied crows in food sources were significantly higher than the population in water sources (p < 0.05). Of the 400 individuals surveyed, 190 (47.5%) and 160 (40%) linked crows to food and water respectively while 50 (12.5%) linked crows to the two environmental factors. The relationship between food and water showed a significant relationship (p < 0.05) with water being scarcer in the environment. Water is the environmental factor that bridges the gap between crows and man. The biochemical parameters reveal that the crows are apparently unhealthy and could transmit pathogens to man via sharing of household water. This result is important for management of crow-man contact to safeguard the public health of rural and urban dwellers in the study area.
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February 2022
Vol. 54, Iss. 1, Pages 1-501
