Scienceline Publications World’s Veterinary Journal 2322-4568 4 4 2014 December Micronucleus as a Biomarker of Genotoxicity in Village Weaver Bird(Ploceus cucullatus) 48 53 http://wvj.science-line.com/attachments/article/24/World's%20Vet.%20J.%204(4)%2048-53,%202014.pdf EN Omonona Abosede Olayemi Department of Wildlife and Ecotourism Management, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. Nigeria Adetuga Adetola Taiwo Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. Nigeria Jubril Afusat Jagun Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. Nigeria Environmental impact assessment studies highlight the harmful effect of toxicants such as pesticides, heavy metals and industrial wastes on target and non-target species including birds. The effect of toxicant exposure on birds was used as an assessment of environmental contamination. The presence of micronucleus was investigated as a biomarker of genotoxicity in free-ranged village weavers captured within Ibadan Metropolis, Nigeria. Micronucleus assay was done using bone marrow collected from tibia and femur post-mortem. The clinical, haematologic, and biochemical changes were also monitored. The haemocytometric method was used to evaluate the erythrogram and leucogram changes. Microscopy was used for histopathology. It was discovered that 20% of the village weavers were positive for micronucleus while 80% were negative for micronucleus. The tissue changes observed in this study also underscore toxicity to possible environmental toxicants. In this study, micronucleus assay was used to evaluate the possibility of exposure of village weavers to genotoxic substances. Avian Clinical Pathology Genotoxicity Micronucleus Ploceus cucullatus