Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of haemoparasites and some haematological parameters of slaughtered trade cattle in Maiduguri abattoir. A total of 120 blood samples were randomly collected from cattle between January and July, 2014. The samples were screened for haemoparasites by examining Giemsa stained thin blood films. Microhaematocrit centrifugation technique was used for determination of packed cell volume (PCV) while total red blood cell (RBC) counts and total white blood cell (WBC) counts were determined by cyanmethaemoglobin and hemocytometer methods. An overall prevalence of 10.8% (CI=0.064, 0.017) was recorded for Anaplasma (5.8%), Babesia (4.2%) and Trypanosoma species (0.8%). Young cattle had significantly (p<0.05) higher prevalence of 9.2% (CI= 0.052, 0.157) compared to adults with 1.7% (CI= 0.005, 0.059). Among different sexes, females had a significantly (p<0.05) higher prevalence of 7.5% (CI: 0.040-0.136) than males with 3.3% (CI= 0.130, 0.083). Rahaji breed had a significantly higher (p<0.05) prevalence of 7.5% (CI= 0.040, 0.136) compared to Ambala with 1.7% (CI= 0.005, 0.059), Kuri and Adamawa gudali each with a prevalence of 0.8% (CI= 0.002, 0.046). Cattle with moderate body condition scores had significantly (p<0.05) higher prevalence of 6.7% (CI= 0.034, 0.126) compared with those that have good body condition scores with 4.2% (CI= 0.018, 0.094) while thin and fat cattle were not infected with haemoparasites. Even though all the haematological parameters were within range of normal values, there was a significant difference (p<0.05) in mean packed cell volume (PCV) and total white blood cell (WBC) counts between infected and un-infected slaughtered cattle. It was concluded from this study that haemoparasites are endemic in cattle populations in Maiduguri and the prevalence of haemoparasites may be associated with changes in PCV and WBC count. Key words: Haematological parameters, haemoparasites, Maiduguri, Prevalence, risk factors, trade cattle.
Highlights
The Nigerian livestock resources was conservatively estimated to the tone of USD 6 billion (Anon, 2006; Akande et al, 2010) and contributes significantly to the Agricultural component of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of which cattle production contributes up to 40% (McIntyre et al, 1992)
Among the different breed of cattle examined in this study, the prevalence of haemoparasites was significantly higher (p
The results obtained in this study indicates that haemoparasites are endemic in cattle populations within Maiduguri and its environs, even though the overall prevalence is not comparable with previous reports
Summary
The Nigerian livestock resources was conservatively estimated to the tone of USD 6 billion (Anon, 2006; Akande et al, 2010) and contributes significantly to the Agricultural component of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of which cattle production contributes up to 40% (McIntyre et al, 1992). Health essential source of protein through meat and milk, generates employment, income, farm power and organic manure for arable Agriculture in the Sudano-Sahelian ecological zones of the country (Ikhatua and Asaka, 2000). Among nomadic Fulani and Shuwa-Arab pastoralists, the ownership of cattle serve as an index of social prestige (Lamorde, 1998). Their products such as hide and skins, bones and blood serve as raw materials for industries (Ikhatua and Asaka, 2000)
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