Survey of Cryptosporidium Species among Ruminants in Jos, Plateau State, North-Central Nigeria

Abstract

This study was designed to determine the prevalence of cryptosporidiosis in ruminants in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. Faecal samples from 550 ruminants were examined using the formol ether concentration, saturated sodium chloride floatation techniques and the modified Zeihl Neelsen staining method. Of the 550 ruminants sampled, 250 were cattle and 150 each for sheep and goats. The overall prevalence of cryptosporidiosis recorded in ruminants was 23.6% (130/550). The prevalence of cryptosporidiosis in cattle, sheep and goats as revealed by this study were 28.0% (70/250), 16.0% (24/150) and 24.0% (36/150) respectively. The overall prevalence of cryptosporidiosis among ruminants in relation to age groups was highest 9.3% (51/550) among 0-10 months. This was followed by 7.8% (43/550) among 11-20 months while the lowest 0.6% (3/550) was recorded among 41-50 months. Sex related prevalence showed a regular higher pattern among females in cattle, sheep and goats with 33.6% (40/119), 18.7% (14/75) and 25.3% (19/75) respectively against the 22.9% (30/131), 13.3% (10/75) and 22.7% (17/75) observed in males respectively. These differences were statistiacally insignificant (p>0.05). The overall prevalence of parasitoses in ruminants as revealed by this study was 54.4%. Of this, cryptosporidiosis had the highest prevalence of 23.6% (130/550) while Neoscaris vitulorum recorded the lowest 2.6% (14/550). Others were 9.5% (52/550), 5.8% (32/550), 6.4% (35/550), 2.9% (16/550) and 3.6% (20/550) for Oesophagustomum radiatum, Paramphistomum microbothrium, Eimeria zuernii Fasciola gigantica and Moniezia expansa respectively. The prevalence rates of parasitoses in relation to species of ruminants were 74.4% (186/250), 30.6% (46/150) and 38.0% (57/150) for cattle, sheep and goats respectively. This study confirms the reports that cryptosporidium is one of the commonest intestinal parasites of farm animals.