VETERINARY MEDICINE

Permanent URI for this collection

https://kubanni.abu.edu.ng/handle/123456789/31

Browse

Browsing VETERINARY MEDICINE by Subject "(CAMELUS DROMEDARIUS)"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Item
    PREVALENCE OF SOME PARASITES OF ONE – HUMPED CAMEL (CAMELUS DROMEDARIUS) AND EFFECTS OF EXPERIMENTAL HAEMONCHUS SPP. OF CAMEL ORIGIN INFECTION IN YANKASA SHEEP IN NIGERIA.
    (2008-02) YAHAYA, ABDULLAHI UMARU
    This study was conducted to assess the prevalence and distribution of ecto and endo-parasites in camels in Kano, Katsina and Zamfara States, Nigeria. It was also aimed at studying the pathology of Haemonchus longistipes and H. placei of Camel and Cattle origin respectively in experimentally infected Yankasa sheep. Out of the 558 gastrointestinal tracts collected from camels slaughtered in all the three States, 157 (28.14%) were found to harbour helminths. Among the nematodes encountered, H. longistipes had the highest overall prevalence of 54.12% followed by Trichuris globulosa (46.59%) and Oesophagostomum venulosum (13.62%). Moniezia benedeni and Stilezia vittata were the two cestodes encountered with prevalences of 14.87% and 12.07% respectively. Infections by nematodes were more during the wet season than during the dry season in the three States surveyed. However, male and female camels showed no significant difference (P>0.05) in rate of infection with helminths although males were found to harbour more. Among the protozoa encountered, Trypanosoma evansi infected 5.73% (32/558) of the camels whose blood were screened by thin, thick and buffy coat examination while Eimeria dromedarii had an overall prevalence of 4.30%. Another group of parasites of major significance encountered during the survey were ticks and mites. Hyalomma dromedarii, Amblyomma variegatum and Rhipicephalus pravus had overall prevalences of 58.06%, 31.36% and 21.33% respectively. 68.77% (425/618) of all tick infestations were recorded during the wet season while 31.23% (193/618) were in the dry season. Inaddition, 53.24% of the camels infested by ticks were males in contrast to 46.76% females. Peak prevalences of tick infestations by all the species occurred between May and October, although with slight variation from State to State depending on microclimate requirement of individual tick species. With regard to mite infestation, the prevalence was very low (0.2%), the only detected case was in a female camel in Katsina. The species involved was Demodex folliculorum var. cameli which causes follicular mange. In the experimental infection to determine the pathology of H. longistipes and H. placei, it was found that Yankasa sheep given 5000L3 of H. longistipes (Group I) had reduced Weight, PCV and Hb values contrary to H. placei – infected (Group II) or control (Group III) sheep which had increase in these values during the 15weeks experimental period. However, lymphocyte counts in Groups I and II were significantly elevated during the experimental period (P<0.05). At necropsy, worms recovered in both groups were few and short in size. The percentage worm recovery recorded for Groups I and II were 0.71% and 1.2% respectively, while mean worm length for males and females in both groups were: Group I (M = 17.0 ± 0.78, F= 19.4 ± 1.99), Group II (M = 14.3 ± 0.77, F = 24.2 ± 0.58). Gross examination of the abomasum of sheep in Groups I and II revealed haemorrhagic lesions indicating point of attachments of the worms while histopathologic tissue sections revealed diffused infiltration of the abomasal mucosa and submucosa by inflammatory cells inaddition to epithelial necrosis. It was therefore concluded that, although the overall infection in camels by the various parasites was relatively low as compared to other reported cases elsewhere in the world, the parasites identified in these States could be a hinderance to camel production and also other livestock species considering the extent of common infestation/ infection (with ticks and some helminths) between camels and sheep. Government can partner with stakeholders in the camel industry to achieve a lower prevalence if not a total eradication of these parasites in the areas. This can be achieved through provision of dips and affordable veterinary services inaddition to awareness campaigns. Movements of camels and other livestock across the boarders should be properly monitored by the appropriate agency to avoid importation of parasites and other diseases of livestock that could be of veterinary and public health significance