EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF OVINE COCCIDIAL INFECTIONS IN SELECTED FARMS IN BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF OVINE COCCIDIAL INFECTIONS IN SELECTED FARMS IN BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA
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Date
2007-09
Authors
BIALLAH, MARKUS BUKAR
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Abstract
A cross-sectional survey of coccidiosis in sheep was carried out between
June, 2005 and July, 2006 in order to study the epidemiology of the infection
in Bauchi state. Eight hundred and sixty six (866) faecal samples were
collected four times from farms in three locations (Bauchi, Misau and
Azare). Faecal samples were obtained directly from the rectum in August,
2005; November, 2005; February, 2006 and May, 2006; coinciding with the
late rainy, early dry, late dry and early rainy seasons, respectively. Coccidial
infections were relatively common with 78.3% of all the animals positive for
the infection. There was almost identical prevalence in all the three
locations. Misau had the highest prevalence of 79.2%, followed by Bauchi
(78.9%) and Azare (76.6%) but the differences were not statistically
significant (p> 0.05). There were also no significant differences between the
prevalence in relation to breed and sex. Significantly (p< 0.05) higher
prevalence was observed in the late rainy season compared with the other
seasons. Adults significantly (p< 0.05) showed high prevalence than the
immature and young. Oocyts counts were not significantly (p> 0.05)
influenced by sex, breed and systems of management. The young and
immature sheep were significantly (p< 0.05) excreting higher number of
oocysts than the adults. Eight Eimeria species were identified in this study.
The most prevalent were E. bakuensis, found in 80% of the adult animals, E.
ovinoidalis (62.7%), E. parva (60.0%) and E. ahsata (52.0%). The other
species were E. faurei, E. granulosa, E. pallida, and E. intricata, present in
40%, 36%, 16% and 12% of the samples, respectively. There was a negative
correlation between oocyst counts and body condition score. It was
concluded that there was potential for clinical coccidiosis in sheep in Bauchi
state especially during the late rainy seasons when conditions are suitable for
sporulation of the pathogenic species of Eimeria (E. ovinoidalis and E.
bakuensis). It is hereby suggested that detailed studies on the economic
importance of coccidiosis in Bauchi state be conducted to ascertain losses
due to the disease in sheep industry in the state.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN VETERINARY
PARASITOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY AND
ENTOMOLOGY
FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
ZARIA
NIGERIA.
SEPTEMBER, 2007
Keywords
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL,, STUDIES,, COCCIDIAL INFECTIONS,, SELECTED FARMS,, BAUCHI STATE, NIGERIA.