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.
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.
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2008-02
Authors
YAHAYA, ABDULLAHI UMARU
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
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
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE
POST GRADUATE SCHOOL
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
NIGERIA
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE AWARD
OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN
VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY & ENTOMOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY AND
ENTOMOLOGY
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA,
NIGERIA
February, 200
Keywords
PREVALENCE,, PARASITES,, ONE – HUMPED, CAMEL,, (CAMELUS DROMEDARIUS), EFFECTS,, EXPERIMENTAL,, HAEMONCHUS SPP., CAMEL,, ORIGIN,, INFECTION,, YANKASA,, SHEEP,, NIGERIA.