Open AccessTHE PREVALENCE OF TRYPANOSOME INFECTIONS AMONG TRADE CATTLE IN SUBHUMID AND HUMID ZONES OF NIGERIA
Author(s) -
Kalu Au,
M Uduebho
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
nigerian journal of animal production
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 0331-2062
DOI - 10.51791/njap.v24i1.2362
Subject(s) - veterinary medicine , biology , infectivity , infection rate , prevalence , trypanosoma vivax , significant difference , dry season , epidemiology , trypanosomiasis , virology , medicine , ecology , virus , surgery
The prevalence of trypanosome infections among trade cattle in the sub-humid and humid zones of Nigeria was investigated during a twelve-month period. The infections were prevalent throughout the year and a mean infection rate 11.04% was recorded in both zones, among 1,775 selected cattle. In the more northern area of sub-humid zone (Kaduna), mean prevalence was 12.16% in 989 cattle and monthly figures ranged from 2.10% to 19.62%. Trypanosome vivax and 7 congolense contributed almost equally to the infections being responsible for 36.6% and 35%, respectively of all positive cases. The importance of T. vivax, however, increase in Gboko (in the humid zone) where it was responsible for 50% of the parasitaemia encountered. Monthly prevalence in Gboko averaged 9.46% and ranged between 4.17% and 16.88%. Peak infections were common at the beginning of the dry season. The difference in PCV between infected and non-infected cattle was significant (P<0.05) only in Kaduna where higher prevalence was also associated with increase differences in mean monthly PCV. T. brucei subspecies isolated from Gboko did not exhibit potentials for human infectivity: there were all T. brucei brucei, an animal pathogen.