Haemoparasites and Haematological Parameters of Slaughtered Ruminants and Pigs at Bodija Abattoir, Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Haemoparasites of animals reduce livestock productivity and could lead to high mortality. This study aims at determining the prevalence of haemoparasites and blood parameters of ruminants and pigs slaughtered at Bodija abattoir, Ibadan. A total of three hundred and eighty two blood samples were collected from cattle, sheep, goats and pigs at the abattoir between the months of May and October, 2012. The blood samples were examined for haemoparasites by making thin blood smear and staining with Giemsa’s stain. An overall prevalence of 5.0 and 4.92% was observed in ruminants and pigs respectively. Three (3) genera of haemoparasites (Trypanosoma spp, Anaplasma spp and Onchocera spp) were observed in ruminants, while only Trypanosoma spp was observed in pigs. The prevalence showed a decreasing trend with age in ruminants, while infection was higher in adult pigs (2.81%) than in the growers (1.41%) and weaners (0.7%). The infection was higher in females than in males in all the animal species. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the mean packed cell volume (PCV) of animals with mixed or single infection. The total white blood cell count (TWBC) of the infected and uninfected sheep/goat was significantly difference (P<0.05), while that of pigs was not. This study showed a low prevalence of haemoparasites in slaughtered animals at Bodija abattoir, however strategic measures should be taken to control the vectors involve in their transmission.

Keywords: Haemoparasites, food animal, epidemiology, haematology