Animal parasitic diseases and treatment strategies at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Ibadan

Abstract

The epidemiology and management of parasitic diseases are essential in its strategic control. A 20-year retrospective study of parasitic diseases among dogs, ruminants, and wildlife at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH), University of Ibadan, Nigeria from January 1997 to September 2016 was analysed. Case files totaling 3,013 were retrieved from small animal clinics, University of Ibadan farm and the zoological garden units, respectively were examined. The VTH and client’s locations were determined using qGIS. The prevalence of parasitic diseases in dogs examined revealed 20.6% (95% CI: 19.2- 22.2) with a peak prevalence of 76.5% (95% CI: 50.1-93.2) in 2002. Puppies (≤ 6 months) had significantly higher (P < 0.05) parasitic diseases compared to adult dogs. The ruminant case files revealed a total prevalence of 53.9% (95%CI: 43.0-64.6) with large ruminants having significantly higher (P = 0.013) prevalence compared to small ruminants. Total prevalence of 63.3% (95%CI: 46.8-81.4) was observed in animals from the zoological garden. The prevalence of parasitic diseases between 2001-2004 was the highest with 41.9%, while the least prevalence was between 2009-2012 with 14.9%. Records for large animal units were highest between 2009-2012 with a prevalence of 85%, while university zoological gardens records showed the highest prevalence (88.9%) of parasitic diseases between 2009-2012. In all the units, infection with helminth was significantly higher as observed in the importance index when compared to other parasitic diseases. For helminthosis, the common drugs administered were levamisole, ivermectin and piperazine in that order depending on the species and age of animals. Regular deworming, public health education and proper prophylactic treatment are recommended for dog owners while improved management practices and engagement of veterinarians are advocated in the farm and zoological garden as efficient ways of controlling parasitic diseases.