Haemoparasites of goats reared on free range in Zaria, Nigeria

Abstract

A survey was conducted at the Ahmadu Bello University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (ABUVTH), Zaria, Nigeria, between
January, 1993 and December, 2003 to identify the haemoparasites of goats reared on free range in Zaria, in an attempt to
determine the incidence of anaemia in goats in this area. During the period, a total of 357 goats were presented to the
ABUVTH with various clinical signs. One hundred and seventy two (48.0%) of the goats presented were Kano brown breed,
while 111 (31.0%), 7 (2%), 31 (9%) and 36 (10%) of them were Sokoto red, mixed (crosses), West African dwarf (WAD) and
unidentified breeds respectively. Of these, 168 (47%) were male, while 189 (53%) were female. Ninety-nine (27%) of the
goats had haemoparasitic infections and the haemoparasites identified include: Anaplasma ovis (n=85 or 86%), Theileria
ovis (n=6 or 7%), Trypanosoma vivax (n=2 or 2%), Trypanosoma congolense (n=2 or 2%), Babesia motasi (n=1 or 1%), and
Theileria mutans (n=2 or 2%). Eighty-nine (90%) of the goats with haemoparasites were anaemic with packed cell volume
(PCV) between 7–23%, while 10 (10%) of them had haemoparasites, but there was no anaemia as their PCVs ranged between
24-39%. The implication of the haemoparasites detected and anaemia on goat production in Zaria is discussed. It was
concluded that since most of the haemoparasites are transmitted by ectoparasites such as ticks, there is the need to constantly
advise clients who rear goats on free range to always control the level of ectoparasites on their goats in order to maximize
production.

Keywords: haemoparasites, free range, goats, Zaria, Nigeria.

Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol. 27 2006: pp. 54-57