Retrospctive studies of small ruminant diseases diagnosed at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria

Abstract

A major constraint to small ruminant production in Africa has been the high prevalence of infectious diseases. Health problems vary within climatic regions and cannot be successfully controlled or prevented if they are not identified and understood. The aim of this study was to determine the diseases that are prevalent in Makurdi and its environs, with a view to establishing a better understanding of the disease patterns. Clinical records of sheep and goats presented for treatment at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH), University of Agriculture, Makurdi between 2007 and 2014 were collected and analyzed. Goats were 91.34% or 580 of the total small ruminants treated. Most or 34.33% of the cases were gastrointestinal diseases or disorders. This is followed by respiratory disorders with 28.66% and urogenital system with 8.82%. The commonest diseases were helminthiasis, Kata PPR, ectoparasitism and rumen impaction with 28.03%, 25.98%, 4.88% and 3.94% of total cases, respectively. The knowledge of the diseases prevalent in small ruminants in the middle belt may help improve animal health practice, production, management techniques and the use of vaccines for prevention of some of the diseases in the area.

Keywords: Sheep, Goats, Small ruminant diseases, Veterinary clinical records