Haematologic profile and prevalence survey of haemonchosis in various breeds of slaughtered cattle in Ibadan, Nigeria

This study was aimed at determining the haematological profile and prevalence of Haemonchus parasites in cattle considering the breed, sex, age  and body condition scores (BCS) of the animals. The study spanned over 12 months. Whole blood samples were collected from various breeds of cattle with adult Haemonchus specimens from each abomasum content of such animals slaughtered at a local abattoir in Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria. Systematic random sampling method was adopted, with a working sample size of 322. The age and BCS of cattle sampled were estimated  using rostral dentition technique and visual indicators, respectively. The adult Haemonchus worms were collected in normal saline and identified morphologically. The haematologic profile was determined using pocH- 100iV DiffR (Haematology System, Sysmex Animal Health Germany). Data  obtained from this study were analyzed statistically using microsoft excel, SPSS (Version 20), and graphPad prism version 5.0 with  Fisher's exact test. Haematological profile in bovine haemonchosis showed anaemia with an overall mean packed cell volume (PCV) of 25.59±0.03%, whereas the apparently healthy cattle had a mean PCV of 34.52 ±0.02%. The overall prevalence of bovine haemonchosis was 16.6 %. Our findings revealed that  prevalence of bovine haemonchosis varied with months, season, body condition score, age, breeds with no sex predisposition. There is a need for constant monitoring of gastrointestinal parasites, appropriate anthelminthic regimen and control measures to promote animal production and prevent huge economic losses as a result of subclinical, acute illness and death in severe levels of parasitism. Keywords: cattle, haematology, prevalence, haemonchosi