Prevalence, haematology and risk factors associated with haemoparasites infections of small ruminants reared in Makurdi, Nigeria

A survey of haemoparasites, haematology and risk factors associated with haemoparasitic infections of small ruminants was conducted in Makurdi between September-December, 2016. A total of 200 sheep and goats comprising of 96 sheep and 104 goats were screened for haemoparasites. A total of 72 (75%) sheep and 71(68%) goats were found positive of either single or mixed infections. Anaplasma spp (69.79% and 61.53%) was found to be the most prevalent in both animals, followed by Babesia spp (11.46% and 0.96%) in goats and sheep respectively. Trypanosoma spp was 1.04% in both sheep and goats. The only mixed infections encountered was Anaplasma spp and Babesia spp in both animals, goats (3.13%) and sheep (1.92%). The prevalence based on sampled location in the sheep and goats were; Mission ward/ katungu,75.81% and 69.54%, Agan ward, 77.27% and 75%, Wurukum, 0% and 33.33%, University Community, 100% and 81.82% and Wadata, 60% and 0% respectively. In relation to sex, for sheep; male 16(76.19%), female 56(74.66%), goats, male 25(68.42%) and female 46(69.70%) and based on age, infected young and adult for sheep were 10(66.67%) and 62(76.54%) while goats were 7(50%) and 64(71.11%) respectively. Prevalence based on breed: for sheep, Yankasa 76.06%, WAD 76.47%, Uda 57.14% and Balami 100% and for goats; WAD 65.30%, Red Sokoto75.86%. There were no statistical differences between the haematology of the infected and non-infected animals. The results of this study clearly revealed that haemoparasite infections is common among small ruminants in Makurdi, and age, sex, breed and location are not risk factors for the diseases. This requires further investigation in the areas of transmission, to establish the genus and species of ticks and other arthropods vectors responsible for the wide spread infections.Keywords: Small ruminants, Haemoparasites, Risk factor, Haematology, Prevalenc