The Bioscientist (Apr 2022)
HAEMO AND GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITES IN CATTLE SLAUGHTERED AT GWADABAWA ABATTOIR IN SOKOTO STATE, NORTHWESTERN, NIGERIA
Abstract
Cattle production is greatly challenged by the activities of parasites, which are a major constraint to production and welfare of livestock. This study was conducted to determine the occurrence of haemo and gastrointestinal (GI) parasites in cattle slaughtered at Gwadabawa abattoir of Sokoto State, Nigeria. A total of 108 blood and feacal samples were collected from the sampled cattle. Blood samples were processed using giemsa techniques while feacal samples were analyzed using formol-ether concentration. PCV for each sample were determined via microhematocrit methods. The study revealed that haemoparasites were less prevalent (7.4%) compared to gastrointestinal parasites (35.2%). Out of the total prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites, (13.9%) were for Eimeria, (8.3%) for Strongyle egg, 7.4% for Fasciola egg, and (2.8%) for Taenia egg and mixed infection of Eimeria and Strongyle egg(2.8%). Cattle with haemoparasites had a lower Pack cell volume (26%) lower than(31%) for noninfected ones. The mean PCV of cattle with Gastrointestinal was (29.7%) while (31.2%) was for noninfected ones. There was a higher prevalence of haemoparasites in Males (10.0%) than in Females (5.2%), in young’s (9.8%) than in older ones (4.3%) and in emaciated(25%) than in cattle good BCS (4.3%). However, a contrary trend was observed for GI parasites in terms of BCS and age of the cattle. This study confirmed occurrence of certain parasites in cattle, there is need to take measures to circumvent the situation.
