Global Journal of Biology, Agriculture & Health Sciences

Abstract

PREVALENCE OF TRYPANOSOMA INFECTION IN CATTLE IN THE TEACHING AND RESEARCH FARM (TREFAD), UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Okwelum N, Iposu S.O, S.I, Ihasuyi P.S, Sanwo K, Oduguwa B.O, Amole T.A., Shittu O.O, Famakinde S.A, Olugbogi E.I, Takeet O.V.A, Oyewusi J.A. and Yusuff M.A.

The survey was conducted at the cattle unit of the Teaching and Research Farm (TREFAD), University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Capital city of Ogun state in the South-west Nigeria. Samples were collected from 49 cattle comprising of Three pure breeds and Three cross breeds. Forty-two were females (85.7%), while seven were males (14.3%). The breeds were Seventeen White Fulani (34.7%), Fifteen Muturu (30.6%), Nine Ndama (18.4%), Five white Fulani and Muturu crosses (10.2%), Two Ndama and White Fulani crosses (4.1%), One Muturu and Ndama crosses (2.0%). Thirty-three cattle were infected with hemoparasites while eleven cattle were not infected with hemoparasite. The research shows that prevalence of Trypanosoma infection was 0%. The zero percent recorded was attributed to the fact that TREFAD is an institutional farm; veterinary supervision is adequate, which may lead to the appropriate use of drugs or use of drugs of standard quality. The survey also shows that other hemoparasite such as Anaplasma, Babesia and Theileria were prevalent in TREFAD with Babesia being the most prevalent (57.1%). There was a significant difference between the packed cell volume (PCV) and within the group using 95% confidence interval with significant level of (p< 0.05). There was a variation in the RBC of the infected cattle, as cattle with hemoparasite infection have a lower RBC compared to the non- infected cattle.

Published Date: 2013-06-17;