PREVALENCE OF BABESIA OVIS IN MAIDUGURI METROPOLIS, NIGERIA

*Biu, A. A¹., Ibrahim,A., I.,²Kumshe, H.A.³ and Ahmed, T.B⁴

^1&4Department of Veterinary Microbiology & Parasitology, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri

^2&3Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria

E-mail: biuvet@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

An investigation to confirm the prevalence of caprine babesiosis between January and November 2002 in Maiduguri revealed that out of the  one hundred and thirty (130) Giemsa-stained blood films of goats examined 6 (4.6%) were found infected with Babesia ovis. Also of the seventy – seven (77) males and fifty- three (53) females examined the prevalence rates were 3.9% and 5.7% respectively. Sixty –two (62) young (≤ 6 months) goats examined had a prevalence of 2.2%, while the sixty –eight adult (> 6 months) goats examined had 5.9% infection rate. Among the breeds examined thirty (30) Sokoto red had a prevalence of 6.7%, while twenty (20) Kano brown and eight (80) Borno white had 5.0% and 3.8% respectively. The mean ± SD packed cell volume (PCV%) of the goats examined based on their sex and age showed that Babesia infected male and female goats had 19.5± 9.2 and 22.5± 10.6, while infected young and adult goats had 19.0± 12.7 and 22.0± 5.7 respectively. There was an indication of anaemia for some of Babesia infected goats.

Keywords: Prevalence, Babesia ovis, Goats, Maiduguri, Nigeria.