Authors : S.O. Okaiyeto , L.B. Tekdek , A.K.B. Sackey and O.J. Ajanusi
Abstract: The prevalence of ovine haemo and gastrointestinal parasite in the 8 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Northern Nigeria over a period of 10 months (February -October 2002) was evaluated. Blood and faecal samples were obtained from flocks of sheep herded with cattle. The study involved the random examination of 101 sheep of both sexes irrespective of breed, age between 9 and 36 months. Ninety percent of sheep examined were infected with gastrointestinal parasite while 33% were infected with haemoparasite. Mixed infections of haemo-and gastrointestinal parasite occured in 34.6% of sheep examined. Seventy seven percent of these occurred as single haemoparasitic infections concurrently with one or two helminth species, 14.3% occurred as double haemoparasitic infections concurrently with one or two helminth species while only 8.6% occured as triple haemoparasite infection concurrently with one specie of helminth. Gastrointestinal and heamoparasitic infections appear to be widespread in the area of study. Much of the infection seem to be subclinical and could indirectly cause production losses without attracting farmers attention to institute control measures.
S.O. Okaiyeto , L.B. Tekdek , A.K.B. Sackey and O.J. Ajanusi , 2008. Prevalence of Haemo and Gastrointestinal Parasites in Sheep Kept by the Nomadic Fulanis in Some Northern States of Nigeria. Research Journal of Animal Sciences, 2: 31-35.