Prevalence of tick-borne haemoparasitic infections in Zebu cattle slaughtered in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

LeBari Barine Gboeloh 1, * and Akugbebebibo Dominic Araka 2

1 Parasitology Unit, Department of Biology, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
2 Department of Biology, Bayelsa Medical University, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
 
Research Article
International Journal of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences Archive, 2022, 03(01), 024–030.
Article DOI: 10.53771/ijbpsa.2022.3.1.0023
Publication history: 
Received on 20 December 2021; revised on 29 January 2022; accepted on 30 January 2022
 
Abstract: 
The prevalence of tick-borne haemoparasitic diseases in Zebu Cattle (Bos taurus indicus) ready for slaughter in Yenagoa metropolis, Bayelsa State were investigated. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of 200 presumably healthy Zebu cattle using 10ml hypodermal syringe into well- labelled Ethylene Diamine Tetra acetic (EDTA) bottles. Thin and thick blood films were prepared for microscopy. Haematological parameters were determined using the micro haematocrit method. Out of the 200 Zebu cattle examined, 125 (62.5%) were infected. More female75 (75%) were infected than male 50 (50%). The parasites identified were Anaplasma marginale (57.5%), Bebasia bovis (35.8%) and Theileria parva (6.7%). There was a significant reduction (P > 0.05) in the level of PCV (20.53±0.70), Hb (8.60±0.30) and RBC (8.00±0.6) in infected cattle compared to the reference range. The high prevalence of tick-borne haemoparasites in zebu cattle in the study area could be reduced through proper animal management practice, health orientation of herders, good sanitary habit and proper treatment of infected cattle.
 
Keywords: 
Haemoparasites; Zebu Cattle; Prevalence; Haematological parameters
 
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