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This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of avian haemosporidian parasites in village chickens in Kwami, Gombe State, Nigeria using microscopy and the associated risk factors using structured questionnaires. To achieve this goal, blood samples were collected from 346 apparently healthy village chickens in Kwami of Gombe State, and a total of 45 farmers were interviewed using structured questionnaires. Microscopy revealed an overall prevalence of 20.8% (72/346) for haemosporidian parasites comprising of Plasmodium spp. with 41 (11.8%; 95% CI = 8.9 – 15.7) and Haemoproteus spp. 23 (6.6%; 95% CI = 4.5 – 9.8) as single infection and mixed infection of Plasmodium + Haemoproteus spp. having 8 (2.3%; 95% CI = 1.2 – 4.5). Prevalence of avian haemosporidian parasites was significantly higher in male (13.9%) compared to hens (6.9%), as well as in adults (14.50%) compared to growers (6.4%). The prevalence was also found to be higher in the rainy season (15.6%) compared to the dry (5.2%) seasons of the study period. Questionnaire survey on attitude and practice of the village chicken farmers in the study area has shown that village chicken are raised under the extensive management system and are reared with other village poultry species on free range. Inadequate biosecurity, poor management and husbandry systems constituted the predisposing risk factors associated with haemoparasite infections in this study. Key words: Haemosporidian parasites; Avian malaria, Microscopy, Scavenging Chickens; Kwami, Gombe State

The study was designed to evaluate the effect of tryponosomosis on hemogram and some biochemical parameters of guinea pigs. Guinea pigs of both sexes weighing (5-10 kg) were divided into six groups (A, B, C, D, E and F) with five guinea pigs in each group. At day zero, to establish the baseline data, all the animals in each of the six groups were bled for haematology and serum biochemistry and also clinical parameters (rectal temperature, respiratory rate, pulse rate and heart beats) were recorded while general body condition and physical signs were also evaluated. Groups A, B and C were intraperitoneally (IP) inoculated with 1×106dose ofTrypanosoma brucei bruceicontained in 0.5 ml of blood. Thereafter, blood samples were collected every other four (4) days for evaluation of hematology and serum electrolytes through the experimental period. Group D, E and F was uninfected control. All the infected groups (A, B, and C) had a pre-patent period of 16 days with similar levels of parasitaemia of 45.7±3.38 across the groups. The observed clinical signs among the infected groups (A, B and C) were pyrexia, pale feet, snout, pinnae and mucous membrane, anaemia, dullness, emaciation and loss of weight. In group A, a mean parasitaemia of 2.8 ± 0.84 occurred by day 16 post-infection post infection which continued to rise significantly without abating (p0.05). Dose of Veriben®administered at the dose rate of 7.0 mg/kg and 3.5 mg/kg have the abilities of curbing the state of anaemia, immunosuppression, and serum electrolytes levels in trypanosome-infected guinea pigs placed on a dose dependent manner.

Aim: Coccidiosis is an important enteric parasitic disease of poultry associated with significant economic losses to poultry farmers worldwide. This survey was conducted from June 2014 through July 2015 with the main goal of investigating the prevalence and associated risk factors of coccidiosis among village and exotic breeds of chickens in Maiduguri, Northeastern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A total of 600 fecal samples from live and slaughtered birds comprising 284 young, 141, growers and 175 adult birds; 379 male and 221 female birds; 450 exotic and 150 local breeds of birds were randomly collected either as bird’s fresh droppings or cutting open an eviscerated intestine of slaughtered birds, while noting their age, sex, and breeds. Samples were analyzed using standard parasitological methods and techniques. Results: An overall prevalence rate of 31.8% (95% confidence interval: 28.07-35.52) was obtained. Higher prevalence rates were recorded in growing birds 58.9% (50.78-67.02), female birds 35.3% (29.00-41.60), exotic birds 42.4% (37.83- 46.97), and broiler birds 68.7% (61.28-76.12). Similarly, higher infection rates were also observed among birds sampled from Mairi ward 66.7% (56.03-77.37), intensive management system 46.5% (41.61-51.39), and constructed local cages 54.0% (46.02-61.98). The difference in prevalence of coccidiosis among age groups, breeds, among exotic breeds, sampling locations, husbandry management systems, and litter management systems was statistically significant (0.05) of infection rates was observed in sex. Conclusion: Coccidiosis is endemic in both commercial and backyard poultry farms in Maiduguri due to poor management practices encouraging Eimeria oocysts build-up. It is therefore, recommended that poultry farmers should practice strict biosecurity measures on their farms, creating awareness on the prevalence of coccidiosis, routine vaccination against coccidiosis and educating poultry farmers on the need for maintaining good hygienic standards and good flock health management.

Pasteurella multocida is a highly contagious bacterial pathogen that causes cholera in chickens and water fowls. From September 2019 to February 2021, 600 samples, consisting of tracheal and cloacal swabs (300 samples each), were obtained from 300 seemingly healthy village chickens from households and live bird markets to evaluate the prevalence of P. multocida, test for its antibiotic susceptibility profile and multiple drug resistance patterns. Trachea and cloacal swabs collected were cultured on sheep blood agar and MacConkey agar, isolation and identification was based on morphological characteristics. Prevalence was higher in chickens sampled from live birds’ markets (27.0%) than those from households (16.3%), and higher in hens (13.3%) than in cocks (8.7%). Pure culture colonies were characterized using biochemical test and isolates identified by biochemical characterization were further subjected to Microbact GNB 24E test. Twenty three pure isolates of P. multocida were recovered, eighteen found in the trachea, and five in the cloaca, with an overall prevalence of 21.7%. Disk diffusion approach was used to assess in vitro susceptibility of isolates to 18 different antimicrobial agents. Isolates demonstrated multidrug-resistant to 15 of the antimicrobial compounds used. Antibiogram showed isolates to be extremely susceptible to ciprofloxacin, nitrofurantoin, and neomycin, and total resistant to erythromycin, amoxicillin/clavulinate, cefuroxime, ampicillin, enrofloxacin, tylosin, and furasol. Isolation of Pasteurella multocida from healthy village chickens, indicates they are carriers of the pathogen and that the bacterium has multidrug resistance. To control fowl cholera, it is also recommended that field veterinarians conduct sensitivity tests prior to administering antibiotics.

In some parts of Nigeria, studies have revealed avian haemosporidian infections in village chickens, some of which are considered emerging parasitic infections because chickens are unnatural hosts. Infections may have occurred as a result of accidental cross-infection via infected haemophagus arthropod vectors. This study was carried out to determine the emerging avian haemosporidian infections in Village chickens in Yobe State, Nigeria using microscopy. Blood samples were collected from 2100 Village chickens in 7 Local Government Areas of Yobe State. Microscopy revealed an overall prevalence of 13.8% (290/2100) for avian haemosporidians comprising of Plasmodium with 13.9% (198/2100) and Haemoproteus 2.4% (55/2100) as single infections. Mixed infection of Plasmodium and Haemoproteus had a prevalence of 1.8% (37/1820). Male (9.9%) had a higher prevalence of avian haemosporidian infections than female chickens (4.0%). Adults (10.4%) had a higher prevalence than growers chickens (3.4%), and prevalence was higher in the rainy (9.3%) than the dry (4.5%) season of the study period. Detection of Haemoproteus specie in chickens in Yobe State is considered an emergent infection because chickens are not natural host to the parasite. It is therefore recommended that Village chicken producers should be educated on the risk factors and impacts of avian haemosporidian on bird productivity through frequent agricultural extension services. More research is needed to assess the frequency of avian haemosporidian infections in other poultry species in Nigeria, in order to better understand the disease's epidemiology and develop effective management and prevention strategies.

Aim: To determine the various helminth parasites and associated helminth reservoir status of captive wild ruminants in the semi-arid region of north-eastern, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Faecal samples were examined for nematode ova by the simple floatation technique using saturated sodium chloride solution as floatation medium. Trematode eggs were examined by the sedementation technique. The modified McMaster technique was used to determine the intensity of helminth infections among the various species of wild ruminants examined, while larval isolation and identification using the modified Baerman’s technique was used to determine the various species of parasites encountered. Results: Out of the 36 samples examined, a high parasite count due to Strongyle infection without the manifestation of overt clinical signs was observed among the captive wild ruminants. The egg counts ranged from 500 + 10.0 among the Grimm’s duicker (Sylvicaprea grimmia) to 5, 350 + 51.70 among the Senegal hartebeest (Damaliscus korrigum). The helminth larvae recovered which were common to all the species of wild ruminants were those of Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrogylus axei and Strongyloides papillosus, Demographic data such as age, sex and species of wild animals showed no significant (p>0.05) variation on the prevalence of the helminth infections. Conclusion: The results of this study suggests that the captive wild ruminants in the semi-arid region of north-eastern, Nigeria, were reservoirs of various helminth parasites of medical and veterinary importance. It was therefore, recommended that improved sanitary conditions in animal enclosures, regular and strategic anthelmintic medications may on one hand protect the spread of infection to attendants and visitors to the park. On the other hand it will enhance the in-situ conservation of the rare and endangered species of wild ruminants in the area. [Vet World 2012; 5(9.000): 530-534]

An experimental infection of red fronted gazelles (Gazella rufifrons) with Trypanosoma brucei strain MKAR/84/NITR/6 was carried out. Two waves of parasitaemia which corresponded with a significant decline (p0.05) in packed cell volume (PCV) was encountered in the infected untreated controls and those treated at day 8 post-infection with a sub-optimal dosage of diminazene aceturate (Berenil) at 3.5 mg/kg body weight. At postmortem, hepatomegally, splenomegally, lymphadenopathy, nephritis, myocardial degeneration with pulmonary oedema was observed in the two groups. Similarly, histopathological studies of some organs revealed interstitial haemorrhages, severe degenerative changes with cellular infiltrations. On the other hand, those treated by day 8 post-infection with melarsamine hydrochloride (Cymelarsan) at 0.3 mg/kg, 0.6 mg/kg or diminazene aceturate (Berenil) at 7.0 mg/kg body weight had apparently normal organs at the end of the experiment. These results suggest that, T. brucei can cause severe pathological changes in untreated red fronted gazelles (Gazella rufifrons). However, treatments at the onset of parasitaemia, by day 8 post-infection with melarsamine hydrochloride (Cymelarsan) at 0.3 and 0.6 mg/kg or diminazene aceturate (Berenil) at 7.0 mg/kg body weight ameliorated the deleterious effects of the infection in the gazelles.

Endoparasites and associated worm burden of captive and free-living wild ostriches (Struthio camelus) in the semi arid, north-eastern part of Nigeria was investigated by random faecal sampling. The study involved a total of 100 ostriches consisting of 50 free-living in their natural habitat found at various sectors (Kwada, Jeltare, and Bulanjibia) of Chad Basin National Park and 50 others in captivity at the Sanda Kyarimi Park and from private owners within the metropolis. The ostriches belonging to the two groups were found to harbour a variety of helminth parasites such as Strongyloides, Strongyle, Capillaria, Ascaridia spp. and protozoan parasites such as Eimeria spp. Mean eggs per gram (epg) of faeces was 150±0.23 to 773±0.48 and oocyst counts per gram (opg) of faeces was 310 ± 0.34 to 393.33 ± 0.34 and were significantly (P 12 months). Sex did not show any effect on the prevalence of infection. The significance of infection as well as control measures is discussed.

No Abstract.Nigerian Veterinary Journal Vol. 29 (2) 2008: pp. 31-36

Reports on the clinico-pathology and mechanisms of trypanosomosis in free-living and captive wild animals showed that clinical disease and outbreaks occur more commonly among captive than free-living wild animals. This is because the free-living wild animals co-exist with the disease until subjected to captivity. In exceptional cases however, draught, starvation and intercurrent diseases often compromised trypanotolerance leading to overt trypanosomosis in free-living wild animals. Meanwhile, in captivity, space restriction, reduced social interactions, change in social herd structure, reduced specie-to-specie specific behaviors, altered habitat and translocation were the major stressors that precipitated the disease. The cumulative effect of these factors produced severe physiological and somatic stress leading to diminished immune response due to increased blood cortisol output from adrenal cortex. The major symptoms manifested were pyrexia, innapetence, increased respiration, anaemia, cachexia and death. At necropsy, pulmonary oedema, splenomegally, hepatomegally, lympadenopathy and atrophy of body fats were the gross changes encountered. At the ultra-structural level, the tissues manifested degenerative changes, haemorghages, necrosis and mononuclear cellular infiltrations. The mechanisms of cellular and tissue injuries were primarily associated with physical and metabolic activities of the organisms. From the foregoing, it is evident that stress is the underlying mechanism that compromises trypanotolerance in wild animals leading to severe clinico-pathological effects.

In a survey of major constraints limiting commercial poultry production in Gombe metropolis, 2,121 poultry cases were presented at the Gombe State Veterinary Clinic between January 1995 and December 2004. Out of the total number of cases presented, Newcastle disease (ND) accounted for 14.66%, chronic respiratory disease (CRD) 12.31%, fowl typhoid (FT) 12.02%, coccidiosis 10.81%, fowl pox (FP) 10.33%, fowl cholera (FC) 8.63%, nutritional disorders 8.49%, ectoparasitism 7.49% while helminthosis accounted for 7.07%. Based on the analysis of 110 questionnaires administered to poultry farmers, ND was found to be the most prevalent accounting for 19.1% of the total, FP accounted for 15.7%, and helminthosis accounted for 2.2%. The results suggest that infectious, non-infectious, and parasitic diseases constituted the major constraints to successful commercial poultry production in Gombe State. Keywords : Poultry production, constraints, Gombe State, Nigeria. Nigerian Veterinary Journal Vol. 27 (2) 2006: pp. 75-78