PREVALENCE OF HEAMOPARASITES (BABESIA SPECIES) IN SHEEP UNDER THE TRADITIONAL SYSTEM OF MANAGEMENT IN LAFIA METROPOLIS NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA
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Abstract
A study of the prevalence of Babesiosis in fifty sheep was conducted in Lafia metropolis within four (4) wards of Lafia, LGA (Shabu/Kwandere, Makama, Gayam and Chiroma wards, respectively) from February to May, 2013., to reveal the prevalence of Babesiosis in Sheep. The fifty sheep sampled were across different breeds, sexes and ages, amongst which were Yankasa, West African Dwarf and Balami. Two milllilitres of blood samples were collected from each sheep and analyzed using thin and thick smears - Giemsa stain. The stained slide preparations were microscopically viewed under x 40 objective. The results revealed that most Babesia species occur with varied prevalence. The study confirmed the prevalence of infections due to parasites (Babesia) and tick infestation in Lafia Metropolis. It also revealed that B. ovis were exerting more burden on the animals compared to B. motasi. The different breeds of sheep sampled showed that West African Dwarf sheep were more resistant to Babesia species. The percentages of infection rate of parasites were, 6.98% and 71.43% of B. motasi. The PCV mean values among the four (4) wards varied at 23.56, 21.4, 23.67 and 23.30, respectively.