Incidence of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Zebu and N’dama Breeds from Cattle Ranches in Jos Plateau, Nigeria

The incidence of gastrointestinal parasites in Zebu and N’dama breeds known to be trypanotolerant cattle from some ranches in Jos Plateau was investigated at the peak of the raining season, August to October, 2018. A total of 150 cattle from some Ranches in Jos Plateau were randomly selected for faecal sampling out of which 85 were Zebu (Bos indicus) and 65 were N’dama (Bos taurus) breeds respectively. The samples were analyzed for ova of gastrointestinal parasites using the simple flotation and sedimentation techniques and the results were interesting. The strongyloids, Oesophagostomumradiatum had the highest incidence of 4.7% followed by the Trichostrongylus species with 4%. Fasciolagigantica and Haemonchusplacei both were 3.3%. Then Paramphistomumcervi 2%; bovine hook worm, Bunostomumphlebotomum 1.3%, Taenia saginata1.3%, Schistosoma bovis 1.3% and Nematodirusspathiger 0.7%. The incidence of nematodes, cestodes and trematodes in this study in the raining season was significant (p<0.05) and could pose production and economic threat to institutional farms and ranches in the development of livestock and dairy industries in Nigeria. There should be a strong policy on the control of gastrointestinal parasites in the country for farmers to benefit from their contribution in ensuring food security.

Haematology of N’Dama and West African Short Horn cattle herds under natural Trypanosoma vivax challenge in Ghana

Background: Animal trypanosomosis is a major cause of economic loss in livestock production in Africa. A suggested control measure is to use breeds with traits of trypanotolerance. The study examines the effect of natural Trypanosoma vivax challenge on haematological parameters in two trypanotolerant cattle [N’Dama and West African Short Horn (WASH)] herds. Methods: T. vivax-specific primers were used to diagnose T. vivax infection in an N’Dama herd at Cape Coast in southern Ghana and a WASH herd at Chegbani in northern Ghana from May to July 2011 in a cross-sectional study. Levels of haematological parameters comprising packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb) concentration and total red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts; differential WBC counts (neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, monocytes and basophils); and RBC indices of mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were determined in blood samples and then compared between infected and uninfected cattle. Results: We found that haematological indices for infected and uninfected animals in both breeds were within the normal range. However, the mean PCV values for T. vivax-infected WASH and N’Dama were lower in infected compared to uninfected animals. The difference was significant (p< 0.05) in N’Dama but not in WASH. The RBC indices were higher in infected N’Dama compared to infected WASH with a significant difference in total RBC (p < 0.05). Conclusion: We conclude from our findings that despite the presence of infection by T. vivax, N’Dama and WASH cattle maintained their haematological parameters within acceptable normal ranges, and this underscores the need for routine diagnosis and treatment so that such trypanotolerant cattle do not serve as potential reservoirs of trypanosome parasites.

The effect of plane of nutrition on the response by Trypanotolerant cattle to infection with Trypanosomiasis

Tse-Tse flies inhabit over 11 million km2 of Africa and are vectors of trypanosomes which cause trypanosomiasis in domestic livestock. The disease has a negative effect on productivity and is fatal in non tolerant breeds. The effect of nutrition on response to the disease was studied.Thirty two N'Dama heifers (initial mean liveweight 113 + 17.0) were offered ad libitum andropogon hay plus 10.2 g/kg LW groundnut hay (GNH) (L) or GNH and 3.9 g/kg LW groundnut cake (GNC) (H). After 4 weeks on diet, half of each group were inoculated intradermally with trypanosomes (T. Congolense) (LI and HI). Intake was measured daily and liveweights weekly, while thrice weekly blood samples were examined for parasitaemia and packed cell volume (PCV).