Helminthes parasites of local chickens in Bauchi state, Nigeria

The prevalence of helminthes infections in domestic fowls in Bauchi was carried out aimed at providing information on their species composition and prevalence. Two hundred chickens comprising of one hundred males and one hundred females were collected on a weekly basis for eight months and screened for helminthes parasites. A total infection of 87.8% was recorded consisting of the following nematodes and cestodes: Ascaridia styphlocerca (4.5%), Heterakis brevispiculum (18.0%), Subulura brumpti (15.5%), Gongylonema congolense (40.5%), Raillietina tetragona (38.5%),Raillietina echinobothrida (42.0%), Raillietina cesticillus (10.5%), Choanotaenia infundibulum (3.3%) and Raillietina magninumida (8%). There was no significant difference in infection rates between the sexes (

Zoonotic Diseases and Livelihood of Pastoralists

No  Abstrac

La pintade (<em>Numida meleagridis galeata</em>) nouvel hôte d'<em>Amyrsidea powelli</em> (Bedford, 1920) et de <em>Cuclotogaster occidentalis</em> (Tendeiro, 1954)

L'examen de 620 pintades (Numida meleagridis galeata) originaires du Nord de la Nigeria a permis de découvrir deux types de poux, Amyrsidea powelli et Cuclotogaster occidentalis, non encore signalés dans cette espèce. Dans le premier cas, le pourcentage d'oiseaux infestés est de 78 p. 100 et, dans le second, de 17 p. 10

Prevalence and significance of ectoparasites other than lice attacking chickens in Sokoto, north-west Nigeria

In an examination of 330 free-ranging chickens in Sokoto area for ectoparasites other than lice, a total of 10 species comprising 6 mites, Bdellonyssus bursa (56%), Epidermo ptesbilobalus (20%), Rivaltasiabi furcata (20%), Megninia cubitalis/Megninia tetraonis (72%), Cnemidoco ptesmutans (14%); 3 species of ticks, Argaspersicus (30%), Amblyomma variegatum (4%), Haemphy salishoodi (8%); and a species of flea, Echidnopha gagallinacea (26%) were recorded. Many infestations consisted of a few to a dozen individuals per bird. However, B. bursa, A. persicus and E. gallinacea were abundant (dozens to hundreds/thousands of individuals) on some birds constituting considerable health hazards. Ectoparasites fluctuated seasonally being more often found in the hot dry season (p&lt;0.01) and warm wet season (p&lt;0.05) than in the cool dry harmattan season. The findings suggest the need to develop preventive and control options against ticks, mites and fleas in the area for improved production potentials of birds.Keywords: Chicken; ectoparasites; excluding lice; Sokoto; Nigeri

Prevalence of intestinal parasites among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in a tertiary health institution in the Nigerian middle belt area

This study aim to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in a tertiary health institution in the middle belt of Nigeria. Stool samples of six hundred females, consisting of three hundred each of pregnant women and nonpregnant ladies (controls) were collected and screened for intestinal parasites. The stool samples were microscopically examined fresh for trophozoites, ova and cysts of intestinal parasites before being formol-ether concentrated.Concentrated stool specimens were re-examined for ova and cysts of intestinal parasites and modified Zeihl-Nelson stained to identify and oocysts. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was 33.0%. There was a statistically significant difference (

preliminary study on the Monthly dynamics of cattle tick infestation in Sokoto, north western Nigeria

The distribution and monthly dynamics of bovine ixodids in Sokoto Township and environs were recorded between Jan 2009 and Dec 2010. Monthly tick collections were performed on 400 animals from which a total of 12, 296 ticks were collected. Ticks from each cattle were collected separately using a pair of blunt forceps, into labelled universal bottles containing 70% ethanol into which 5% glycerine was added to keep specimens better&nbsp; preserved. On each label, the location, breed of the animal, number of ticks and date of collection were recorded. In the laboratory, Ticks were placed into petri dishes, counted, examined and identified with the aid of a dissecting stereoscope based on morphological Characteristics and aided by the use of standard keys according to Hoogstraal (1956) and Walker et al. (2003). These include Hyalomma truncatum (15.5%), Hyalomma&nbsp; dromedarii (13.3%), Boophilus decolaratus (11.3%) Amblyomma variegatum (10.6%), Hy. impeltatum, (10.1%), Hy. rufipes (9.4%), Hy. impressum (7.4%), Boophilus annulatus (4.4%), B. geigyi (4.3%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (4.1%) Amblyomma hebraeum (3.4%), Rh. evertsi (2.6%), A. pomposum (2.0%), Rh. lunulatus (1%) and Rh. senegalensis (0.5%). Hyalomma. truncatum, Hy. impeltatum, Hy. Impress B. annulatus, A. hebraeum, A. pomposum, Rh. lunulatus and Rh. senegalensis were recorded for the first time in the Study area. The distribution and dynamics of cattle ixodid ticks has not been hitherto chronicled in the study area. Key words: Population, dynamics, cattle ticks, Sokoto township and environs