Survey of Tick Infestations on Pet Dogs in Jalingo Local Government Area, Taraba State

The study investigated the prevalence of tick infestation among pet dogs in Jalingo Metropolis, Taraba State. The study area was fragmented into five study sites namely Kona, Magami Mayo-gwoi, Mile Six and Nukkai areas. Thirty samples were collected from each study sites using random sampling method. The prevalence of ticks infestation on dogs recorded was 80%. Prevalence was significantly different between the sites (χ2 = 13.333, p =0.0098). Amongst the tick genera observed, Ammblyomma had the highest prevalence, 44 (29.3%) followed closely by Ixodes spp., 41 (27.3%), and the least was Dermacentor, 33 (22.0%). Dogs of 108 (72.0%) of the respondent were vaccinated. Dogs of 82 (54.7%) of the respondents received treatment for diseases. Only 71 (47.3%)  respondents used medicated soap, acaricide or chemicals to control dog ectoparasites. Attitudes of dog owners contributes directly or indirectly to tick infestation of dogs in Jalingo metropolis.&nbsp

Evaluation of falciparum parasitemia and urogenital schistosomiasis co-infection on haemoglobin and nutritional status of children and adolescents in riverine communities of southern Taraba State, Nigeria.

Malaria and urogenital schistosomiasis are parasitic infections usually acquired unknowingly and sometimes cause anaemia and affect the  nutritional status of persons in endemic areas. This study assessed asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum, Schistosoma haematobium and their co-infection status with respect to the association of haemoglobin level and nutritional status in children and adolescents resident at Takum Local Government, a rural suburb of Taraba State, Nigeria. Thick blood films and urine filtration technique were used respectively to determine P. falciparum and S. haematobium species. Haemoglobinometer measured haemoglobin concentration and Body Mass Index determined nutritional status for each participant. The study reported 32.9% (87/264), 28.7% (76/264) and 30.3% (80/264) respectively for asymptomatic malaria, urogenital schistosomiasis and co-infection. Participants in Chanchanji community significantly had the highest asymptomatic P. falciparum infection, 56.4% (22/39) (p=0.003). Sufa and Manya communities respectively had the highest S. haematobium infection, 39.4% (15/38) (χ2= 41.3, p=0.000) and coinfection, 32.1% (12/37) (χ2= 52.45, p=0.000). A negative association was observed between anaemia and co-infection (r = -0.77, p=0.000) as well as between nutritional status and co-infection (r = -0.63, p=0.000). Participants who did not use LLTNs and lived close to water bodies were predisposed to co-infection with adjusted OR=0.003 (%95CI: 0.00 – 0.03; p=0.000). Birama and Manya areas highly predicted participants to co-infection with respective adjusted OR = 13.20 (%95CI: 2.34-74.38; p=0.003) and adjusted OR=57.9, (%95CI: 4.92-681.24, p=0.001). The co-infection predisposed participants to moderate and severe anaemia with respective adjusted OR of 2.198 (%95CI:1.307-3.696, p=0.021) and 1.192 (%95CI:0.355-4.009, p=0.017). Undernutrition was significantly affected with co-infection adjusted OR=3.732 (95%CI:1.003-7.393, p=0.011). Co-infection was significantly associated with anaemia and nutritional status at p≤0.05. It is recommended that the State and NGOs should provide malaria Intermittent Prevention Treatment as well as deworm the children and adolescents in Takum LGA

Comparative study of ectoparasites on Clarias gariepinus and Tilapia zilli obtained from Kasuwan Bera of Kofai Area, Ardo Kola LGA, Mayo Gwoi, and Jalingo LGAs, Taraba State, Nigeria

This work was carried out to compare the ectoparasites on Clarias gariepinus and Tilapia zilli obtained from Advanced Teachers College (ATC) Kofai Fish Market (Kasuwan Bera), Ardo Kola LGA, Mayo Gwoi, and Jalingo LGAs, Taraba State, from July to November 2016. A total of 80 randomly selected fishes (C. gariepinus and T. zilli) obtained from fish market were examined for ectoparasites. The skin, fins, nostrils, operculum, and buccal cavities scrapping were also examined under a dissecting microscope with dark background. The methods of obtaining parasites were made separately for fish samples from different markets. Fishes were examined for ectoparasites in relation to their size and sex. Of the 80 fish species examined 65(81.25%) were infested. Prevalence of ectoparasite infestation on C. gariepinus and T. zilli were 72.5% and 90% respectively. The male fish has higher percentage infestation (58.82%) than the females (42.18%). Fish with size range of 1.0-9.9 cm recorded the lowest infestation. T. zilli with size range 10.0-19.9 cm had high prevalence of 91.9% infestation. The higher rate of parasite infestation on T. zilli could be attributed to the presence of scale which aids the parasite to hide under. Ectoparasites has no direct effect to consumer, but has effect on fish farms which causes hemorrhagic lesions on the skin making it unappealing to consumers. Gills’ necrosis can result to opportunistic infections by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and fungi.Keywords: Ectoparasites; fishes; gills’ necrosis