*Lawal, M. D. and Mahmuda, A.

Vol.1 (2), pp. 19-24, December 16 ISSN:4372-261 Article Number: DRJA8621429 Copyright 16 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article Direct Research Journal of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science http://directresearchpublisher.org/journal/drjvmas Research Paper A 3-Year Retrospective Study on Parasitic Infections in Small Ruminants (Sheep and Goats) Diagnosed at Sokoto State Veterinary Clinic, Sokoto State, Nigeria *Lawal, M. D. and Mahmuda, A. Department of Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, State, Nigeria. *Corresponding author E-mail: lawal_bibi@yahoo.com. Received 13 October 16; Accepted 23 November, 16 A retrospective study was conducted to determine the common parasitic infection of small ruminants, based on the diagnosis made at the Veterinary Clinic, Aliyu Jodi Road, Sokoto, for a period of three years (12-14). Of the 27 and 39 records of goats and sheep diagnosed through modified faecal floatation screening method. 7 cases of goat and 115 cases of sheep were found to be positive, which account for about 27.44% and 42.56% respectively. On a yearly basis, the study in both goats and sheep shows the highest number of positive cases in 13 followed by 14 and then 12. On a seasonal basis, the results in sheep show that it occurs more in wet than in dry season, more in adults than in young and more in females than in males. While in goats, this result shows that it occurs more in dry than in wet season although with a very slight difference of 47.46% in wet and 52.54% in dry season, more in adults than in the younger ones and more in females than in males. Keywords: Small ruminants, sheep and goats, infections INTRODUCTION Nigeria is blessed with abundant livestock resource (Aliyu et al., 5). Livestock population in Nigeria was estimated at 7.5 million, of which sheep and goats constitute 31.3% and 48.9% respectively (Adebowale, 12). About 6% of small ruminant population is concentrated in the North eastern part of Nigeria (Aliyu et al., 5). In Nigeria, sheep and goats play a significant socio-economic role in the life of the people: they are slaughtered during ceremonies and festivals, and serve as a source of ready cash to small farmers. The skin of the Red-Sokoto goat is well known for its superior quality and the high premium it commands in the world market (McClintock, 1983). Goats are excellent meat producers for human consumption in view of its short generation intervals and the absence of religious taboos associated with their meat as they are rich sources of protein and can help bridge the gap of protein malnutrition among consumers (Ozung et al., 11). According to Adebowale (12), goats are the principal domesticated small ruminants in terms of total numbers and production of food and fibre products. Goat also produces a considerable amount of manure, which is of special importance in those areas where cattle are of lesser importance (Nawathe et al., 1985). The importance of small ruminants for meat production in the tropics is well recognized (de Haas and Horst, 1979). Adu and Ngere, (1979) found that 11% of the meat supplied from slaughter-houses in Nigeria come

Direct Res. J. Vet. Med. Anim. Sci. from sheep, and they state that the importance of sheep is greater if rural unregistered slaughters are taken into account. Brinkmann and Adu, (1977) estimate that goats contribute about % of Nigerian meat supply. This means that about 35% of total meat supply games from small ruminants. Parasitic diseases constitute a major impediment to livestock production in sub-saharan Africa; owing to the direct and indirect losses they cause (Harper and Penzhorn, 1999; Kagira and Kanyari, 1). Parasitism is a limiting factor of optimum livestock production in the developing world. Environmental factors and vector abundance have also been incriminated in the distribution of most parasitic diseases. Gastrointestinal parasites are common in both temperate and tropical countries, but more prevalent in warm countries where sanitation is poor and standard of living is low (Schmidt et al., ). Infestation by ectoparasites could lead to skin damage, irritation, cases of vector-borne diseases, weight loss, and in severe cases death with the consequent socio-economic implications (Dipeolu, 1975).The continuous drive to increase meat production for the protein needs of the ever increasing world population is faced with a number of constraints, (Boes et al., ), among which are diseases caused by intestinal helminths and protozoa (Aliaga-Leyton et al., 11).This study was aimed to establish the status of parasitic infections diagnosed in Sokoto State Veterinary Clinic in small ruminants for proper control measures and to provide data for research purposes. MATERIALS AND METHODS Study area The study was conducted in Sokoto State. It shares a boundary with Kebbi State to the south and Zamfara State to the east. It also has boundary with the Republic of Niger to the north. The state has an estimated human population of 3,696,999 million based on the 6 population census and 23 Local Government Councils Areas (LGCA), with Sokoto as its capital (NPC, 6). The climate of the state is semi-arid with two major distinct seasons, namely, the wet and dry seasons. The wet season starts from late May and ends in early September but could extend to October with a mean annual rainfall of between 5 mm and mm. Peak rainfall is reached in August. Dry season starts from October with the cold, dry, dust- laden harmattan wind lasting till February (Abdullahi, 5). In terms of vegetation, Sokoto State falls within the Sudan-Savannah vegetation zone, which is suitable for cultivation of grains, cash crops and animal husbandry. The state is a major livestock producer and is second only to Borno State in livestock population. The major occupation of the vast majority of the population of the state is arable farming as well as livestock rearing. Cattle, sheep and goats are the principal ruminant animals reared, although camels and poultry are also important (Tambuwal, 9). Sampling methods The total number of small ruminant s records were sampled using stratified random sampling method. Data Collection A three-year clinical record (12 14) was sampled from the Sokoto State Veterinary Clinic,Aliyu Jodi road, Sokoto. From these records, data on diagnosed parasitic disease cases were extracted. The records included the animal information such as breed, age and sex as well as the date of presentation to the clinic. Diagnosis of each disease was carried out in the clinic based on case history, physical examination and clinical signs. Where possible, cases were confirmed in the Laboratory by blood and faecal examination using a light microscope and with direct identification of arthropods using a stereomicroscope. Data analysis The data generated were entered and managed in MS Excel worksheet. The data were analyzed and summarized in table using descriptive statistics. The occurrence of diseases diagnosed was calculated using percentages. RESULTS The percentage cases in sheep in 12, 13 and 14 are 34.4, 48.89 and 44.4% respectively (Figure 1).While in goats the percentage cases in 12, 13 and 14 are 18.5, 32.31 and 31.5% respectively as (Figure 2). And average percentage cases from 12-14 in sheep and goats are 42.56 and 27.44% respectively. The average percentage cases in different breeds of sheep are 46.4, 12.42, 9.83 and 31.71% for Ouda, Balami, Yankasa and cross breeds respectively as shown below (Figure 3). While for goats the percentage cases are 72.3, 2.99, 8.97, and 16.1% for Red Sokoto goats, Sahel, West African Dwarf (WAD) and Cross breeds respectively as shown below (Figure 4). The study in sheep also shows on the average from 12-14 a percentage of 53.94% of the cases occurs in wet season and 46.6% in dry season, 87.9% in

Lawal and Mahmuda 21 6 PERCENTAGE CASES 5 4 34.4 48.89 44.4 12 13 14 YEARS Figure 1. Percentage positive cases for parasitic infections in Sheep. 35 32.31 31.5 PERCNTAGE CASES 25 15 18.5 % POSITIVE CASES IN GOATS. 5 12 13 14 YEARS Figure 2. Percentage of positives cases for parasitic infection in goats. adults and 12.% in young age while 63.28% in females and 36.72% in males. While the results in goats show 47.46% of the cases occur in wet season and 52.54% in dry season, 84.8% in adults and 15.% in young age and 75.1% of the cases occurs in females and 24.91% in males (Table 1). DISCUSSION The variations in the percentages of cases of parasitic infections brought to the Clinic in relation to the different animal species may be due to increase in the number of cases brought to the Clinic in the different years while comparison was made. On the average, the percentage positive cases in sheep and goats for the three (3) years are 42.56 and 27.44% respectively; this shows that sheep are more prone to parasitic infection than goats. Base on breed, parasitic infections have been observed to occurs more in Red-Sokoto goats, followed by cross breed, then West African Dwarf (WAD), and the least was found in Sahel breeds, and this may due to the fact that more red-sokoto goats are being raised in the area than

Direct Res. J. Vet. Med. Anim. Sci. 22 5 45 Ouda, 46.4 4 PERCENTAGE CASES 35 25 15 Balami, 12.42 yankasa, 9.83 Cross, 31.71 SHEEP BREEDS 5 Ouda Balami yankasa Cross BREEDS OF SHEEP Figure 3. Percentage of positives cases for parasitic infection in different breeds of sheep. 8 7 Red Sokoto Goats, 72.3 PERCENTAGE CASES 6 5 4 Sahel, 2.99 WAD, 8.97 Cross, 16.1 GOATS BREEDS Red Sokoto Goats Sahel WAD Cross BREEDS OF GOAT Figure 4. Percentage of positives cases for parasitic infection in different breeds of goat. other breeds of goats. While in sheep, the study shows that infections occurs more in Ouda breeds, followed by cross breeds, then Balami, and the least found in Yankasa breeds, and this may be due to the fact that more Ouda breeds are being raised in the area than other breeds of sheep. In sheep, the study shows that, infections occurs more in wet than in dry season, more in adult than in young and more in females than in males, while in goats it was observed to occur more in dry than in wet season although with a very slight difference of 47.46% in wet and 52.54% in dry (season), more in adults than in the young o and more in females than in

Lawal and Mahmuda 23 Table 1. Average percentage of positive cases for parasitic infections in sheep and goats in relation to season, age and sex. Species Wet Season (%) Dry Season (%) Young (%) Adult (%) Females (%) Males (%) Sheep 53.94 46.6 12. 87.9 63.28 36.72 Goats 47.46 52.54 15. 84.8 75. 24.91 males. Adult of both sheep and goats were diagnosed for high parasitic infections than their young counterparts. This may be associated with the roaming nature of adult sheep and goat thereby making them more prone to become infected with parasites. Previous studies in Nigeria (Nwoke et al., 15) and Ethiopia (Mandado et al., 16) have shown that adult sheep and goats were more prone to parasitic diseases than the young ones. Parasitic diseases were more prevalent during the wet season than dry season in both sheep and goats. A similar study conducted in the southern part of Nigeria by Omoike et al. (14) reported a higher prevalence of parasitic diseases of sheep and goat during the wet season than dry season. This may be due to high moisture content and lower temperature which is seen during the wet seasons, which are known to favour the growth and development of parasites and their vectors (Coles et al., 6). Females of both sheep and goats were diagnosed for parasitic diseases than their male counterparts and this may be due to the fact that more females are being raised for breeding than their male s counterparts in the study area as previously suggested by (Ola-fadunsi and Ibitoye, 17). Conclusion and Recommendation The results of this study show that small ruminant s parasitic infection is found to be an important problem in the study area. It was recommended that awareness and sensitization campaign through extension services to livestock owners on how to prevent or control parasitic diseases of ruminants should be adopted. 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