Anaplasmosis of small ruminants in Nigeria: incidence and parasite identification through blood smear and latex agglutination test (LAT).

A survey was carried out on the incidence of anaplasmosis in small ruminants at Bodija abattoir, Ibadan. 100 sheep and 200 goats were examined using and comparing two methods-the Giemsa stained blood smear and serodiagnosis by Latex Agglutination Technique. The sheep and goats examined were among those brought from various parts of northern states and some neighbouring countries like Chad, Benin, Niger and Burkina Faso. 27% of the sheep and 17.5% of goats were positive for Anaplasma bodies with blood smear method while 54% of sheep and 61% of goats were sero positive with latex agglutination test (LAT). There seems to be a high incidence of anaplasmosis among sheep and goats probably due to the abundance of its arthropod vectors. The serodiagnostic method showed a high degree of specificity and sensitivity and is useful in field diagnosis.

Studies on the blood parasites of pigs in Ibadan, Nigeria.

The blood parasites in the blood of local pigs kept under free range, and exotic pigs kept under intensive management of Ibadan were investigated. The species found were Babesia trautmanni, B. perroncitoi, Eperythrozoon suis and E. parvum. Eperythrozoon suis was the most predominant in both breeds. Most of the local pigs carried mixed infections, while the same number of the exotic pigs carried single and mixed infections. Mixed infection of individual pigs with all four blood parasites was common. The parasitaemia was generally low in pigs of both breeds.