PertanikaJ. Trop. Agric. Sci. 24(2): 87 - 93 (2001) ISSN: 1511-3701© Universiti Putra Malaysia Press

Prevalence and Effect of Parasitic Infections on Cycling in TraditionallyManaged Cattle Herds in Bauchi, Nigeria

A.C.KUDI* 8c D J.U.KALLAAnimal Production Programme

School of AgricultureAbubakar Tafawa Balewa University

Bauchi, Nigeria

ABSTRAK

Kejadian jangkitan dan infestasi oleh parasit (seperti helminl, ektoparasit dan hemoparasit) dan hubunganantara parasit tersebut dengan kitaran pada lembu telah dikaji pada sekumpulan 16 ekor lembu yang diurussecara tradisional di Bauchi, Nigeria. Jangkitan parasitik dan infestasi berlaku secara bermusim dengankebanyakan jangkitan dan infestasi berlaku dalam musim hujan. Kajian ini juga menunjukkan sesetenganhubungan antara jangkitan parasitik dan infestasi dengan kitaran pada sekawan lembu yang tidak diuruskandengan baik. Terbukti bahawa amalan pengurusan yang baik sangat penting dalam pengawalan danpencegahan penyakit.

ABSTRACT

The incidence of infection and infestation by parasites (i.e. helminth, ectoparasites and haemoparasites) and therelationship between them and cycling in cattle was investigated in 16 traditionally managed herds in Bauchi,Nigeria. Parasitic infection and infestation show seasonality with most infections and infestations occurring inthe rainy season. This study also shows some relationship between parasitic infection and infestation with cyclingin some poorly managed herds. Good management practices were also shown to be important in disease controland prevention.

Most losses in productivity of grazing animalsare now associated with clinically in-apparentdisease. Therefore the prevention and treatmentof parasitic infection involve measures appliedto the whole herd. The tropical climate isextremely conducive to the growth andpropagation of pathogens and consequently, theenvironment is rife with disease agents and theirvectors (Jawara 1990), Helminthiasis is significantin this case and is a cause of high mortality anddecrease production in most farms in Africa (DeHaans and Bekure 1991),

Helminthic diseases have been and are stillknown to be major causes of economic losses inlivestock in the tropical world and Nigeria inparticular (Maina 1986; Nuru and Dennis 1976;Ogunsusi 1985; Pullan 1979). Most of the lossesare due to decreased milk production, poor

INTRODUCTIONIn many countries of the world, parasitic infectionis of major importance in the animal productionsector (Blood 1979). In addition to the purelyphysical injury caused by the parasites, someserve as vectors of many viral, rickettsial, bacterialand protozoan diseases (Fabiyi 1984). They havea marked effect on the production of meat andmilk in Africa (Jawara 1990).

Given an appropriate environment, parasiticinfection may cause substantial losses inproduction or even acute clinical symptoms anddeath (Morley and Donald 1980). The diseasecauses a rather gradual deterioration of animalperformance and does not show dramatic clinicalsymptoms especially in mature animals (Okaemeand Ogwu 1984).

# Presently at: Dept of Agric. & Food Studies, University of Plymouth, Seale-Hayne Faculty NEWTON ABBOT, Devon,TQ12 6NQ, United Kingdom. E-mail: HYPERLINK mailto:akudi@plymouth.ac.uk akudi@plymouth.ac.uk.

A.C.KUDI & DJ.U.KALLA

wool quality, inferior carcass grade, sterility, longcalving anoestrus and loss of weight (Georgi andGeorgi 1990; Istifanus et al 1990; Mohammed etal 1989; Morley and Donald 1980; Ngategizeand Kaneene 1985; Ogunsusi 1979).

It is with the above in mind that this studywas undertaken to look at the prevalence ofparasitic infections and their effect on cycling ina herd health program involving traditionallymanaged cattle in northern Nigeria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Livestock Production System

The selected livestock farms in the study areapractice agropastoralism, which is regarded inthis part of the country as the traditionalmanaged herds. This involves a managementpractice whereby the farmers grow cash andfood crops in addition to raising livestock. Theagropastoralists practice limited transhumanceat the end of the crop-growing season to grazepredominantly maize and sorghum residuesduring early December to the end of May. Animalfeeds on offer during the rainy season and harvesttime decreases so fast that a more criticalnutritional stress period occurs during the pre-rainy season (Mid May to Mid June). Watering isdone in streams or ponds. There were nodeliberate management systems or strategy aimedat controlling the breeding season. Bulls runwith the breeding females all the time thusallowing cows to conceive throughout the year,thereby spreading the farmers income from saleof milk.

Selection of Herds

Herds were selected in Bauchi area becauseBauchi State has the largest population oflivestock in Nigeria and is considered thelivestock hub of the country (Ajayi 1995). Onlytraditionally managed farms were selected. Atthe beginning of the study, 25 herds wererandomly selected but as the study progressed,some herds dropped out. This was because ofsuspicion that the study was a head count for taxpurposes.

Fieldwork/Observation

The fieldwork covered January 1993 to December, 1995. Planned periodic monthly visits were made

to each herd. At the start of the study throughthe end, every animal in each herd was examined

individually. On each visit to each herd, bloodand faecal samples were taken and examined forhaemoparasites and helminths (strongyles) usingthe thin smear method and floatation methodrespectively. Tick infestation was also notedespecially when seen around the legs, mammarygland, dew lap and in-between legs areas. Rectalexamination was carried out on each visit tocheck for pregnancy and /or ovarian activity.Palpation for pregnancy diagnosis was done asdescribed by Eduvie and Dawuda (1986) andVohJR et al (1994).

Statistical Analysis

Simple percentages, chi square and cow-monthsmethods were used to analyse the data(Remington and Schork 1972). Cow months wasused to account for additions and subtractionsto and from the herds. The seasonal index(average of the 3 years cow months value) wascalculated for each herd by combining the cowmonth data for the 3 years and plotting it to givea calculated seasonal index.

RESULTS

During the study, 5 herds dropped out after thefirst year of study and 2 dropping out during thesecond year of study. This was taken care ofstatistically using the cow month method ofanalysis.

The yearly distribution of parasites in theselected herds showed that the prevalencedecreased in almost all the herds. The prevalenceof haemoparasites infection decreased in allherds for at least the first two years of studyexcept for Kobi, Bula and Tahir herds (Tables 1and 2). These herds had high prevalence in thethird year. Furthermore infection were found tobe due to anaplasmosis (Table 1) than babesiosis(Table 2) and both infections showed seasonalityin their prevalence (Fig 1). Even though mostherds have the prevalence of anaplasmosisreduced with years, Kobi, Bula and Tahir herdshave a higher incidence in the third year. Forbabesiosis, only the Bula herd had higherprevalence in the third year. A similar trend wasobserved for helminthiasis except that Fawu andKobi herds have higher incidence in the thirdyear (Tables 3 and 4) (Fig 1). Species of ticksidentified were Amblyoma and Hyaloma species.The general picture in this study is that diseases

88 PERTANIKAJ. TROP. AGRIC. SCI. VOL. 24 NO. 2, 2001

PARASITIC INFECTIONS ON CYCLING IN TRADITIONALLY MANAGED CATTLE HERDS IN BAUCHI, NIGERIA

—O ISOLATED SEASONAL INDEX (TICKS)

— O — ISOLATED SEASONAL INDEX {HELMINTHS)

. . . . O — ISOLATED SEASONAL INDEX { HAEMOPARASITE)

Fig. 1: Seasonal distribution of parasites in 16 herds in Bauchi (1993-1995)

TABLE 1Yearly incidence of anapalma infection (expressed per hundred cow months)

FARM

UNIVERSITYFAWUKOBIOSKAJUMBABULASTATE POLY.BUBALIBCGIWOTAHIRBARAMIGALAMBIBISHIMIRIMAIKANO

Cowmonth

368593785772728514366393541515409225206493493318

1993

No+ve

252345274215134042102603770

%/100cow

months

6.83.95.73.55.82.93.610.27.81.96.40

1.51.61.60

Cowmonth

519566715704678580419407436480279XXXXX

1994

No+ve

251720101743121130XXXXX

%/100cow

months

4.83.02.81.42.50.70.72.92.50.60XXXXX

Cowmonth

501634584588802530447XX

502458XXXXX

1995

No-fve

0122509230XX22XXXXX

%/100cow

months

01.94.30

1.14.30XX

0.40.4XXXXX

X - Not done (farms dropped out)

PERTANIKAJ. TROP. AGRIC SCI. VOL. 24 NO, 2, 2001

A.C.KUDI & DJ.U.KALLA

TABLE 2Yearly incidence of babesia infection (expressed as per hundred cow months)

FARM

UNIVERSITYFAWUKOBIOSKAJUMBABULASTATE POLY.BUBALIBCGIWOTAHIRBARAMIGALAMBIBISHIMIRIMAIKANO

Cowmonth

368593785772728514366393541515409225206493493318

1993

No+ve

5495621350200010

%/100cow

months

1.40.7

1.20.70.80.40.30.80.90

0.5000

L20

Cowmonth

519566715704678580419407436480279XXXXX

1994

No+ve

10313000200XXXXX

%/100cow

months

0.20

0.40.10.4000

0.500XXXXX

Cowmonth

501634584588802530447XX

502458XXXXX

1995

No+ve

00

20

020XX00XXXXX

%/100cow

months

00

0.300

0.40XX00XXXXX

X - Not done (farms dropped out)

TABLE 3Yearly incidence of helminths (expressed as per hundred cow months)

FARM

UNIVERSITYFAWUKOBIOSKAJUMBABULASTATE POLY.BUBALIBCGIWOTAHIRBARAMIGALAMBIBISHIMIRIMAIKANO

Cowmonth

368593785772728514366393541515409225206493493318

1993

No+ve

6275132641003741619146661615544632

%/100cow

months

16.812.616.88.313.77.211.215.516.88.916.17.17.312.89.310.1

Cowmonth

519566715704678580419407436480279XXXXX

1994

No+ve

3330542452132445693419XXXXX

%/100cow

months

6.45.37.63.47.72.25.711.115.87.16.8XXXXX

Cowmonth

501634584588802530447XX

502458XXXXX

1995

No+ve

32516317282226XX2427XXXXX

%/100cow

months

6.48.010.82.93.54.25.8XX

4.85.9XXXXX

X - Not done (farms dropped out)

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PARASITIC INFECTIONS ON CYCLING IN TRADITIONALLY MANAGED CATTLE HERDS IN BAUCHI, NIGERIA

TABLE 4Yearly incidence of ectoparasite (expressed as per hundred cow months)

FARM

UNIVERSITYFAWUKOBIOSKAJUMBABULASTATE POLY.BUBALIBCGIWOTAHIRBARAMIGALAMBIBISHIMIRIMAIKANO

Cowmonth

368593785772728514366393541515409225206493493318

1993

No+ve

14982126129111323864763469101120013

%/100cow

months

40.513.816.116.715.26.210.416.314.06.616.94.45.34.80

4.1

Cowmonth

519566715704678580419407436480279XXXXX

1994

No+ve

86777357122193561835023XXXXX

%/100cow

months

16.613.610.8.118.03.38.415.019.010.48.2XXXXX

Cowmonth

501634584588802530447XX

502458XXXXX

1995

No+ve

52537322265929XX3025XXXXX

%/100cow

months

10.48.412.53.73.211.16.5XX

6.05.5XXXXX

X - Not done (farms dropped out)

cause by these parasites occurred mainly duringthe rainy season (Fig. 1).

The relationship between parasitic infectionand cycling, shown in Tables 5 and 6, showedthat only in the University and Buba herds thatectoparasitism was found to affect cycling in thefirst and second year of study (P<0.1), whileendoparasites affected cycling (P<0.1) in Jumbaand Tahir herds in the third year only.

DISCUSSIONThe livestock industry in Nigeria, is faced withmany problems and one of such problems isparasitic diseases (Jawara 1990). Parasiticinfection is known to cause great economic losesin livestock production in Africa in general (Ajayi1995). In this study, babesiosis and anaplasmosiswere the only haemoparasites encountered in allherds and most infections were due toanaplasmosis. High incidences were recordedfor the herds in the first year of study, which wasseen to reduce greatly in the second and thirdyear of study respectively. This was due to thecontrol measures instituted on a herd basisagainst tick infestation followed by prophylactictreatment. However, the incidence became highin Kobi, Bula and Tahir herds because of newadditions to the herds during the third year.

Infestation due to helminths was found tobe mainly by strongyles. The higher incidence inthe first year was reduced in the second andthird year in all the herds except Fawu and Kobiherds where new animals were added during thethird year. Seasonality of infestation was noticedfor both haemoparasites and helminths. Thisagrees with the work of Fabiyi (1984) andIstifanus et al (1990) where outbreaks ofhelminthiasis occurred in farms, during the rainyseason. It also demonstrated negligible peak ofinfective larvae or eggs during the dry seasonwith a carry over of infective materials in thehost from one wet season to the next. Theseason distribution was used during the courseof the study to device control measures byplanned deworming of herds during the rainyseason. This resulted in the improvements seenin the herds at the second and third year ofstudy. The main problem encountered in mostherds was that instead of treating their herds ona herd basis, the farmers treat individual cases.However, this study has demonstrated thattreatment on a herd basis takes care of not onlyclinical cases but subclinical ones too. Subclinicalcases are known to be responsible for mostdecrease in productivity of herds (Blood andRadostits 1995).

PERTANIKAJ. TROP. AGRIC. SCI. VOL. 24 NO. 2, 2001 91

A.C.KUDI & DJ.U.KALLA

A similar trend of distribution as that ofhaemoparasites and helminthiasis was observedfor tick infestation in this study. Infection andinfestation for the 3 classes of parasitesencountered in our study showed seasonality indistribution. Most of the infection and infestationoccurred during the rainy season. This could bebecause the climate was conducive for theirmultiplication and development (Ajayi 1995;Jawara 1990).

Statistically, only in a few herds, wheremanagement was very poor, that a relationshipbetween parasitic infection/infestation andcycling was found (P<0.0 1). From our study, itwas shown that there was seasonality of infection/infestation in herds in Bauchi and this infor-mation could be used to plan a control programin herds in these areas. It also showed that goodmanagement is essential for disease control andprevention and in increasing productivity byincreasing the rate of cycling and hencepregnancy,

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(Received: 22 March 2000)(Accepted: 28 August 2001)

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