Comparative Study on Tick-borne Haemoparaites of Cattle and Goats Slaughtered in Some Abattoirs within Makurdi, Nigeria

This study was conducted to compare the prevalence of tick-borne haemoparasite in cattle and goat in Makurdi using 228 each of cattle and goats. The method of diagnosis used was thin blood film technique. Chi square (X2) test was used to compare the prevalence rates. Findings revealed that 125 (54.8%) cattle and 110 (48.2%) goats from different locations were infected with haemoparasites at p < 0.05. Comparison of infection based on age (0 – 11 years) and sex of the cattle and goats was not significantly different. Haemoparasites of cattle and goats and their prevalence were: Anaplasma centrale (22.4%), A. marginale (21.1%), Bebesia bovis (11.4%); A. centrale (16.7%), A.marginale (12.3%), B. ovis (11.4%) and Theileria ovis (7.8%) respectively. The studied cattle and goats were infected with varying haemoparasites that existed as a single species in the studied animal (single infection) or a combination of parasites (multiple or mixed infection) without a significant difference (p > 0.05). The study recommended routine screening of animals so as to effectively control tick-borne infections.