A survey for haemo-parasite of pigs slaughtered in Jos Abattoir plateau state Nigeria

Abstract

A survey for haemo-parasite of pigs slaughtered at the Jos Abattoir was carried out between May and November 2007, to determine the sex, age, breeds related incidence and possible risk factor(s) to the spread of infection using direct smear and staining technique. Out of the total of 532 pigs examined, 92(17.29%) were positive for four genera of protozoan parasites with Trypanosoma spp accounting for 10(1.88%), Babesia spp 23(4.32%), Anaplasma spp 17(3.20%), and Eperythrozoon spp 42(7.80%). The female pigs haboured more of the blood parasites, 50(9.40%), than the male pigs, 42(7.80%). The sex related rate of infection ranged from 1.5% - 4.51% and from 0.75% - 3.38% for female and male pigs respectively. However, chi square analysis shows no significant differences in the sex related prevalence of haemo-parasites (p0.05). The parasites established themselves more in the adult pigs, 79(18.8%) than in the young pigs 13(11.61%). The infection rates ranged from 0.89% to 5.36% and from 2.14% to 8.57% for adult and young pigs respectively. Chi square analysis shows a significant difference in the infection rate between adult and young pigs (p0.05). The blood parasites encountered in the different breeds of pigs were as follows: 87(17.51%) in the large white, 2(17.51%) in the large black and 2(15.00%) in the mixed breed. There was no significant difference in the rates of infection among the different breeds of pigs (p0.05). Generally there was low rate of occurrence 17.29% for haemo parasites of pigs slaughtered at the Jos Abattoir.Keywords: Endemicity haemo-parasite, infection, pigs, rate,