Onyeachonam FCO

Ectoparasitic infestation is one of the major veterinary problems affecting livestock industries globally, as it significantly reduces production Efficiency, and costs of acaricides used in its control are enormous and run into billions of dollars worldwide. Ectoparasites including lice, ticks, mites and flies are economically serious parasites that play important roles in the transmission of certain pathogens, due to their usual habit of blood sucking and wound licking. Infested animals keep poor physical condition and develop unthrifty, anemic appearances, skin discoloration and greasy hair, which adversely affect the economic production. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of ectoparasites infestations and diversity in the South-south geopolitical zone in Nigeria and to institute a conventional intervention. A total of 4617 livestock of different breeds, husbandry and sex were surveyed for ectoparasites identification from November 2012 to November 2013. Ectoparasites identified were ticks (11399), mange mites (5555), lice (5248) and flies (2167) The investigators deduced that a high prevalence and diverse fauna of ectoparasites could potentially hamper the productivity of livestock in the study area, hence serious attention is warranted.

Gastrointestinal helminths represent important human and animal pathogen impacting on farming systems, they are a major cause of ill-thrift and production loss in the specter of livestock species and humanity. Morbidity and mortality rate of helminth infection in these areas are unquantifiable due to inadequate/inaccurate data, especially in the fast growing Niger Delta regions of Nigeria. There is a dearth of studies using a specific diagnostic test and covering wider geographical areas and different management systems. This article aims to investigate the epidemiology, prevalence, and burden of helminthes in livestock and its implication on human, using anthelmintics and other means of parasite control. Fecal samples of 4050 cattle were obtained for coprological examination from nine Niger Delta Regions from cattle rearing ranches and pens where cattle are kept before slaughter were investigated, from May 2013 to March 2014. Respective genera of Fasciola (17.01%), Paramphistomum (15.06%), Strongyle (13.01%), Monezia (2.48%), Toxocara (1.03%) and Trichuris (0. 91%) were identified.  Males had relatively higher helminth infection than females with mixed infection prevalence. Finding suggests that cattle in the Niger Delta Region may be subclinical carriers of helminthes. Public enlightenment of the farmers about the disease, and appropriate national control measures are recommended.