Haemoparasites and the haematobiochemical profiles associated with Anaplasma marginale infections of cattle in Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

Haemoparasitism is a major cause of economic loss in many cattle-producing countries of the world. This study is, therefore, aimed at determining the prevalence, patterns of infections and risk factors associated with haemoparasitic infections of cattle in Ilorin, Nigeria. It is also aimed at determining the effect of Anaplasma marginale infection on the haemato-biochemical profiles of White Fulani cattle. Blood samples were collected from 478 apparently healthy cattle from both farms and slaughterhouses. The collected blood samples were subjected to parasitological, haematological, and biochemical analyses. The study revealed the presence of six haemoparasites:
Anaplasma marginale (25.3%), Babesia bigemina (22.6%), Babesia bovis (12.1%), Trypanosoma sp. (8.6%), Theileria sp. (7.1%), and Anaplasma centrale (5.2%). The haemoparasite species co-infections rate decreased with increase in the number of co-infections. Breed, body condition score, level of packed cell volume (PCV) and presence of ticks were the risk factors significantly associated (p<0.05) with the occurance of A. marginale infection, while breed, age, body condition score, physiological status, PCV and presence of ticks were
significantly associated (p<0.05) with the occurrence of B. bigemina infection. Haemoglobin concentration, PCV, red blood cells (RBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), albumin, blood urea nitrogen, calcium, glucose, total bilirubin, and total protein were the haematological and biochemical parameters significantly associated (p<0.05) with A. marginale infection in the White Fulani breed of cattle. The data obtained from this study should ultimately improve the cattle production sector for better profitability in Nigeria.