Background: Sarcocystis infection is a parasitic zoonosis, which may cause acute and fatal clinical diseases in susceptible cattle. When raw or undercooked infected beef is consumed by man, it could result in intestinal sarcocystosis. Aim: This study aimed at determining the prevalence of Sarcocystis infection in slaughtered cattle in Zaria, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in which oesophagus and diaphragm samples were collected from 200 slaughtered cattle and analysed by pepsin-hydrochloric acid digestion and stained with Giemsa. Histological sections of tissues were prepared and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Results: Eighty-five (42.5 %) were positive for Sarcocystis species. Sarcocysts ranged from 228.8 to 1215 μm in length and 46.93 to 114.40 μm in width. Sarcocysts were all microscopic in nature and 99.0 % had thin cyst wall (< 1 μm), while 4 % had thick cyst wall (3.61 to 7.22 μm). Sarcocystis cruzi and S. hominis were the identified species. Age, sex and breed were not determinants of the infection (p > 0.05). Seventy-five (88.2 %) and 56 (65.9 %) cattle had sarcocysts in the oesophagus and diaphragm respectively. There was a significant difference in the distribution of sarcocysts between the oesophagus and diaphragm (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study has established in the study area the prevalence of Sarcocystis infection in cattle using tissue digestion method and histology. The identified species were of veterinary and public health importance. [Vet World 2013; 6(6.000): 346-349

Background: Toxoplasmosis causes serious economic losses in livestock. Congenital transmission can occur in pregnant women, commonly with serious consequences.Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed to screen for the absence or presence of anti-T. gondii IgM or IgG antibodies and explore associated risk factors in pregnant women (n=261) that attended antenatal clinics in selected hospitals in Benue state, Nigeria. Blood samples were subjected to enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Information on sociodemographic data and possible risk factors were obtained using a structured questionnaire.Results: Out of 261 pregnant women, 19 (7.3%) and 108 (41.1%) were seropositive for anti-T. gondii IgM and IgG respectively. Comparison of IgM and IgG results suggested that 4.4% presented evidence of possible primary infection, 38.7% previous exposure, 2.8% possible reactivated or chronic infections and 51.8% were susceptible to T. gondii infection. The nature of women’s housing was significantly associated with anti-T. gondii IgM seropositivity (p <0.05). Pregnant women that lived in mud houses with thatched roofs were three times more likely to be seropositive than those who lived in concrete/brick houses with aluminium/zinc roofs (OR=3.123, 95% CI:1.027, 9.495). The study also showed that 17.7% of apparent infections were attributable to the nature of housing. More than half of the women sampled were at risk of contracting primary toxoplasmosis.Conclusion: Screening for anti- T. gondii antibodies during antenatal care is advocated in order to detect affected women so that appropriate management strategies can be implemented.

Toxoplasma gondii, can infect warm blooded animals, birds as well as humans. This study was designed to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in slaughtered pigs in Makurdi, Nigeria. A crosssectional study was designed in which 181 blood samples were collected from two pig slaughterhouses in Makurdi (Wurukum and Railway) from September to December 2014. Sera were harvested and stored at -20 :C until required for processing. Indirect ELISA test kit (ID-Vet, France) was used to determine the presence of antiToxoplasma gondii antibodies. Sex, age and breed of each sampled pig was recorded. A total seroprevalence of 4.4% was obtained. Sex specific seroprevalence was 5.4 and 4.0 % for male and female respectively. Breed specific seroprevalence was 4.5 and 4.2 % for indigenous and exotic breeds respectively. Age specific seroprevalence was 4.7 and 0 % for pigs aged greater or equal to 8 months (≥ 8 months) and less than 8 months (< 8 months) respectively. This study found no significant association between sex, breed, age and presence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies (p > 0.05). The study provided preliminary information on Toxoplasma gondii infection in some pigs slaughtered for human consumption in Makurdi metropolis.

A survey of haemoparasites, haematology and risk factors associated with haemoparasitic infections of small ruminants was conducted in Makurdi between September-December, 2016. A total of 200 sheep and goats comprising of 96 sheep and 104 goats were screened for haemoparasites. A total of 72 (75%) sheep and 71(68%) goats were found positive of either single or mixed infections. Anaplasma spp (69.79% and 61.53%) was found to be the most prevalent in both animals, followed by Babesia spp (11.46% and 0.96%) in goats and sheep respectively. Trypanosoma spp was 1.04% in both sheep and goats. The only mixed infections encountered was Anaplasma spp and Babesia spp in both animals, goats (3.13%) and sheep (1.92%). The prevalence based on sampled location in the sheep and goats were; Mission ward/ katungu,75.81% and 69.54%, Agan ward, 77.27% and 75%, Wurukum, 0% and 33.33%, University Community, 100% and 81.82% and Wadata, 60% and 0% respectively. In relation to sex, for sheep; male 16(76.19%), female 56(74.66%), goats, male 25(68.42%) and female 46(69.70%) and based on age, infected young and adult for sheep were 10(66.67%) and 62(76.54%) while goats were 7(50%) and 64(71.11%) respectively. Prevalence based on breed: for sheep, Yankasa 76.06%, WAD 76.47%, Uda 57.14% and Balami 100% and for goats; WAD 65.30%, Red Sokoto75.86%. There were no statistical differences between the haematology of the infected and non-infected animals. The results of this study clearly revealed that haemoparasite infections is common among small ruminants in Makurdi, and age, sex, breed and location are not risk factors for the diseases. This requires further investigation in the areas of transmission, to establish the genus and species of ticks and other arthropods vectors responsible for the wide spread infections.