The present study on prevalence of haemoparasites in village chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) in Maiduguri comprising the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and Jere district of Borno State, Nigeria was done between November, 2015 and January, 2016. A total of 200 blood samples were collected from chickens of both sexes slaughtered in poultry market/dressing slabs located in Custom market and Monday market Maiduguri and transported to the teaching and research laboratory department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri Nigeria, for analysis. Giemsa-stained thin blood smears were prepared and screened for the presence of haemoparasites. Microscopic examination of the thin blood smears revealed that thirty-four (34) of the sampled chickens were infected with at least one genus of haemoparasites, with overall prevalence of 17.0% for Haemoproteus, and/or Plasmodium spp. Result also revealed that single infection with Haemoproteus spp. shows higher prevalence (50.9%) than Plasmoduim spp. (29.4%) or mixed infection with Plasmodium spp. + Haemoproteus spp. (17.6%). There was higher sex specific prevalent rate in cock (20.5%) than in Hen (11.5%). There was also a strong association between sex and presence of haemoparasite in village chicken (χ²= 3.09). However, the distribution of the haemoparasites among the sex of the host chickens was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Similarly the likelihood of getting more haemoparasite in male (cock) than in female (hen) is less (OR= 0.73, and 95% CI = 0.344 − 1.561).

The present study was carried out between the months of October, 2014 to April, 2015 and aimed at determining the dry season prevalence of avian coccidia infection and their degree of severity among domesticated chickens (Gallus domesticus) in Jere Council, Borno State, Nigeria. A total of 430 fresh faecal and gut samples were collected from chickens of both exotic and local breeds. The samples were examined using floatation and intestinal impulsion smear techniques. The study was conducted among breeds (exotic vs. local), sexes (male vs. female), ages (young vs. adult), management systems (intensive vs. extensive) and housing (cage vs. deep litter). Out of the 430 faecal samples examined, 54 (12.60%) were positive for various Eimeria species. Infection was more in the exotic (7.90%) than the local breed (4.70%). Coccidia infection found in young (10.0%) was higher (P= 0.0001) than in adult chickens (2.60%), while female ones had higher (P= 0.03) number of coccidia than the males. Chickens reared under poor management system showed higher infection (10.20%) compared to the good management one (2.30%). Chickens reared under intensive deep litter housing has higher coccidial load (9.30%) than those reared under extensive system (3.30%). Eimeria necatrix had the highest degree (42.60%) of severity score (+4), followed by Eimeria acervulina (27.80%), Eimeria tenella (24.10%) and E. maxima (5.60%) with degrees of severity scores +3, +4 and (+3) respectively. In conclusion, there was presence of coccidia infection in Jere area of Borno State, Nigeria.

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of haemoparasites and some haematological parameters of slaughtered trade cattle in Maiduguri abattoir. A total of 120 blood samples were randomly collected from cattle between January and July, 2014. The samples were screened for haemoparasites by examining Giemsa stained thin blood films. Microhaematocrit centrifugation technique was used for determination of packed cell volume (PCV) while total red blood cell (RBC) counts and total white blood cell (WBC) counts were determined by cyanmethaemoglobin and hemocytometer methods. An overall prevalence of 10.8% (CI=0.064, 0.017) was recorded for Anaplasma (5.8%), Babesia (4.2%) and Trypanosoma species (0.8%). Young cattle had significantly (p<0.05) higher prevalence of 9.2% (CI= 0.052, 0.157) compared to adults with 1.7% (CI= 0.005, 0.059). Among different sexes, females had a significantly (p<0.05) higher prevalence of 7.5% (CI: 0.040-0.136) than males with 3.3% (CI= 0.130, 0.083). Rahaji breed had a significantly higher (p<0.05) prevalence of 7.5% (CI= 0.040, 0.136) compared to Ambala with 1.7% (CI= 0.005, 0.059), Kuri and Adamawa gudali each with a prevalence of 0.8% (CI= 0.002, 0.046). Cattle with moderate body condition scores had significantly (p<0.05) higher prevalence of 6.7% (CI= 0.034, 0.126) compared with those that have good body condition scores with 4.2% (CI= 0.018, 0.094) while thin and fat cattle were not infected with haemoparasites. Even though all the haematological parameters were within range of normal values, there was a significant difference (p<0.05) in mean packed cell volume (PCV) and total white blood cell (WBC) counts between infected and un-infected slaughtered cattle. It was concluded from this study that haemoparasites are endemic in cattle populations in Maiduguri and the prevalence of haemoparasites may be associated with changes in PCV and WBC count.

In order to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths infestation in tilapia species sold in major markets in Gombe, three hundred (300) tilapia fish samples of both sexes and of different age groups were randomly examined. The sample population included 183 adults and 117 juveniles fishes, 157 females and 143 male fishes. Out of the total fishes sampled from three local fish markets, 128 (42.70%) were found to be infested by gastrointestinal helminthes. The prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths in tilapia fishes sampled from Gombe main market (17.0%), Kwadom market (15.0%) and Gombe old market (10.70%) respectively. Three genera of gastrointestinal parasites were encountered at prevalence rates of nematodes (17.70%), trematodes (13.70%) and cestodes (11.30%). The prevalent rates of these gastrointestinal helminths in accordance to sexes of fish shows higher prevalence in female fishes (24.0%) compared to the male fishes (18.70%). There was no statistical significant difference (P= 0.52) in the prevalent rates among the two sexes of fish. However, considering the prevalent rates of gastrointestinal helminths in accordance to ages of fishes, higher frequency was found in adult tilapia fishes (31.00%) than in the juvenile fishes (11.70%). There was statistical significant difference (P= 0.03) prevalent rates among the two ages of fish. Out of the 128 infected fishes examined, nematodes, cestodes and trematodes were all found in the intestines of 71 (23.70%) infected fishes and also in the stomach of 44 (14.70%) infected fishes but only cestodes was found in the gut of 13 (4.30%) infected fishes, while no helminths was recovered in the gills of all infected fishes. The prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths in tilapia species may be one of the significant constraints to the maximum productivity of the fish in the study area. It is therefore recommended that tilapia culturists should be enlighten on the need to routinely treat their fishes using appropriate antehelminthics for maximum production. Moreover, fishes meant for human consumption should be well cooked to prevent human health hazard of acquiring fish-borne helminthes infections.

A retrospective study of cases of some diseases conditions handled and recorded at the state veterinary hospital Maiduguri from March, 2012 to April, 2016 was conducted. Cases of diseases conditions were selected based on consistency of recorded history, clinical signs and treatments as well as their public health significance. These includes; Listeriosis, Mange, Peste des petits ruminantis (PPR), Urinary tract infections (UTI), Tetanus, Mastitis, Sheep pox, Goat pox and Dog bite cases. The frequency distributions of the cases were presented according to species, year and months. Out of the total of 398 cases recorded, the occurrence of diseases and health condition was found to be highest in ovine with 243 (61%) cases, while caprine and bovine has 153 (38%) and 2 (0.5%) cases respectively. Mange and dog bite cases were found to be highest and lowest with 111 (28%) and 11 (3%) cases respectively. Highest and lowest number of cases were recorded in 2015 and 2013 with 178 (45%) and 35 (9%) cases respectively. Similarly, the study showed that the months of March and August has the highest and lowest number of recorded cases of 62 (16%) and 13 (3%) respectively. This study showed that sheep were frequently presented to the hospital for treatment than goats and cattle, this may be due to their high market value, ease of handling and for religious festivities. The high number of cases recorded in 2015 may be due to increased awareness of the hospital location and services provided by the hospital through the use of mass media at that time, while the low number of cases may be due to the lost of large volume of recorded cases for up to 5 months (May-September) couple with the insecurity situation of the town at that time. Disease occurrences during the dry season (March) tend to rise, this may be associated with inadequate pasture which may lead to starvation and reckless scavenging of food, and the available pastures tend to have lost their nutritive value.