Haematological Changes Associated with Porcine Haemoparasitic Infections in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
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Date
2018-09-15
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Abstract
The study was carried out between January and July 2016. Blood samples were obtained from
153 pigs by venipuncture and jugular severance at slaughter. The blood samples were examined
for all known hemoparasites detectable by light microscopic examination. Haematimetric
indices, complete blood cell count and leukocyte differentials were determined. The level of
parasitaemia and changes in blood indices were subjected to statistical analysis across seasons.
Trypanosoma brucei and Eperythrozoon suis were the only hemoparasites detected in the blood
of pigs during the period of sampling. The prevalence of haemoparasitic infections in sampled
pigs was 5.23%. T. brucei contributed 3.9% while E. suis contributed 1.31% to the prevalence.
Anaemia (PCV<32) was a consistent and significant finding in all parasitemic samples.
Eperythrozoon suis caused more severe anaemia (20±9.89) when compared with Trypanosoma
brucei (27±3.03). The anaemia caused by E. suis was mostly microcytic normochromic while T.
brucei mostly caused normocytic normochromic anaemia. Mild leucopenia was observed in
eperythrozoonosis while a moderate lymphocytosis was observed in T. brucei infections. It was
observed that in spite of intense chemoprophylaxis and other control measures employed, we still
have persistent infections with Eperythrozoon sp and Trypanosomes in our pig population.
Further studies should be carried out to detect the possibility of drug resistance by some of these
circulating hemoparasites in the pig industry. Attempts should also be made to control the
vectors of these parasites which are usually abundant during the rainy season and may be
responsible for the higher prevalence recorded during this period
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Porcine, Infection, Haemoparasites, Haematological changes, Nigeria