Preliminary Assessment of Goat Piroplasmosis in Benadir Region, Somalia

Ahmed Abdulkadir Hassan, Abdalla Mohamed Ibrahim, Rabab Haroon Mohamed, Hussein Haji Aden

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Jazeera Quarantine, Mogadishu, Somalia.

DOI: 10.4236/ojvm.2013.36044                

Abstract

Haemoparasites are major-constraints on livestock production in tropical and sub-tropical countries. This study was conducted during 2012-2013 to determine the prevalence of blood parasites in goats of small-holders in Benadir region, Somalia and update epidemiological data that had already lost during the civil war in the country. A total of 100 blood samples were collected from goat in Wadajir (47 goat) and Dharkeynley (53 goat) districts, using venipuncture of jugular vein. The samples were examined for the presence of blood parasites using light microscopy. Some ticks when presented in the sampled animals—were also collected for tick identification. Analysis of blood smears revealed 100% samples positive for blood parasites. Out of these cases, 22 samples (22%) were harboring single infection of Babesia spp. and 14 samples (14%) were having single infection of Theileria spp. Interestingly the Remaining 64 blood samples (64%) showed mixed infection of Babesia spp. with Theileria spp. Rhipicephalus evertsi (72.84%), Rhipicephalus pulchellus (34.57%), Amblyomma lepidum (3.70%) and Hyalomma rufipes (1.23%) were identified from the investigated goats. In conclusion, the findings of this study indicated that, the prevalence of tick and tick-borne diseases were considered to be high in Benadir region of Somalia. A further area wide in-depth study is recommended in the country.

Keywords

Piroplasmosis; T&TBDs; Goat; Benadir Region; Somalia

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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