Occurrence of Mixed Infection of Tick-Borne Haemoparasite of Cattle in Selected Abattoirs in Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria

A study on the occurrence of mixed infection of tick-borne haemoparasite of cattle in selected abattoirs in Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria was carried out. Blood sample were collected randomly from a total of 216 cattle slaughtered at abattoir in both dry and wet season at Wurukum abattoir, Wadata abattoir, Modern Market Abattoir, Cattle Market Abattoir North Bank, Cattle Market North Bank and University of Agriculture cattle farm, Makurdi and analyzed using Microscopic method by thin blood film. Horn method was used to determine the age of the examined cattle and the collected data was analyzed using T-test, p values at ≤ was considered statistically significant. The result showed that the rate of infection was seen to increase progressively in cattle of age 6–7 through age 10–11 with the highest prevalence recorded in age 10–11 in dry season and the lowest percentage of infection recorded in age 2–3 and cattle of age 0–1 showed the highest (27(75.00 %)) rate of infection while age 6–7 showed the lowest rate of infection in wet season. But the difference was not statistically significant (p ˂ 0.05). Male cattle recorded a non statistically significant (p ˂ 0.05) higher (53.13 %) occurrence of infection while female recorded a lower occurrence of 50.0 %. The result of mixed infection revealed the occurrence of Bebesia, Anaplasmamaginal, Anaplasma central and Theileria. 100 % of mixed infection of Bebesia&Anaplasmamaginal and Anaplasma central and Anaplasmamaginaloccurred in West African Dwarf cattle and Sokoto gudali respectively. There was no occurrence of mixed infection of Theileria and Anaplasma central across all the examined species of cattle. White Fulani recorded mixed infection of Anaplasma central&Anaplasmamaginal, Bebesia&Anaplasma central and Bebesia&Anaplasmamaginal of 4(30.8 %), 4(30.8 %) and 5(38.5 %) percent respectively.Muturu species did not record any occurrence of mixed infection of tick borne haemoparasite.The result of the study shows that mixed infection of tick-borne haemoparasite infection are very high and common among cattle hence, preferences should be given to inspection of older male cattle and optimal management of all ruminant animals against ticks and tick-borne related infection.