consequences when animals are treated based on clinical signs; piroplasmosis and trypanosomiasis ... more consequences when animals are treated based on clinical signs; piroplasmosis and trypanosomiasis have different treatments, both with potentially severe side effects. There are also important implications for prevention strategies: trypanosomiasis and JE are transmitted by flying insects that breed in stagnant water; piroplasmosis is transmitted by ticks; EHV-1 is directly transmitted between infected animals. This complex mix of epidemiological profiles should be fully appreciated by veterinarians working within these communities. There is a great need to understand and mitigate these diseases. High rates of equine loss result in huge economic cost for Qalander communities who are marginalised and poor. Additionally, their migratory nature poses an infection risk to other animals in the country. This study highlights the importance of definitive diagnosis in these populations. However as serological tests are not commonly available in these regions there is a requirement to develop cheap, available and accurate diagnostic tests.
Equine influenza (EI) is a fast-spreading respiratory disease of equids caused by equine influenz... more Equine influenza (EI) is a fast-spreading respiratory disease of equids caused by equine influenza A virus (EIV), often resulting in high morbidity and a huge economic impact on the equine industry globally. In this cross-sectional study to determine the seroprevalence of EI and its associated risk factors, sera from 830 horses bled on a single occasion in Northwest Nigeria between October 2019 and January 2020 were screened for antibodies to A/equine/Richmond/1/2007 (H3N8) using the single radial haemolysis (SRH) assay. Antibodies were detected in 71.3% (592/830, 95% CI: 68–74%) of horses (SRH area ≥ 0.5 mm2). Although there were statistically significant univariable associations between seropositivity and age, sex, breed, purpose and coat colour, only age remained significant when included with each of the other variables in bivariable analyses. There was a clear trend for increasing odds of seropositivity with increasing age: OR 1.6, 95% CI: 1.05–2.40 (p = 0.03) for 5–14-year-old...
Horses (Equus caballus) are animals of the equidae family which also includes donkeys (Equus asin... more Horses (Equus caballus) are animals of the equidae family which also includes donkeys (Equus asinus), mules, and zebra (Equus zebra). There are an estimated 110 million equines in the developing world (Ali and Yagoob 2015) and about 59 million horses in the world (FAO 2011). In Nigeria, the horse population is estimated to be 200,000 (FAO 2021). Indigenous horses have been used by institutional and private owners in Nigeria for several purposes such as for pleasure riding, polo games, ceremonies, crowd control, entertainment and research and very common in Northern and North Central Nigeria (Useh et al 2005; Bukar et al 2007; Ehizibolo et al 2011). Despite the important role of horses in day to day activities, there is a dearth of information on parasitic infection of horses in Jos North (Ehizibolo et al 2012; Mayaki 2017). Equines are animals of strength and might but the effects of GIPs can greatly limit their activities. Apparently healthy horses can harbour over half a million helminth parasites which may include trematodes, cestodes and nematodes (Martins et al 2009). These parasites are a major threat to the health and well-being of horses. The effects of these parasites are greatly evident in young and malnourished horses (Belay et al 2016). Class Nematoda is known to contains the most pathogenic helminths of livestock and companion animals, among the three classes of helminths (Nematoda, cestoda and trematoda) and hence affects livestock production worldwide (Oshadu et al 2021). Infected horse may show signs of weakness, emaciation, restlessness, unthriftiness, diarrhoea, anaemia, dull-rough hair coat, potbelly, decreased stamina or lethargy, coughing, colic, tail rubbing and sometimes intestinal obstruction or perforation (Stoltenow and Purdy 2003; Hiney and Giedt 2017). The socioeconomic impact of helminth infections is determined by a combination of factors majorly due to susceptibility of the Abstract There are several socioeconomic constraints facing horses in Jos, Nigeria among which gastrointestinal parasites (GIPs) play important role in negatively impacting the health, productivity and well-being of horses and these greatly limits the efficiency and work potential of affected horses. The objectives of this study are to estimate the impact of GIP infection in Horses around Jos metropolis and to advise stakeholders appropriately. Faecal samples were collected from 108 horses comprising of 25 male horses and 83 female horses over a period of six months from February to July 2021 covering three months in the dry season and three months in the rainy season. The samples were analyzed for GIPs using standard flotation, sedimentation and McMaster faecal egg counting techniques. The overall prevalence of GIPs in this study was 82.41% out of which 51.85% were positive for single infection and 30.56% were positive for mixed infection. The GIPs found in this study were Strongylus spp., Strongyloides westeri, Trichonema spp., Eimeria leukarti, Anoplocephala spp., Fasciola gigantica, Parascaris equorum, Gastrodiscus aegypticus, Triodontophorus spp., Oxyuris equi, Gasterophilus intestinalis and Dictyocaulus arnfieldi. The prevalence for EPG was zero (3.70%), low (46.30%), medium (24.07%) and high (9.26%). The prevalence of GIPs was found higher in males as compared to females; young ones as compared to adults and rainy season compared to dry season. The prevalence of GIPs was found higher in animals with poor body condition score (84.62%) followed by moderate (83.78%), ideal (76.92%) and fat (66.67%). Several factors such as poor nutrition, management practices, disease status and other physiologic factors may affect the immune status of horses making it easier for them to succumb to gastrointestinal parasitic infection. It is therefore recommended that appropriate, economic and efficient control measures be employed to reduce parasitism in all age groups, sex and body conditions and in all seasons of the year consequently improving the health of horses in Jos-Nigeria.
Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is an infectious, tick-borne disease caused by the hemoprotozoan parasi... more Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is an infectious, tick-borne disease caused by the hemoprotozoan parasites, Theileria equi, Babesia caballi, and a recently reported new species, T. haneyi. Infections by these apicomplexan parasites limit performance and cause economic losses for the horse industry. Equine piroplasmosis is widespread in the northern regions of Nigeria, where an increasing portion of the animal population is composed of horses. This disease has remained epidemiologically challenging, especially as the movement of horses increases across Nigeria. In this study, blood samples from 300 horses were collected in three states of northwestern Nigeria. The presence of piroplasms was screened by nested PCR targeting 18S rDNA and positive samples were analyzed using species-specific-nested PCR-targeting genes including ema1 (T. equi), rap1 (B. caballi), and a gene coding a protein of unknown function (T. haneyi). Species-specific-nPCR results demonstrated that the prevalence of T. equi was 13.0% (39/300), B. caballi was 3.3% (10/300) and T. haneyi was 2.7% (8/300). Mixed infections with T. equi and B. caballi was 2.7% (8/300) while T. equi, B. caballi, and T. haneyi multiple infection prevalence was 0.6% (2/300). We used 18S rDNA sequences to determine close relationships between T. equi by phylogenetic analysis and demonstrated that among 57 sequences of Theileria parasites, 28 samples belonged to clade A (49%), 13 samples were found to be clade C (22%), and 16 were clade D (28%). These results demonstrate the genetic diversity of T. equi circulating in horses from Nigeria.
consequences when animals are treated based on clinical signs; piroplasmosis and trypanosomiasis ... more consequences when animals are treated based on clinical signs; piroplasmosis and trypanosomiasis have different treatments, both with potentially severe side effects. There are also important implications for prevention strategies: trypanosomiasis and JE are transmitted by flying insects that breed in stagnant water; piroplasmosis is transmitted by ticks; EHV-1 is directly transmitted between infected animals. This complex mix of epidemiological profiles should be fully appreciated by veterinarians working within these communities. There is a great need to understand and mitigate these diseases. High rates of equine loss result in huge economic cost for Qalander communities who are marginalised and poor. Additionally, their migratory nature poses an infection risk to other animals in the country. This study highlights the importance of definitive diagnosis in these populations. However as serological tests are not commonly available in these regions there is a requirement to develop cheap, available and accurate diagnostic tests.
Equine influenza (EI) is a fast-spreading respiratory disease of equids caused by equine influenz... more Equine influenza (EI) is a fast-spreading respiratory disease of equids caused by equine influenza A virus (EIV), often resulting in high morbidity and a huge economic impact on the equine industry globally. In this cross-sectional study to determine the seroprevalence of EI and its associated risk factors, sera from 830 horses bled on a single occasion in Northwest Nigeria between October 2019 and January 2020 were screened for antibodies to A/equine/Richmond/1/2007 (H3N8) using the single radial haemolysis (SRH) assay. Antibodies were detected in 71.3% (592/830, 95% CI: 68–74%) of horses (SRH area ≥ 0.5 mm2). Although there were statistically significant univariable associations between seropositivity and age, sex, breed, purpose and coat colour, only age remained significant when included with each of the other variables in bivariable analyses. There was a clear trend for increasing odds of seropositivity with increasing age: OR 1.6, 95% CI: 1.05–2.40 (p = 0.03) for 5–14-year-old...
Horses (Equus caballus) are animals of the equidae family which also includes donkeys (Equus asin... more Horses (Equus caballus) are animals of the equidae family which also includes donkeys (Equus asinus), mules, and zebra (Equus zebra). There are an estimated 110 million equines in the developing world (Ali and Yagoob 2015) and about 59 million horses in the world (FAO 2011). In Nigeria, the horse population is estimated to be 200,000 (FAO 2021). Indigenous horses have been used by institutional and private owners in Nigeria for several purposes such as for pleasure riding, polo games, ceremonies, crowd control, entertainment and research and very common in Northern and North Central Nigeria (Useh et al 2005; Bukar et al 2007; Ehizibolo et al 2011). Despite the important role of horses in day to day activities, there is a dearth of information on parasitic infection of horses in Jos North (Ehizibolo et al 2012; Mayaki 2017). Equines are animals of strength and might but the effects of GIPs can greatly limit their activities. Apparently healthy horses can harbour over half a million helminth parasites which may include trematodes, cestodes and nematodes (Martins et al 2009). These parasites are a major threat to the health and well-being of horses. The effects of these parasites are greatly evident in young and malnourished horses (Belay et al 2016). Class Nematoda is known to contains the most pathogenic helminths of livestock and companion animals, among the three classes of helminths (Nematoda, cestoda and trematoda) and hence affects livestock production worldwide (Oshadu et al 2021). Infected horse may show signs of weakness, emaciation, restlessness, unthriftiness, diarrhoea, anaemia, dull-rough hair coat, potbelly, decreased stamina or lethargy, coughing, colic, tail rubbing and sometimes intestinal obstruction or perforation (Stoltenow and Purdy 2003; Hiney and Giedt 2017). The socioeconomic impact of helminth infections is determined by a combination of factors majorly due to susceptibility of the Abstract There are several socioeconomic constraints facing horses in Jos, Nigeria among which gastrointestinal parasites (GIPs) play important role in negatively impacting the health, productivity and well-being of horses and these greatly limits the efficiency and work potential of affected horses. The objectives of this study are to estimate the impact of GIP infection in Horses around Jos metropolis and to advise stakeholders appropriately. Faecal samples were collected from 108 horses comprising of 25 male horses and 83 female horses over a period of six months from February to July 2021 covering three months in the dry season and three months in the rainy season. The samples were analyzed for GIPs using standard flotation, sedimentation and McMaster faecal egg counting techniques. The overall prevalence of GIPs in this study was 82.41% out of which 51.85% were positive for single infection and 30.56% were positive for mixed infection. The GIPs found in this study were Strongylus spp., Strongyloides westeri, Trichonema spp., Eimeria leukarti, Anoplocephala spp., Fasciola gigantica, Parascaris equorum, Gastrodiscus aegypticus, Triodontophorus spp., Oxyuris equi, Gasterophilus intestinalis and Dictyocaulus arnfieldi. The prevalence for EPG was zero (3.70%), low (46.30%), medium (24.07%) and high (9.26%). The prevalence of GIPs was found higher in males as compared to females; young ones as compared to adults and rainy season compared to dry season. The prevalence of GIPs was found higher in animals with poor body condition score (84.62%) followed by moderate (83.78%), ideal (76.92%) and fat (66.67%). Several factors such as poor nutrition, management practices, disease status and other physiologic factors may affect the immune status of horses making it easier for them to succumb to gastrointestinal parasitic infection. It is therefore recommended that appropriate, economic and efficient control measures be employed to reduce parasitism in all age groups, sex and body conditions and in all seasons of the year consequently improving the health of horses in Jos-Nigeria.
Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is an infectious, tick-borne disease caused by the hemoprotozoan parasi... more Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is an infectious, tick-borne disease caused by the hemoprotozoan parasites, Theileria equi, Babesia caballi, and a recently reported new species, T. haneyi. Infections by these apicomplexan parasites limit performance and cause economic losses for the horse industry. Equine piroplasmosis is widespread in the northern regions of Nigeria, where an increasing portion of the animal population is composed of horses. This disease has remained epidemiologically challenging, especially as the movement of horses increases across Nigeria. In this study, blood samples from 300 horses were collected in three states of northwestern Nigeria. The presence of piroplasms was screened by nested PCR targeting 18S rDNA and positive samples were analyzed using species-specific-nested PCR-targeting genes including ema1 (T. equi), rap1 (B. caballi), and a gene coding a protein of unknown function (T. haneyi). Species-specific-nPCR results demonstrated that the prevalence of T. equi was 13.0% (39/300), B. caballi was 3.3% (10/300) and T. haneyi was 2.7% (8/300). Mixed infections with T. equi and B. caballi was 2.7% (8/300) while T. equi, B. caballi, and T. haneyi multiple infection prevalence was 0.6% (2/300). We used 18S rDNA sequences to determine close relationships between T. equi by phylogenetic analysis and demonstrated that among 57 sequences of Theileria parasites, 28 samples belonged to clade A (49%), 13 samples were found to be clade C (22%), and 16 were clade D (28%). These results demonstrate the genetic diversity of T. equi circulating in horses from Nigeria.
Uploads
Papers by Edeh Richard