Anaplasmosis of small ruminants in Nigeria: incidence and parasite identification through blood smear and latex agglutination test (LAT).

A survey was carried out on the incidence of anaplasmosis in small ruminants at Bodija abattoir, Ibadan. 100 sheep and 200 goats were examined using and comparing two methods-the Giemsa stained blood smear and serodiagnosis by Latex Agglutination Technique. The sheep and goats examined were among those brought from various parts of northern states and some neighbouring countries like Chad, Benin, Niger and Burkina Faso. 27% of the sheep and 17.5% of goats were positive for Anaplasma bodies with blood smear method while 54% of sheep and 61% of goats were sero positive with latex agglutination test (LAT). There seems to be a high incidence of anaplasmosis among sheep and goats probably due to the abundance of its arthropod vectors. The serodiagnostic method showed a high degree of specificity and sensitivity and is useful in field diagnosis.