Prevalence of Schistosoma bovis in the Nigerian Army Livestock Farms and Ranches, Airport Road Giri, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

Bovine Schistosomiasis is a chronic debilitating parasitic disease of cattle caused by the species Schistosoma bovis. The present work was designed to investigate the prevalence of Schistosoma species in cattle in Nigerian Army Livestock Farms and Ranches at Airport road Giri, Gwagwalada Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria. Faecal samples (n=200) from cattle were collected per rectum, using sterile surgical gloves into sample bottles containing formalin and labeled with the cattles’ tag number. Twenty samples were collected between 8:00 and 10:00am of every Thursday till the required samples were obtained. The fecal samples were brought to the Parasitology laboratory to determine the prevalence of Schistosoma using both floatation and sedimentation techniques. The overall prevalence of Schistosoma infestation among cattle in Nigerian Army Farms and Ranches was 35.5% (71/200). Out of 130 females and 70 males screened, the prevalence of Schistosoma infestation in female and male were 37.7% (n=49/130) and 31.4% (n=22/70) respectively. Out of the 150 fecal samples from cattle aged >1 year (adult) examined, 62 (41.3%) were positive, while only 9 (18%) out of 50 fecal samples from cattle aged <1 year (young) were positive. Out of the four (4) breeds screened, the highest number of cases was recorded in White Fulani breed 16.5% followed by Brahma breed which is 7%. The prevalence in other breeds shows Swiss Brown cross to be 4% while Friesian cross is 8%. Due to its public health importance, there is need for more effort in preventing and controlling the infestation. This could be done through routine application of molluscicide to reduce the snail population. Appropriate anthelminthic and environmental sanitation in the cattle ranch should also be encouraged in addition to public health awareness to mitigate these problems.