Original scientific paper

Prevalence of cryptosporidiosis among captive wild animals and birds in the arid region of north-eastern Nigeria

Umar Isa Ibrahim ; Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria
Albert Wulari Mbaya ; Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria
Hayatu Mahmud ; Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria
Ali Mohammed ; Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria

Abstract

The prevalence of cryptosporidial infection among captive wild animals and birds in Sanda Kyarimi Park, Maiduguri, north-eastern Nigeria, was evaluated by faecal examination for oocysts using three different staining techniques: the modified Ziehl-Neelsen, Giemsa, and Safranin-methylene blue. A total of 66 captive wild animals and birds were examined based on age and sex differences. Fifteen (22.7%) of the animals examined were young and 51 (77.3%) were adults; 36 (54.5%) were males and 30 (45.5%) were females. Age and sex were found to have no significant effect on the prevalence of infection among the different age and sex groups. A total of 15 (22.7%) positive samples were recorded using the modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain, while Giemsa and Safranin-methylene blue stains recorded 12 (18.2%) and 8 (12.1%) positive cases, respectively. Captive wild animals and birds could play an important role in the epidemiology of cryptosporidiosis as a zoonotic infection.

Keywords

cryptosporidiosis; captive wild animals; zoonotic infection; Nigeria

Hrčak ID:

24775

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/24775

Publication date:

20.8.2007.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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