ASSESSMENT OF COCCIDIAL OOCYSTS IN ONE IYUMPED CAMELS (Camelus dromedarius) IN SOKOTO, NIGERIA

Abstract

One humped camels (Camelus dromedarius) were assessed for coccidia oocysts in Sokoto metropolitan abattoir, Sokoto State, Nigeria where an average of 1 0 to 15 camels were slaughtered per day on an open concrete slaughter slab. A total of 200 randomly selected camels made up of 124 males and 76 females were aged by dentition and faecal samples collected between February and September, 2015 for identification of coccidia oocysts. All the camels sampled were above one year of age and all were negative for the presence of coccidia oocysts in the faeces. Further studies are recommended in camels less than one year of age, to determine the possibility of the occurrence of coccidia oocysts in that age bracket in Sokoto. Also, camel herds should be monitored regularly for coccidia oocysts and promptly treated while the improved management practices and associated improvement in the hygiene of camel breeding areas should be maintained.