Severe ectoparasitism and parasitic gastroenteritis in a two month old Sokoto Red kid: a case report

A two month old red Sokoto kid that weighed 3kg from Usmanu Danfodiyo University Farm, Dabagi, was presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, with the complaints of debility and recumbency. Physical examination revealed severe infestation with ticks of both sexes identified as Hyalomma dromedarii, Hyalomma rufipes, Amblyomma variegatum and the louse Linognathus stenopsis. Examination of the blood suggested anaemia and revealed mild infection with Anaplasma ovis. After management for a day, the animal died. At post-mortem, Haemonchus spp. and Oesophagostomum spp. were found infesting the abomasum and caecum respectively. This paper discusses the implication of the condition to the animal production and how best to control it in established farms like the University farm.