Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Babesiosis in Cattle and Sheep in Katsina Central Abattoir, Katsina State, Nigeria

Abstract

Babesiosis is a tick-borne haemoparasitic disease of considerable economic importance in tropical livestock systems. However, there is limited recent epidemiological information on its prevalence and associated risk factors among slaughtered animals in Katsina State, Nigeria. This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of babesiosis and assess associated risk factors in cattle and sheep slaughtered at Katsina Central Abattoir. A total of 300 animals, comprising 150 cattle and 150 sheep, were sampled. Paired blood samples were collected from the jugular vein during slaughtering into EDTA bottles and examined using standard parasitological techniques. Data on host factors such as sex, age, and breed were analyzed using chi-square and logistic regression. The overall prevalence of babesiosis was 7.0% (21/300). In cattle, females had a slightly higher prevalence (8.30%) than males (7.14%), while in sheep, females (6.19%) were more infected than males (5.40%); however, these differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Breed-related variation was observed, with White Fulani cattle showing higher infection compared to Red Bororo and Yankasa sheep having a higher prevalence than Balami sheep, although this association was marginal (p = 0.05). Age-specific prevalence varied across groups, but no statistically significant association was found between age and infection in both cattle and sheep (p > 0.05). The disease showed moderate prevalence among slaughtered cattle and sheep in Katsina, although the assessed risk factors were not statistically significant. Improved tick control, especially against Rhipicephalus species, is recommended to reduce disease burden.