FIVE YEARS RETROSPECTIVE STUDY ON MONTHLY, YEARLY AND SEASONAL PREVALENCE OF AVIAN COCCIDIOSIS DIAGNOSED AT THE AVIAN CLINICS OF AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA

Abstract

Coccidiosis is one of the most significant diseases with devastating economic impact to poultry industry in Nigeria. This study was conducted at Ahmadu Bello University, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, (ABUVTH) Zaria. The aim was to determine the monthly, yearly and seasonal prevalence of cases of coccidiosis diagnosed in avian clinic of VTH. Case record files were collected, studied, and clinically diagnosed cases of coccidiosis were extracted. Result showed that out of the 1,768 poultry cases presented, 570 (32.2%) were confirmed as coccidiosis. The prevalence was high during rainy season (19.8%) with the month of August having the highest prevalence (14.42%). Also, the yearly prevalence was highest in 2016 (15.27%) and least in 2015 (1.13%). Coccidiosis is endemic in Zaria, with higher prevalence in the year 2017, in the Month of August and during the rainy season. Hence, it is recommended that farmers should maintain adequate sanitary measures, avoidance of water spillage and overcrowding, in addition to routine chemoprophylaxis.