This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of besnoitiosis and associated histopathological changes amongst apparently healthy cattle and goats at slaughter in Maiduguri central abattoir Borno state, Nigeria. A total of 100 skin sections each, from the neck region were randomly collected, preserved in 10% formalin and later taken to the laboratory and subjected to histopathology to detect Besnoitia cysts and associated histopathological changes. This study revealed an overall prevalence of 2% in cattle.Out of the 100 skin sectionsexamined from cattle, 38 were from bulls and 62 were from cows. Of the 38 skin sections from bulls examined, 2(5.3%) were positive for Besnoitia cyst and none (0%) was positive for the cow's (P>0.05). Similarly, of the 100 skin sections examined, 80 were from Wadara breed and 20 from Red bororo. Out of the 80 skin sections examined from Wadara breed, 2(2.5%) were positive for Besnoitia cyst and none (0%) was positive for Red bororo (P>0.05). However, out of 100 skin sections from goats examined, none was positive for Besnoitia cysts revealing 0% prevalence.All the skin sections sampled and examined were from adult cattle and goats. Out of the 100 skin sections examined from the adult cattle, 2(2.0%) were positive for Besnoitia cysts. A skin section examined from Wadara breed showed localized area of suppurative dermatitis in the dermis of the skin characterized by massive neutrophilic infiltrations. This is the first report showing the prevalence of besnoitiosis in apparently healthy cattle and goats in Borno state, north eastern Nigeria.

This study was conducted to determine the in-vivo effect of cysteine protease inhibitor (CPI) E64 on the clinico-haematology of New Zealand rabbits experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei. A total of forty (40) New Zealand rabbits of both sexes were divided into 8 groups (A -H) of 5 rabbits each. Group A was infected but untreated (infected control), group B was uninfected and untreated (normal control). Group C was infected/treated pre-infection with CPI (E64) at 0.5ml/kg once daily for 5 days, while group D was infected and treated from 14 days post infection with CPI at 0.5ml/kg once daily for 5 days. Group E was uninfected and treated with CPI at 0.5ml/kg once daily for 5 days, while group F was infected and treated with a single standard dose of 3.5mg/kg of diminazene aceturate (Veriben ® ) by day 14. Group G was uninfected and treated with a single standard dose of Veriben ® at 3.5mg/kg, while group H was infected and treated with of Veriben ® at 3.5mg/kg and CPI at 0.5ml/kg once daily for 5 days at the peak of parasitaemia by day 14 postinfection (P.I). The animals were monitored for parasitaemia, haematological parameters such as red blood cell count, packed cell volume and haemoglobin concentration. The result showed that the animals became parasitaemic 7 days P.I with mean values of 7.75 ± 0.95, 8.50 ± 0.57, 8.00 ± 0.15, 8.00 ± 0.15 and 8.50 ± 0.57, in Groups A, C, D, F and H, respectively. Clinical signs such as anorexia, pyrexia, alopecia, and emaciation were seen. Haematological changes noticed as parasitaemia progressed include anaemia characterized by a significant decline in mean packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration and red blood cell count was noticed in infected groups. Cysteine protease inhibitor (E64) alone was ineffective in ameliorating the deleterious effect of Trypanosoma brucei brucei especially against parasitaemia and haematological parameters.