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A survey was carried out in Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria from April-July 2017 to determine availability of freshwater snails of and their preferred habitats. A total of 289 fresh water snails of four different genera were collected across 27 streams in the 7 districts in Vandeikya LGA. Water pH, water temperature and water velocity were also measured. Lenistislibycuswas found to be the most abundant freshwater snail species accounting for 40.83% of the total freshwater snails. Melanoidestuberculata was the second most abundant accounting for 29.411% of the total snails population sampled, Biomphalaria pfeifferi accounted for 17.99% while Bulinus globosus was significantly lower in abundance than the other snails, accounting for only 11.77%. By location, Mbaduku district had highest abundance of snails 84 (29.1%). The effect of the nature of the substratum on the availability of freshwater snails revealed that habitats with rocky substratum favoured the presence of snails accounting for 181(62.7%) freshwater snail collected.Our understanding of factors affecting the availability and abundance of freshwater snails in nature can prove useful in snail control which is integral for the control of the diseases for which they serve as intermediate host.

A study on the occurrence of mixed infection of tick-borne haemoparasite of cattle in selected abattoirs in Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria was carried out. Blood sample were collected randomly from a total of 216 cattle slaughtered at abattoir in both dry and wet season at Wurukum abattoir, Wadata abattoir, Modern Market Abattoir, Cattle Market Abattoir North Bank, Cattle Market North Bank and University of Agriculture cattle farm, Makurdi and analyzed using Microscopic method by thin blood film. Horn method was used to determine the age of the examined cattle and the collected data was analyzed using T-test, p values at ≤ was considered statistically significant. The result showed that the rate of infection was seen to increase progressively in cattle of age 6–7 through age 10–11 with the highest prevalence recorded in age 10–11 in dry season and the lowest percentage of infection recorded in age 2–3 and cattle of age 0–1 showed the highest (27(75.00 %)) rate of infection while age 6–7 showed the lowest rate of infection in wet season. But the difference was not statistically significant (p ˂ 0.05). Male cattle recorded a non statistically significant (p ˂ 0.05) higher (53.13 %) occurrence of infection while female recorded a lower occurrence of 50.0 %. The result of mixed infection revealed the occurrence of Bebesia, Anaplasmamaginal, Anaplasma central and Theileria. 100 % of mixed infection of Bebesia&Anaplasmamaginal and Anaplasma central and Anaplasmamaginaloccurred in West African Dwarf cattle and Sokoto gudali respectively. There was no occurrence of mixed infection of Theileria and Anaplasma central across all the examined species of cattle. White Fulani recorded mixed infection of Anaplasma central&Anaplasmamaginal, Bebesia&Anaplasma central and Bebesia&Anaplasmamaginal of 4(30.8 %), 4(30.8 %) and 5(38.5 %) percent respectively.Muturu species did not record any occurrence of mixed infection of tick borne haemoparasite.The result of the study shows that mixed infection of tick-borne haemoparasite infection are very high and common among cattle hence, preferences should be given to inspection of older male cattle and optimal management of all ruminant animals against ticks and tick-borne related infection.

This study was carried out to compare the prevalence of tick-borne hemiparasite in some variety of cattle and goat in Makurdi. The thin blood film technique was used in the study. Chi-square (X2) test was used to compare the prevalence rates. Breed of cattle examined was: White Fulani (45.2%), N'dama (35.5%) and Muturu (19.3%); While those of goats were: West African Dwarf (16.7%), Adamawa Red (37.3%) and Red Sokoto (46.1%). Haemoparasites of cattle and goats and their prevalence were: Anaplasma centrale (22.4%), A. marginale (21.1%), Bebesia bovis (11.4%); A. centrale (16.7%), A. marginale (12.3%), B. ovis (11.4%) and Theileria ovis (7.8%) respectively. The prevailing tick-borne hemiparasites detected were A. central, A. marginale and B. bovis, in cattle and A. central, A. marginale, B. ovis and T. ovis in goats. Atsuwe et al.; JALSI, 21(4): 1-5, 2019; Article no.JALSI.49552 2 Original Research Article