title: Aetiology and prevalence of canine anaemia in Zaria: a review of 2139 cases observed at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria (1990-2003).
abstract: An investigation was conducted at the Ahmadu Bello University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (ABUVTH) between January, 1990 and September, 2003 to determine the aetiology and prevalence of canine anaemia in Zaria, Nigeria. Out of the 5278 mongrel dogs presented during the period 1990-2003, 2139 (40.5%) were found to be anaemic, with packed cell volume (PCV) values ranging from 7 to 36%. The clinical signs presented by these dogs include: Pale mucous membranes, weakness, depression, anorexia/inapettence and reduced activity. About 50 dogs (about 1%) with helminths and haemoparasitic infestations had high PCV values (37-40%) without clinical presentation of anaemia or disease. Most of the dogs with anaemia (n = 2016 or 94.2%) had parasitic infestations. About 1580 (about 74%) of the anaemic cases, attributed to parasitic infestations occurred between May and October. A few dogs (n = 55, 2.6%) had anaemia due to poor nutrition, while 68 (3.2%) had anaemia with unknown cause. The public health significance of the parasites reported in this study is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. nickuseh@yahoo.com
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Useh
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Oladele
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adamu
authors.forename: N D G
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Nok
authors.forename: K A N
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Esievo
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006376:Helminths / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence