DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSES OF NIGERIAN NATIVE SHEEP BREEDS TO ASSAULTS OF SUBACUTE Trypanosoma vivax INFECTION IN THE TROPICS: POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION-BASED ASSAY EVIDENCES

2020 
Molecular-based assay is reported to efficiently detect higher levels of subacute infection of the African Animal Trypanosomosis (AAT). Based on our previous research data, this study reports the detection of subacute Trypanosoma vivax (T. vivax) infection, sequel to polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay diagnosis in four extant Nigerian sheep breeds namely, Balami, Yankassa, Uda and West African Dwarf (WAD) sampled from four geographical locations in Nigeria, the detected T.vivax infection was associated with thermo-tolerance traits of our animals. The study approach involved the use of the PCR-based assay to amplify a DNA fragment size of 400 bp within the genome of the pathogenic parasite in 161 sheep of both sexes. Our findings showed that T. vivax pathogen caused significant assault (P<0.05) on infected Nigerian native sheep compared with non-infected counterparts as depicted by the elevated thermo-tolerance traits. The WAD breed was found to have improved thermo-tolerance performance especially in body temperature when exposed to the assault of T. vivax infection compared with the Uda, Balami and Yankassa sheep breeds (P<0.05).  The sheep breed showed very significant effect (P<0.01) on thermo-tolerance traits. Balami sheep was the most thermal-vulnerable breed while WAD was least affected by the assault of thermal stress. Pathogenic T. vivax is culpable in the alteration of body thermo-tolerance of local sheep populations in Nigeria with the attendant health implications. Current research noted that WAD breed performed better under stressful assaults of T. vivax infection.
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