Prevalence of malaria parasites in turkeys of the Nsukka area in the Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

Blood smears of 202 turkeys (94 males and 108 females) in the Nsukka area (Nigeria) were examined for malaria parasites. Among the turkeys examined 44.1 % (95 % confidence interval, 0.441 ± 0.069) were infected with Plasmodium spp., 46.8 % males and 41.7 % females. A total of 175 adults and 27 growing turkeys (aged 6-16 weeks) were examined and 45.7 and 33.3 %, respectively were infected. Twenty out of 60 reared turkeys under intensive management systems and 65 of 142 turkeys managed semi-intensively were infected. The mean PCV value for the infected turkeys was 29.95 ± 3.36 % and significantly different (P < 0.01) from the mean PCV value of 37.3 ± 3.7 obtained from the uninfected turkeys. Eleven out of the 89 positive cases were clinical cases. Four critically sick turkeys died one day after treatment. Chloroquine phosphate at 5 mg/kg body weight administred i.m daily for 3 days or 250 mg tablets given orally for 5 days as well as a parenteral administration of pyrimethamine (0.3 mg/kg body weight) for 2 days were effective in the treatment of the infection.