Fowl cholera is a contagious bacterial disease of domestic and wild avian species. The infection is caused by Pasteurella multocida. The data for this study was obtained from the Diagnostic Microbiology laboratory of the Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology and Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria between the year 2001 and 2005. Prevalence rate of avian pasteurellosis obtained in this study were 2.3%, 6.4%, 1.5%, 4.6% and 7.4% for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 respectively. The results showed that there was an increase in the prevalence of avian pasteurellosis from 2001 to 2005. There was also variation in the monthly distribution of avian pasteurellosis in Zaria, with highest number of cases in April and in August accounting for 35% and 25% respectively. In order to control the disease, further studies will be needed to detect the mode of spread and possible roles of wild birds as latent carriers of P. multocida and to monitor the FC outbreak in birds.
Key words: Avian, occurrence, pasteurellosis, seasonality, Zaria Nigeria
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