Abstract

A survey on the status of viral diseases of livestock characterized by skin lesions was carried out between November, 2016 and March 2017 in Kanam Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State, Nigeria. Questionnaires were administered and suspected cases of LSD, GTP, CE and BP were investigated. Samples collected were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The questionnaires were administered to livestock farmers (n=109), butchers (n=11) and livestock traders (n=13). The results indicated that majority of livestock farmers (94.50%), butchers (100%) and livestock traders (100%) were familiar with these viral diseases of livestock. Farmers in the study area also indicated that they had observed LSD (64.5%) and BP (7.34%) in cattle; GTP (67.9%) and CE (59.5%) in sheep and goats in the last 12 months. Data collated from the questionnaire survey showed these viral diseases of livestock also affect trade price with reduction of about 50-75% of real value of affected animals. The PCR result of samples collected from clinically diagnosed cases of GTP (Plate I C, Table V) shows that 3 out 4 samples analyzed were positive. Likewise 1 out of 3 samples collected from clinically diagnosed cases of GTP were positive by PCR. The PCR results validate the respondents’ feedback on of the presence these viral skin diseases of livestock in study area. This report provides baseline epidemiological data on the status of these diseases of livestock and further investigation is needed to better understand the impact of viral skin diseases of livestock in Kanam LGA.

Key words: Survey; viral skin diseases; Kanam; Nigeria