ABSTRACT

The haernatologiCal and biochemical parameters of West African Dwarf (W) goats infested with mange were determined using twelve female WAD goats aged between 1- 2 years with an average body weight of 9.42kg. Six animals were treated with ivermectin to study the eftc1 of mange parasites and ivermectin treatment on the physiological parameters. The ivermectin was given two times at intervals of two weeks by subcutaneous route at 0.2mg ivermectin per kg of body weight, in a single dose. The other six were injected with equal volume of normal saline to serve as control. Haemoglobin, red blood cell and white blood cell counts were significantly (p<O.05) different between the treated than the untreated groups. Packed cell volume (PCV), total protein, albumin and globulin increased in ivermectin-treated WAD goats. The six other animals that were not treated with ivermectin had lower PCV, Hb, RBC, total protein, albumin and globulin at end of the experiment. The final means for PCV, Hb, RBC and WBC counts of the treated WAD goats were 25.0±1.8%. 6.7±0.6g/dl. 641.2±76.2 x 104/mm3, and 27.2±3.1 x50/mm3 respectively. The values obtained for the serum total protein, albumin and globulin were I5.3±I.0g/d]. 3.9±0.3g/dl and I I.4±0.7g/dl respectively. The animals were bathed in acaricide. At the end of the experiment, the treated WAD goats weigh an average body weight of 12.3kg while the untreated WAD goats weighed 8.5kg. The findings of this study could be useful in studies on clinical effects of parasites, and could be considered when assessing the physical condition of WAD goats through haernaiological and serum biochemical parameters.