Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Among Donkeys

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the magnitude of the prevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection among donkeys marketed in Nkwo-Izhia market, Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Ebonyi State.

Materials and methods: A market based cross sectional study was implemented from March 1 to April 1, 2020 among 200 donkeys sold in the market lairage/garage. The animals were selected through simple random sampling method. Venous blood samples were taken from 200 donkeys and their serum were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) using Enzyme Linked Immuno-sorbent Assay.

Results: The overall prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among donkeys was 13.5% (27) at 95% Confidence Interval. Females: non-reactive 66 (84.6%), reactive 12 (15.4%); Males: non-reactive 107 (87.7%), reactive 15 (12.3%) with overall X² (p-value) of 0.39 (0.53) respectively. Greater proportion of the female donkeys (15.4%) were reactive to HBV antigens compared to their male counterparts (12.3%). Among the variables; age of the donkeys, duration of stay in market, height, colour and their length, only mean difference in duration of stay in the market had statistically significant association with the HBV status of the donkeys (t= 2.15; p= 0.03).

Key words: Donkeys, Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis B surface antigens, Nkwor-Izhia, Ebonyi State, Nigeria