Prevalence of Haemoparasitic Infections and Associated Risk Factors Among Hunting Dogs in Ilorin Metropolis, Kwara State, Nigeria

Haemoparasitic infections are common in dogs and are particularly relevant in hunting dogs because of their frequent exposure to tick-infested environments. However, limited information exists on the occurrence of these infections among hunting dogs in Ilorin metropolis. This study therefore determined the prevalence of haemoparasites and associated risk factors among hunting dogs in Ilorin metropolis, Nigeria. A total of 75 hunting dogs were sampled from four locations in Ilorin metropolis between May and July 2025, comprising 41 (54.7%) males and 34 (45.3%) females. Of these, 23 (30.7%) were less than two years old, 14 (18.7%) were above two years old, while the ages of 38 (50.7%) were unknown. Blood samples were examined microscopically following preparation of thin blood smears. The overall prevalence of haemoparasites was 53.3% (40/75). Babesia spp. and Ehrlichia spp. were the predominant haemoparasites, with prevalence of 26.7% (20/75) and 25.3% (19/75), respectively, while mixed infection was recorded in 1.3% (1/75) of the dogs. Haemoparasite infection was detected in 58.5% of males and 47.1% of females. Odds ratio analysis showed that male dogs were 1.59 times more likely to be infected than females. However, haemoparasite infection was not significantly associated with age (p = 0.098), sex (p = 0.32), or body condition score (p = 0.62). The findings indicate a high occurrence of haemoparasitic infections among hunting dogs in Ilorin metropolis, with Babesia spp. and Ehrlichia spp. being the predominant parasites identified. This highlights the need for appropriate preventive measures.