Heartwater in Nigeria. I. The susceptibility of different local breeds and species of domestic ruminants to heartwater.

Investigations were carried out on the susceptibility to heartwater of different species of domestic ruminants available in northern Nigeria. Brown goats originating from Zaria and areas north of it, and Friesian-zebu calves from the Shika Agricultural Research Station, were uniformly and highly susceptible to the disease. Brown goats from southern Zaria showed a variable susceptibility with 64 per cent contracting the disease. Many indigenous cattle and some indigenous sheep were resistant to infection.