Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Helminths in West African Dwarf (WAD) goats in an agrarian agro-ecosystem

Abstract

An investigation on the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites in goats was carried out in six different agrarian agroecosystems of Ikwo L.G.A of Ebony State, Nigeria. The objectives o the study were to determine the factors associated with the prevalence of the parasites and to identify the gastrointestnal helminths in feacal samples of WAD goats. Relevant information werecolected from the respondents through we-structured questionnaire. A total of 180 random faecal samples were collected individually from goats o varying ages in the different zones. Microscopic examination of each sample was done by the sodium chloride floatation technique. Out of 180 eacal samples colectedand examined, 118 (65.5 %) of them were inected by helmnth parasites. This indicated a high prevalence of infection. Five major factors were identified to have been associated with the prevaence of the parasites namely: poor system of management, illiteracy, lack of deworming progammes, non-commercial purpose o keeping goats and very od farmers inthe business. The following intestina helminth parasites were found in goats in order of predominance: Haemonchus contortus (381 %), Strongyliodes papillosus (19.4 %), Trichostrongylus columbriforms (15.2 %), Oesophagostonum columbianum (144 %), Fasciola species (10.1 %) and Moniezia benedeni (2.5 %).

Keywords: Prevalence, Gastrointestinal helminths, WAD goats