Gastrointestinal nematodes of donkeys in and around Alage, South Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Gastrointestinal parasites are one of the most common factors that constrain the health and working performance of donkeys. The present study was aimed to estimate the prevalence and identify major risk factors associated with donkey’s gastrointestinal nematode infection in and around Alage, South Western Ethiopia. A total of 384 randomly selected donkeys were sampled from 4 peasant associations for coprological examination of gastrointestinal nematode infection. The direct fecal smear, flotation and fecal culture methods were utilized to identify the eggs and larvae of parasites in feces, respectively. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes recorded in donkeys examined was 99.5%. The study showed that the prevalence of Parascaris equorum, Oxyuris equi and Strongyle were 53.6%, 4.9% and 99.5%, respectively. Significantly (P<0.05) higher prevalence was observed for Oxyuris equi and Parascaris equorum in young donkeys than in both adults and old donkeys. The study showed that the prevalence of Strongyle was significantly higher than both Parascaris equorum and Oxyuris equi in all age groups of donkeys. There was also statistically significant difference in prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes between sex, age, body condition and among peasant associations in different species of the parasites. Identification of third stage larvae of Strongyle species from 40 samples revealed high prevalence of Strongylus vulgaris (100%) followed by Cythostomes (97.5%) and Strongylus edentates (70%). The current study demonstrated that gastrointestinal nematodes are the major health challenges of donkeys in the study area. Therefore strategic dewrming and other nematode control options were recommended to be considered in order to improve the health, productivity and welfare of donkeys in the study area.

Keywords: Donkeys; Ethiopia; Gastrointestinal; Nematodes; Prevalence