Prevalence of Coccidiosis in West African Dwarf (WAD) goats at Mgbakwu, Anambra state, south-eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Due to reports emanating from Veterinary Clinic Awka to the Department of Parasitology and Entomology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University concerning the emergence and re-emergence of coccidiosis in small ruminants at Mgbakwu, this study was initiated and carried out between April and July 2007 to ascertain the current status of Eimeria infection and clinical coccidiosis in West African Dwarf (WAD) goats at Mgbakwu, Anambra State Nigeria. Faecal samples obtained from one thousand one hundred and twenty (1120) WAD goats were routinely examined for the presence of protozoan cysts that caused coccidiosis. Overall, 816 (72.8%) of the goats were +ve for Eimeria cysts. About 25.4% of the population examined or 34.8% of Eimeria +ve samples presented with varying degrees of clinical coccidiosis, a positive indication that 65.2% of the Eimeria +ve goats may be asymptomatic or immune carriers of the infection. The difference between the overall prevalence of Eimeria cysts (81.8% and 64.9%) in WAD goats ≤5 and ≥6 months old, respectively, was highly significant (x2=20.355, P<0.01). There were also significant differences between the prevalence of Eimeria cysts (79.8% and 58.7%) and in clinical coccidiosis (30.3% and 15.2%) in goats reared intensively and extensively. Socio-economic impacts, as well as factors that influence the epidemiology of coccidiosis in WAD goats at Mgbakwu are discussed.

Keywords: Eimeria species, coccidiosis, WAD goats, husbandry systems, Nigeria.