Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Helminthes of Sheep and Goats in Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, North Central, Nigeria.

Abstract

A cross sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Gastrointestinal Helminthes of Small Ruminants in Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria. A total of 400 faecal samples were collected from 194 Sheep and 206 goats and analyzed using centrifugal floatation and formol ether concentration technique. An overall prevalence of 48% was recorded. Goats (51.94) were more infected than Sheep (43.81%) and the difference was insignificant (P>0.05). Sheep had the highest parasitic load of 100 and 1300 epg than Goats. Seven gastrointestinal helminthes were identified in the study namely: Strongyle spp (12.5%), Toxocara spp (12.75%), Strongyloides spp (14.75%), Taenia spp (4.25%), Monieza spp (2.25%), Fasciola spp (0.5%) and Schistosoma spp (1.25%) with Strongyloides spp having the highest prevalence (14.75%) while Fasciola spp (0.5%) had the least prevalence. The study shows that female (48.74%) and adult sheep (45.07%) were more infected than male (36%) and young sheep (40.38%) and the difference was nonsignificant (P>0.05). Yankasa (60.97%) and non-pregnant Sheep (64.06%) were more infected than uda (26.63%) and pregnant Sheep (22.22%) and the difference was significant (P<0.05). Male (56.52%), Young (52.86%), Sokoto red (56.14%) and non-pregnant Goats (50.72%) were more infected than female (48.25%), adult (51.47%), Sahel (46.74%) and lactating goats (42.31%) and the difference was non-significant (P>0.05). The study revealed that Sheep and Goats in the study area are infected with various gastrointestinal helminthes hence the need for a targeted control effort.