Journal of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
(ISSN: 2659 – 0743)
Volume 6, No. 1, 2024
Pages 94-103
DOI: 10.36108/jvbs/4202.60.0190
Gastrointestinal Helminths of Sahelian Breed of Goats in House-holds and Maiduguri Cattle Market, Nigeria
Mairiga I. A. * , Abdulrahma H. I., Umar Y. A.
Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of
Maiduguri, Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
Gastrointestinal nematodes are important problems and constraints to the livestock industry in Nigeria. The study assessed the possible prevalence of Ostertagia ostertagi species infection in Sahelian breeds of goats in Maiduguri and environs commonly occurring as mixed infections with other gastrointestinal nematodes. It also investigated the common age and sex groups most susceptible to infection in goats in the study area. Out of the 150 faecal samples examined from Sahelian breed of goats, 64 were from male and 86 from female goats; and 40 were from young while 110 were from adult goats. A total of 99 of the faeces were from the house-holds comprising of 35 from Shettimari and 64 from Mairi ward and 51 from Maiduguri cattle market. Goats from households were mostly asymptomatic but from cattle market was a mixture of apparently healthy and asymptomatic and others showing clinical signs including diarrhoae, nasal discharges and cachectia. Of the one hundred and fifty faeces examined, 102 cases of Ostertagia ostertagi infections were recorded accounting for 68.o% prevalence. The prevalence in the male and female was 70.31% and 66.28% respectively. Similarly the prevalence was 70% and 67.27 % respectively in the young and in the adult goats. Chi-square test using SPSS statistics test16.0 analyzing the data tested for significance at probability levels of P< 0.05, revealed that there was a significant difference in the prevalence of Ostertagia ostertagia species infection between sex and age distribution. It was concluded that the prevalence of infection was more in male than female and it was higher in young than adults. Strategic anthelmintic medication was advocated for use annually. Free-living, pre-parasitic stage of biological control will help in breaking the parasite life cycle.
Keywords: Prevalence, gastrointestinal, helminthes, goats, market, households