OCCURRENCE OF SOME INTESTINAL HELMINTH PARASITES OF RUMINANTS IN JOS ABATTOIR, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Ruminant animals (cattle, sheep and goats) carry a lot of parasitic burden due to their grazing nature on contaminated pastures thus, contributing greatly to increase in the morbidity and mortality rates in Africa and Nigeria in particular. This study was carried out to determine the occurrence of intestinal helminthes of some ruminants in Jos abattoir Plateau State, Nigeria. A total of 390 fecal samples were randomly collected from cattle, sheep and goats. The samples were examined using floatation and sedimentation techniques. 250(64.10%) samples were positive with helminthes and 12 parasites belonging to 3 groups of helminthes were recovered. Nematodes: Strongyle spp (43.2%), Trichostrongylus spp (7.6%), Strogyloides spp (6.0%), Toxocaria vitularum (0.8%), Trichurus trichura (0.4%), Cooperia pectinata (0.8%), Oesophagustomum radiatum (2.0%), and Haemonchus contortus (1.6%). Trematodes: Fasciola spp (24%), and Paraphistomum cervi (3.6%). Cestodes: Moniezia expansa (3.2%) and Taenia spp (1.2%). There are cases of mixed infection (5.60%) observed among the animals. Mixed infections occurs among Strongle spp and Fasciola gigantica, Strongyloides papillosus and Paramphistomum cervi as well as Strongle spp and Paramphistomum cervi. The highest prevalence were found in Strongyle spp followed by Fasciola spp. The prevalence of helminthes species among the animals was significant (p<0.05), there was no significant (p>0.05) difference of infection in males and females as well as the sources of the animals. There was significant (p<0.05) difference of infections among the breeds of the animals. The results revealed a high prevalence of intestinal helminthes among the ruminants slaughtered in the abattoir. This calls for intervention from the government, Agricultural extension and veterinary health workers, to educate farmers on the impact of helminthes on livestock production.

Keywords: Helminth Parasites, Ruminants, Abattoir, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.