OF GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITES AMONG NOMADIC CATTLE IN LANLATE, OYO STATE

Abstract

Gastrointestinal (GI) parasites are one of the major causes of losses (weight loss and reduced milk production) in cattle farms. This is as a result of poor feed conversion rate and decreased appetite caused by GI infection. The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in cattle from Lanlate, Oyo State, Nigeria. A cross sectional study was conducted among nomadic cattle between the months of September and December, 2020. Overall, 432 faecal samples were collected directly from the rectum in cattle. The presence of helminths eggs and coccidial oocysts in faecal samples was detected using modified centrifugal flotation method. The prevalence of GI parasites was 61.8%. The most common gastrointestinal helminth infections in this study were Strongyles 162 (37.5%), followed by Ascaris spp. 8 (1.9%), Fasciola spp. and Moniezia spp. with a prevalence of 2 (0.5%) each and the least, Strongyloides spp. 1 (0.2%). The common protozoan infections were coccidia oocysts 148 (34.3%). There was a significant association (p=0.02) between age and prevalence of GI parasites. Also, significant association exists (p =0.05) between the sex and the prevalence of GI parasites. This study has established the prevalence of certain gastrointestinal parasite species in the study area, hence, the need to adopt periodic and strategic use of antihelminthics and anti-protozoan as prophylactic measures to control parasites in cattle.