PREVALENCE OF GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITES AMONG SHEEP AND GOATS SLAUGHTERED IN MODERN ABATTOIR, DAMATURU, YOBE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Gastrointestinal parasites have a devastating effect on the performance of small ruminants. The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in sheep and goats in modern abattoir, Damaturu, Yobe state, Nigeria. A total of 34,466 faecal samples of sheep and goats of different breeds and sex consisting of 21,410 goats and 13,056 sheep were examined for the period of 5 years. These samples were processed and screened by direct smear method for the detection of parasitic ova. Ova of parasites were identified through their morphological features using the available keys. The prevalence rate for goat was 9.9% while for sheep was 8.1%. The gastrointestinal parasites observed were Heamonchus spp (39.5%), Oesophagostamum spp (25.8%), Moniezia spp (20.8%), Fasciola spp (7.6%) and Paramphimstomum species (6.3%). Sex wise prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was higher in female goats, than in their male counterparts. It is therefore recommended that: The animals should be grazed with dried pastures, as the intermediate hosts are not found after drying out the fresh pastures. Regular deworming at least three or four times and improved management practices to mitigate these infections and enhance livestock productivity.