Abstract

Aim: The study was aimed investigate and provide data on the prevalence and zoonotic impact of parasitic helminthes of ruminants slaughtered in Sabon-Tasha Abattoir, Chikun LGA of Kaduna State, Nigeria.

Method and materials:  Faecal samples were collected and examined using direct wet mount and sedimentation methods, respectively. A total of 329 diarrhoeic faecal samples were collected from 117 Cattle, 102 Sheep, and 110 Goats, respectively.

Results: Of the total 329 faecal samples collected and examined, 65.96% were positive for gastrointestinal helminthes parasites. Goats had higher prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites 84.55%, while Cattle and Sheep had a prevalence of 55.56 % and 57.84%, respectively. The difference in the three species of ruminants was statistically significant (p<0.05). Males had the highest infection 58.06% than females as 41.94%. In sheep, young animals were more infected than the adult animals with 54.24% and 45.76% respectively. Also, in goats, adult animals had the highest infection rate of 61.29% than the young animals 38.71%, while in Cattle, adult animals recorded the highest infection rate of 60.0% than the young animals 40.0%. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) on the infection rate in relation to sex and age. Considering the months of study, the overall prevalence of 23.05%, 16.13%, 21.20%, 17.05%, and 22.12% were recorded in the months of July, May, April, August, and June. The differences in infection rates were not statistically significant (p>0.05) even though the prevalence was higher in the month of July.

Conclusion: It was concluded that helminthosis, especially haemonchosis is a threat to small ruminants in the study area. Based on the observations, it has been highlighted the urgent need for the development of epidemiologically-based control strategies for control of helminth parasites of small ruminants in this area.

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