Seasonal prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes of calves in Sokoto northwestern Nigeria
Journal Title: Scientific Journal of Veterinary Advances - Year 2012, Vol 1, Issue 3
Abstract
This study was conducted with the aim of determining the prevalence and distribution of gastrointestinal nematodes of calves in Sokoto metropolis. A total of 216 faecal samples from 54 calves were examined using Simple faecal floatation and Modified McMaster techniques for morphological egg differentiation and count of worm-egg per gram of faeces respectively. Positive samples were cultured to differentiate between morphologically indistinguishable nematode genera. An overall prevalence was found to be 133 (61.57%). The seasonal prevalence was found to be highest 40 (74.07%) during the early dry season, while the lowest prevalence was observed to be 19 (35.18%) in the early rainy season. Eight different nematode genera were identified with Cooperia spp being highest in prevalence (28.78%) followed by Haemonchus spp (26.76%) and the least was Toxocara spp (0.50%). The prevalence was generally higher in females (56.39%) than in males (43.61%). Statistically significant association (p<0.05) between the prevalence of the parasites and the different seasons was observed. Prevalence was low in indigenous breeds, Sokoto Gudali (15.04%) which is relatively resistant to helminthosis compared to crossbreeds (32.33%) and exotic, Friesian (52.63%) breeds. It is concluded that the late rainy and early dry seasons are conducive for the successive perpetuation of these parasites and therefore enhances subsequent transmission to susceptible hosts.
Authors and Affiliations
A. Mahmuda*| Department of Parasitology and Entomology,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B. 2346, Sokoto, Nigeria., A. A. Mohammed| Department of Parasitology and Entomology,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B. 2346, Sokoto, Nigeria., M. O. Alayande| Department of Parasitology and Entomology,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B. 2346, Sokoto, Nigeria., A. A. Magaji| Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B. 2346, Sokoto, Nigeria., M. D. Salihu| Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B. 2346, Sokoto, Nigeria., J. P. Fabiyi| Department of Parasitology and Entomology,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B. 2346, Sokoto, Nigeria., M. D. Lawal| Department of Parasitology and Entomology,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B. 2346, Sokoto, Nigeria., Y. Yakubu| Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B. 2346, Sokoto, Nigeria., M. Usman| Department of Parasitology and Entomology,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B. 2346, Sokoto, Nigeria., A. Danmaigoro| Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, P.M.B. 2346, Sokoto, Nigeria.
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