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Tick infestations and gastrointestinal helminthosis among goats and cattle at abattoirs in Abakaliki Metropolis, Ebonyi State, Nigeria


M. O. Elom
A. Nworie
C. A. Uhuo
B. N. Ukwa
C. F. S Ezeruigbo
D. E. Nwele

Abstract

Parasitism and parasitosis constitute serious animal health problems that predispose them to other more serious health conditions. Such conditions can reduce their productivity and marketability, thereby reducing their economic values. A total of 126 livestock comprising 63 goats and 63 cattle from abattoirs in Abakaliki Metropolis were subjected to ectoparasitic and gastrointestinal parasitic examinations, using approved standard diagnostic parasitological techniques. The recovered parasites were identified with standard identification guides. Rhipicephalus sanguineus and R. microplus were the two recovered ectoparasites from both groups of animal. There was no significant difference (p = 0.0859) in the prevalence of the tick species between the animals. Dictyocaulus species was the most abundant gastrointestinal helminth infecting both goats and cattle. There was no complete dominance of parasite species infecting the two groups of animal but the Shannon-Weiner diversity index indicated high parasite diversity for both goats and cattle. Periodic application of efficacious acaricides mixed (sequential) grazing and regular deworming with the use of strategic broad spectrum chemotherapeutic anthelmintics are strongly recommended.

Keywords: Cattle; goats; helminthes; infestations; tick.


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eISSN: 1117-4145