Prevalence And Public Health Importance Of Microorganisms Isolated From The Faeces Of West African Dwarf Goats In Dschang, Cameroon

Abstract

A survey was carried out in Dschang from January to April 2003 to determine the faecal microbial flora of the West African dwarf goat (Capra reversa). Early morning faecal samples were collected from the animals into wide month sterile bottles. Care was taken to avoid environmental and urinary contamination of samples. The stool specimens were processed for the identification of bacteria, fungi and protozoa according to standard methods. Protozoa were quantified using the Mac-Master techniques, Escherichia coli was identified in all the 250 (100%) faecal samples examined. Other microorganisms and their rate of occurrence were: Eimeria spp. (76%), Candida albicans (51.2%), and species of Samonella (43.2%), Enterobacter (12.4%), Pseudomonas (10%), Proteus (8.8%), Mucor (33.6%), and Rhizopus (2%). These microorganisms can initiate infections in animals under stress conditions, and only Eimeria spp. is non-zoonotic. Human infection with this organism can cause infections like enteric fever, gastroenteritis, candidiasis, wound, urinary, respiratory and eye infections depending on the site of infection and the specific organism involved. Contamination of humans, animals, soil, crops and water systems is encouraged by traditional husbandry methods and runoff water from manure fields. Farmers in Dschang need to be educated on appropriate systems of animal husbandry in order to prevent public health risks.

Keywords: Goats, faeces, microorganisms, public health

Tropical Veterinarian Vol. 24 (3) 2006: pp. 52-57