DIVERSITY OF GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITES AFFECTING SOME DOMESTIC ANIMALS IN PLATEAU STATE, NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA

Abstract

Gastrointestinal parasitism is of great concern to the health, production potential and draft ability of animals. This study was conducted to investigate and provide additional information on the diversity and prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites affecting animals in Nigeria with emphases on Plateau State, North-central Nigeria. Feacal samples from 1,174 animals (avian 362, cattle 295, goats 147, sheep 120, pigs 54, dogs 88, rabbits 49 and rats 59) were subjected to floatation and sedimentation techniques. A variety of gastrointestinal parasites ranging from cestodes, trematodes, nematodes and protozoans were detected in the screened animals. Ascaridia galli and Eimeria tenella were the most prevalent gastrointestinal parasite found in avian species. Strongyloides papillosus, Strongyle species and Oesophagostomum radiatum were the most significant affecting cattle, while Strongyle species were the most prevalent in goats. Amongst sheep, Moniezia expansa and Cysticercus hydatigena were the most plenteous. Hyostrongylus rubidus, Ancylostoma caninum, Eimeria species and Hymenolepis nana were the most prevalent gastrointestinal parasites of pigs, dogs, rabbits and rats respectively. The result of this study shows that a variety of gastrointestinal parasites are found to infect animals in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria. There is therefore a great need to curtail the effect of gastrointestinal parasites in animals so as to maximize production among animals and thereby increase the nation’s income from the animal sector.