Coprological study of gastrointestinal parasites in slaughtered cattle in Ado, Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

Gastrointestinal (GIT) parasites in cattle cause great economic loss in livestock production through reduction in milk, meat, hide products, and strength of animals. This study aimed at understanding the prevalence of GIT parasites in slaughtered cattle in a slaughter house in Ado Ekiti, Nigeria.
Freshly voided feces were collected in sample bottles and transported to the Department of Animal and Environmental Biology Department for fecal examination. Fecal samples were processed using sugar sheater’s floatation technique.
GIT parasites were identified using the standard procedures.
Descriptive analysis was used to determine the association between sex of cattle and parasitism. Overall, thirteen (13) parasites were identified belonging to 4 phyla namely; Phylum Protozoa (Balantidium sp, Eimeria sp, Cryptosporidium sp, Blastocystis sp, Entamoeba sp), Platyhelminths (Taenia sp, Moniezia sp, Fasciola sp), Nematodes (Oesophagostomum sp, Strongyloides sp, Trichuris sp, Toxocara sp), and Acanthocephala (Acanthocephalan sp).
Seven out of the thirteen GIT parasites that were identified are of zoonotic importance.
Out of the 89 fecal samples that were examined, 56 were positive for one or more parasites giving an overall prevalence of 62.9% (56/89).
Single infection constituted 42.7% (38/89), multiple infection constituted 20.2% (18/89), while 37.1% (33/89) are without GIT parasites.
Prevalence of GIT parasitic infection in male cattle 38.2% (34/89) was observed to be higher than in female cattle 24.7% (22/89).
Although, the difference is not statistically significant (p>0.05).
The study emphasizes the need for regular deworming program in the livestock industry and the need to adopt improved animal husbandry system in order to mitigate environmental contamination.