Seasonal prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes of calves in Sokoto northwestern Nigeria

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 calveswere examined using Simple faecal floatation and Modified McMaster techniques for morphological egg differentiation andcount of worm-egg per gram of faeces respectively. Positive samples were cultured to differentiate between morphologicallyindistinguishable nematode genera. An overall prevalence was found to be 133 (61.57%). The seasonal prevalence was found to be highest40 (74.07%) during the early dry season, while the lowest prevalence was observed to be 19 (35.18%) in the early rainy season. Eightdifferent nematode genera were identified with Cooperia spp beinghighest in prevalence (28.78%) followed by Haemonchus spp (26.76%) and the least was Toxocara spp (0.50%). The prevalencewas generally higher in females (56.39%) than in males (43.61%). Statistically significant association (p<0.05) between the prevalenceof 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.

کلیدواژه ها:

Seasonal prevalence ، Gastrointestinal ، Nematodes ، Calves ، Sokoto