Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal parasites in donkeys slaughtered in Kinamba, Mogotio, and Lodwar slaughterhouses and their association with several host factors. A survey was done between July and September 2017 in three slaughterhouses. Faecal samples were collected per rectum from all the study donkeys for faecal egg counts (EPG) and morphological identification of the eggs. At slaughter, the gastrointestinal tracts were opened and examined visually, and all helminth parasites collected were subjected to morphological identification. Prevalence and intensity were calculated based on the helminth identified and EPG. A total of 282 donkeys were sampled. A majority of the donkeys (89%) were in poor body condition. Ten helminth parasite species were identified in 85.5% donkeys. They were Strongylus vulgaris (52.8%), Parascaris equorum (20.2%), Strongylus edentatus (12.1%), Anaplocephala perfoliata (10.3%), Setaria equina (3.5%) Anaplocephala magna (2.5%), Cylicocyclus auriculatus (2.1%), Cyathostomum species (1.8%), Strongylus equinus (0.4%), and Triodontophorus serratus (0.4%). A significant percentage (55.3%) had no eggs in their feces, 39% had low infection, 5% had medium, and only 0.7% were heavily infected. Prevalence rates via use of the EPG showed Strongyles (44.7%), Parascaris equorum (5.3%), Oxyuris equi (11%), Triodontophorus tenuicolis (0.7%), Habronema species (0.7%), and cestodes eggs (0.4%). No significant differences were observed between fecal Strongylus egg count and age, sex, and pregnancy status. However, donkeys with poor body condition shed more Strongylus eggs in feces. Helminth infections are prevalent in donkeys in Kenya; however, this is not reflected in coprological analyses. These helminth parasites may contribute to poor body condition, ill health, and poor productivity of donkeys.
Highlights
Kenya has approximately 1,832,519 donkeys [1]
Our studies confirm the studies done by Karanja et al and Lewa et al [13, 16] that gastrointestinal parasites are prevalent in donkeys in Kenya. e overall prevalence of the various helminths in our study was 71.6%. is differs from a study done in Ethiopia where the prevalence was established at 96.9% for helminth species [22]
In Nigeria, Jajere et al [14] established an overall prevalence of 98.3% after fecal analysis, whereas in our study, the overall prevalence of the helminth eggs was 56%. is difference in the prevalence of fecal egg count could be attributed to differences in geographical zones. e majority of the donkeys in our study (89%) had a poor body condition score. is could be due to helminthosis in conjunction with a low plane of nutrition as a majority of the donkeys with poor body condition were highly infected. is is in agreement with the findings of Saul et al [4] who reported helminth infections as the most common cause of death besides retarding growth or decreasing work output, in addition to distress and pain
Summary
Kenya has approximately 1,832,519 donkeys [1]. More than half of this population is being used for working in transport and tillage operations [1]. Donkeys appear resistant to many diseases, helminth infections are the most common cause of death besides retarding growth or decreasing work output [4]. Such infections exhibit a direct outcome on health and productivity [5]. Is may lead to early demise or reduction in work output of affected donkeys and eventually reduction in income of the owner and community [5]. In a research carried out by Ahmed et al [6] in Egypt, 98.45% of the donkeys sampled were infected by helminths and 22 species were identified. Matthee et al [8] identified 15 genera and 29 species of helminths in seven donkeys necropsied in South
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