Prevalence and Risk Factors of Gastrointestinal Nematode Parasites of Horse and Donkeys in Hawassa Town, Ethiopia

Abstract

A cross sectional study was conducted on 384 horse and donkey in Hawassa town to determine the prevalence of gastro intestinal Nematode parasite and to identify infection association with species, sex, age and body condition of horse and donkey. Horse and donkey were examined for the presence of Nematode parasite. Floatation and McMaster Techniques were employed on feces to identify parasite eggs. Overall prevalence of horse and donkey was 72.7% (279/384) for gastro intestinal nematode parasite with the prevalence of 63.7% and 78.5 % in horses and donkeys respectively. The prevalence recorded for Strongyle parasite was 76% and 64.9% and for Parascaris equorum 26.2% and 4.6% in donkeys and horses respectively. Nematode parasite prevalence was influenced by species and age risk factors (p 0.05). The mean egg count indicated the existence of significant difference in the mean of egg count with different risk factors; detected high in donkeys, females, less than four years age group and poor body condition score (p< 0.05). In conclusion, this study revealed that the occurrence of gastro intestinal nematode parasite in horse and donkey in Hawassa town is a common phenomenon. As a result, awareness to animal owners and proper deworming and prevention mechanisms should be implemented to reduce the economic burden of the disease in the country.