Prevalence, Intensity and Identification of Gastro Intestinal Nematodes of Urban Goats in Arbaminch, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

The cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2019 to May, 2020 in Arbaminch city with the aim of estimation of the prevalence of GIT nematode infection and assesses the level of infection in goats at Arba Minch town, southern Ethiopia. Totally 384 pellets were taken from goats, and coprological examination by fecal floatation technique and McMaster egg counting was done. From the total examined goats, 226 (58.9%) of them found positive for one or more GIT nematode infection. Based on the morphology of the nematode eggs the following GIT nematodes were identified: <i>Strongyle </i>type (77.876%), <i>Trichuris </i>spp. (7.08%) and <i>Nematodirus</i> spp. (3.982%) whereas 11.1% mixed infestation. Furthermore, the overall mean EPG was 662.2. The mean EPG and proportion of light, moderate and heavy infection level was 294.4 (51.3%), 926.7 (32.3%) and 1293.2 (16.4%), respectively. There was no statistically significant differences in the prevalence of GIT nematode infection among age group and sex (p >0.05), but there was statistical difference in body condition (p <0.05). The prevalence of GIT nematodes infection in goat was significantly greater in poor body condition and medium body condition than good body condition of goats. The result of this study revealed higher prevalence of GIT nematode infection, and presence of various genera in the study area. Hence, more study is necessary to identify the species of nematodes dominant in the area, and strategic deworming of goats with broad spectrum anthelmintic is recommended to reduce the prevalence the parasites.<sub>