Prevalence, intensity and major species of gastrointestinal parasites of donkeys in Adami Tulu Jido Kombolcha District, Central Ethiopia

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence, intensity and risk factors of major gastrointestinal parasites of donkeys in Adami Tulu Jido Kombolcha district, Central Ethiopia. A total of 525 faecal samples were co-prologically examined for gastrointestinal parasites infections. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) parasite infestation was high (98.67%), with females more infested than males and majority of the donkeys had massive infestation (49.59%), as compared to those with moderate (27.21%) or light infestation (23.20%). The respective helminth parasites prevalence observed was: Strongyles (98.7%), Parascaris equorum (28.8%), Dictyocaulus arnfiedi (14.3%), Triodontophorus (13.14%), Cyathostomes (9.7%), Strongloides westeri (6.3%), Gastrodiscus aegypticus (5.0%), Anoplocephala (4.6%), Oxyurisequi (3.8%), Gastrophilus species (2.85%) and Fasciola species (1.76%). Of the examined, 80% had mixed infection with two or more parasites. Upon further coproculture analysis, the predominant larvae of GIT parasites recovered were: S. vulgaris, P. equorum, S. edentatus, T. axie, S. equinus and Dictyocaulus arnfieldi. The prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was higher in female donkeys than males with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) between them. The results demonstrate that prevalence rate of gastrointestinal parasite infection was relatively higher in females, young and poor body conditioned donkeys than males, adult and good body condition scores. The results generated can inform the design of control strategies for helmenth infestation in donkeys. An immediate intervention seems an emphasis to awareness creation about the strategic deworming, animal welfare and management for control of helmenth infestation in donkeys. Key words: Ovo-culture, eggs per gram (EPG), faeces, intensity, gastrointestinal parasite, prevalence, Central Ethiopia.