Prevalence of Endoparasites of Horses in Jos North and Jos South Local Government Areas of Plateau State Nigeria

Abstract

Parasitism is the most common and economically devastating disease of horses. The study was therefore conducted to determine the prevalence of endoparasites of horses in Jos metropolis. Blood and fecal samples were collected from 83 horses comprising of 48 males and 35 females, the eighty three horses sampled were the available at the time of sampling. Samples were processed and examined for gastrointestinal and haemoparasites infection. The prevalence was 74.7% for gastrointestinal parasites and 36.1% for haemoparasites infection. Only one horse (1.00%) was found to have gastrointestinal and haemoparasites infection. The prevalence of hemoparasites was found to be higher (43.9%) in females than in males (31.3%). Species of gastrointestinal parasites identified were, Trichonema spp 30 (31.70%), Triodontophorus tenuicollis 35 (55.60%) and Gastrodiscus aegyptiacus 10 (12.70%). Haemoparasites identified were Babesia equi 15 (50.00%), Babesia caballi 14 (46.7 %) and microfilariae 3 (10.0%). The prevalence of the parasites detected in the study were significantly different in sex and location (p>0.05).