Parasites In Goats Research Articles

Incidence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites in goats and their therapeutic management

As per faecal examination the incidence of gastrointestinal helminth parasite infection in goats was 80 per cent. The percentage of infections was highest in monsoon season followed by winter and summer season. Susceptibility to the infection was highest in older age groups (>24 months age) followed by adult goat (12.1-24 months age) and kid (1-12 months age). The infection percentage in female is slightly high as compared to the male goats due to maintenance and production stress. Majority of the goats were suffering from mix infection of Haemonchus species, Trichostrongylus species, Stongyloidesspecies, Oesophagostomumspp., amphistomes and Fasciola spp. with some cases of Trichuris spp., Bunostomum spp. and Moniezia spp. Ivermectin and Clorsulon was found to be most effective for the treatment of gastrointestinal nematode parasites as compared to Closantel and Fenbendazole.

Medicinal plants used to control internal and external parasites in goats.

The use of medicinal plants plays a major role in the primary health care of animals in South Africa. A survey was conducted to document medicinal plants used to control parasites in goats in Kwezi and Ntambethemba villages in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Information from 50 farmers and 3 herbalists was obtained through the use of a structured questionnaire, and a snowball sampling technique was used to identify key informants. The obtained data were analysed using PROC FREQ of SAS (2003), and fidelity level values were determined to estimate the healing potential of the mentioned plants. The survey revealed nine plant species belonging to eight families that were used to control parasites in goats. Asphodelaceae (22.22%) was the most frequently used plant family. Leaves were the most used plant parts, constituting 60.38%. They were prepared either as infusions or decoctions of single plants or in mixtures. Aloe ferox, Acokanthera oppositifolia and Elephantorrhiza elephantina were the plants having the highest fidelity level for their use to control parasites, each scoring 100%, followed by Albuca setosa (83.33%). The study revealed low knowledge about ethno-veterinary medicine in the study area. It also revealed that information on ethno-veterinary medicine in this area is mostly confined to older people and there is danger that this knowledge can be lost before being passed on to other generations. Therefore, there is an urgent need to document information on these plant species so that the future generation can benefit. Further investigation should be carried out to validate the efficacy and safety of the above-mentioned plants so as to provide cheap alternative ways of controlling parasites.

The Impact of Diet on Expression of Genes Involved in Innate Immunity in Goat Blood

<p>Sericea Lespedeza (SL), is a high-quality, low input forage that suppresses gastro-intestinal parasites in goats. The effect of dietary SL on the expression of genes involved in innate immunity in goats has not been established. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of a diet containing SL on the expression of genes involved in innate immunity in goat blood. Blood was collected by jugular venipuncture from goats fed a diet of 75% SL (n = 9) and a control group (n = 7), fed a SL free diet. Blood was used to evaluate expression of (CD-14, TLR-2, TLR-4, IL-10, IL-8, IL-2, INF-r, and TNF-a). Serum was extracted and used for evaluation of the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-a, IFNr, granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GMCSF), IL-1a, IL-8, IP-10 and RANTES) using a commercial ELISA kit. The level of gene expression of CD-14, TLR-2, TLR-4, IL-10, IL-8, IL-2, INF-r, and TNF-a was higher in treated animals compared to control. The <em>Sericea Lespedeza</em> diet affected the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines by increasing the serum levels of TNF-a, IFNr, GCSF, GMCSF, IL-1a, IP-10 (<em>P</em> < 0.0002), and by decreasing (<em>P</em> < 0.0001) IL-8 and RANTES in blood from goats fed SL. This suggests that dietary tannins modulate gene expression and may affect the goat's innate immune response in blood. Further research is needed to understand and harness the effect of dietary condensed tannins to modulate innate immunity in goats.</p>

Targeting essential Eimeria ninakohlyakimovae sporozoite ligands for caprine host endothelial cell invasion with a phage display peptide library.

Eimeria ninakohlyakimovae is an important coccidian parasite of goats which causes severe diarrhoea in young animals. Specific molecules that mediate E. ninakohlyakimovae host interactions and molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis are still unknown. Although strong circumstantial evidence indicates that E. ninakohlyakimovae sporozoite interactions with caprine endothelial host cells (ECs) are specific, hardly any information is available about the interacting molecules that confer host cell specificity. In this study, we describe a novel method to identify surface proteins of caprine umbilical vein endothelial cells (CUVEC) using a phage display library. After several panning rounds, we identified a number of peptides that specifically bind to the surface of CUVEC. Importantly, caprine endothelial cell peptide 2 (PCEC2) and PCEC5 selectively reduced the infection rate by E. ninakohlyakimovae sporozoites. These preliminary data give new insight for the molecular identification of ligands involved in the interaction between E. ninakohlyakimovae sporozoites and host ECs. Further studies using this phage approach might be useful to identify new potential target molecules for the development of anti-coccidial drugs or even new vaccine strategies.

Modulation of the pro-inflammatory molecules E-selectin and TNF-α gene transcription in Eimeria ninakohlyakimovae-infected primary caprine host endothelial cells

Eimeria ninakohlyakimovae is an important coccidian parasite of goats which causes severe hemorrhagic typhlocolitis in young animals, thereby leading to high economic losses in goat industry worldwide. The first merogony of E. ninakohlyakimovae occurs within host endothelial cells (ECs) of the lacteal capillaries of the villi of the distal ileum resulting in the formation of macromeronts (up to 170μm) within 10–12days post-infection (p.i.) and releasing >120,000 merozoites I. The E. ninakohlyakimovae-macromeront formation within highly immunoreactive host endothelial cells (ECs) should rely on several regulatory processes to fulfill this massive replication. Here host EC–parasite interactions were investigated to determine the extent of modulation carried out by E. ninakohlyakimovae in primary caprine umbilical vein endothelial cells (CUVEC) during the first merogony. Gene transcription of the adhesion molecule E-selectin and the cytokine TNF-α were significantly enhanced in the first hours and days p.i. in E. ninakohlyakimovae-infected CUVEC. The activation of CUVEC was also demonstrated by enhanced chemokine CCL2 and cytokine GM-CSF gene transcription, whereas no differences of the eNOS gene transcription were observed in E. ninakohlyakimovae-infected CUVEC when compared to un-infected controls. The data presented here suggest that infection of caprine host ECs by E. ninakohlyakimovae results in EC activation associated with enhanced gene transcription encoding for pro-inflammatory as well as immunomodulatory molecules, which might be important for the defense against this intracellular parasite.

Anthelmintic efficacy and pharmacokinetics of pour-on eprinomectin (1 mg/kg bodyweight) against gastrointestinal and pulmonary nematode infections in goats

Two controlled studies were performed to assess the efficacy and pharmacokinetics of topical 0.5% w/v eprinomectin (EPRINEX® Pour-on, Merial) against nematode infections of goats. Each study included 16 male castrated goats, less than one year old, harboring induced infections of adult gastrointestinal and pulmonary nematodes. Following blocking on pre-treatment bodyweight and random allocation to one of two groups, half the goats in each study were treated once with eprinomectin (1mg/kg bodyweight, administered topically), and half remained untreated and served as controls. Plasma concentrations of eprinomectin were determined in blood samples collected prior to and at multiple time points up to necropsy. Efficacy was determined based on the nematode counts of the animals following necropsy 14 days after treatment.Efficacy of treatment was 100% against adult Haemonchus contortus, Nematodirus battus, Nematodirus spathiger, Oesophagostomum venulosum, Teladorsagia circumcincta and Dictyocaulus filaria was >94% against adult Cooperia curticei, Trichostrongylus axei and Trichostrongylus colubriformis, and was 89.4% against adult Strongyloides papillosus (p<0.01). Basic pharmacokinetic parameters of eprinomectin (B1a component) for the goats in the two studies were: AUClast, 23.5±5.19/36.0±8.74 day*ng/mL; and Cmax, 3.65±1.12/5.25±1.39ng/mL, respectively; individual maximum plasma concentrations were observed 1 or 2 days after treatment. Results of the studies consistently demonstrated a high therapeutic efficacy of topical eprinomectin at 1mg/kg bodyweight against a broad range of gastrointestinal and pulmonary nematode parasites of goats.

Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites of Goats in Ibadan, Southwest, Nigeria

A prevalence study on the gastro intestinal parasites of goats was carried out for six months from May to October, 2014 in Ibadan, South Western, Nigeria. Four hundred (400) goats’ faecal samples comprising of 103 West African Dwarf and 297 Red sokoto breeds were collected from goats in households, market places and abattoir. They were examined for intestinal helminth eggs and protozoan oocysts using direct microscopic examination and sodium chloride floatation technique. Out of the 400 faecal samples examined, 303(75.75%) were positive for gastrointestinal parasites. The Red sokoto breed had a higher prevalence of 217(54.25%) while West African dwarf breed had the lower prevalence of 86(21.5%). Male goat had a prevalence of 163(40.85%) while female had a prevalence of 140(35%). The gastro intestinal parasites observed were Strongyloides papiillosus, Monieza spp, Coccidia spp and Strongyle spp. Strongyle spp had the highest prevalence while Monieza spp had the lowest prevalence. Of the total 217(54.3%) Red sokoto breeds positive for helminths, 120(30%) had mixed parasitic gastro-intestinal infection while 74(18.5%) of the total 86 (21.5%) WAD goats positive for helminth also had mixed infection. We suggest good management practices, prompt diagnosis and treatment with anthelmintic and antiprotozoa drugs and education of animal owners on bio-security as panacea to reduce the risk of infection and increase productivity of the animals.

Prevalence of Linguatula serrata nymphs in slaughtered goats in Isfahan province

BACKGROUND: Linguatula serrata, a tongue worm, is an aberrant cosmopolitan parasite, which inhabits the canine respiratory system (final host). The discharged eggs infect many plant feeder, including ruminants and human being, that produce visceral and nasopharyngeal linguatulosis which is known as Marrara syndrome in man. OBJECTIVES: In the current study, the prevalence rate of infection with L. serrata nymphs in mesenteric and mediastinal lymph nodes (MLNs) of slaughtered goats was investigated by cutting in MLNs and observing them in Isfahan Province, Iran. METHODS: The MLNs of 620 slaughtered goats, including 197 females and 423 males, after the preparation of the lymph nodes, were examined for L. serrata nymphs by cutting them longitudinally and testing them by using a dissecting microscope for L. serrata nymphs. Then, in the suspected cases, the samples were digested by pepsin and hydrochloric acid and were examined for presence of L. serrata nymphs. Goats were categorized into four age groups, including 3.5 years. RESULTS:The results showed that 54.35% of the examined goats were infected with L. serrata. Sex had no significant effect on the prevalence rate of this parasite in goats. CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence rate of infection in goats suggests a possible similar high rate of infection in other animals and man in the investigated area, which emphasizes undertaking strict control measures to reduce the risk of zoonotic outbreaks.

The impact of grazing management on seasonal activity of gastrointestinal parasites in goats

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine the impact of grazing management and other risk factors (age, treatment practices) on seasonal activity of gastrointestinal (GI) parasites in goats. Goat flocks naturally infected with GI parasites reared on four Lithuanian farms representing different management regimes were examined during the grazing season in 2011/2012. On three farms the adult goats were grazed in different ways on open pastures (with or without supplementary feeding) or tethered. On one farm all animals were kept indoor (zero-grazing). On each farm, samples were collected at monthly intervals from 13–15 adult and 10 kids. The results showed that grazing of adult goats with feed supplementation or kept indoor, shed the lowest number of strongyle eggs when compared to those kept on pasture (P &lt; 0.05). Delayed turnout and zero-grazing significantly reduced excretion of strongyle eggs but increased the output of oocysts when compared to those grazed on set-stocked pasture together with adult goats. The most prevalent genus on all farms and in both age groups of goats were Teladorsagia spp. This study demonstrates that goats are infected with mixed species of parasites, but proportions of these parasites differed in different grazing management systems. The grazing management, age and season were all major factors that had an impact on GI parasite infection.

Lectin, hemolysin and protease inhibitors in seed fractions with ovicidal activity against Haemonchus contortus.

Bioactive molecules of plant species are promising alternatives for the chemical control of gastrointestinal nematodes in ruminants. Extracts of native and exotic seed species from Brazil's semi-arid region were tested in vitro in an egg hatch assay and the bioactivity of their proteins was investigated. Each seed species was subjected to three extractions with three types of solvents. All the seeds showed ovicidal activity, which varied according to the solvents. Higher ovicidal activity was found in the molecule fractions of low molecular weight (<12 kDa) for Albizia lebbeck, Ipomoea asarifolia, Jatropha curcas, Libidibia ferrea, Moringa oleifera and Ricinus communis (P<0.05, Bonferroni test). The two fractions of Crotalaria spectabilis showed the same ovicidal activity (P>0.05, Bonferroni test). Hemagglutinating activity was detected in the fractions of C. spectabilis and M. oleifera fractions, hemolysin activity in the A. lebbeck and M. oleifera fractions, serine protease inhibitory activity in the A. lebbeck, I. asarifolia, J. curcas, M. oleifera and R. communis fractions, cysteine protease inhibitor activity in the M. oleifera fraction, and no protein activity in the L. ferrea fraction. The results of this work reveal new plant species with a potential for use in controlling nematode parasites in goats, thus opening a new field of research involving plant protein molecules with ovicidal properties.

Outbreaks of bacterial pneumonia in dairy cows

Mannheimia haemolytica causes respiratory disease and deaths in housed adult dairy cowsCongenital sarcoma in a neonatal Hereford calfUnusual presentation of pregnancy toxaemia in housed ewesGastrointestinal parasitism in goats associated with...

PREVALENCE OF THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT PARASITE IN GOATS IN SULAIMANI PROVINCE

Parasitosis, especially parasitic gastro-enteritis, constitute to cause a serious health threat and a limitation to the productivity of small ruminants due to the associated morbidity, mortality, cost of treatment and control measures.A survey of the prevalence of gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) parasites in goats was conducted in and around Sulaimani province/Kurdistan Region /Iraq. Fecal survey of eggs/oocysts of gastrointestinal parasites of goats on the Sulaimani farms was conducted between September 2009 and May 2010 out of 316 fecal samples were collected from local bread type goats and from four selected area of Sulamani province that was Sulamani center, Arbat, Aghgeler and Said sadeq 142 (44.9%) were positive. All fecal samples were examined by using saturated sodium chloride floatation technique. Relative percentage prevalence 55(38.7%), 47(33%), 29(20.4%), 4(2.8%) was obtained for Nematodirus spathiger, Marshallagia marshalli, Trichuris ovis and Eimeria oocysts respectively. Total mixed infection that means more than one type of parasite infected were 7(2.2%) Mixed infection by Trichuris ovis eggs+Nematodirus spathiger eggs had the highest prevalence of 4(2.8%) while the lowest was by Nematodirus spathiger+Marshallagia marshalli+Trichuris ovis with 1(0.7%). Other mixed infection was Trichuris ovis+ Eimeria oocysts with 2(1.4%).

Occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in goats from the Western Santa Catarina, Brazil.

This study aims to investigate the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in goats from the Western Santa Catarina, Brazil. Twenty four farms were analyzed in 17 different municipalities. Animals (n=217) from different production purposes (milk and meat) and age were randomly chosen. Fecal samples were collected from the rectum stored in plastic bottles and transported to the laboratory in portable coolers at 10 °C. The technique of centrifugal flotation with saturated sugar solution was carried out in order to investigate the presence of eggs, cysts, and oocysts of gastrointestinal parasites. In 88.9% of the investigated animals, it was observed that the presence of nematode eggs which belongs to the Strongylida order, after cultivation and larvae identification were identified as Haemonchus spp., Trichostrongylus spp., Teladorsagia spp., Cooperia spp., and Oesophagostomum spp. Eggs of Thysanosoma, Trichuris, Moniezia, and Neoascaris genus were also observed. Additionally, the presence of oocysts of Eimeria spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. as well as cysts of Giardia spp., and Entamoeba spp. were verified. In all the farms evaluated, the animals showed a single or mixed infection, with the highest occurrence of helminths belonging to the Haemonchus and Trichostrongylus genus, as well as the protozoan Eimeria.

Antihelminthic and Anticoccidial Effects of Vernonia Amygdalina in Goats

The deteriorating and adverse effect of chemoprophylaxis and chemotherapy in livestock production has been well documented, however, not many alternatives with minimal or no side effects are available for treatment and control of parasite infections. Vernonia amygdalina, also known as bitter leaf, has been reported to have various medicinal properties, however, its antihelminthic and anticoccidial properties in goats has not been investigated despite anecdotal reports of its antidiarrhoiec effects in the specie. 20 goats were bought from various households, stabilized, divided into treatment group of fifteen and control group of five. They were fed on pasture and allowed to acquire natural parasite infection that was confirmed by feacal count and culture. The treatment groups were fed with V. amygdalina leaves and young stalk ad libitum for two days while the control group was denied access to the plant. Feacal samples were collected on days 1, 2, 4 and 7, post treatment and sent to laboratory for analysis. The ingestion of Vernonia amygdalina was effective in the clearance of helminth eggs and coccidian cysts with an efficacy of 100% for helminths and 99.4% for coccidia. Five goat owners with herds ranging between five to twelve in number diagnosed with helminth infecton were asked to feed V. amygdalina leaves to the goats once a week. All the goats were free of helminth infection within the period of four weeks that they were monitored. The effect of Vernonia amygdalina on helminth and coccidian parasites in goats has corroborated findings by other authors in other animal species and man. The plant provides an alternative and natural antiparasitic agent for goat heminth and coccidian that is environment friendly and without the effect of chemical residues. Further, studies on the dose may have to be carried out.

Does Feeding System Influence Parasitism in Black Bengal Goats in Bangladesh?

To study the parasitism in goats in relation to different feeding systems, 1110 goats from different areas of Jaypurhat, Tangail, Netrakona and Mymensingh districts were examined. By fecal sample examination, 76.5% goats were found to be infected with one or more species of endoparasites. In this study, 9 types of helminths’ ova were identified such as Fasciola gigantica (14.8%), Paramphistomum sp. (28.5%), Schistosoma indicum (3.2%), strongyles (35%), Strongyloides sp. (17.4%), Toxocara spp. (1.5%), Trichuris sp. (4.6%), Capillaria sp. (1.2%) and Moniezia sp. (3.7%). Two types of protozoa were also detected, namely, Eimeria sp. (7.1%) and Balantidium coli (5.5%). Along with these, five species of ectoparasites were found: two species were lice such as Damilinia caprae (13.9 %) and Linognathus vitulli (4.2%), and two species were ticks namely, Haemophysalis bispinosa (21.2%), Rhipicaphalus (Boophilus) microplus (3.6%) and one species was mite, namely, Demodex sp. (2.9%). Mean parasitic burden of Paramphistomum sp. (259.81 ± 3.35) was the highest followed by Eimeria sp. (224.1 ± 16.9) and Moniezia sp. (204.9 ± 19.7). Prevalence of helminths and protozoa was significantly (P&lt;0.01) highest in extensive system (86.1%) followed by semi-intensive (76.3%) and intensive system (57.5%). Ova of Schistosoma indicum was absent in the fecal sample of goats of intensive system. Goats of extensive and semi-intensive systems were 4.6 and 2.4 times more susceptible to helminth infection than those of intensive system. Ectoparasitic infestation was the highest in semi-intensive system (59.7%) followed by extensive system (33.5%) and intensive system (8.2%). In conclusion, the present study suggests that feeding system has a great impact on the prevalence of parasites in Black Bengal goats. Further study can be carried out to determine the effect of parasitism in the production performance of Black Bengal goats.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/pa.v22i1-2.16470 Progress. Agric. 22(1 &amp; 2): 85-95, 2011

Ocorrência das doenças parasitárias em ovinos e caprinos no Distrito Federal, Brasil, durante 2003 a 2009

O parasitismo é um dos principais fatores limitantes na produção animal em geral. A ovinocultura e caprinocultura são afetadas por diversos parasitas que representam significativas perdas em carne, leite e lã da cultura. A introdução recente de ovinos e caprinos no Centro-Oeste brasileiro trouxe consigo novas enfermidades antes não relatadas na região. O objetivo deste estudo é descrever a ocorrência dos principais parasitas que afetam os caprinos e ovinos no Distrito Federal e região do entorno e os fatores predisponentes destas enfermidades ao rebanho local, revisando os casos obtidos pela necropsia dos animais no período de 2003 a 2009. Nos meses de outubro de 2009 a julho de 2010 foram revistos os laudos de necropsia da região, em retrospectiva dos anos de 2003 a 2009, à procura das casuísticas por doenças parasitárias. Verificou-se a ocorrência de endoparasitoses e ectoparasitoses em pequenos ruminantes. Os principais parasitas encontrados foram o Haemonchus contortus e Oestrus ovis nas duas culturas, porém Oesophagostomun sp. ocorreu apenas em ovinos. Encontrou-se maior ocorrência de Haemonchose na estação chuvosa do Cerrado. Este é o primeiro trabalho epidemiológico descritivo sobre parasitismo em cabras e ovelhas na região.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of two medicinal plants Vernonia amygdalina and Leonotis nepetaefolia on the gastrointestinal parasites of goats in Rwanda: Case study of Huye and Gisagara districts

The two most commonly used medicinal plants as traditional healers were identified (Vernonia amygdalina and Leonotis nepetaefolia) and were tested for their effectiveness as antiparasitic drugs on the gastrointestinal parasites of goats in some sectors of Huye and Gisagara districts of Rwanda. A survey was conducted which revealed that 87.5% of the knowledge of veterinary traditional medicine is transmitted from generation to generation. The combination of V. amygdalina and L. nepetafolia is used at an average of 87.5% while V. amygdalina alone is used on the average of 66.7%. For the goats treated with the combination of V. amygdalina and L. nepetafolia(group 1), the mean prevalence of faecal shedding of strongyles’ eggs was 78%, while for those treated with L. nepetafolia alone (group 2) was 77.4% for pregnant goats and 86% for empty ones. For the fecal excretion of coccidial oocysts, the average prevalence was 73% for group 1 and 39% for group 2 whereas it was 13% for nematodirus. This investigation showed no influence of the sex or the age on the fecal egg excretion of Strongyle eggs and coccidia oocysts. The results showed that the single treatments were not effective in reducing the eggs in the faeces while the repeated treatments caused a considerable fall of level of faecal gastro-intestinal egg excretion of strongyle as from day 14. Key words: Coccidian oocytsts, effectiveness, gastrointestinal helminthes, goats,Leonotis nepetaefolia, medicinal plants, Strongyle egg, Vernonia amygdalina.

The Use of Ethnoveterinary Medicine in Goats in Lentsweletau Village in Kweneng District of Botswana

The study was conducted to document the use of ethnoveterinary medicine in goats in Lentsweletau village in Kweneng district of Botswana. Structured questionnaires were used to collect information from 30 goat owners. The respondents were 53.33% females and 46.67% males. Seventy percent of the respondents used both modern and traditional medicine, 16.67% used modern medicine only, 10% used traditional remedies only and 3.33% used no medication on their goats. Nineteen ailments were reported, of which pasteurollosis and contagious abortion were the most frequent. The study revealed 13 plant species and other non-plant remedies which were commonly used in the treatment of diseases and the control of intestinal parasites in goats. Aloe spp. (Mokgwapha) was the most frequent plant used (17.65%). The plant was used to treat diarrhoea, cough and mange. Leaves and roots were the most frequently used plant parts used (35.29% each), followed by whole plant (23.54%) and lastly the bark (5.88%). Several non-plant remedies were reported. These included animal products like pig’s fat and a ground body of a dead old millipede. The medicinal value of the EVM documented in the present study should be confirmed in the laboratory so that they could be safely used by resource-limited farmers in the village.

Preliminary Assessment of Goat Piroplasmosis in Benadir Region, Somalia

Haemoparasites are major-constraints on livestock production in tropical and sub-tropical countries. This study was conducted during 2012-2013 to determine the prevalence of blood parasites in goats of small-holders in Benadir region, Somalia and update epidemiological data that had already lost during the civil war in the country. A total of 100 blood samples were collected from goat in Wadajir (47 goat) and Dharkeynley (53 goat) districts, using venipuncture of jugular vein. The samples were examined for the presence of blood parasites using light microscopy. Some ticks when presented in the sampled animals—were also collected for tick identification. Analysis of blood smears revealed 100% samples positive for blood parasites. Out of these cases, 22 samples (22%) were harboring single infection of Babesia spp. and 14 samples (14%) were having single infection of Theileria spp. Interestingly the Remaining 64 blood samples (64%) showed mixed infection of Babesia spp. with Theileria spp. Rhipicephalus evertsi (72.84%), Rhipicephalus pulchellus (34.57%), Amblyomma lepidum (3.70%) and Hyalomma rufipes (1.23%) were identified from the investigated goats. In conclusion, the findings of this study indicated that, the prevalence of tick and tick-borne diseases were considered to be high in Benadir region of Somalia. A further area wide in-depth study is recommended in the country.

English

Aloe ferox&nbsp;is used by&nbsp;communal farmers in the Eastern Cape in the treatment of gastrointestinal parasites in goats. In this study, the&nbsp;leaf aqueous extract&nbsp;of A. feroxwas evaluated for its potential toxicity, using the acute, sub-acute and chronic toxicity models in rats. The plant extract was administered by oral route at doses ranging from 200 to 1600 mg/kg. No deaths were recorded in acute toxicity. In sub-acute toxicity, the extract caused mortalities; 75% at 800 mg/kg and 100% at 1600 mg/kg dose. The plant extract also caused a significant (P&lt;0.05) increase in levels of platelets, neutrophils and monocytes. Biochemical results showed a significant (P&lt;0.05) increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alanine amino transferase (ALT), as well as a decrease in albumin levels. In chronic toxicity, there was a significant (P&lt;0.05) increase in platelets, lymphocytes and basophils. There was also a significant (P&lt;0.05) increase in urea, bilirubin and globulin levels, and a significant (P&lt;0.05) decrease in albumin levels. Body weight reduction and lesions on kidneys, lungs, hearts and spleen were observed. The results show that the plant is toxic at doses of 400 mg/kg and above. Key words:&nbsp;Aloe ferox, blood, extract, organs, toxicity