The Prevalence of Gastro-Intestinal Parasites of Small Ruminants in Madagali Local Government Area, Adamawa State Nigeria

The frequency of gastro-intestinal parasite has been increasing over the years resulting to loss of many species of ruminant animals and majority is in developing and tropical countries. Madagali Local Government Area is one of the Local Governments faced with numerous problems of helminthiasis occasioned by instability within the farming sectors. This study is aimed at determining and assessing the Prevalence, clinical and parasitological effects of Gastro-intestinal parasite of small ruminants with reference to sex and age in the study area. Five (5) grams of faecal samples were collected directly from the rectum of the animals and was examined in laboratory using saturated sodium chloride solution as a flotation medium. The data was subjected to statistical analysis (Mann Whitney U-test) at 5% level of significance. The population of the study consists of 249 sheep and goats which were conveniently sampled from the three (3) districts. The result reveals that 126 sheep and goats were positive with ova (eggs), the result of the faecal examination also show that 42.0% males, 52.2% females, 51.6% adult and 40.0% young sheep were found infected, while 46.0% males, 57.1% females, 54.4% adult and 35.3% young goats were positive with at least one ova. Strongyle had the highest prevalence while trichuris had the least in terms of egg counts per gram of faeces and across the months with statistical significant difference (p<0.05). KeywordsAdamawa, Gastro-Intestinal Parasite, Helminthes, Madagali, Nigeria, Prevalence, Ruminants