The Gastrointestinal Helminthiasis in Cattle at Selected Abattoirs in Anambra Central Senatorial Zone, Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Cattle are a major source of livelihood, animal protein, flexible income, employment, farm energy, and manure, yet gastrointestinal parasitic diseases hamper their thriving and productivity. Objectives: In this study, a total of 150 cattle from Awka, Amansea, and Nkwor-Ogidi abattoirs in Anambra State, Nigeria were subjected to gastrointestinal parasites examination from the months of April to June 2021 to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthiasis in the study areas. Material and Methods: Faecal samples were collected and examined for the presence of intestinal parasites using direct smear and formol-ether concentration methods which were later viewed under the microscope. Results: The results revealed that 78% of the total cattle examined were positive for intestinal parasites. The result also showed the presence of six different intestinal parasite species, in which the trematode group (Fasciola gigantica and Schistosoma bovis) recorded the highest prevalence of 57.3%, while the nematodes (Ascaris spp and Strongyloides spp) had the least prevalence of 14.6%. Statistical analysis showed that there was a significant difference in the prevalence of intestinal parasites in the cattle (p=0.002). Conclusion: The overall prevalence of the different types of gastrointestinal parasites recorded is high enough to cause major health issues in the cattle and low cattle productivity thereby leading to economic loss. This high prevalence of parasitic infection also poses a serious risk to the human population because most of these parasites are zoonotic and can also infect man through the consumption of meat that is not properly cooked, so adequate control measures should be implemented.