Dry Season Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Ruminants in Sokoto Metropolis

This study was conducted with the aim of determining the dry season (January-May, 2018) prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in special breeds of ruminants in Sokoto Metropolis. A total of 100, 85 and 75 faecal samples were collected from Sudanese breed of Sheep, WAD/Sahel Goats and Friesian Cattle respectively. Faecal samples were examined using standard parasitological techniques (Simple flotation and Centrifugal sedimentation). For the Sheep, a total of 51 samples were positive for presence of gastrointestinal parasites. Male animals have higher prevalence (52.9%) than their female (47.1%) counterparts. The major parasites observed were Eimeria and Strongyles with prevalence of (64.71%), while the least observed parasites were mixed infections (35.29%). From the total of 85 goat faecal samples examined, an overall prevalence of 54.7% was observed. The prevalence rates for Strongyle, Eimeria and mixed infections were 57.5%, 34.0% and 8.5% respectively. The prevalence was more in males than in the females. Strongyleeggs were more, compared to other helminthes eggs. For the Friesian Cattle, sixty (60) samples out of 75 samples analyzed were positive for either Strongyleeggs or Eimeria (oocyst) infection or both (mixed) constituting about 80% prevalence. Forty-two (70%) samples were positive for Strongyle eggs, 14 (23.3%) for Eimeria oocyst and 4 (6.7%) for mixed infection of both. From the overall prevalence, female had a high prevalence of 34(56.7%) than male cattle 26(43.3%). Based on the results of the present findings, it was concluded that gastrointestinal parasitic infections also occur during the dry season in Sokoto which may be as a result of carry-over of infection during the succeeding rainy season.