Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Goats in Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria

Abstract

 Globally, gastrointestinal parasites pose a major threat to goat health and productivity, undermining the growth and reproduction of the affected goats. This study assessed the prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal parasites in 100 goats in Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria. The goats were randomly sampled from four locations, namely Crusher, Felele, Old Market, and Zango. Fecal samples were randomly collected and examined using sedimentation and formalin-ether concentration techniques, followed by microscopic identification of fecal sediments for the presence of parasite eggs, oocysts, and larvae. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests to determine associations between parasite prevalence and selected risk factors. An overall parasite prevalence of 67.0% was recorded. Six parasite species were identified and these were: Strongyloides papillosus, Eimeria spp., Trichostrongylus spp., Haemonchus contortus, Moniezia spp., and Trichuris ovis. Strongyloides papillosus and Eimeria spp. were the most frequently encountered parasites across all locations and Moniezia spp. and Trichuris ovis were the least prevalent. However, Chi-square analysis revealed no statistically significant associations between parasite prevalence and location, breed, age group, or sex. Parasite intensity was highest for Strongyloides papillosus and Eimeria spp., indicating their major contribution to the overall parasite burden in the study area. The findings confirm that gastrointestinal parasitism remains widespread among goats in Lokoja and poses a significant threat to productivity. Improved hygiene, strategic deworming, and better grazing management are recommended to reduce infection levels and enhance goat health.