PREVALENCE OF SMALL RUMINANTS GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITES IN PANKSHIN TOWN IN PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Gastrointestinal parasites are considered as a major constraints affecting the productive performance of sheep and goats. The study was to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in sheep and goat in Pankshin town Pankshin Local Government Area of plateau state, Nigeria. Total of 250 faecal samples were collected from each of sheep and goats between August and September 2023 where Species, Age and Sex were determine. The result revealed a prevalence rates of 359(71.8%) where infestation in sheep 159(63.6%) and 200(80.0%) in goat and the result showed no significant(P>0.05) difference. In regards to age for both sheep and goat shows significant (P<0.05) difference between the adult and their young counterparts with (157 (65.4%), 192 (87.2%) for adults and 02 (20.0%), 08(26.6%) for the young respectively. There were no significant difference (P>0.05) for sex for sheep and goat. Common gastrointestinal parasites found included Coccidia oocyst, oesophagostomum, Trichuris, Haemonchus, Moneiza, Dicrocoelium, Fasciola and Bunostonum. Proper preventive measures such as regular deworming should be put in place in order to improve on the productivity of small ruminant particularly in the study area.