Gastrointestinal Helminthes in exotic and indigenous animals slaughtered in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

A total of 464 stool samples were collected from four abattoirs and homes of indigenes in Port Harcourt, Rivers State to determine the prevalence of gastro-intestinal helminthes in exotic cattle and indigenous goats. The formal-ether concentration method was used to analyse the stool samples. The study showed that 251 exotic cattle (White Fulani) Bos indicus; 153 exotic goats (Red Sokoto) Capra hircus and 60 indigenous goats (West African dwarf) Capra hircus were examined in the four abattoirs and communities: Rumuokoro, Eliozu, Ogbogoro, and Aluu in the study area. An overall prevalence of 68.3% was recorded; out of which 156 (62.1%), 112 (73%), and 49 (82%) were recorded for exotic cattle and goat and indigenous goats respectively. However, the overall prevalence amongst the infected animals was not statistically significant. On specific helminthes infections, 62% were infected with nematodes, 13% cestodes and 80 (25%) trematodes. The variability in specific parasitic infections amongst the different animal breeds were not statistically significant. The study suggested that the high prevalence of helminthes infection recorded in the study may be attributable to unfavourable environmental conditions and stress- induced.Keywords: Exotic, Variability, Specific parasites, Stress- induced, “Capra hircus”Nigerian Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 32 [1] March 2011, pp. 45-4