Prevalence and associated risk factors of gastrointestinal helminths and coccidian infections in domestic goats, Capra hircus, in Minya, Egypt

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundHelminth and coccidian infections are among potential parasitic infections in the livestock production. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal helminths as well asEimeiaspecies in domestic goats.ResultsThe overall prevalence of parasitic infections was 50.24% (206/410). Twenty two species of helminth eggs/Eimeriaspp. oocysts were revealed. The prevalence of helminths was 21.95% (90/410) and that ofEimeriaspp. was 39.27% (161/410). Mixed infection was reported in 10.98% (45/410). The highest prevalence was found in young animals (75.0%; 60/80) followed by yearlings (58.46%; 76/130) and the lowest one was in adults (35.0%; 70/200). The infection rate was higher in females (59.02%; 180/305) than males (24.76%; 26/105). The prevalence was mostly highest in summer (63.85%; 83/130) followed by winter (57.78%; 52/90), autumn (40.0%; 28/70) and the lowest one was in spring (35.83%; 43/120). Age, sex and seasonal variations revealed significant (P ≤ 0.05) differences among examined goats. The infection with both nematodes andEimeriaspp. were detected in 7.32% (30/410). The co-infection withEimeriaspp. and tapeworms were found in 2.93% (12/410). Both trematodes andEimeriaspp. were seen in 0.73% (3/410) of examined specimens. NineEimeriaspecies were recorded;Eimeria ninakohlyakim-ovae,E. hirci,E.caprinova,E. caprina,E. christenseni,E. jolchijevi,E. arloingi, E. apsheronicaandE. alijevi. The most predominantEimeriaspecies wasE. arloingi(23.17%; 95/410) and the least abundant one wasE. apsheronica(0.73%; 3/410). The revealed trematodes wereFasciolaspp. (0.49%) andParamphistomumspp. (0.24%). Among cestodes, tapeworms belonged to Anoplocephalids includedMonieziaspp. (7.31%) andAvitellinasp. (0.49%) were detected. Meanwhile, coproculture revealed that the prevalence of nematodes infection was 13.41% (55/410) including nine species;Chabertia ovina,Ostertagia ostertagi,Haemonchus contortus,Trichostrongylus axei,T. colubriformis,Bunostomumsp.,Cooperia oncophora,Cooperia curticeiandStrongyloidesspp.ConclusionIn the present study, the prevalence of helminths was 21.95% and that ofEimeriaspp. was 39.27%, which is considered a high infection rate. Accordingly Strict hygienic measures as well as regular deworming are highly recommended to avoid wide spread of both helminth and coccidial infections.