STUDIES ON THE GUT PARASITES OF SMALL RUMINANTS REARED IN SOME SELECTED FARMS IN IDO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, OYO STATE, NIGERIA

This study investigated the prevalence of gut parasites of small ruminants in four farms (2 sheep farms; A and B and 2 goat farms; C and D) in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo state, Nigeria over a period of 4 months (March, 2014 - June, 2014). Faecal samples were obtained from 76 apparently healthy animals (33 sheep and 43 goats) using standard field and laboratory techniques. 64 animals representing a prevalence of 84.21% were infested with gut parasites. The prevalence rates according to the farms were 18.42%, 21.05%, 23.68% and 21.05% for farms A, B, C and D respectively. Five genera of gut parasites were encountered in the study area with Strongyle spp having the highest prevalence of 39.47%. Eimeria spp, Paramphistomum spp, Stongyloides spp and Trichuris spp had prevalence rates of 19.74%, 13.16%, 10.53% and 1.32% respectively. Sex prevalence in male and female sheep were 22.37% and 17.11% respectively, while in goats they were 25.0% and 19.74% for males and females respectively. These were statistically significant (P<0.05). Age prevalence was highest in sheep aged 2-3 years (23.68%) and least in sheep above 3 years old (2.63%). However, goats above 3 years had the highest prevalence (21.05%) while goats less than 2 years old had the least prevalence (3.95%). The breed prevalence of infestation in sheep showed 26.32%, 9.21% and 3.94% for OUDA, Yankasa and WAD respectively, while breed prevalence in goats showed 38.16%, 2.63% and 3.94% for Red Sokoto, WAD and OUDA respectively. There was no significant difference however (P>0.05) in age and breed prevalence of infestation in both sheep and goat in this study. Gut parasite infestations seem to be a problem in small ruminants since egg per gram (EPG) counts was found to range from 0 - 700. This study has shown that more and prompt attention is needed in the control of gut parasitic infestations in the study area. Small ruminant farmers are encouraged to control gut parasite infestations in their sheep and goats by anthelmintic treatment.