PREVALENCE AND INTENSITY OF GASTRO-INTESTINAL NEMATODE INFECTIONS IN SHEEP AND GOATS IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study evaluated gastro-intestinal nematode (GIN) infections in small ruminants in northern Nigeria, assessing diagnostic methods and parasite burden associations with clinical indicators. A cross-sectional study of 40 small ruminant species (20 sheep and 20 goats), the study lasted for the period of 3 weeks and completely randomized design was adopted for evaluating GIN. Results revealed an 82.5% overall GIN prevalence, with sheep (88.0%) significantly more infected than goats (73.3%). Young animals (3–12 months) exhibited 1.8-fold higher fecal egg counts (EPG) than adults. The FAMACHA© anaemia scoring system showed a strong positive correlation with EPG (r = 0.78, p < 0.001), confirming its field utility for detecting Haemonchus contortus infections. Poor body condition scores (BCS ≤2) were linked to higher EPG (1620 ± 380 vs. 920 ± 240, p = 0.003), underscoring the impact of parasitism on health. Larval culture identified H. contortus (58.3%) as the dominant species, followed by Trichostrongylus spp. (25.0%) and Oesophagostomum spp. (16.7%), with mixed infections in 31.8% of cases. The findings highlighted the need for targeted anthelmintic use, particularly in young stock, and validate FAMACHA© tool for selective treatment in resource-limited settings. Integrated parasite management combining clinical assessments and pasture strategies is recommended to mitigate anthelmintic resistance and improve small ruminant productivity.