PREVALENCE AND QUANTITATIVE FAECAL ANALYSIS OF EQUINE GASTROINTESTINAL NEMATODOSIS IN MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA

^1*Biu, A.A., ² Olatunde, K.T., ³Konto, M. ⁴Paul, B.T., and ⁵Ya’uba, A.M

^1-5Department of Veterinary Microbiology & Parasitology

University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria

E-mail Address: biuvet@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

A study on the prevalence and quantitative faecal analysis of equine nematodes was conducted in Maiduguri. A total of 153 faecal samples were examined, and 35(23.1%) prevalence was recorded, revealing 33(22.8%) and 02(28.6%) for male and female horses (p< 0.05); 3-10 year horses had 15(45.5%), 11-21 year horses had 18(17.3%) and 22-35 year horses had 02(13.3%) (p< 0.05). For body coat colour, brown horses had 08(28.6%), black horses had 05(26.3%), white horses had 0(0%), brown white horses had 09(18.4%) and black white horses had 13(25.0%) (p>0.05). Intensively managed horses had 24(20.3%) while semi intensive horses had 11(32.4%) (p< 0.05). Parascaris equorum, Strongyle and Trichonema ova were isolated at 17(48.6%), 15(42.9%) and 03(8.6%) prevalence respectively (p< 0.05) with a mean ± SD (range) egg per gram of faeces (describing the intensity of infection) as 217.7±80.9 (100-500), 200.0±106.9 (100-400) and 116.7±57.7 (100-200) respectively (p<0.05).

Keywords: Prevalence, Quantitative analysis, Equine nematodosis, Nigeria.