Preliminary study on the prevalence and risk factors associated with gastrointestinal parasites of Camel in Yabello district, Southern rangelands of Ethiopia

Abstract

A cross sectional study design was used to determine the prevalence and species spectrum of major gastrointestinal parasites affecting camels; and to find out risk factors associated with this parasitic infestation in Yabello district, southern rangelands of Ethiopia. A total of 412 camels of all age and sex were examined between August, 2011 and March, 2012. Collected faecal samples were processed by standard floatation methods and then examined for helminth eggs. Coprological examination revealed that 73.8% (n=304) of the camels excreted helminth eggs/protozoan oocyst in their faeces. Six types of helminth/protozoan parasites eggs/oocyst encountered in descending order of prevalence were, Strongylus species 55.59%, Strongyloides species 13.82%, Trichostrongylus species 10.19%, Monezia species 6.91%, Coccidia and Trichuris species each encountered 1.32%. Single and concurrent infections with two or more parasites were recorded in 89.15% and 10.85% of the cases, respectively. Except for age and treatment factors significantly affected (P<0.05) the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasite infections, all the other factors like origin, sex, body condition score and health status have shown no significant effect on parasitic infestation. The high prevalence and wide spectrum observed in the present study suggests that helminth infection are widespread and may be a constraint to economic camel production, and there is need to institute control measures.

Epidemiological Investigation of Gastrointestinal Parasites of Dromedary Camels in Administrative Zone Three of Afar Region, Ethiopia

“…It is clear that as the age of the camels increases, the exposure to different types of parasites is more and the prevalence of parasites might be higher as well. The present result is supported by different researchers stating that age and prevalence of GIT parasites are directly related in camels [ 9 , 11 , 14 , 19 , 22 ].…”

“…The prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites is higher in females (76.99%) than males (71.76%), but the difference is not statistically significant ( p value >0.05). Many studies reported ideas similar to the present study [ 11 , 16 , 19 – 21 ]. But a study in Nigeria [ 22 ] indicated the presence of statistically significant association between sex and prevalence of parasites.…”

“…e prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in camels in Administrative Zone 3 of the Afar Region is 76% in the present study. Consistently, other authors [9,19] reported that 73.8% and 75.2% of camels harbor one or more types of gastrointestinal parasites in Yabelo district and Southern Ethiopia, respectively. However, the present study indicated higher prevalence than a previous research [11] which indicated the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites to be 30.22% in the Afar Region.…”

“…It is clear that as the age of the camels increases, the exposure to different types of parasites is more and the prevalence of parasites might be higher as well. e present result is supported by different researchers stating that age and prevalence of GIT parasites are directly related in camels [9,11,14,19,22]. e prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites is higher in females (76.99%) than males (71.76%), but the difference is not statistically significant (p value >0.05).…”

“…The present study indicated that a majority (63.74%) of the infected animals were harboring two or more parasites in their GIT (mixed infections). In contrast, a researcher [ 19 ] reported the occurrence of single and concurrent infections which were 89.15% and 10.85%, respectively. However, the present study agrees with the study in Addis Ababa abattoir which reported that all of the camels were harboring at least two parasites [ 15 ].…”