A study on helminthiasis of cattle herds in Kachia grazing reserve ( KGR ) of Kaduna state , Nigeria

Aim: This study was conducted with the aim of determining the prevalence of helminthes in cattle and treatment intervention strategy in Kachia Grazing Reserve (KGR). Materials and Methods: A total of 3,651 cattle from 88 households were randomly selected, sampled and examined . The sampling was spread over three (3) periods; Pre-intervention (1,609), Intervention (1,525) and Post-intervention (517). Both physical examination and laboratory investigation were employed in the study. Results: This study revealed the presence of different types of helminthes in the bovine population of the KGR which include the helminth eggs of Nematodes (Oesophagostomum radiatum, Bonustonum phlebotomum, Tricuris globulosa, Cooperia pectinita, Toxocara vitulorum, Strongiloides papillosus, Strogylus langamus), Cestodes (Moneizia benedeni) and Trematodes ( Schistosoma bovis, Paramphistomum cervi, Fasciola gigantica) at different intervention periods, where by 820 (53.77%) were positive for preintervention, 946 (58.79%) positive for intervention and 205 (39.65%) were positive for postintervention period. Among the eleven species of helminthes identified, P. cervi was the most prevalent in all the periods, followed by O. radiatum. The study also revealed that the cattle in the study area were infected with single and multiple infections. Furthermore, 498(32.66%), 585(36.36%) and 171(33.08%) of cattle for the preintervention, intervention and postintervention periods, respectively had single infection. However, 305 (20%), 381 (23.68%) and 37 (7.16%) of the cattle for the three periods, respectively harbored multiple infections (polyparasitism) caused by two to six different parasites. The results also show that age was a factor in the abundance of the parasites in the cattle as parasites were demonstrated more in adult cattle than the young stock (calves and yearlings). Chi-square and Kruskal Wallis showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the prevalence during the three periods. Conclusion: The present study revealed that helminthes of cattle are common in KGR; hence there is a need for regular faecal examination and routine treatment of the herds instead of treating the individual cases.


Introduction
infected with pathogens that are dangerous to man and other domestic animals.Such are parasites which Among all the livestock that make up the farm include helminthes of Gastrointestinal Tract (GIT).animals in Nigeria, ruminants, comprising sheep, goats Helminth parasites come in three major classifications and cattle, constitute the farm animals largely reared by namely cestodes (tapeworms), nematodes (round farm families in the country's agricultural system [1]. worms) and trematodes (flukes) [3].Helminthiasis is Nigeria has population of 34.5million goats, the disease caused by the presence of helminth 22.1million sheep and 13.9 million cattle.The larger parasites within the GIT of an animal.All species of proportion of these animals' population are however animals can be infected with helminth parasites.The largely concentrated in the northern region of the infection usually is more severe in the very young and country than the southern region [1].
the very old or immuno-compromised animals [4].Cattle represents a valuable asset in both Some adult animals can thrive fairly well while traditional and modern agriculture; they provide meat, infected with some helminth parasites without showing milk, skin and draught power.Additionally they may, obvious clinical signs, while the vast majority suffer in a traditional society be an essential part of the social reduced productivity under heavy worm burdens [4].system, representing a family wealth or they can be The negative impact of helminth infections on regarded as a survival kit by nomadic people [2].livestock productivity in tropical countries has long Despite its usefulness to man, cattle may be been established.

A study on helminthiasis of cattle herds in Kachia grazing reserve (KGR)
of Kaduna state, Nigeria ssitating antihelminthic treatment [7].The significance should also be carefully planned and carried out to of helminthiasis has been recognized by livestock maximize pasture consumption and encourage farmers right from the earliest of times and various immunity of the animal as well as maximizing methods have been employed by them to control productivity [8].According to Radostits et.al.
[15], the helminthes in their animals including the use of predisposing factors to these parasitic diseases include medicinal plants and herbs and different grazing amongst others high concentration of livestock techniques [8].For example, the Fulani herdsmen in population and that the principal problem of parasitic Nigeria start treating calves against helminthes with diseases in cattle is common in areas of highly medicinal plant as early as within a week of birth [9] productive lands where larger number of animals has because they recognize the importance of helminthes been concentrated.in calves of less than a year old.The major control Despite this importance, helminthes are the most method employed against helminth parasites in neglected area of Veterinary care in the developing developing countries as elsewhere is the use of chemocountries (including Nigeria) due to its chronic and therapy [10,11].Mostly broad spectrum anthelmintics insidious nature, with endemic pathogenic, vectors and such as the Benzimidazoles (administerd per os) and diseases particularly where extensive grazing is levamisole hydrochloride (administered per os, practiced [16,17].intramuscularly and subcutaneously) are used.The total Grazing Reserves were established in Nigeria in eradication of most helminthes from livestock is not major cattle producing areas to stabilize the pastoral practical and in some cases not even desirable as some production system.Hence, various state governments of the parasites are necessary for conferring immunity have designated certain land areas for Grazing on the host.The strategies for preventive control must Reserve, one of which is Kachia Grazing Reserve involve stopping a build-up of large numbers of larvae (KGR) located in Kachia Local Government Area in on pasture and anticipation of periods for likely Kaduna State Nigeria.multiplication of larvae on pasture and to move Monitoring cattle numbers and habitat conditions animals from such pastures during those periods.In as well as ascertaining parasites and disease order to achieve this goal there has to be a multifaceted surveillance has become extremely important in approach involving grazing management, use of monitoring adequate number of any healthy livestock.anthelmintics and dependence on acquisition of Therefore, this study is set up to determine the level of immunity.A complete integration of these three gives prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthes in cattle of the best efficient control [8,10].The best forms of different ages in KGR and also to come up with a control of helminthes will require a basic understanding baseline epidemiological data that will serve the of certain principles bordering on the parasite's deveimmediate community which will be useful in the lopmental cycle, mode of transmission and predisposing management of cattle for improved production.factors to infection [12,13].Age of animals is also

Materials and Methods
important in helminth control but some illiterate farmers will not understand this [14].

Most farmers in
Study area: The study was conducted in Kachia, the developing countries have little access to such basic sedentary Fulani communities of KGR in Kaduna information or are not interested.Therefore, they are state, Nigeria.KGR is bounded by three Local not able to make use of such information for the control Government areas which include; Kachia L.G.A., of helminthes in their livestock.In addition to this Zangon Kataf L.G.A and Kaura L.G.A. many farmers are ignorant of the crucial role of KGR is a vast area of land with vegetation strategic deworming programs in livestock.Strategic reserved by the Federal Government for Fulani cattle deworming programs will reduce the worm burden in rearers for the purpose of grazing at one place.It is a livestock and maximize the productivity of the animals good quality farmland with sufficient forage and water in addition to ensuring the protection of other animals for the herds throughout the year and healthy and humans from helminthes of zoonotic importance environment for livestock [18].which can be easily transmitted from animals to man or vice-versa [4].Control of the larval stages will ensure Population size: The KGR comprises six contiguous that the parasite's developmental cycle is broken.The 'Blocks'.These are geographically-distinct adminibreaking of the parasites life cycle can be achieved by strative region.The blocks contain 581 farmers (heads the use of suitable anthelminthic drugs such as Levamisole of households) and 5,252 people.The number of Hydrochloride and various Benzimida-zoles, many of households per block ranges from 80 (Blocks 5 and 6 which also act on the adult stages of the parasites [11]. together) to 188 (Block 2).Five hundred and sixty nine Apart from the use of drugs, there are husbandry households own cattle, of which there are 23,327 practices and measures that are essential for control of animals.Four hundred and fifty two of 581 households helminth parasites.Farmers should avoid early own sheep, of which there are, 5,914 animals.Three morning grazing so that the animals do not take in the hundred and eighty six households of 581 own goats, of infective larvae of the parasite from the pasture.When which there are 5,058 animals [19].the sun rises is the best time to take the animals for Sample size/ procedure: A total of 3,651 cattle from grazing.Rotational and zero grazing of the animals these 88 household were randomly selected.This post-intervention (Table -1).sampling was spread over three periods; Pre- The helminth eggs of Nematodes -Oesophagotointervention (1,609), Intervention (1,525)  determining helminthes community species concenapplied for detection of nematode and cestode eggs, tration in cattle in the KGR which is in agreement with while sedimentation method was used for detection of Fuentes et.al. [24].The result shows that age was a trematode eggs as described by Hansen et. al. and factor in the abundance of the parasites in the animals.Soulsby [20,21] respectively.1g of faeces was Parasites were observed to be more in adult animals weighed for McMaster and 2g for the sedimentation than the young stock (calves and yearlings), and this analysis, respectively.could be due to the fact that older livestock may have been exposed more frequently to infective stages of the Data analysis: Data obtained were subjected to parasites (Table -3).This is in agreement with the report 2 statistical analysis using Chi-Square (χ ) and Kruskal by Ibrahim et al.,[25].The present study demonstrated Wallis test [22].that P. cervi was the most prevalent in all the periods In March (Pre-intervention) 820 (53.77 %) found in the KGR [26,27].Another possible factor is were positive, intervention in June, 946 (58.79%) were that the Fulanis in the KGR through responses to positive and finally 205 (39.65%) were positive for questionnaire revealed that the young stock received more attention from them than the adults with believe the cattle or routine prophylactic treatment of the that the adult cattle have outgrown parasitic attacks herds.which is in agreement with Ibrahim et.al. [9].
3. Government provides Grazing Reserve such as The significant effect of season on helminthes KGR for all the nomadic fulanis in Nigeria for this concentration in this study is evident in the parasite will help to trace and effectively tackle the prevalence observed in the different periods.The problems such as helminth infections when they higher prevalence observed during the intervention are together at a particular place.period (Table-1) could be ascribed to the fact that stool Results and Discussionfollowed by O. radiatum (Table-2).The high prevalence of P. cervi may be attributed to the favorable Distribution and types of parasite eggs in the Preenvironmental factors of temperature and precipitation intervention, Intervention and Post-intervention periods: Veterinary World, EISSN: 2231-0916 Available at www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.6/Nov-2013/22.pdf Reports byKeyyu et.al.andEdosomwan  e6]al.[5,6]containedrecent appraisals of this problem.Helminth infections are important cause of production losses in livestock worldwide often nece-

Table - 2
. Distribution of parasites of cattle during the intervention periods in KGR

Table - 3
. Prevalence of helminth parasites in different age groups of cattle in KGR

Table - 4
. Single and mixed helminth infections among cattle during pre-intervention, intervention and post-intervention periods in KGR