Abstract

STUDY ON PREVALENCE AND INTENSITY OF STRONGYLE NEMATODE INFECTIONS IN WORKING DONKEYS IN AND AROUND ADET TOWN, YILMANA DENSSA WOREDA, ETHIOPIA.

Dr. Ayana Wubie and *Dr. Gashaw Getaneh

Abstract

A cross sectional study was conducted in and around Adet town, Yilmana Densa Woreda from November 2013 to April 2014 to estimate the prevalence and severity of Strongyle nematode infection in working donkeys. A total of 384 faecal samples were collected randomly from donkeys in the study area for quantitative fecal analysis. The overall prevalence of Strongyle infection in study donkeys was 96.4% (370/384). The prevalence of Strongyle infection was 97.3%, 97.1% and 92.2% in young, adult and old animals, respectively. Jacks and Jennies were observed to have Strongyle prevalence of 95.6% and 96.9%, respectively. However, age and sex have no statistically significance difference (P>0.05) with prevalence of Strongyle infection. Mean of egg per gram of faces in young donkeys is significantly higher (P=0.000; F=18.949) than adult and old donkeys. Majority of working donkeys in the study area suffered from severe infection (43.24%) followed by high infection which is 20.81%. The overall worm count ranges from 100-3500 with a mean of 1423.73 worms per donkey. Deworming frequency has been observed to inversely affect severity of parasitic infection. In the current study, body condition score was not good indicator of level of parasitism in the study animals. The result of the current study has demonstrated a high prevalence of Strongyle infection in working donkeys which could contribute to their low work performance and shorter life expectancy. It is suggested that well designed strategic deworming program with better veterinary service for equines, coupled with building the awareness of livestock owners regarding impact of parasites on donkeys should be the steps to take urgently.

Keywords: Adet town, Donkey, Prevalence, Strongyle.