Gastrointestinal Parasites in Goats (Capra hircus) of Devdaha Municipality-3, Rupandehi, Nepal

Abstract

Goat (Capra hircus) belongs to the Bovidae family which plays an important role in livelihood of farmer but time to time they are encountered with various gastrointestinal parasitic diseases as a major constrain for both the goat and farmers. The study was conducted in Devdaha municipality-3, Rupandehi, Nepal to assess the prevalence of various gastrointestinal parasite of goat. Furthermore, the awareness level, attitude and goat husbandry practice of goat farmers were assessed by using questionnaire survey. For the purpose of determining prevalence of gastrointestinal parasite of goat 160 fecal samples were collected. Parasitological method including direct smear, floatation and sedimentation were employed in the study. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was 76.23% including 11genera. The most common parasites encountered were Eimeria sp. (43.75%), Bunostomum sp. (20%), Haemonchus sp. (17.5%), Trichuris sp. (15.62%), Strongyloides sp. (10%), Fasciola sp. (6.87%), Moneizia sp. (5.62%), Trichostrongylus sp. (3.12%), Oesophagostomum sp. (3.12%) and Muellerious sp. (2.5%). Nematode (53.75%) was the most prevalent parasite in the area than protozoa (43.57%), trematode (6.85%) and cestode (5%). The study revealed the significant difference in prevalence of GI parasites in association with age and sex of the goats. Female were found to be more susceptible than male. Multiple infection was observed in 41.87%. Questionnaire survey revealed that about half of the total responded had knowledge about parasitic disease of goat and also have practice of cleaning the goat sheds and giving antihelminthic drugs to their goats. Majority of them were not aware about the source of transmission of these parasites. Age, sex and the husbandry practice could be the reason for the variation in prevalence of the gastrointestinal parasites in goat.