Prevalence of gastro intestinal parasites in goats of Northeast region of India

Abstract

Gastrointestinal (GI) parasitism in small ruminants is one of the major problems in the Indian subcontinent. The recent study was designed to generate prevalence data on GI parasitism of goats in the Northeastern states of India. Out of 777 faecal samples examined, 276 were found to be positive for gastrointestinal parasites (prevalence 35.52%) and the highest prevalence recorded was 46.67% in Sikkim and lowest 23.86% in Arunachal Pradesh. On an average, the females were mostly found to be infected as compared to the males, the highest being recorded were from Sikkim (60%). Age wise data revealed the adults were mostly infected as compared to the young ones, the highest being recorded from Sikkim (62.50%). Females were mostly infected in majority of the states as compared to the males. Species of gastrointestinal nematode eggs recorded on microscopic examination of faecal samples were viz. Trichostrongylus spp., Haemonchus contortus and Oesophagostomum spp. amongst the Strongyle nematodes, oocysts of coccidia and amphistome eggs amongst the trematodes. Strongyles were the predominant species amongst all helminths recorded.