Gastrointestinal Parasitic Infections of Ruminants in Pastoral Communities of Ondo State, Nigeria

Livestock are important for food production and agricultural systems; however, helminth infections are a major constraint on their productivity and value. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors for helminth infections in four pastoral communities in Ondo State, Nigeria. A total of 1,165 fecal samples from livestock in four pastoral rural/peri-urban communities (Akungba, Ikare, Oka, and Supare) in the Akoko area of Ondo State were screened for gastrointestinal parasitic infections via the sedimentation technique. The overall prevalence of parasitic infections was 67.7%, with sheep having the highest prevalence of infection (72.8%). The prevalence of parasitic infection was significantly associated with the breed of livestock. Important parasites of public health, including Fasciola species, Strongyloides species, Trichuris species, hookworms, Schistosoma species, Trichostrongylus species, and Fasciola species, which are the most common, were isolated in the current study. Two-thirds (75.5%) of the observed prevalence was due to infection with a single helminth species, whereas the remaining one-third (24.5%) comprised infections with two or three species of helminths. Among multiple infections, Fasciola species plus Strongyloides species coinfection had the highest prevalence (46%). The present findings suggest the need for regular epidemiological surveillance and treatment of infected ruminants with gastrointestinal helminths.