Survey of Intestinal Parasitic Infestation and its Gross Lesions inApparently Healthy Goats in Maiduguri, Northeastern NigeriaSurvey of Intestinal Parasitic Infestation and its Gross Lesions inApparently Healthy Goats in Maiduguri, Northeastern Niger

One of the main constraints to large scale goat production in the tropics is disease and disorders affecting this species. This study was designed to determine gross intestinal lesions in apparently healthy goats in Maiduguri, Northeastern Nigeria using abattoir samples obtained from the Maiduguri Metropolitan central Abattoir. A total of 250 randomly collected goat intestines obtained from 70 (28%) bucks and 180 (72%) does were used for this study. The intestines were grossly examined for pathologies. The results showed 212 (84.8 %) intestines were found to have different types of lesions/disorders. Out of the 212 intestinal samples affected, 163 (76.9 %) had nodules with different larval stages of different types of helminths, 25 (11.8 %) had severe helminths infestation which was seen occluding the intestinal lumen, 12 (5.7 %) had haemorrhagic lesions in the intestines due to blood sucking activities of helminths, 9 (4.2 %) had ulcerations/erosions and 3 (1.4 %) had cyst within the intestines. This study shows that apparently healthy goats slaughtered at the Maiduguri Metropolitan abattoir are with numerous intestinal pathologies. This could affect productivity in this species. It is advisable that proper diagnoses and treatment or prevention (prophylaxis) of the numerous conditions seen in this study should be applied in a larger scale on goat population in and around Maiduguri on quarterly basis for optimum production and to safeguard the health of this species.