Prevalence assessment of gastrointestinal parasitic infections among goats in Giza Governorate, Egypt

Abstract

BackgroundGastrointestinal parasitic diseases remain an obstacle in goat industry in Egypt and worldwide. This study was conducted for assessing the prevalence of the gastrointestinal parasitic infections among goats in Giza Governorate, Egypt. To fulfill this study, examination of 225 fecal samples of live animals kept by small holders was done, as well as postmortem investigation of 135 random slaughtered goats’ gastrointestinal tracts was achieved during the period from March to May 2018.ResultsThe examination of fecal samples revealed that overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic infections among goats was 89.33%. The respective prevalence of kids, yearling, and adults were 89.16%, 98.44%, and 82.05%. The common parasitic infections prevalent were Coccidia spp. (76.89%), Entamoeba spp. (26.22%), Moniezia spp. (18.22%), Strongyle group (12.88%), Trichuris ovis (5.33%), Strongyloides papillosus (3.55%), Balantidium coli (2.66%), and Fasciola spp. (0.89%), successively. Mixed infection was recorded as 61.77% in the examined goats. The present study showed that the prevalence of infection by Coccidia spp., Moniezia spp., and Strongyle group was the highest in the yearling age group. In contrary, the infection prevalence of Entamoeba spp. was significantly high in the adult age group. No significant difference was found relying on the sex of the goats. The post-slaughtering finding showed that Haemonchus contortus was the most prevalent nematode followed by Trichuris ovis and Trichostrongylus axei. Remarkable infection percentage of Taenia hydatigena metacestode (Cysticercus tenuicolli) is recorded in the omentum of the intestine (31.85%).ConclusionsThe present study provides basic data about the most prevalent GIP diseases among goats in Giza Governorate, Egypt, which required for evaluation of the followed management and control measures. This work elicited the risk of transmission of some zoonotic diseases via goats. Fecal examination and postmortem finding-based surveys remain of choice particularly in the deprived investigating areas.