SPECIES DIVERSITY AND SEASONAL DYNAMICS OF HELMINTHS OF CATTLE IN ADA’A AND BOSET DISTRICTS, CENTRAL OROMIA, ETHIOPIA
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Date
2017-06
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Abstract
Parasitic helminths are one of the major health constraints of cattle production and are usually associated with huge economic losses in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 720 cattle selected using purposive sampling technique in Ada’a and Boset districts, Central Oromia Ethiopia from August 2016 to May 2017. The objective of the study was to identify the prevailing helminths species of cattle and assess the seasonal dynamics in the study districts. Simple floatation, sedimentation, McMaster egg counting techniques, coproculture recovery of infective larvae (L3) of nematodes and larvae measurement using micrometer were all employed in this study. The overall prevalence of helminths in cattle was 57.4% (413/720) dominated by nematodes. The study identified Haemonchus placei (H. placei) (36.7%), Trichostrongylus axei (T. axei) (18.1%), Oesophagostomum radiatum (Oe. radiatum) (21.9%), Bunostomum phlebotomum (B. phlebotomum) (10%), Strongyloides papillosus (S. papillosus) (6.3%), Nematodirus spp. (0.7%), Moneizia benedeni (M. benedeni) (4.2%), M. expansa (1.1%), Fasciola spp. (5.7%), and Paramphistomum spp. (3.5%). Of these helminths H. placei was recorded as the predominant species affecting cattle of both study districts. Higher number of helminths species were recorded in highland PAs of Ada’a district than lowland Boset district. Significantly (p < 0.05) higher number of helminths was observed during the rainy season than the short rainy and dry seasons in both districts. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that cattle in Boset district were 1.77 times (OR = 1.77, 95%; CI = 1.28-2.46) more likely to become positive for helminths than those cattle found in highland PAs of Ada’a district. Likewise, during the short rainy season and during rainy season cattle were 1.8 times (OR = 1.80; 95% CI = 1.19-2.74) and twice (OR = 2.35, 95% CI=1.57-2.50), respectively, more likely to become positive for helminths than during the dry season of the year. The likelihood occurrence of helminths in diarrheic cattle was 8.7 times (OR = 8.7; 95% CI = 5.06-15.07) higher than those cattle with normal faecal consistency. Negative Binomial regression analysis showed that strongyle mean EPG count was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in cattle of Boset district than the mean EPG count of cattle in highland PAs of Ada’a district. Mean EPG count was higher during the rainy season (1001.0±51.1) than both short rainy (705.5±43.2) and dry (631.7±35.4) seasons. Of the total 366 coprocultures, 264 (72.1%) were positive for H. placei followed by 158 (43.2 %) Oe. radiatum, 130 (35.5%) T. axei and 72 (19.7%) B. phlebotomum. In conclusion, results of the present study demonstrate that several genera and species of helminths are still widespread and very common with high prevalence that compromise the productivity and health of cattle, especially during the long and short rainy season in both Ada’a and Boset districts. Thus, it is very important to consider urgent control interventions to minimize the negative impact of helminths on health and economic benefits of cattle of the study districts.
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MSc Thesis
Keywords
Cattle, EPG, Ethiopia, Helminths, Highland, Lowland