THE PREVALENCE OF INTESTINAL PARASITES IN GOATS REARED IN ABA NORTH, ABIA STATE.

The current study was conducted between August and October 2015 in Aba North, Abia state to determine the prevalence and intensity of gastro-intestinal helminth infection of indigenous goats in the area, faecal samples were collected from each goat through finger probing and analyzed using direct smear and concentration methods. 164 faecal samples were examined for helminthic parasites using normal saline methods. 132 (80.49%) were infected. Major factors identified to be responsible for this high prevalence are poor system management, illiteracy, lack of deworming programme, overcrowding of goats and aged farmers in business. The prevalence of intestinal parasites was determined by using two different breeds, Hausa breed goat and Igbo breed goat. In the Hausa breed goat, the number of samples collected was 67, after examination, the number infected was 63 (94.02%), where as 97 Igbo breed goats were examined, out of which 69(71.32%) were infected. This result shows that the Igbo breed goats were more infected than the Hausa breed goats. The male goats were found to be more infected than the female. Out of 123 male goats examined, 101(82.11%) were infected. On the other hand, 31(75.61%) female goat were infected out of 41 examined.