Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites of Sheep and Goats in the Fora and Mona Populations during Drought Mitigation in Marsabit County of Kenya
Wilkister Nakami, HM Mutembei,C Okell and SM Githigia
Research Paper I Published November,2015
Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Technology
ABSTRACT
Gastrointestinal parasitism is a major
problem among sheep and goats in arid and semi-arid areas
like Marsabit County of Kenya. In this county, during
drought, the animals are separated into two groups; the Mona
group comprising of the pregnant and milking animals that
are left with the women and children at the homestead and
the Fora group comprising of the others are herded to far
grazing areas by the men in search of pastures and water. As
the drought progresses, stress from deteriorating body
condition tends to lower the immunity of affected animals
making them prone to internal worm burden. Studies comparing
prevalence of worms in these two groups of animals have been
scarce. This study investigated the gastrointestinal
parasite burden in these two groups during drought period to
determine which group resisted parasitism. Rectal fecal
samples from 1328 animals collected in fecal pots, and were
analyzed for both egg and oocyts counts using the McMaster
technique. The prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was
significantly higher in the Mona group than Fora group.
Coccidia were the main occurrence and a more rigorous worm
control strategy is recommended for the Mona group to enable
them cope better with the drought.
Key Words: Gastrointestinal parasites, Mona and Fora
group, Sheep and Goats, Fecal samples.
- Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Technology (JASFT)
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- Research Journal of Educational Studies and Review (RJESR)
- Journal of Physical Science and Environmental Studies (JPSES)
- Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (RJET)
- Pearl Journal of Management, Social Science and Humanities (PJMSSH)