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Research Paper | Zoology | Nigeria | Volume 8 Issue 8, August 2019
Survey of Gastrointestinal Parasites and Ectoparasites of Horses (Equine Equine) in Port Harcourt and Abarka Polo Field, South Southern Nigeria
Eze Nwadiuto Chinwe | Ebenezer Amawulu | Francis Godswisdom Chizurum
Abstract: Gastrointestinal parasites of horses in South Southern Nigeria have not been documented previously. This study was therefore undertaken to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites and ectoparasites in horses (Equus caballus) in Polo Fields of Abraka and Port Harcourt in South Southern Nigeria during June 2017 to October 2017. One hundred faecal horse samples, (22) in Abraka and (78) in Port Harcourt Polo Fields were examined (using standard parasitological techniques for helminthes and ectoparasites. Soil samples from the two fields were also collected and examined. Out of the 100 horse faecal samples examined, (93 %) were infected. The infection was more (100 %) in Abraka polo and lowest71 (91.0 %) in Port Harcourt polo field. The prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthes across the study locations are; Draschiame gastoma (14.0 %), Tridontophorus tenicollis (7 %), Trichostrongylus axei (49 %), Strongylus sp (80 %), Dictyocaulus arnfieldi (35 %), Paranocephala mannilla (1.0 %), Eimeria leukarti (4.0 %), Strongyloide sp (48.0 %), Cyathostome sp (42.0 %), Parascaris equorum (5.0 %) and Oxyuris equi (1.0 %). Differences were not significant (p>0.05). Prevalence of ectoparasite across the study location were Boophilus sp (23 %) and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (36 %). Mono-infection accounted for 22 % while poly-infection accounted for 24 % of the total infections. The prevalence of five helminthes; Dictyocaulus sp, Strongyloide sp, Trichuris trichuria, Toxocara sp and Enterobius vermicularis recovered from the soil samples were of 20 %, 30 %, 20 %, 10 % and 10 % respectively. This prevalence is a call for public health intervention across the study location.
Keywords: Gastrointestinal, Helminths, Ectoparasites, Polo fields, Equus caballus
Edition: Volume 8 Issue 8, August 2019,
Pages: 1471 - 1476