Authors : Zerihun Asefa, Bersissa Kumsa, Bojia Endebu, Ayele Gizachew, Tesfaye Merga and Etana Debela
Abstract: A cross sectional study was conducted to determine the species composition and prevalence of endoparasites of donkeys in Sululta and Gefersa districts of central Oromia from November 2008 to April 2009. For this purpose, a total of 417 faecal samples (209 from Sululta and 208 from Gefersa) were coprologically examined for nematode, cestode and trematode infections. In addition, 9 donkeys that died of various health problems or were euthanized for welfare reasons were necropsied and the parasites were recovered and identified. Coprological examinations showed prevalence of 99.5% strongyles, 53% Parascaris equorum, 9.8% Fasciola species, 5.7% Gastrodiscus aegypticus and 2.8% Anoplocephala species. Significantly (p<0.05) higher mean prevalence and overall epg count was observed for strongyles and Parascaris equorum in young donkeys than in both adults and old donkeys. Furthermore, ovaculture revealed 100% prevalence of strongyles, cyathostomins and Trichostrongylus axei, 73.8% Strongylus vulgaris, 42.8% Strongyloides westeri and 42.8% Dictyocaulus arnfieldi. Postmortem examination revealed the presence of ten different species of parasites. The overall worm counts ranged from 266-14112 with a mean of 1597 worms per donkey. All the postmortem examined donkeys were positive for one or more species of endoparasites. The results of the current study demonstrate that a wide range of parasites with high prevalence affect donkeys in Ethiopia.
Zerihun Asefa, Bersissa Kumsa, Bojia Endebu, Ayele Gizachew, Tesfaye Merga and Etana Debela, 2011. Endoparasites of Donkeys in Sululta and Gefersa Districts of Central Oromia, Ethiopia. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 10: 1850-1854.