Prevalence and seasonal pattern of caprine trichostrongyles in a dry area of Central Spain

Abstract

A total of 322 gastrointestinal tracts were examined from traditionally reared goats originating from a dry area of central Spain. A large spectrum of gastrointestinal nematodes was observed, Teladorsagia circumcincta and T. trifurcata being the most prevalent species, followed by Trichostrongylus vitrinus and Nematodirus filicollis. Trichostrongylus capricola recorded a high level of infection despite low prevalence. A nematode infection rate of 93% and an average burden of over 3000 worms indicates the highly prevalent infection in Spanish goats. The seasonal pattern shows a real risk of infection all year round, with two peaks in the summer and autumn. Females were more frequently infected than males. © 1999 Blackwell Wissenschafts-Verlag, Berlin.