Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Black Goats in Liangshan Prefecture, Southwest China

Abstract

Gastrointestinal (GI) parasites including trematoda, nematoda and protozoa are highly prevalent in goat producing systems worldwide1,2. Infection with these organisms causes emaciation, anaemia, oedema, weakness, diarrhoea and death3. Under field conditions, most infections are usually mixed and include different species of nematodes and Eimeria spp. The main gastrointestinal nematodes observed in goats are Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Strongyloides, Trichuris, Bunostomum, Oesophagostomum, Cooperia and Nematodirus spp.4. Foreyt reported that coccidiosis is one of the most ubiquitous and economically important diseases of goats5. Some surveys have shown that infection of goats with GI parasites is very common in several regions in China6,7. However, information on the prevalence of GI parasites in black goats in the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture is limited. Such information is essential for the treatment and prevention of parasitic diseases in goat productive systems. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of various GI parasites in black goats in the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, southwest China. This would provide a meaningful baseline for potential intervention measures.