Prevalence and Species Distribution of Intestinal Helminths in Cattle Slaughtered at Kaduna Abattoir

Abattoir surveillance provides valuable epidemiological data on parasitic infections in livestock with implications for food safety and zoonotic disease risk. This study examined the prevalence and species distribution of intestinal helminths in cattle slaughtered at Kaduna Central Abattoir, Northwest Nigeria. Post-mortem inspection of gastrointestinal tracts from 200 randomly selected cattle was conducted over a four-month period. Helminths were carefully collected, preserved in 10 percent formalin, and identified morphologically using standard helminthological keys. An overall helminth prevalence of 74.0 percent was recorded. Haemonchus species, Cooperia species, and Oesophagostomum species were the most frequently identified nematodes, while Fasciola gigantica accounted for 21.5 percent of all infections. Mixed infections were detected in 38.0 percent of carcasses. Cattle sourced from riverine communities showed significantly higher Fasciola prevalence. Echinococcus species were detected at low frequency but carry zoonotic significance for abattoir workers. The study recommends strengthened ante-mortem and post-mortem veterinary inspection and pre-slaughter anthelmintic treatment of livestock to reduce parasitic contamination risks in the food chain. Keywords: intestinal helminths, cattle, abattoir, Kaduna, zoonotic parasites.