Survey of Helminth Parasites of Goats in Kebbi State, North West Nigeria

This study surveys the species diversity and prevalence of helminth parasites in West African Dwarf and Red Sokoto goats slaughtered at Birnin Kebbi abattoir in Kebbi State, located in Nigeria's North West geopolitical zone. Helminthiasis is one of the principal constraints on small ruminant productivity in Nigeria, causing reduced weight gain, anaemia, diarrhoea, and mortality, yet baseline parasitological data for goats in Kebbi State remain limited. A cross-sectional abattoir-based design was employed, with gastrointestinal tracts and livers collected from 220 goats at slaughter over a five-month period. Parasites were recovered by standard worm counts and identified morphologically. Liver flukes were recovered by the liver compression technique. Prevalence data were analysed by species, host age, sex, and breed. Findings revealed an overall helminth prevalence of 82 percent, with Haemonchus contortus being the predominant species (61%), followed by Trichostrongylus colubriformis (44%), Fasciola gigantica (29%), and Moniezia expansa (22%). Mixed infections were observed in 67 percent of positive animals. The study found significantly higher parasite burdens in younger animals and during the wet season, consistent with the epidemiology of strongyle transmission in the Sahel agroecological zone. The study recommends targeted anthelmintic treatment at the onset of the dry season and strategic supplemental feeding to reduce the nutritional impact of helminthiasis. Keywords: helminths, goats, Kebbi State, Haemonchus, abattoir survey.