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. 2022 Dec 12;8(12):e12244.
doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12244. eCollection 2022 Dec.

Prevalence and risk factors associated with donkey gastrointestinal parasites in Shashemane and Suburbs, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Haben Fesseha  1 , Saliman Aliye  1 , Mesfin Mathewos  1 , Kebede Nigusie  1
Affiliations

Prevalence and risk factors associated with donkey gastrointestinal parasites in Shashemane and Suburbs, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Haben Fesseha et al. Heliyon. .

Abstract

Background: Gastrointestinal parasites are the cause of morbidity and mortality in working donkeys and reduce their working performance.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2020 to July 2021 to assess gastrointestinal parasite infection in working donkeys in Shashemane and the surrounding district. A total of 395 donkeys were randomly sampled for the study, and an examination was conducted using faecal egg count and the Baermann technique.

Results: Out of the 395 sampled donkeys, different types of gastrointestinal parasites were identified. The parasites identified during the study were Strongyle spp. (100%), Oxyuris equi (10.1%), Parascaris equorum (23.8%), Fasciola spp. (0.3%), Gastrodiscus aegyptiacus (4.6%), Strongyloides westeri (47.8%) and Anoplocephala perfoliata (0.5%). Identification of L3 larvae of GI parasites revealed that Cyathostomes spp. (96.2%), Strongylus vulgaris (92.9%), Trichostrongylus axei (90.4%), Strongylus edentatus (89.4%), and Dictyocaulus arnifieldi (49.6%) were the most prevalent. Infection with one species of helminth was more common (60.8%).

Conclusions: Thus, working donkeys in the present study area were infected with Strongyle spp. (100%), Strongyloides westeri (47.8%), Parascaris equorum (23.8%), Oxyuris equi (10.1%), Gastrodiscus aegyptiacus (4.6%), Anoplocephala perfoliata (0.5%) and Fasciola spp. (0.3%) parasites. Hence, comprehensive donkey health, management, and implementation of appropriate parasite control strategies should be implemented to alleviate these problems.

Keywords: Copro-culture; Donkey; Gastrointestinal parasites; Prevalence; Shashemane.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Map of the study area.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Severity of GI parasites of donkeys on the basis of EPG.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Prevalence of polyparasitism in donkeys of the study area.
Figure 4
Figure 4
A. Egg of Strongyle spp., B. Parascaris equorum, C. Cyathostomes spp., D. Oxyuris equi, E. Fasciola spp.
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