Tropentag, September 14 - 16, 2010 in Zurich "World Food System – A Contribution from Europe"

Prevalence of Endoparasites in Ostriches (Struthio camelus) raised in Selected States of Northern Nigeria

¹Ahmadu Bello University, Department of Veterinary Surgery and Medicine, Nigeria
²Georg-August Universität Göttingen, Department of Animal Sciences, Germany

Abstract

A study was carried out to determine the prevalence of endoparasites on seven ostrich facilities in Kaduna, Kano and Plateau States of Nigeria. A total of 121 ostrich faecal samples from 18 chicks and 117 adults were collected and analysed for the presence of endoparasites. On each farm, faecal samples were collected at random in the early hours of the morning using clean polythene bags and later transferred into a plastic container with 5 ml of 10 % formalin to preserve the eggs. All samples collected were labeled serially. The seven ostrich farms were identified as I to VII. Faeces were collected during farm visits between May and September 2004. Parasitological examination was performed on fresh faeces using floatation and sedimentation methods. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics. Thirty-two (26.4 %) of these samples were positive for endoparasites while seventy-five (62.0 %) were negative. Also, 14 (11.6 %) of the samples recorded incidental presence of mites. The positive samples comprised trichostrongylid-type eggs (8 samples), strongylate-type eggs (5 samples), Amidostomum eggs (5 samples), and Eimeria oocysts (14 samples). Faeces from chicks revealed Eimeria oocysts (7 samples) and mites (2 samples); 7 samples were negative for endoparasites. In adult faeces, 18 samples were positive for nematode eggs, 7 positive for Eimeria oocysts and 68 negative for endoparasites. Incidental presence of mites was recorded in 14 samples, two from chicks and twelve from adult ostriches. The significance of these findings was discussed with a view to suggesting ways to enhance the growth of this important emerging industry.

Keywords: Eggs, endoparasites, faeces, oocysts, ostrich

Contact Address: Abdussamad Muhammad Abdussamad, Georg-August Universität Göttingen, Department of Animal Sciences, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075 Goettingen, Germany, e-mail: a.abdussamadstud.uni-goettingen.de