Study on the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in goat flocks from three different farms management in Terengganu

Abstract

Protozoa and helminth parasites are intestinal parasitic infections that responsible for many gastrointestinal illnesses that affect not only human but also animals. The prevalence of protozoa and helminth parasites especially in ruminants can give effect such as weight loss and severe diarrhoea thereby decreasing the productivity of ruminants. Despite the betterment done by the government especially bodies regarding the infectious diseases in animals, the issue of gastrointestinal parasites still a major concern in Malaysia. Hence, the present study aimed to measure the prevalence of intestinal parasites among goat flocks in three farms located at Terengganu. Besides, this study aimed to identify the variance in goat management systems at the risk factors of protozoa and helminth infections raised in farms. Goat faecal samples were collected from farms listed under Department of Veterinary Services, Terengganu. The samples were processed by using wet mount procedure, formal-ether concentration technique and stained by modified Ziehl-Neelsen and trichrome stain. A total of 287 faecal specimens were collected from goats from three farms. 124 faecal samples were collected from Hulu Seladang farm (semi-intensive), 60 faecal samples were collected from Segading farm (extensive farm) and 103 faecal samples were collected from Mengabang Bakung farm (intensive farm). Present study revealed that, out of 287 samples examined from three different farms, 283 samples (98.6%) were positive with intestinal protozoa or helminthes. The highest prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites between three farms was Mengabang Bakung farm. All 103 samples (100%) from Mengabang Bakung farm were positively detected with gastrointestinal parasites. Meanwhile, the lowest prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was Hulu Seladang farm. The prevalence of nematodes infection was highest in semi-intensive farm management (86.3%) and lowest in intensive farm management (14.6%). The protozoa infection was highest in intensive farm management (100%) and lowest in semi-intensive farm management (86.3%). This study had revealed that the different farm management system was an important risk factor that influences the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic infections in goats in Terengganu. The information from this study need to be taken into consideration when designing a better parasites control management systems for the better production of goats.