Copro-Analysis Of Gastrointestinal Helminthes Of Cattle And Pigs In Umuahia And Ikwuano, Abia State.:- Okoene Chidiebere R

ABSTRACT This study is focused on the prevalence of zoonotic gastrointestinal helminthes in pigs and cattle in Umuahia and Ikwuano Local Government Areas. Since pork and beefare the most consumed animal protein in Abia state, it is only necessary that it is established the sanity of what people consume as 60% of all human diseases are zoonotic. The transmission of gastrointestinal helminthes is mostly by the consumption of the infective stage through contaminated food and water. The growing production of pig in abia stae and the increasing consumption of pork creates a potential risk of increased occurrence of gastrointestinal parasitism in man as pig and man share almost 60% of parasites e.g. Trichuris spp, Ascaris spp, Strongyloides spp, Fasciolopsis buski. Cattle as a source of animal protein also serve as a source of some gastrointestinal helminthes of zoonotic importance with Fasciola spp being the most important, Toxocara vitulorum and paramphistomum cervi etc. This study was carried out in various abattoirs and farms in Umuahia and Ikwuano LGAs. Faecal collection was done par rectum into labelled sterile containers and transported to the Veterinary Parasitology laboratory Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, where they were subjected to floatation and sedimentation copro-analytical techniques and viewed under the microscope. 183 out of 380 animals were positive to zoonotic gastrointestinal helminths i.e. (42.8%) (Toxocara spp, Fasciola spp, Trichuris spp, Strongyloides spp, Paramphistomum cervi, Fasciolopsis spp). After all the samples were subjected to floatation and sedimentation coprology; 136 (35.8%) animals were positive to floatation coprology and 68 animals (17.9%) were positive to sedimentation coprology. Total of 209 males (55%); 85 cattle (40.7%) and 124 pigs (59.3%). 171 females (45%); 45 cattle (26.3%) and 126 pigs (73.7%) were screened. A high level of occurrence (42.8%) of G.I helminths in pigs and cattle in Umuahia and Ikwuano LGAs entails a very high public health risk. Proper routine anthelminthic administration is advised in farm animals. Proper meat inspection program is advised. Further work is recommended to assay public awareness on zoonotic gastrointestinal helminths.