title: Strongyle infections of small ruminants in Nigeria.
abstract: A survey of strongyle infections was conducted in sheep and goats reared in a traditional extensive husbandry system in two ecological zones of Nigeria. One zone had a seasonal pattern of infection. The majority of animals had faecal worm parasite egg counts of below 500 eggs per gram. Kids, and lambs younger than 3 months did not carry strongyle worm burdens, and the highest infection rate was found in the 7-12 month age group. A high proportion of small ruminants shed strongyle eggs during the postparturient period. The helminth species found by the use of larval culture techniques on the faeces were: Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Oesophagostomum columbianum. Adults of the same species were found in the few animals necropsied. The significance of the findings is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006041:Goats; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009549:Nigeria; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D013320:Strongyloidea; D014251:Trichostrongyloidea; D014252:Trichostrongyloidiasis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary