Prevalence of Strongyle Infection and Associated Risk Factors in Horses and Donkeys In and Around Batu Town, Eastshoa, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

A Cross sectional study was conducted from November 2015 to April 2016 in and around Batu town to estimate the prevalence of strongyle infection and assess associated risk factors in the study area in donkeys and horses. A total of 384 animals were randomly selected from four different peasant associations in the study area and examined during the study period. Coprological examination for the detection of strongyle eggs was performed using floatation technique. The overall prevalence of strongyle parasites was 46.1% (177 from 384) with 44.5% in donkeys and 48.2% in horses. The study has also showed variation in prevalence of strongyle parasites among different body condition scores and between dewormed and non dewormed, higher prevalence was recorded in poor body condition (59.26%) and Non-dewormed (57.77%) respectively. In relation to selected Peasant association the prevalence were found 41.14%, 60.94%, 42.19% and 50% for Batu town, Bochessa, kontola and Germama respectively. The risk factors, peasant association, Age, Body condition, Feed, and Deworming Status were significantly associated with the occurrence of strongyle parasites (p<0.05). In conclusion the current study revealed that stronglosis was found to be the major problem in the study area; hence Strategic deworming and minimizing overworking and extensive open grazing should be implemented to reduce pasture contamination.

Keywords: Donkeys, Horses, Strongylosis, prevalence, risk factor, Batu.