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Resistance and resilience of traditionally managed West African Dwarf goats from the savanna zone of northern Nigeria to naturally acquired trypanosome and gastrointestinal nematode infections

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 May 2010

J.M. Behnke ,
S.N. Chiejina ,
G.A. Musongong ,
P.A. Nnadi ,
L.A. Ngongeh ,
F.O. Abonyi  and
B.B. Fakae
J.M. Behnke*
Affiliation:
School of Biology, University of Nottingham, University Park, NottinghamNG7 2RD, UK
S.N. Chiejina
Affiliation:
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
G.A. Musongong
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Bornu State, Nigeria
P.A. Nnadi
Affiliation:
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
L.A. Ngongeh
Affiliation:
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
F.O. Abonyi
Affiliation:
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
B.B. Fakae
Affiliation:
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
*
*Fax: +44 (0) 115 951 3252 E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

A survey was conducted of gastrointestinal nematode infections and trypanosomosis in Nigerian West African Dwarf (WAD) goats from the savanna region of the country. Animals were screened at two markets, Gboko and Akpagher, from the beginning of April until the end of September, coinciding with the end of the dry season and the first 5 months of the wet season. Of 1054 goats that were examined, 80.5% carried gastrointestinal (GI) nematodes belonging to the genera Haemonchus (61.0%), Oesophagostomum (21.0%) and Trichostrongylus (17.9%). Faecal egg counts (FEC) increased very slowly but significantly from April to maximum levels in September, and varied marginally between the two market sources. The majority of goats (68.8 and 70.1% at the two markets) had low FEC not exceeding 50 eggs/g (epg). FEC did not differ significantly between the sexes or between age classes. Packed cell volume (PCV) also declined significantly with month of the study, but was affected by host sex (a significant month × sex interaction) being generally higher in male animals throughout the period. There was a highly significant negative correlation between log10(FEC+1) and PCV, when all other factors had been taken into account. Body condition scores (BCS) also declined with month of the study, but there was a marked difference between the two sexes, with male animals generally showing a greater stability of BCS across the months compared with females. Trypanosome infections were found in only 4% of the goats and only during the rainy season. Most infections (92.86%) were caused by Trypanosoma brucei alone although T. vivax and T. congolense were occasionally detected. Overall, the majority of goats sampled each month maintained generally good body condition (BCS 3.0–5.0), normal or slightly reduced PCV, even when concurrently infected with trypanosomes and GI nematodes. However, four concurrently infected goats showed signs of overt anaemia during periods of peak infection, during the late rainy season, with marked reductions in PCV ( < 15%). Two of the infected goats were also in poor body condition with BCS of < 2.0. There was no evidence of additive or synergistic pathogenic effects of the two parasites. These results are discussed in the context of the unexpectedly strong resistance and resilience of the savanna WAD ecotype to its native strains of GI nematode and trypanosome parasites.

Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 85 , Issue 1 , March 2011 , pp. 80 - 91
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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