Prevalence and risk factors associated with Haemonchosis among goats slaughtered at Kampala City Abattoir, Uganda

Abstract

Goats farming has become popular among resource-poor nations such as Uganda because of its short production cycle. However, the major challenge of goat farming are diseases among which helminthiasis ranked top. A cross-sectional study was carried out at Kampala city abattoir, to determine the prevalence, worm burden, and risk factors associated with Haemonchus infection among slaughtered goats. A total of 206 goats were randomly examined at ante-mortem, and post-mortem inspection. The contents from abomasum of each goat was subsequently collected into a well-labeled falcon tube containing 70% ethanol and transported to veterinary post-mortem laboratory at Makerere for adult worm count. The overall prevalence of Haemonchus infection in the sampled goats was high (68%, n = 206). There was no statistically significant difference (P=0.833) and (p=0.732) between the occurrence of Haemonchosis and age, sex, or breed of the goats. Never theless this study reported a relatively higher cases of haemonchosis among adult males, and local breeds of goats than among females and exotic breeds. There were significant differences (P<0.001) in the mean adult worm count between goats with poor and good body conditions. The mean worm burden was 896.55 for goats with poor body-condition. The study also revealed a statistically significant correlation between the degree of infestation (worm burden) and the clinical manifestation of anemia seen as pale appearance mucous membrane. In conclusion, the prevalence of Haemonchosis and worm burden was high in goats with poor body conditions. Therefore, appropriate worm control and prevention measures should be designed and used to control haemonchosis among goats from the various farms in the country.