Research Article
Lamessa Keno, Birhanu Abera
Abstract
A cross- sectional study of prevalence of Gastro-intestinal helminthiasis of small holder dairy cows was carried out from December 2007 to April 2008 with an attempt to determine the prevalence in Harar town and its surrounding, Eastern Ethiopia. Amongst the 287 coprological analysis or quantitative faecal analysis on dairy cows were performed with an overall prevalence rate 139 (48.4%) by using coprological examination. Coprological examination (Direct, Floatation, sedimentation and Mc Master Techniques) were the methods followed to study the prevalence of GI - parasitic infestation. An overall GI-parasitic infestation of 48.4% was found in this study. The result also revealed that nematodes Strongyles (38.4%) and Trichuris (8.4%), paraphistomum (13.9%) and Coccidia (10.5%) in that order. The helminth eggs present were identified in general terms as strongyloid eggs, since relevant nematode genera produce eggs that are similar in appearance and cannot be discriminated easily, except for eggs of Nematodirus, Strongyloides and Trichuris. In view of the prevalence of hazardous parasitic gastro intestinal parasites with a potential of entailing serious direct and indirect losses, and accompanying in these small holder dairy cows deserve attention and pertinent action to see they are controlled because high economic importance deserving due attention in helminth control programs in the study area.