DETERMINATION OF THE PREVALENCE OF HUMAN INTESTINAL PARASITES AMONG RUMINANTS IN CALABAR METROPOLIS OF CROSS RIVER STATE – NIGERIA.

ABSTRACT The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of animals harbor a variety of parasites particularly helminthes which cause clinical and subclinical parasitism. These parasites adversely affect the health status of animals and cause enormous economic losses to the livestock industry. In order to establish the prevalence of human intestinal parasites among ruminants in Calabar metropolis of Cross River State – Nigeria between July to September, 2018, a total of 250 faecal samples from three breed of ruminants viz; cattle, sheep and goats were collected at Anantigha, Gbogobiri and Nasarawa Slaughter. Faecal samples were carefully examined for intestinal parasites using direct microscopy (saline and iodine smears, brine flotation concentration technique as well as modified Ziehl Neelsen staining methods respectively. Out of 250 ruminant faces examined, 120 (48%) were infected and positive for four different intestinal parasites, which were;Ascaris lumbricoides (18%), Hookworm (15%), Trichuris trichiuria (9%) and strongyloides spp(6%). Oocysts of Crypotosporidium were also detected with prevalence of (33%). Although there was higher prevalence of intestinal parasites in cattle (40.8%), followed by goats (30.80%) and sheep with statistically not significant differences (ANOVA = df = 3; P = 0.489). The prevalence of intestinal parasites in ruminants according to abattoir revealed that intestinal parasites were higher in ruminants slaughtered at Nasarawa (38.3%), followed by Gbogobiri (36.7%) and Anantigha Slaughter having (23.3%) respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the distribution of intestinal parasites among the ruminants with respect to abattoirs (ANOVA = df = 3; P = 0.489). The prevalence of occysts of cryptosporidium was significantly higher in Goats (41%), followed by Sheep (31%) and Cattle (26%) respectively (ANOVA = df = 3; P = 0.489). The study showed that intestinal ruminant in Calabar metropolis which might havehigh prevalence of intestinal parasite which may have a negative implication on productivity with the potential of causing infection in humans. Therefore, improving animal management system and routine deworming of ruminants is recommended.