Gastrointestinal Nematodosis in Goats Kept Under the Tethering, Stall-Feeding and Pastoral Management Systems in Two Ecoclimatic Areas In Morogoro District, Tanzania

Abstract

A field study was conducted to monitor the prevalence and seasonal changes in nematode egg counts in goats kept under the tethering, stall-feeding and pastoral systems in Mgeta (tropical highland) and Mlali (semi-arid) Divisions of Morogoro District, Tanzania. Of the 869 goats examined, 67.7% (588) were infected with nematodes. The prevalence of nematodosis and median nematode egg counts were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in stall-fed than in tethered or pastoral goats. In addition, Norwegian Landrace x Small East African crossbred goats had a significantly higher prevalence and median nematode egg count compared to tethered or pastoral indigenous Small East African goats (P < 0.05). The prevalence of nematodosis and median egg counts during the long rainy season were significantly higher (P < 0.05) compared to the dry and short rainy seasons. Overall, the prevalence of nematodosis and median egg counts in the tropical highland and semi-arid ecoclimatic zones were comparable. The nematode egg count in all the management systems was low (<500),  indicating that subclinical nematodosis was the most common form of the disease.  Haemonchus spp. (88%), Oesophagostomum spp. (71.6%) and Trichostrongylus spp (62 .2%) were the most prevalent nematodes, while Bunostomum spp (6.7%) and Strongyloides spp (5.4%) were least prevalent.