Prevalence and species of major gastrointestinal parasites of donkeys in Tenta Woreda, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia

A cross sectional study was carried out from January 2014 to May 2015 in Tenta Woreda, Amhara regional state, Ethiopia to identify the species and determine the overall prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) parasites of donkeys. A total of 300 fecal samples were collected from randomly selected donkeys and examined with flotation, sedimentation, McMaster and Baerman fecal examination techniques. The overall prevalence was found to be 72.33. The major GI parasites identified based on qualitative faecal examination techniques were Strongyles spp. (57.2%), Parascaris equorum (11.2%), Strongyloides spp. (10.4%), Gastrodiscus aegypticus (5.1%), Oxyrus equi (2.7%), Fasciola spp. (2.0%) and Anoplocephal spp. (2.6%). The prevalence in female and male animals was 58.5 and 41.5%, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) for the prevalence and mean epg count of strongyles and P. equorum among different age groups. Accordingly, the prevalence as well as mean epg count was higher in young than adults and old age groups. Further analysis of positive samples using coproculture revealed the occurrence of Strongylus vulgaris (27.7%), Strongylus edentates (16.6%), Strongylus equinus (4.8%), P. equorum (11.2%), Trichostrongylus axei (8.3%) Strongyloides westeri (9.5%), Dictyocaulus arnfieldi (7.5%), Oxyuris equi (6.5%) and Triodonthophorus tencollis (1.3%). There was concurrent infection of donkeys with a maximum of two different GI parasites with prevalence of 33.48%. The findings of the present study clearly suggest that GI parasites of donkeys in the study area are still widespread and economically important constraints for the productivity and use of donkeys in rural towns. Hence, further and strengthened intervention is highly recommended taking into account the importance of these animals to the economy. Key words: Coproculture, donkeys, egg per gram of faeces (epg), faeces, GI parasites, prevalence, Tenata, Ethiopia.