Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An abattoir survey of gastrointestinal nematode infections in cattle in the central highlands of Kenya

  • Published:
Veterinary Research Communications Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The gastrointestinal tracts of 672 crossbred cattle were obtained from various abattoirs in Kiambu District, Kenya from August 1992 to July 1993, and examined for the presence of gastrointestinal nematodes. Eight nematode species were found in 583 (86.8%) of the animals. The nematodes were, in order of prevalence: Haemonchus placei (67.0%), Cooperia pectinata (53.0%), Cooperia punctata (41.7%), Oesophagostomum radiatum (38.4%), Trichostrongylus axei (24.3%), Nematodirus helvetianus (19.6%), Trichuris globulosa (9.7%) and Strongyloides papillosus (3.6%). The intensity of the nematode infection was moderate; the mean burden being less than 7000 worms. H. placei accounted, on average, for 52.3% of the total burden. The total burden was least during the dry seasons and increased gradually during the rainy seasons. Adult H. placei persisted in the host throughout the year and there was no indication of hypobiosis. The heaviest gastrointestinal worm burdens were detected in 1.5- to 3-year-old animals. These findings are discussed with regard to their relevance for strategic control of gastrointestinal nematodes in cattle.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Anderson, N., Armour, J., Jarret, W.F.H., Jennings, F.W., Ritchie, J.S.D. and Urquhart, G.M., 1965. A field study of parasitic gastritis in cattle. Veterinary Record, 77, 1196-1204

    Google Scholar 

  • Arambulo, P.V., III and Moran, M., 1981. The tropics and parasitic diseases of animals - their impact on animal and human health. International Journal of Zoonoses, 8, 5-9

    Google Scholar 

  • Blackburn, H.D., Rocha, J.L., Figueiredo, E.P., Berne, M.E., Viera, L.S., Cavalcante, A.R. and Rosa, J.S., 1991. Interaction of parasitism and nutrition and their effects on production and clinical parameters in goats. Veterinary Parasitology, 40, 99-112

    Google Scholar 

  • Carles, A.B., 1992. Helminthosis as a constraint to livestock productivity in Kenya. In: J.A. Onyango-Abuje, R.K. Bain, S.W. Wanyangu and M.A. Ihiga (eds), Progress Towards Control of Helminthosis in Kenya, (NVRC, Muguga, Kenya), 4-5

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiejina, S.N., 1994. Epidemiology of some helminth infections of domesticated animals in the tropics with emphasis on fasciolosis and parasitic gastroenteritis. In: N. Chowdhury and I. Tanada (eds), Helminthology, (Narosa Publishing House, New Delhi), 43-72

    Google Scholar 

  • Donald, A.D., 1994. Parasites, animal production and sustainable development. Veterinary Parasitology, 53, 27-47

    Google Scholar 

  • Dorny, P., Symoens, C., Jalila, A., Vercruysse, J. and Sani, R., 1995. Strongyle infections in sheep and goats under the traditional husbandry system in Peninsular Malaysia. Veterinary Parasitology, 56, 121-136

    Google Scholar 

  • Field, A.C., Brambell, M.R. and Campbell, J.A., 1960. Spring rise in faecal worm-egg counts of housed sheep, and its importance in nutritional experiments. Parasitology, 50, 387-399

    Google Scholar 

  • Fritsche, T., Kaufmann, J. and Pfister, K., 1993. Parasitic spectrum and seasonal epidemiology of gastrointestinal nematodes of small ruminants in The Gambia. Veterinary Parasitology, 149, 271-283

    Google Scholar 

  • Gatongi, P.M., 1995. The epidemiology and control of gastrointestinal nematodes of small ruminants in a semi-arid area of Kenya with emphasis on hypobiosis of Haemonchus contortus, (PhD thesis, McGill University, Montreal, Canada)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gatongi, P.M., Gathuma, J.M. and Munyua, W.K., 1987. The prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes in cattle in Tetu Division of Nyeri District, Kenya. Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa, 35, 294-297

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbs, H.C. and Herd, R.P., 1986. Nematodiasis in cattle. Importance, species involved, immunity, and resistance. Veterinary Clinics of North America Large Animal Practice, 2, 211-224

    Google Scholar 

  • Gitau, G.K., O'Callaghan, C.J., McDermott, J.J., Omore, A.O., Odima, P.A., Mulei, C.M. and Kilungo, J.K., 1994. Description of smallholder dairy farms in Kiambu District, Kenya. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 21, 155-166

    Google Scholar 

  • Grant, J.L., 1981. The epidemiology of nematode parasites of sheep in high rainfall areas of Zimbabwe. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association, 52, 33-37

    Google Scholar 

  • Gupta, R.P., Yadav, C.L. and Chaudhri, S.S., 1987. Epidemiology of gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep and goats in Haryana, India. Veterinary Parasitology, 24, 117-127

    Google Scholar 

  • Herlich, H., 1956. A digestion method for post mortem recovery of nematodes from ruminants. Proceedings of Helminthological Society of Washington, 23, 102-103

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson, G.W., Cook, L.A., Colditz, P. and Copeman, D.R., 1980. Effects of anthelmintic treatment on weight gain of weaned dairy calves on the Altherton Tablelands. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 31, 1049-1056

    Google Scholar 

  • Ikeme, M.M., Fatimah, I. and Lee, C.C., 1987. Seasonal changes in the prevalence of Haemonchus and Trichstrongylus hypobiotic larvae in tracer goats in Malaysia. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 19, 184-190

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufmann, J. and Pfister, K., 1990. The seasonal epidemiology of gastrointestinal nematodes of N'Dama cattle in The Gambia. Veterinary Parasitology, 37, 45-54

    Google Scholar 

  • Keith, R.K., 1953. The differentiation of the infective larvae of some common nematode parasites of cattle. Australian Journal of Zoology, 1, 223-235

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinoti, G.K., Maingi, N. and Coles, E.C., 1994. Anthelmintic usage in Kenya and its implications. Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa, 42, 71-73

    Google Scholar 

  • Maingi, N. and Gichigi, M.N., 1992. Gastrointestinal nematodes in cattle on four farms in Nyandarua District, Kenya. Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa, 40, 9-10

    Google Scholar 

  • Mango, A.M., Mango, C.K.A., Esamal, D. and Kariuki, D., 1974. Prevalence of selected common parasitic helminths of livestock in Kenya. Veterinary Record, 94, 432-435

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 1986. Manual of Veterinary Parasitological Laboratory Techniques, (Technical Bulletin No. 18, HMSO, London)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ndao, M., Belot, J., Zinsstag, J. and Pfister, K., 1995. Epidemiology of gastrointestinal nematodoses of cattle in the sylvopastoral zone of Senegal. Revue de Médecine Vétérinaire, 146, 129-134

    Google Scholar 

  • Omara-Opyene, A.L., 1985. A survey of gastrointestinal parasitism in cattle under nomadic management in Marsabit District of Northern Kenya. Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa, 33, 107- 112

    Google Scholar 

  • Rickard, L.G. and Zimmerman, G.L., 1992. The epidemiology of gastrointestinal nematodes of cattle in selected areas of Oregon. Veterinary Parasitology, 4, 271-291

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, F.H.S., O'Sullivan, P.J. and Riek, R.F., 1951. The significance of faecal egg counts in the diagnosis of parasitic gastro-enteritis in cattle. Australian Veterinary Journal, 27, 16-18

    Google Scholar 

  • Round, M.C., 1962. The helminth parasites of domesticated animals in Kenya. Journal of Helminthology, 36, 375-449

    Google Scholar 

  • Satrija, F., Nansen, P., Bjorn, H., Murtini, S. and He, S., 1994. Effect of papaya latex against Ascaris suum in naturally infected pigs. Journal of Helminthology, 64, 343-446

    Google Scholar 

  • Thienpont, D., Rochette, F. and Vanparijs, O.F.J., 1979. Diagnosis of Verminosis by Coprological Examinations, (Janssen Research Foundation, Beerse), 187

    Google Scholar 

  • Thys, E. and Vercruysse, J., 1990. Est-il encore opportun de préconiser la vermifugation systématique des petits ruminants, d'Afrique Sahelo-soudanienne contre les nematodes gastrointestinaux? Revue d'Elevage de Médecin Vétérinaire de Pays Tropicaux, 43, 187-191

    Google Scholar 

  • Waller, P.J., 1993. Towards sustainable nematode parasite control of livestock. Veterinary Parasitology, 48, 295-309

    Google Scholar 

  • Waruiru, R.M., Ayuya, J.M., Weda, E.H. and Kimoro, C.O., 1993. Fatal haemochosis in heifers in Kiambu District, Kenya. A case study. Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa, 41, 262-265

    Google Scholar 

  • Winks, R., Bremner, K.C. and Barger, I.A., 1983. Epidemiology and control of parasitic gastroenteritis of cattle in the tropical subtropical zone. In: M. Anderson and P.J. Waller (eds), The Epidemiology and Control of Gastrointestinal Parasites of Cattle in Australia, (CSIRO, Melbourne), 65-72

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nairobi, PO Box 29053, Nairobi, Kenya

    R.M. Waruiru & W.K. Munyua

  2. Department of Public Health, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nairobi, PO Box 29053, Nairobi, Kenya

    J.M. Gathuma

  3. Danish Centre for Experimental Parasitology, Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Bulowsvej, DK-1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark

    P. Nansen, N.C. Kyvsgaard, S.M. Thamsborg & H.O. Bøgh

Authors
  1. R.M. Waruiru
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. Nansen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. N.C. Kyvsgaard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S.M. Thamsborg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. W.K. Munyua
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. J.M. Gathuma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. H.O. Bøgh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Waruiru, R., Nansen, P., Kyvsgaard, N. et al. An abattoir survey of gastrointestinal nematode infections in cattle in the central highlands of Kenya. Vet Res Commun 22, 325–334 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006164805185

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006164805185

Search

Navigation