~ 171 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2019; 7(5): 171-174 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 JEZS 2019; 7(5): 171-174 © 2019 JEZS Received: 14-07-2019 Accepted: 18-08-2019 Mary E Sanda Department of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria Emmanuel C Uwalaka Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria Idika K Idika Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria Lucy E Agbaji Department of Animal Production, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Nigeria Correspondence Mary E Sanda Department of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria Prevalence of helminths in cattle in Anyigba, Kogi state, Nigeria Mary E Sanda, Emmanuel C Uwalaka, Idika K Idika and Lucy E Agbaji Abstract The prevalence of helminths in cattle in Anyigba, Kogi State was studied. Faecal samples were collected from 100 Cattle per rectum from different locations across the study area. The collected samples were taken to the Parasitology Laboratory to determine the types of helminth eggs present using Centrifugal Flotation Method. Descriptive statistic and T-test were used to analyze the data. Result showed that 85% of cattle sampled had strongyle eggs while 1% had some oocyst eggs with prevalence of 86.4%, 82.9%, 83.9% and 92.3% for female, male, adult and calves respectively. The prevalence of 86.4% for cow was higher than for bulls (82.9%) showing significant difference at p< 0.01. The highest prevalence was in calves which was 92.3%. Adult cattle had 83.9% also showing a significant difference at p< 0.01. Faecal culture indicated the presence of Haemonchus spp. (42.5%), Trichostrongylus spp. (30.3%), Cooperia spp. (6.0%) and Bunostomum spp. (6.0%). Regular deworming is advocated. Keywords: Helminthosis, parasitism, bovine, ruminants Introduction In the livestock industry, ruminants comprise the largest part of farm animals in the agricultural sector of Nigeria [1] with a cattle population of about 13.9 million which concentrates more in the northern area of the country [1] . Livestock production in most developing economies is at a low level and is a major source of finance and food in rural settings [2] . Production of livestock in Nigeria, which is mostly at subsistence level in rural communities [3] is being hampered by a number of factors which include nutrition management and health. The health of ruminants especially is affected by parasitic diseases [4] which leads to lowered productivity, economic losses, mortality and morbidity [5, 6] . Adequate attention therefore, must be paid to these factors as only healthy animals can produce to optimum level. Helminthes infestations are ubiquitous and remain a constraint to efficient raising of cattle on pastures [7] . Activities of parasite, both ecto and endoparasites have been recognized as major factors which militate against cattle production in the tropics [8, 9] . These parasites cause large economic losses in variety of ways: they cause losses through lower fertility, reduction in work capacity, involuntary culling, a reduction in food intake and lower weight gain, lower milk production, treatment cost, and mortality in heavily parasitized animals [10, 11, 12] . Among all the gastrointestinal infestation, helminths of livestock have a worldwide distribution and even zoonotic importance [13] . It is considered a major constraint on productivity. It is reported that the effect of these worms on cattle are varied, the adult are relatively less troubled while calves and yearling can be adversely affected and to a very high degree in the first year of grazing, causing anemia, inflammation of the abomasum, diarrhea, unthriftiness and general debility, thus lowering productivity [14] The occurrence of gastrointestinal parasitism has been known to affect the growth rate in cattle. Even though growth rate depends on nutrition and the efficiency of conversion; nonetheless the effect of gastrointestinal parasite is the depression of the digestive efficiency arising from impairing absorption through inflamed intestinal infestation [15, 16] . More recently, it has been shown that adequately fed animal infested with lower number of intestinal parasite, may still be growing below their potential even though the other feature of unthriftiness, listlessness, weakness, diarrhea are absent. Growth inhibition due to parasite is an outcome of several factors including inappetance and Malabsorption from intestine [17, 18] . This study was done to determine the prevalence of helminthes of Cattle in Anyigba and this will add to the already existing database of Helminthosis in cattle in Kogi state.