PREVALENCE OF COCCIDIAL INFECTIONS IN THE WEST-AFRICAN DWARF GOAT IN THE SUBHUMID ZONE OF NIGERIA

An investigation was made of the seasonal incidence of coccidial infec tion in West African Dwarf (WAD) goats in 2 villages and an on-station situation in the subhumid zone of Nigeria. Faecal samples were obtain ed from about 70 goats in each village and 160 on-station at 4 times o f the year, early and late dry and wet seasons. Six species of Eimeria were found to occur; E. arloingi, E. apsheronica, E. pallida, E. alij evi, E. jolchievi and E. ninakohlyakimovae which accounted for 18, 16, 22, 9, 24, and 11% of infections respectively. Overall rates of infec tion were very high, averaging approximately 87%, and peaked during th e late wet season, when the proportion of heavy infections also increa sed significantly. At this time the proportion of infections classifie d as heavy was significantly higher in the village goats than the on-s tation goats, and was also significantly higher in kids than in adults . Clinical disease only occurred in kids. The potential benefits of co ntrolling such infections in terms of productivity responses appear wo rthy of further investigation in these farming systems.