Ljm. Kusiluka et al., CAUSES OF MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY IN GOATS IN MOROGORO DISTRICT, TANZANIA - THE INFLUENCE OF MANAGEMENT, Small ruminant research, 29(2), 1998, pp. 167-172
An investigation on the causes of morbidity and mortality in tethered,
stall-fed and pastoral goats was carried out in the tropical highland
and semi-arid areas of Morogoro district, Tanzania. Ectoparasitism wa
s found to be common in all management systems with fleas, lice and ti
cks infesting 84-95%, 77-95% and 37-98% of the animals, respectively.
The prevalences of the three ectoparasites were significantly higher i
n tethered goats in the tropical highland area than in other managemen
t systems (p < 0.05). Helminth eggs (49-98%), coccidia oocysts (71-93%
) and diarrhoea (14-44%) were common in all herds. The prevalences of
diarrhoea and gastrointestinal parasitism were significantly higher in
stall-fed goats than in other animals (p < 0.05). Footrot, caseous ly
mphadenitis, dermatophilosis and mange were encountered only in pastor
al goats. Respiratory infections were more common in pastoral than in
stall-fed and tethered animals (p < 0.05). Prevalences of footrot and
diarrhoea were significantly higher during the rainy than the dry peri
od (p < 0.05). Helminthiasis (7.2%), diarrhoea (6.1%) and respiratory
conditions (4.2%) were the major causes of mortalities. (C) 1998 Elsev
ier Science B.V. All rights reserved.