Prevalence and Factors Associated with Gastrointestinal Parasitic Infections in Maradi breed from Major Markets in Ilorin, Kwara State, North Central, Nigeria.

Abstract

Helminth infections are a critical concern for the health and productivity of small ruminants in tropical regions. This study investigated the prevalence and determinants of gastrointestinal protozoan and helminth infections in the Maradi (Capra hircus) breed in major markets in Kwara State, Nigeria. A total of 132 goats from Mandate, Ipata, and Eyenkorin markets were sampled to determine the presence of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) parasites. Logistic regression was employed to analyse the association between infection status (positive/negative) and predictors, including the location, sex, and age of the goats. The interaction effects between these variables were also assessed. Model fit was evaluated using the Hosmer-Lemeshow test, and predictive performance was examined using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis. The overall infection rate was 84.09%, with significant variations across market locations. Eyenkorin Market exhibited the highest infection rate (100%), followed by Mandate (77.78%) and Ipata (79.17%). Although male goats showed a higher infection rate (90.00%) than females (79.17%), this difference was not statistically significant (χ2=2.8710, p=0.09). Younger goats (6-12 months and 13-24 months) had higher infection rates, although age alone did not significantly predict the infection status. The logistic regression model was significant (χ2=13.52, p=0.0036), indicating that location and age significantly influenced infection status. The pseudo R-squared of the model was 0.1169, suggesting that it explains 11.69% of the variance in infection status. This study indicates the substantial prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth infections among the Maradi breed in Kwara State, Nigeria, where location and age have emerged as significant predictors. These findings emphasise the need for targeted interventions to mitigate infection risks, particularly in highprevalence areas and in younger goats. Improving management practices and implementing strategic deworming programs could effectively reduce infection rates and enhance goat health and productivity in this region.