Date of Graduation

12-2017

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Animal Science (MS)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Animal Science

Advisor/Mentor

Thomas Yazwinski

Committee Member

Michael Looper

Second Committee Member

Jeremy Powell

Keywords

Arkansas, Goats, Parasites, Small Ruminants

Abstract

Parasitic helminths have always been an issue in small ruminant production; pathogens that pose great negative impact on goat health and productivity. Insufficient work has been done to document the prevalence of parasitic helminths in the United States, especially in the south and southeast, where the largest goat populations are found.

The aim of this study was to survey the prevalence of infections by gastrointestinal nematodes in goats in Northwestern Arkansas. Gastrointestinal tracts were examined from 41 goats of various locations around Northwest Arkansas. Worm species were identified and population burdens were determined. Coprology was correlated with the actual worm populations.

In descending order, the most prevalent adult nematodes were Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Haemonchus contortus, Teladorsagia spp., Oesophagostomum spp., Trichuris spp., Nematodirus spathiger and Cooperia curticei. Goats commonly harbored more than one species of nematode. Nematode burdens varied greatly between animals, and respective of management factors.

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