Awareness and control measures for gastrointestinal parasites in donkeys in Maseru district, Lesotho.

The research article investigates the awareness and control methods used against gastrointestinal parasites (GIPs) in donkeys in various zones of the Maseru district, Lesotho. The study revealed that while most donkey owners are familiar with GIPs infection, the control measures in place are inadequate, leading to a significant impact on the health and working capacity of the donkeys.

Research Methodology and Sample Frame

• The study was conducted across three agro-ecological zones (AEZs) of Maseru district, Lesotho. The zones were selected based on their differing environmental conditions, as these conditions can significantly impact the prevalence of GIPs.
• A total of 144 donkey owners were selected for the study. The owners were interviewed individually, and stratified random sampling was used to ensure a properly distributed representation across the chosen AEZs.
• Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to analyze the collected data, and a post-hoc cell-wise adjusted standardized residual analysis was used to test the significance of different AEZs.

Findings

• Most donkey owners were aware of the presence of GIPs, specifically nematodes, which appeared to be the most common parasite. There was however no significant variation (p>0.05) in GIPs prevalence across the different AEZs.
• Adult donkeys were found to be the most susceptible to different GIPs. Severe infection was experienced in summer and winter seasons, tied to the seasonal deworming methodologies currently in use.
• The deworming process was flawed in that it used inappropriate weighing instruments to calculate dosage. These inconsistencies led to a significant (p=0.004) impact on the effectiveness of the medication across the different AEZs.
• Donkeys were kept in non-roofed stables that were not cleaned regularly, compromising their welfare. The practice of communal grazing shared by different livestock species was identified as a primary source of GIPs.

Recommendations

• Donkey owners in Maseru district need proper skills and information to improve their management practices and understand the behavior of parasites in different environments.
• Appropriate control and prevention strategies need to be adhered to, with proper use of deworming medication and improved hygiene and feeding practices.