Abstract

Prevalence of Giardia duodenalis in recently acquired and acclimatized Kalahari Red goats in Nigeria was determined using a commercially produced enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Giardia lamblia coproantigens were detected in 46.9% of the faecal samples collected from 98 Kalahari Red goats. The highest (58.1%) and lowest rates (38.2%) were recorded in pre-weaned goat kids up to three months of age and adults goats over one year of age respectively. Infection was higher in females (56.8%) and diarrhoeic goats (75.0%) than males (38.9%) and non-diarrhoeic goats (45.7%) respectively. No significant difference (p>0.05) was observed in the infection rates among age categories, sexes and stool consistencies of the goats. The results of this study showed a high prevalence of Giardia infection in the Kalahari Red goat herd which may imply that they are susceptible to giardiasis if managed under conditions that may facilitate transmission from infected indigenous animals.

Key words: ELISA, Giardia, goat, Kalahari Red, Nigeria