Parasites of domestic and wild animals in South Africa. XXVIII. Helminth and arthropod parasites of Angora goats and kids in Valley Bushveld

Abstract

Two adult Angora goats were slaughtered each month for 24 consecutive months on a farm in Valley Bushveld in the eastern Cape Province. On the same farm 2 Angora goat kids were slaughtered each month for 2 consecutive years from the time they were 1 week old until they reached 12 months of age. All these goats were processed for the recovery of helminth and arthropod parasites. Fourteen nematode species, 2 nematode genera and 1 cestode species were recovered. Worm burdens were generally low in the adult goats. Nematode burdens increased erratically in the kids reaching the greatest numbers when they were 1 year old. The tapeworm, Moniezia expansa, was present in kids at 3 or 4 months of age and had usually disappeared by the time they reached 7 months of age. The goats harboured 12 species of ixodid ticks, 1 louse species and the larvae of an oestrid fly. The seasonal abundances of 4 of the tick species were determined.