Abstract:
Helminth parasites were collected from 13 grysbok, Raphicerus melanotis, 12 common duikers,
Sylvicapra grimmia, 24 Angora goats and 24 Boer goats killed on a farm in Valley Bushveld in the
eastern Cape Province. Nematodes belonging to 9 species and a further 2 genera and cestodes belonging
to 1 species and a further genus were recovered from the grysbok. Of these, worms of the genus
Skrjabinema, Trichostrongylus rugatus, Trichostrongylus pietersei and Nematodirus spathiger were the
most prevalent and the most numerous. An amended list of the helminths of grysbok is included.
Seven nematodes, identified to species and 1 identified to genus were recovered from the common
duikers. N. spathiger and Setaria scalprum were the most prevalent, while N. spathiger and Trichostrongylus
axei were the most abundant.
The Angora goats were infested with at least 10 nematode species and 2 cestodes and the Boer goats
with at least 14 nematode species. With the exception of Trichostrongylus pietersei, the Boer goats
harboured more nematodes of each species than did the Angora goats. Nematodirus spp. and worms of
the genus Skrjabinema were most numerous in Angora goats, and Nematodirus spp. and Teladorsagia
circumcincta in the Boer goats.
No clear pattern of seasonal abundance was evident for any of the helmith species in the various
hosts.
