Natural Oesophagostomum columbianum infection of Sahel goats in northeastern Nigeria

In a survey at the Maiduguri metropolitan abattoir in northeastern Nigeria, between August and November 2009, Oesophagostomum columbianum nodules were found on the intestines of 702 (71.3 %) Sahel goats out of 984 examined. The nodules were predominantly located in the large intestines of most of the goats (96.4 %), but in heavy infections (3.6 %), the nodules extended into the small intestines and the omentum. The presence of nodules did not significantly (P > 0.05) increase the weight of the intestines of infected goats. Grossly the nodules were young (60 %), purulent (30 %) or calcified (10 %). Histologically the nodules appeared as granulomas with one or multiple necrotic foci. The infiltrating cells associated with the granulomas were eosinophils, neutrophils, macrophages, epithelioid macrophages and lymphocytes, but no multinucleated giant cell was found. The intestinal epithelium adjacent to the granuloma had intense lymphocytic infiltration into the lamina propria, necrosis and sloughing of the epithelial cells, stunting of the expanded villi and fewer intestinal glands. It was concluded that natural O. columbianum infection of Sahel goats was prevalent in the area and the infection caused non-suppurative enteritis associated with submucosal nodules which were granulomas lacking giant cells.