Digestive-tract strongyle fecal egg counts in cattle, sheep and goats of Sao Tomé Island in relation to local climate, season and breeding management

Individual fecal sampling was performed in 84 cattle. Fecal samples were pooled in each of the 51 sheep farms and 64 goat farms. Sampling was performed in adult hosts in four climatic zones (subarid, subhumid, humid and very humid) during the 1994 dry season, and 1993 and 1995 rainy seasons of São Tomé. Strongyle fecal egg counts, expressed in eggs per gram of feces (EPG), were measured. Climate affected cattle EPGs only. Extensive husbandry was associated with low EPGs in cattle, perhaps because of the low stocking rate and use of anthelmintics. On the other hand, high EPGs were observed in goats. No influential factor could be related to sheep EPGs.