Study on the prevalence of lungworm infection in small ruminants in Gondar Town, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted in Gondar town from November to March, 2010 with the objectives of determining the prevalence, identifying the species involved and assessing possible risk factors of lung worm infection in small ruminants. The overall prevalence of lung worm infection in the study was 33.83 and 32.6% in coproscopic and postmortem findings, respectively. Age, sex, management system, month and species of animal were taken as risk factor for the occurrence of lung worm infection. There were no significant difference (p>0.05) between age, sex, management system, month and species of animal. The prevalence of lung worm infection was 30.43 and 36.22% in coproscopic examination and 31.74 and 34.92% in postmortem findings in sheep and goats, respectively. The prevalence of lung worm was 36.22 and 30.43% in coproscopic and 27.27 and 35.91% in postmortem in female and male, respectively. Prevalence of 42.85, 32.93, 28.57 and 37.75% were observed in animals of age groups <6 months, 6 months to 2 years, 2-4 years and >4 years, respectively. Prevalence of 39.47, 30.08, 33.33, 34.88 and 31.57% were observed in November to March, respectively. The prevalence between management systems was higher in extensive (34.40%) than semi-intensive (30.90%). Dictyocaulus filaria has the highest prevalence (15.86%) than Muellerius capillaries and Protostrongylus refescens. © 2011 Medwell Journals.