Prevalence of Major Gastrointestinal Nematode and Degree of Parasite Infestation in Sheep of Bako Agricultural Research Center Community Based Breeding Program Project Small Holder Farms at Horro District

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2017 to April 2018 on 384 randomly selected sheep in two purposively selected peasant associations of Horro district with the objective of determining the prevalence and degree of gastrointestinal nematode infestation in sheep. Fecal samples collected from all study animals were subjected to parasitological investigation including simple test tube floatation and McMaster egg counting techniques for screening and counting the eggs of observed gastrointestinal (GIT) nematodes. The study found that the overall prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep was 36.7% (141/384). Among the identified nematode parasite egg, strongyle eggs 64(16.66%) were the most prevalent followed by Trichuris 30(7.8%) and 29(7.55%) Strongyloidiasis. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in prevalence of GIT nematodes between different body conditions and age of the study animals. Animals with poor body conditions 75 (46.4%) were highly infected than animals with medium 51 (38.7%) and good body condition 15 (20%). The study revealed that the prevalence of nematodes significantly higher (p<0.05) in younger animals than in adults. However, there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the prevalence of GIT nematodes in case of peasant associations and sex of animals. Based on the EPG result, the study animals were classified as light81 (57.4%), moderate 34 (24.1%) and severe 26 (18.4%) infection. The majority of examined animal had the EPG count in average of less than 800 which is lightly infested. Hence, this finding indicated that helminths parasites are more prevalent in the study area. So that, proper screening and monitoring of the sheep should be carried out regularly, regular and strategic deworming programmes should be carried out, and. further studies on should be done to know the seasonal prevalence of GIT parasites of sheep. Abbreviations: °C: Degree Centigrade; BARC: Bako Agricultural Research Center; BCS: Body Condition Score; CI: Confidence Interval; CSA: Central Statistics Authority; DF: Degree of Freedom; E: East; ELISA: Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay; EPG: Egg per Gram of faeces; GINs: Gastrointestinal Nematodes; GIT: Gastro Intestinal Tract; ILRI: International Livestock Research Institute; KG: kilogram; KM: Kilo Meter; L1: First stage larvae; L2: Second stage larvae; L3: Third stage of larvae; L4: Fourth stage of larvae; L5: Fifth stage of larvae; M.a.s.l: Meter above sea level; MG: Milligram; Mm: millimeter; N: North; P: Precision value; SPSS: Statistical Package for Social Science; X2: Chi Square Introduction