EPIDEMIOLOGY OF GASTROINTESTINAL NEMATODES IN SMALL RUMINANTS IN GAMO ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted on (415) small ruminants (248 sheep and 167 goats) selected using simple random sampling technique from purposively selected districts of Gamo zone, from December 2019 to May 2020 to investigate the epidemiology of gastrointestinal nematodes and potential risk factors that affect prevalence and infection burden. Coprological examination using floatation, McMaster egg counting technique and larvae culture were employed. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal nematode was (68.92%). Different nematode types including Strongyle (54.94%), Strongyloides (2.65%) and Trichuris (1.93%) were identified based on egg types. Regarding the degree of infection, (79.02%), (13.64%) and (7.34%) small ruminants were found to be lightly, moderately and heavily infected, respectively. The overall mean faecal egg count was (306.75±22.88). From the pooled culture the identified strongyle genera include: Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Oesophagostomum, Bunostomum, Cooperia, Teladorsagia and chabertia. The study revealed female animals were 1.99 times (OR=1.99, 95%CI=1.16-3.41) more likely to be affected by gastrointestinal nematodes infection than males. Poor (OR=2.92, 95%CI=1.32-6.45) andmedium (OR=1.94, 95%CI=1.13-3.34) body condition animals were 2.92 and 1.94 times more likely to be affected by gastrointestinal nematodes than good ones. Untreated animals were 6.12 times (OR=6.12, 95%CI=3.25-11.49) higher at risk of infection by gastrointestinal nematodes than treated animals. Pregnant animals were 6.57 times (OR=6.57, 95%CI=1.49-28.89) more likely to have gastrointestinal nematodes than non-pregnant animals. Tethered animals were 2.25 times (OR=2.25, 95%CI=1.15-4.39) more likely to have gastrointestinal nematodes than free grazing animals. Gastrointestinal nematodes infection in young animals was 1.8 times higher (OR=1.8, 95%CI=1.05-4.2) than adults. Gynecology, tubeless, species and fecal consistency have shown no statistical significance differences observed. These implies, gastrointestinal nematodes are serious small ruminant’s production constraints in the study area. So appropriate prevention and control methods to overcome the existing problem and further study is needed to assess the species and seasonal dynamics of the gastrointestinal nematodes