Helminths of sheep and goats in central oromia (Ethiopia) during the dry season

cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence and identity of parasites of sheep and goats in and around Bishoftu during the dry season from November 2007 to April 2008. For this purpose, a total of 222 faecal samples were collected from small nnninants (157 sheep and 65 goats), all kept under an extensive management system. Flotation, sedimentation and coprocultures were employed to identify helminths. Out of the total, 222 faecal samples examined 81.5% (181) were found to harbor one or more genera of parasites. About 70.2% (156) of the examnied small ruminants were positive for helminths while 46.4% (103) of them were positive for Eimeria oocysts. The results of the study showed that 81% (128) of the sheep and 83% (54) of the goats were found to harbor one or more genera of parasites. Overall, 11 genera of hehninths were identified in sheep whereas, 8 helminth genera were identified in goats. On coproculture of positive samples, the genera of helminths in decreasing order of prevalence in sheep were Trichostrongylus/Teladorsagia, Haemonchus, Oesophagostomum, Strongyloides and Bunostomum sp. Likewise in goats, the prevalence of genera of helminths in decreasing order was TrichostrongyluslTeladorsagia, Haemonchus, Oesophagostomum, Bunostomum and Strongyloides sp., Trichostrongylus/Teladorsagia, Haemonchus and Oesophagostomum were identified as the most prevalent genera of nematodes in both hosts. In the study area where nutrition is generally poor during the dry season poor productivity in small nnninants is likely to be aggravated by a high prevalence of polyparasitism. © Medwell Journals, 2011.