Analysis of the types and parasitic load of gastroitestinal parasites in small ruminant

Abstract

Abstract provided by author

A total of eighty small ruminants from Neudamm Agricultural college farm were examined for the types and parasitic burden of gastrointestinal parasites analysis in August. Feacal samples for worm egg count were collected per rectum from randomly selected sheep and goats on the farm. No attempt was made to balance selected animals as regards to sex, breed, age or weight. The total feacal worm egg counts were determined using the modified mcMaster technique. Eggs observed were multiplied with 50 to obtain number of eggs per gram (epg). The infection was graded as mild in 400, moderate 400-1000 and heavy 1000 of infected sheep and goats. The overall infection rate was 81.25 with ranges between 50-1000 epg. Simply 32.5 sheep and 80 goats showed a low level of infection and over 65 sheep and 15 goats harboured moderate gastrointestinal parasites burdens. However, no more than 2.5 goats recorded a heavy infection. The study confirmed a mixed nematode infection. Gastrointestinal parasites detected in the study were Trichostrongylids species such as Haemonchus contortus, Tricostrongylus colubrifornics, Bunostomum, oesophagostomum and cooperia. Trematodes eggs were also detected in goats only. Gastrointestinal parasite feacal egg counts showed a significant difference (P 0.05) between the two species of ruminants, with sheep having a higher number of eggs per gram of feaces.