Prevalence of Small Ruminant Helminthiases in and Around Tullo District in Western Harerghe Zone, Eastern Ethiopia

Research Article

Austin J Vet Sci & Anim Husb. 2018; 5(1): 1038.

Prevalence of Small Ruminant Helminthiases in and Around Tullo District in Western Harerghe Zone, Eastern Ethiopia

Husen M¹, Aliyi F², Damtew S³, Negassa T4 and Abebe H4*


¹Anchar District Livestock and Fish Recourses Development Office, Ethiopia

²West Harerghe Zonal Pastoral Community Development Office, Ethiopia

³Tulo District Livestock and Fish Recourses Development Office, Ethiopia

4Hirna Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Ethiopia

*Corresponding author: Henok Abebe, Hirna Regional Veterinary Laboratory,P.O.Box- 34, Ethiopia, Email: clexhena@gmail.com

Received: February 07, 2018; Accepted: April 03, 2018; Published: April 10, 2018

Abstract

Cross-sectional study conducted from November 2014 to April 2015 in Tullo district, west Harerghe zone eastern Ethiopia. A total 384 faecal sample from shoat (189 sheep and 195 goats) were collected and coprologicaly examined. The study revealed that the overall prevalence of Helminthiases was 53.9%. The kebele level Helminthiases was 69%, 57.1%, 56%, 44.59% and 42%, in Odabalina, KiraKufis, Lubudakeb, Ifabas and Midedu respectively having statically Significant difference (p<0.05). The spices level prevalence Helminthiases as 52.91% and 54.87% in sheep and goats respectively, but not statically, significance difference as observed. The sex level prevalence of Helminthiases was 51.49% and 56.59% in male and female, but no statically significant difference (p>0.05) irrespective their species. The age related prevalence was shown that 28.57%, 58.45% and 56.82% in age less than one, between 1-3 and greater than 3 years having statically significant difference (p<0.05). Body condition related prevalence shown that 37%, 75.47% and 100% in good, medium and poor body condition respectively it having statically Significant difference (p<0.05). Stroggylis were the most prevalent Parasites encountered in the area followed by monezia, so nematodes rank highest followed by cestode and trematode.

Keywords: Helminthiases; Prevalence; Floatation; Sedimentation; Small ruminant

Introduction

Ethiopia possess the largest livestock population in Africa, with an estimated population of 7.8 million equines, 1 million camels, 47.5 million cattle, 39.6 million Chickens, 26.1 million sheep and 21.7 million goats with the livestock ownership currently contributing to the livelihoods of estimated 80% of the rural Populations [1].

But this extensive livestock resource is not exactly exploited because of many constraints, of which poor animal production and management, improper evaluation of animal health importance due to various individual parasitic diseases and inadequate knowledge of epidemiology of parasites which have relative relevance to determine the distribution of the disease and scope of control measures to be applied Helminthiases is one of important parasitic disease contributing to losses of productivity [2-42].

Worldwide parasitic Helminth are major cause of losses in productivity and health problem of goat and sheep and are usually associated with huge economic losses especially in resource poor region of world [10]. Parasitic Helminth also causes immunosuppression and as a result enhances susceptibility to other disease [21,30-59].

The problem is more severe in tropical countries due to very favorable environmental condition for parasitic transmission, poor nutrition of host animal and poor sanitation in facilities where animals are housed. As a result disease caused by helminthes remain one of the major impediment to small ruminant production in the tropics [33-37].

In tropics, up to 95% of sheep and goats are reported to be infected with Helminth of haemonchus and trichostrongylus are the two commonly the local management conditions before rational control measures can be designed. This implies several years of epidemiological studies before measures can be implemented [24].

Nematode infections in cattle result in high production losses through poor weight gain and reduced milk yield but the gastrointestinal tracts of animals harbor variety helminthes, which causes clinical and sub clinical parasitism. Helminthes adversely affect the health status of animals, which may because of economic losses to the livestock industry [39].

Helminthes are recognized as by for the most significant part of diseases in livestock sector [60]. The most important predisposing factors of helminthes infection are grazing habits, climates, nutritional deficiency, pasture management, immunological status of animal, presence of intermediate host and vector, the number of infective larvae and eggs in the environment [46].

To take the control measures assessment and epidemiological surveillance. The prevalence of nematode parasite by different diagnostic methods like fecal examination. Determination and identification of specific specimens method is important [61]. Prevention and control of the parasites that infect sheeps and goats are becoming increasingly difficult to over use and improper availability of anthelminthic, which result in increasing resistance by parasites to common antihelminthics [45]. Therefore the study was designed: to determine the prevalence of helminthiases in small ruminant.

Materials and Methods

Study area description

The study conducted in Tullo district. it is located 371km from, the capital city Addis Ababa, 45km from Chiro zonal town. The district characterized by main seasons in a year. The dry season (Bega) which extends from January to the ends of April and longer in season (Keremt) that extends from July to the ends of September. The district has daily mean temperature ranging from 180oC-260oC and mean annually rainfall ranging from 550m-800m. a.s.l (above sea level). The agro-ecological zone of the district highland (Dega) 40%, amid highland (weynedega) 57% and 3% kola. The topography of the district medium highland 1500m. a.s.l, highland 1500-2500 m and very high land >2500m. a.s.l and relative humidity 21.9%-65%. Climate conditions of altitude 1500-3100 m. a.s.l the sobio type of the district lay 43%, sand 55% and silt 2%. The major crop cultivation is sorghum, maize, barley, teff and wheat. The livestock populations of the District are 125915 cattle, 37973 goats, 13177 sheep, 171499 poultry, 5905 donkey and 338 horses and 274 mules. The total area coverage of the District is 45679 hectares of which 30275 hectare is cultivated land; 6325 hectare is forested land, and 253 is bush land and 1000 miscellaneous land. The district has 33 peasant associations and 3 towns with total human population of 14648, of which male 71691 and female 74798 [5,62-69].

Study population

The study were carried out from November 2014 to April 2015 in Tullo district, on naturally infected sheep and goats of indigenous breed that are kept under the traditional extensive management system from five peasant associations of Tullo district (Lubudakeb, Kirakufis, Odabalina, Midedu and Ifabas) were randomly selected for coprological examination. During this time, different age, sex and body condition from randomly selected peasant association of Tullo district were included. The peasant associations are selected based on their accessibility to transport 384 (100 sheep and 107 goats) were examined over the study period are categorized in to three age group young, adult and older (<1 year, 1-3 year and >3) respectively based on farmers response and observations made during sampling. Again body conditional so categorized as good, medium and poor [14,70- 75].

Study design

A cross-sectional type of study was used to determine the prevalence of helminthiases. It involves categorization of the study population according to their specific geographic origin (PAS), body condition score (BCS), sex, species and age to estimate the prevalence of helmentiasis and assess the associated potential risk factors.

Sampling methods

A simple random sampling or lottery method was conducted to collect fecal sample from individual study animals among selected peasant association from the total of 33 peasant associations in Tullo district.

Sample size determination

Since there was no record of previous prevalence in the study area, the sample size was determined by taking 50% expected prevalence using the formula described by [57] accordingly a sample of 384 (for both sheep and goat) was considered for the study The number of animals required for the study was determined using the formula give therefore; expected prevalence of 50% with required precision (0.05) was used. Based on this formula 384 animal were included in the study.

where N=required sample size, PEXP=expected prevalence, D =desired absolute precision

Sampling strategy

Fecal samples were collected directly from the rectum for coprological examination, of each sheep and goat using disposable plastic gloves and placed in clean screw-capped universal bottle and each sample was clearly labelled with species, age, sex, sampled site and body condition score and processed. Faecal samples were preserved with 10% formalin solution to avoid the eggs developing and hatching and the sample was forwarded to Hirna regional veterinery laboratory [76-81].

Study methodology

Coprological examination: Parasitological examination was done by flotation techniques following the standard procedures for nematode parasites. In addition, for eggs of liver flukes, coproscopy examination was performed according to the sedimentation technique described by [24].

Data analysis

Data and information about small ruminants’ helmentith were entered into Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and analyzed by SPSS version 20.0 software. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize. The prevalence was calculated for all associated risk factors as the number of infected individuals divided by the number of individuals sampled multiplied by 100. Factors thought to be associated with the prevalence of helmethin fection were analyzed by Pearson’s chi-square test to account for confounding and interaction between variables. In the analyses, the confidence level was held at 95% and P-value less than 0.05 was considered as significant.

Result

A fecal sample was collected from sheep and goat of five selected peasant associations and examined by using the flotation and sedimentation. Among five Pas, significant difference P<0.05 was found in the distribution of gastro intestinal helminthes infection of examined animals. The highest prevalence of Helminthiases was found in Odabalina and the lowest in Midegdu. The gastrointestinal helmeth was higher in Goat then in sheep but not significant (Table 1).