Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Helminths of Sheep in Aeolian Plains of Haryana

Abstract

The epidemiological study of gastrointestinal parasites was carried out in unorganized sheep farms in aeolian plains of Haryana from March, 2018 to February, 2019. A total of 1080 faecal samples were examined, out of which 899 (83.24%) were positive for helminthic infections. The different helmiinths observed were strongyles (80.93%), Strongyloides spp. (28.24%), Trichuris spp. (7.31%) and Moniezia spp. (1.02%). Infection was non-significantly higher in adults (83.34%) as compared to young (76.67%). Males showed a non-significantly higher infection (89.79%) as compared to females (82.59%). Significantly higher (p<0.05) infection was observed in monsoon (98.88%) as compared to winter (74.17%), spring (78.88%) and summer (82.72%) season. Significantly higher (p<0.05) infection (100%) was observed during month of August and September while lowest infection was observed during month of November (56.67%). Coproculture studies revealed that Haemonchus contortus was predominant parasite during all the seasons, followed by Strongyloides spp., Trichostrongylus spp. and Oesophagostomum spp. No trematode eggs were identified during study period.