Prevalence and Risk Factors of Gastrointestinal Parasitic Infections in Small Ruminants in the Greek Temperate Mediterranean Environment

Abstract

Gastrointestinal (GI) parasitic infections of sheep and goats were investigated in 69 farms located in Thessaly region of Greece, characterized by temperate Mediterranean climate, during two consecutive seasons. A total of 557 fecal samples were collected. Helminth eggs were detected in 44 (7.9%) samples. Strongyle-type eggs were found in 19 (3.4%) samples, Nematodirus spp. eggs in 6 (1.1%) samples, Trichuris spp. eggs in 16 (2.9%) samples, Fasciola hepatica in 3 (0.5%) samples, and Dicrocoelium dendriticum in 1 (0.2%) sample. Coccidian oocysts were found in 36 (6.5%) samples. Risk factors related to animal and farmer status, farm and pasture management, and environmental factors derived by satellite data were examined for their association with the prevalence of helmith infections. A logistic regression model showed that the educational level of farmers and the elevation of farm location were associated with helminth infections.

Prevalence of <i>Strongyle</i. ova in goats and comparative studies of some faecal culture techniques in Maiduguri, Nigeria

“…In addition, the bottled with charcoal also yielded a good number of larvae and the fluid is usually clearer which helps in better counting of larvae. Only Strongyle ova were seen throughout the study period and this agrees with Biu et al, (2009) and Kantzoura et al, (2012) who reported Strongyle ova as the most prevalent of parasitic ova seen in their studies. Furthermore, using standard morphological keys, Only Oesophagostom columbianum larvae were recovered throughout the study.…”

Point Prevalence and Intensity of Gastrointestinal Parasite Ova/Oocyst and Its Association with Body Condition Score (BCS) of Sheep and Goats in Maiduguri, Nigeria

“…Strongyle, Coccidia and mixed infections with Strongyle and Coccidia were common in both sheep and goats while Trematodes and Cestodes ova was found only in sheep, however, Strongyle ova was the most prevalent. This finding is consonant with previous reports by Maichomo et al (2004), Biu et al (2009), Shimelis et al (2011) and Kantzoura et al (2012). Trematodes and Cestodes infections had the lowest frequencies in sheep and were not encountered in goats in this study.…”

Prevalence and risk factors for gastrointestinal parasitism in traditionally maintained goat flocks of South Gujarat

“…Total 12.93 and 1.88 % parasitic prevalence was found in animals with low (\2.75) and high BCS ([2.75), respectively (Table 1). The space provided and hygiene parameters in housing are very important for parasitic infection in in-house animals (Kantzoura et al 2012). Higher parasitic infections were detected during the warm rainy season than dry cold season, was in accordance with Sutar et al (2010) and Dhara et al (2015), might be due to longer grazing time (Pathak and Pal 2008).…”

“…Total 72 (20 %) goats were positive for coccidiosis in which 13.06, 4.17 and 2.78 % having mild, moderate and heavy infections, respectively (Table 3). Coccidia infection was very less during dry spell of the year, winter (11.67 %) and summer (5.83 %) and significantly heavy during monsoon (42.50 %), same pattern of incidence was also observed by Kantzoura et al (2012) and Rahman (2007). Moreover, it was also affected by nutrition level as the goats having low BCS were having more prevalence, ranging from moderate to heavy infection (Table 3), this finding was in concurrence with the observation noted by the Khan et al (2011).…”