PREVALENCE OF SINGLE AND MULTIPLE INFECTIONS BY GENERA, BREED, SEASON, SEX AND AGE OF SHEEP IN GOMBE STATE

Abstract

Helminthosis still remains a problem responsible for losses in ruminant production in Gombe State and Nigeria as a whole.Prevalence of single and multiple infections of gastrointestinal parasite of Sheep in Gombe State, Nigeria were assessed between March and October, 2017. Three hundred faecal samples comprising 130 Yankasa, 73 Balami and 97 Uda breeds were collected from households, sheep and goats markets and abattoir. The samples were subsequently processed for gastro-intestinal parasite presence and identification using floatation method as described by Soulsby. Six genera of parasites were observed namely; Coccidia, Haemonchus, Trichuris, Strongyle, Fasciola, and Oesophagostomun. Coccidia infection (33.30%) was the most predominant while Fasciola and Haemonchus (2.50% each) were least. Out of the 300 samples examined, 230 samples were found positive among which 67.30 and 32.60% had single and multiple infections respectively. Infection varied significantly (P< 0.05) with breed with overall prevalence of 70.80, 74.00 and 86.60% for Yankasa, Balami and Uda respectively. Season and age had significant influence (P<0.001) on infection prevalence. Prevalence of single and multiple infections were 21.70 and 8.30% for dry and 30.0%, 16.7% for the wet seasons respectively while the corresponding none infection rates were
20.70 and 2.70%. Majority of the sheep were infected by two or more parasite genera. Coccidia parasite was the most predominant followed by nematode and trematode. Furthermore, Uda in the wet season and younger sheep were more prone to gastrointestinal parasite infection.