A Study of Eimeria Species in Sheep in Mosul City

Abstract

The study was conducted to diagnose and study species of Eimeria in sheep in Mosul city from beginning of September 2009 to end May 2010, as well as to determine the percentage and intensity of infection of Eimeria species. Five hundred fecal samples of sheep with different ages were collected from different areas of the Mosul city. The results showed that total percentage of Emeria infection was 63.6%. The variations in percentage of infection were recorded according to month of study. Highest percentage was recorded in March being 89.2% and the lowest in September 25.9%. The species E. ovina recorded the highest infection rate 86.7%, while the species E. granulosa represented lowest infection rate 10%. Moreover the intensity of infection was higher in young ages and lower in adult. The results were detected that indoor sheep infection with high parasitic infection 69.9% whereas outdoor animals have an infection rate 25.3%. The morphological characters of oocysts were varied according to species of Eimeria has been studied. Fifty of intestinal and abomasal samples from both slaughtered in shops butchery in Mosul city and dead animals were examined to detect Eimeria infection, and results show that infection percentage was 56.4% in intestine of slaughtered animals and 36.3% in dead animal. Moreover no infection of Eimeria were detected in abomasums in both slaughtered and dead animals. The oocysts of (E. parva, E.pallida and E. ovinoidalis) detected at more than 5000 oocysts per gram of intestinal contents. The intestinal secraping stained with Giemsa stain reveals the presence of different developmental stages of parasites in wall of intestine. The histopathological sections of intestine revealed the different pathological changes concerning of Eimeria infection.