Study on the Prevalence of Internal Parasitic Infection in Diarrheic and Apparently Healthy Sheep at Assiut Governorate, Egypt

Abstract

The prevalence of different internal parasites in both diarrheic and clinically healthy sheep was studied on 157 sheep from different localities at Assiut governorate-Egypt during the period extended at the beginning of April till the end of September 2014. The animals were divided into 3 groups, according to the clinical signs (severe diarrhea, mild diarrhea and clinically healthy) and according to age wise (12 months). Fecal samples were collected and examined by concentration sedimentation-floatation technique. The results indicated that the prevalence rate of total internal parasitic infestation in sheep was 76.43% (120 out of 157). Concerning the total helminth prevalence rate; it was 47.13% (74/157), while the prevalence rate for coccidial infection was 49.04% (77/157). Mixed infection with helminthes and coccidia was recorded in 31 animals with a prevalence rate about 19.74%. The highest prevalence rates for helminthes infestation were recorded in the age group more than 12 months 64.93% (50/77) and in animals suffer from mild diarrhea 81.25% (52/64). While, the highest prevalence rates for coccidian infection were recorded in animals suffering from severe diarrhea 78.68% (48/61) and in the age group less than 3 months was 82.6% (38/46). Infestation by coccidian was not detected in any of the clinically healthy sheep. Twelve helminthes parasites were detected in the present study; Trichostrongylus spp < /em> was the predominant worm in examined sheep (19.74%).