Veterinary Science & Technology

Gastrointestinal Nematodes in Ruminants: The Parasite Burden, Associated Risk Factors and Anthelmintic Utilization Practices in Selected Districts of East and Western Hararghe, Ethiopia

Abstract

Dinaol Belina, Abdurahman Giri, Shimelis Mengistu and Amare Eshetu

A cross-sectional study aimed to assess major GI nematode, parasite burden and associated risk factors as well as the current practices of anthelmintics utilization was conducted from September 2015 to August 2016 in selected districts of east and western Hararghe zones. In the study faecal samples were collected from randomly selected 768 ruminants’ (cattle, sheep and goats) and coprological examinations and EPG techniques were employed. The study result indicated occurrence of GI nematode has statistically differences (p<0.05) in all considered risk factors: age, sex, species, body condition and origin of animals and overall prevalence was 51.3% (394/7680). The infection rate was higher in ovine (63.33%) species than in bovine (36.84%) and caprine (52.67%). The current study also revealed the major GI nematodes at the study areas were Strongyle type (16.15%), Haemonchus (13.67%), Oesophagostomum (11.07%), Strongyloides (3.91%) and Trichuris (1.05%), whereas 5.47% (42/768) was recorded as mixed nematode infection. Questionnaire survey in this study indicated majority of the respondents had poor to no information on economic importance GI nematode (71.67%) and anthelmintic drugs utilization (83.61%). Albendazole, Tetramisole and Ivermectin are the commonly available anthelmintics for GI nematode infection treatment at our study area. On the other hand, about 35.83% of animal owners had free access to drugs from general shop (nonprofessional traders) and 24.17% (87/360) had used traditional medicinal plants of unknown doses. The study revealed that high prevalence of nematode infection in ruminates and majority of the people in the study area lack awareness on economic importance of GI nematode though they had free access to anthelmintics with no understanding of drug resistance. Therefore, there should be detail awareness creation and the need of further investigation to develop control and prevention strategies.