Species Composition and Burden of Small Intestinal Parasitic Helminth in Goats and Sheep Slaughtered at Bishoftu Elfora Export Abattoir (Ethiopia)

PURPOSE: Although helminthiasis have been recognized as health constraints of small ruminants, there was no study conducted to reveal their types and burden in goats and sheep slaughtered at Bishoftu, Ethiopia. Hence, this study is aimed to evaluate the current status of helminth parasites and estimate its burden in study animals. METHODS: The study was carried out from November 2016 to April 2017 to identify the species and also to estimate the burden of small intestinal parasitic helminth in goats and sheep using a standard worm recovery procedure. The study animals were 230 goats and sheep slaughtered at Bishoftu Elfora export abattoir during the study period. RESULTS: The study revealed that the overall infection rate was 83.5%. Among 105 samples taken from sheep, 87.6% were positive, whereas 100 (80%) of 125 examined samples from goats were positive for helminth parasites. There was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) between the species. However, age and animal origin considered as a risk factor indicated statistically significant differences (p<0.05). In sheep, the prevalence of Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Bunostomum trigonocephalum, and Moniezia expansa was 69 (46.9%), 34 (43.6%), and 51 (52.6%), respectively, while the prevalence of Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Bunostomum trigonocephalum, and Moniezia expansa in goats was 78 (53.1%), 44 (56.4%), and 46 (47.4%), respectively. CONCLUSION: This study revealed a high infection with parasitic helminths. Thus, effective control and prevention methods are necessary to minimize their effects on animals as well as the economy.