Survey of gastrointestinal menatodes and anthelmintic resistance in sheep and goats in communal grazing pastoral area, Yabello District, southern Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was carried out from November 2013 to April 2014 in pastoral area, Yabello districts, to estimate the prevalence and to identify risk factors associated with gastrointestinal strongyle infection in sheep and goats. Moreover, to assess the anthelmintic resistance in goats gastrointestinal nematodes a total of 1040 faecal samples were collected (sheep, n=; 400 goats, n=640) of which 656 animals (63.1 %) were positive for strongyle eggs. Three-hundred three (75.8%) of sheep and 353 (55.2%) goats were positive for strongyle eggs .. Animal species and body condition influenced the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasite in sheep and goats in the study area. The mean EPG was significantly higher in female animals (x2 =4.02, P < 0.05) and in local breed (x2 =3.89, P < 0.05). The proportion of light level infection was higher followed by medium and heavy level of infection for species, sex, age, body condition and breeds of the study animals. The FEC reduction percentage for lvermectin, Albendazole and Tetramisole were 91.8%, 95.9% and 96.8%, respectively. Since the 95% confidence level lower limit for Albendazole and lvermectin were less than 90%, the gastrointestinal nematodes circulating in the area could be suspected to develop resistance for Albendazole and lvermectin. Hence, after further epidemiological study, strategic deworming and also animal health extension to create awareness of the sheep and goats owners regarding the impact of gastrointestinal parasites will play key role to reduce the higher prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of sheep and goats in the study area.Keywords: EPG, Gastrointestinal, Sheep, Goat, Yabello, Ethiopi