Prevalence of Gastro-Intestinal Nematode in Small Ruminants on Haramaya University Farm

A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2017 to April 2018 in Haramaya University farms Eastern Hararghe, Oromiya region to determine the prevalence of nematode parasites of small ruminants and to identify the possible risk factors associated with the major genera of nematode larvae. During the study period faceal samples were randomly collected from a total of 383 of small ruminants (216 ovine and 167 caprine). Standard parasitological methods including floatation and ova culture were employed in the study. Out of these, 340 (88.8%) animals were found positive for nematode parasites of which, 89.2% in ovine and 88.4% in caprine were recorded. Out of 229 positive samples the species of parasites were found Strongyle (22.9%), Fasciola (14.1%), Paramphistomum (7.03%), Monesia (5.73%) and as mixed infection (9.9%). Strongyles were the most prevalent parasites encountered in the area followed by Fasciola. In this study, maximum EPG counts were recorded in ovine species and females were severely infected than their counter part. In the present study, there was no association between different potential risk factors tested. However, high prevalence of nematode parasites was observed in the study area affecting wellbeing and productivity of the animals. In Conclusion the animal was affected by different helminthes parasites infections which cause loss of production, reducing growth rate and death of small ruminants. The farm should be used appropriate management system and deworming strategs their small ruminants by different anthelmintics based on order of the instruction of the Veterinarian to avoid drug resistance as recommendatio