Abstract:
A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2011 to April 2012 with the objectives of
determining the prevalence, identifying the species involved and assessing risk factors of gastrointestinal
parasites in small ruminants in and around Jimma town. Faecal samples were collected from 214 sheep and 170
goats and examined coprologically. The study found that 191(89.3%) sheep and 148(87.1%) goats were found
to harbor one or more gastrointestinal parasites. All species, sex, age groups were infected with identical
parasite species, but with different levels of infection. The prevalence of various types of parasites in sheep
and goats were respectively: Fasciola species 19.6%,7.6%; Paramphistomum species 22.4%,14.1%;
Haemonchus species 37.4%, 42.9%; Trichostrongylus species 26.2%, 23.5; Strongloid 20.1%, 25.9%; Ostertagia
species 16.8%, 24.1%; Oesophagastamum species 9.3%, 8.2 %; Trichuris species 7.9%, 5.3%; Chabertia species
4.2%, 8.2%; Bonustomum species 2.3%, 5.3%; Monezia 13.1%, 8.8 %; Emeria species 11.7%, 20.6%. h Fasciola
species and Paramphistomum species prevalence were higher significantly in sheep whereas the reverse is
true for Emeria species in goats. The prevalence of Haemonchus species, Ostertagia species, Strongloid
species, Chabertia species and Bonustomum species were higher in goats but revealed statistically no
significant difference (P>0.05), where as Trichostrongloid species, Oesophagastamum species, Trichuris and
Monezia species were higher in sheep than goats with no significant difference as well (P>0.05). The prevalence
of some gastrointestinal parasites (Haemonchus species, Strongloids species, Emeria species, Trichuris and
Chabertia) were higher in young than adult small ruminants shown significant difference (P<0.05), where as
Paramphistosomum, Ostertagia, Trichostrongylus, Oesophagastamum and Bonustomum were also higher in
younger than adult sheep and goats, but statistically not significant (P>0.05). In this study Fasciola was
found significantly higher in adult than younger animals (P<0.05), while the reverse is true for monezia.
The prevalence of paramphistosomum and Haemonchus was significantly higher in female sheep and goats
than males (P <0.05). From studied animals 33.9% lightly, 26.0% moderately and 28.4% heavily infected.
Therefore, awareness creation to the farmers should be instituted in the study area on the effect of
gastrointestinal parasites of small ruminants and its control and strategic deworming of small ruminants
should be practiced.
