Prevalence of Small Ruminant Lung Worm Infection in Jimma Town Dawit Weldesenbet

Abstract

Across sectional study of lung worm infection was conducted in Jimma town from November, 2010 to march, 2011 with the aim of determining the prevalence of lung worm infection of small ruminants to assess some of the determinant factors and to identify the species of respiratory helminthes involved in the area. For this purpose fecal samples of 360 sheep and goats of all age groups and both sexes were examined by Modified Baermann technique for the extraction of L1 larvae. The finding indicated that 26.7 % (96) were found invariably infected with different species of lung worm. Dictyocaulus filaria was the most prevalent species accounted for 12.2% of the total positive samples. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the prevalence of lung worm infection with regard to sex, age and body condition of sheep while in goats, the prevalence of infection did not show statistically significant difference. Additionally the intact lungs of 113 sheep and goats from Jimma municipal abattoir were systematically opened and examined for lung worms following a standard procedures and 29.2 %(33) were harboring one or more species of lung worms. It can be summarized that small ruminant lung worm infection is problem of a significant magnitude in Jimma city. Lack of treatment and poor management and husbandry practices are likely factors responsible for the high prevalence rates observed in the area of study. Finally possible control measures of the disease are forwarded