Point Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites of Domestic Sheep (ovis Aries) in District Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan

In Pakistan, parasitic infections are among major constraints to animal production. Gastro-intestinal (GI) parasites cause huge economic losses (direct or indirect) to livestock. In Pakistan, distribution and effect of GI parasitism in sheep is not very well studied. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of GI parasites in sheep population of Sialkot district, Punjab, Pakistan. To this end, 384 faecal samples were collected directly from the rectum of sheep and examined for faecal egg counts by using a modified McMaster method. The overall prevalence of GI parasites in study district was 32.6%. Prevalence of GI parasites was found to be significantly higher (P<0.05) in ewes than rams; however, age and breed was found to be non-significant (P>0.05). The endoparasites identified in sheep included Fasciola (F.) hepatica (3.1%), F. gigantica (5.2%), Haemonchus contortus (23.4%), Eimeria crandallis (18.2%), Gongylonema pulchrum (7.5%), and Trichostrongylus sp. (12.2%). Among variables like age, sex and breed (Thalli, Kajli, Fat-tailed and Salt range), only sex was found significant in district Sialkot during autumn 2014. The degree (severity) of GI parasitic infection was also determined from the total faecal egg count and an insignificant difference (P>0.05) in the eggs per gram count was determined.