Helminthes Parasites in Small and Large Ruminants at Sohag Governorate, Egypt: Prevalence and Seasonal Dynamics

Abstract

Prevalence and seasonal variations of some helminth parasites was conducted in (cattle, buffaloes, sheep, and goats) from Sohag Governorate, Egypt with overall prevalence (44.64%). Infection rate was in cattle (52.78%), in buffaloes (48.84%), in sheep (34.32%) and in goats (27.27%). Fasciola spp. was higher in sheep (6.51%) while the lowest infection rate was in goats (3.64%). For Paramphistomum spp., the highest infection rate was in buffaloes (1.7%) and the lowest was in cattle (0.8%). For Moniezia spp. sheep had the highest infection rate (22.49%) while the lowest infection rate was in buffaloes (19.2%). For Toxocara vitulorum, cattle had the highest infection rate (31.4%) while the lowest was in buffaloes (26.8%). In addition, for Strongyle type eggs, the highest infection rate was in cattle (8.1%) while the lowest was in goats (1.8%). For Strongyloides spp. eggs prevalence rates in cattle and sheep were (0.8%) and (0.6%) respectively. Trichuris spp. eggs were found only in sheep with an infection rate (0.6%). Significantly cattle and buffaloes at age >3y were the highly infected group, but for sheep and goat, age group at age 1-3y were the highly infected group. Seasonally, winter was significantly with highest infection rate in both cattle and sheep, but summer season was significantly with highest infection rate in buffaloes and goats. Strongyle type eggs were cultured to detect several larvae including (110 cattle, 59 buffaloes, and 56 sheep) and the following larvae were detected (Oesophagostomum radiatum, Cooperia onchophora Trichostrongylus axei, Ostertagia ostertagi, Cooperia curticei, Ostertagia circumcincta, and Haemonchus contortus).