Vol. 11, Special Issue 5 (2022)

Author(s):
R Malik, QU Nazir, A Fayaz, S Rasool and GN Sheikh

Abstract:
Present study was conducted in sheep reared in organized and unorganized areas of Srinagar and Ganderbal districts of Kashmir valley for determining the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites. A total of 1200 faecal samples were examined of which 925 (77.08%) were found positive for one or other gastrointestinal nematode parasite. Based on coproculture, the prevalence of different genera of GIN parasites was: Haemonchus spp. (59.75%), Trichostrongylus spp. (36.9%), Ostertagia spp. (36.6%), Nematodirus spp. (19.33%), Bunostomum spp. (17.08%), Oesophagostomum spp. (15.6%), Trichuris spp. (12.66%) and Marshallagia spp. (6.16%). The prevalence was found to be higher in unorganized farms (80.0%) compared to that of organized farms (73.3%). Most of the cases were reported during summer (83.0%) followed by spring (81.0%), winter (73.0%) and least in autumn (71.33%). The adults of 6-12 months age were affected more compared to young sheep of 1-6 months age (84.8% versus 72.7%). In male sheep, prevalence was found to be 78.60% and 76.0% in female. In Srinagar and Ganderbal districts higher prevalence may be attributed to the fact that owners rarely go for livestock deworming on regular basis leading to pilling up of infection and could also be attributed to open grazing in animals.