Gastrointestinal parasites and molecular characterization of Eimeria spp. among imported small ruminants in the Sultanate of Oman

Abstract

The Omani market imports live sheep and goats from across the globe to meet the high human demand for fresh meat. However, this reliance on imports may increase the risk of introducing foreign pathogens despite the strict quarantine regulations. Therefore, we aimed to determine endoparasites among imported sheep and goats that may escape through the sole quarantine station in Muscat. For this purpose, 205 sheep and 47 goats' fecal samples were collected from animals imported from different countries at the Central Quarantine Station in Muscat between 2019 and 2020. The identification and quantification of parasites were revealed by parasitological and molecular techniques, and sequencing analyses were performed on the highly prevalent parasites. The fecal flotation test showed an overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in sheep and goats at 73.17 % and 78.72 %, respectively. The most abundant enteric parasites were Eimeria spp. (65.08 %), strongyle nematodes (25.7 %), and mixed infections of both (19.1 %). In contrast, Strongyloides spp. (2.78 %), Trichuris spp. (2.38 %), and Moniezia spp. (0.40 %) were present to a lesser extent. The McMaster technique revealed an average of 15,325 oocysts and 646 eggs per gram of feces for Eimeria spp. and strongyle-type eggs, respectively. The sequence analyses of the infected sheep and goats showed high similarity with sequences of Trichostrongylus spp., Oesophagostomum columbianum, Haemonchus contortus, and Eimeria spp. Rigorous control measures are essential at Omani quarantine stations to inhibit the entry of new parasites into the country and to mitigate the dissemination of various cross-border gastrointestinal parasites. This may pose a significant risk to public health and livestock productivity.