Prevalence, Associated Risk Factors of Haemonchosis and Burden of Strongyle Nematode of Small Ruminants in Bishoftu, Oromia, Central Ethiopia.

Abstract

Haemonchus contortus is a significant blood-sucking parasitic disease. It causes economic loss through animal death and decreased production. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Bishoftu town, Oromia, Central Ethiopia, from November 2023 to May 2024 to estimate the prevalence of H. contortus infection and associated risk factors in shoats. A total of 384 fecal samples (262 sheep and 122 goats) were collected, with the overall prevalence of 66.9% but higher in sheep (73.3%) than goats (53.3%), females (58.6%) than males (78.5%), and in young animals. Management, age, sex, and small ruminant species were statistically significant risk factors for the prevalence of H. contortus in small ruminants. The mean fecal worm egg count for all small ruminants was 800 EPG. In Haemonchus-infected, the level of parasite burden in shoats was 58.8% (severe), 12.1% (moderate), and 29.2% (light). Small ruminant species, sex, age group, body condition, and management had statistically significant associations with the levels of strongyle egg count. H. contortus in shoats is a prevalent disease in Bishoftu. Therefore, it is important to implement targeted and seasonally based deworming strategies using effective anthelmintics, particularly before periods of high parasite transmission. This approach should be based on local epidemiological data to reduce parasite resistance and emphasize the susceptibility of young and female sheep and goats.