The Prevalence of Ovine Gastro Intestinal Nematode and Associated Risk Factor in Jigjiga Woreda, Fafan Zone, Somali Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2015 to April 2016 in jijiga Woreda, Eastern Ethiopia Somali regional state with the impartial of determining the prevalence and associated risk factors with ovine gastro intestinal nematode infestation. There was collected 384 fecal samples were examined using flotation technique and Mcmaster techniques. Out of the total sampled collected 257 (66.9%) sheep had a gastrointestinal nematode infection. A parasitological investigation was showed that sheep in the study area were verminous by a variety of helminthic nematodes. Out of total gastro intestinal nematodes Strongyle were the most frequently 210 (54.6%) recovered nematode eggs followed by mixed 20 (5.2%), Strongyloides18 (4.7%),and Trichuris species 9 (2.3%).The eggs per gram (EPG) count was determined using McMaster technique showed that 91(35.4%) of the sheep were lightly infested, 90 (35%) moderately infested and 76 (29.5) heavily infested. There was a statistically significant difference between age, body condition scores and season (p < 0.05) with prevalence and eggs per gram (EPG) counts but there was no significant among with the sex. The study revealed that statistically significant difference (p>0.05) was not found in prevalence among the six Peasant association, in general the study was showed that Gastrointestinal nematodes are one of the major problems that could impede health and productivity of sheep in the study area. Hence, emphasis should be given for public awareness instituted in the study area, in order to effective strategic treatment, the control and prevention of gastrointestinal nematode infection with further studies on species identification and larval ecology.