PREVALENCE OF GASTRO-INTETINAL PARASITES IN MIGRATORY SHEEP AND GOAT OF GHANPOKHARA, LAMJUNG 

1. PREVALENCE OF GASTRO-INTETINAL PARASITES IN MIGRATORY
SHEEPAND GOAT OF GHANPOKHARA, LAMJUNG
Presented By:
Krishna Prasad Acharya
Email: kriaasedu@gmail.com
Veterinary Officer
Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Pokhara

2. Introduction
• Sheep and Goat husbandry is an important component of
mixed subsistence agriculture systems
• The Sheep and goat production system in the country is
mostly traditional type and the loss in the production
system is high to affect productivity.
• Resource poor farmers in the hills, who cannot invest
large sums of money in cattle and buffalo, prefer goat and
sheep keeping.

3. Statement of problem
• Production system in the country is mostly traditional type and the loss in the
production system is high (Joshi 1994).
• Gastrointestinal parasitic infestation is one of the important cause of poor
reproductive and productive performance (Dhar et al 1982; Karki 1987; Sheathe
1994; Tariq et al 2006).
• Similarly, Joshi 1994; Joshi 1998; Thakuri and Mahato 1990 stated that parasitic
gastroenteritis is one of the major cause of productivity loss in Goat and Sheep of
Nepal.
• Small ruminants – Sheep and Goat are very much prone to the infection of
gastrointestinal helminthes parasites.
• The gastrointestinal-parasites cause more than 20 percent loss in the
production and productivity of animal (Tripathi and Subedi 2015).

4. A total of 100 fecal samples were collected directly from rectum at
the pasture site of Ghanpokhara, Lamjung at an altitude of 2200
masl. The samples were then examined both qualitatively and
quantitatively by the sedimentation and floatation methods as per
standard (Soulsby 1982; MAFF 1986).

5. Results:
Out of 100 fecal samples tested, 80% samples were
positive for parasites.
Strongyle (78/100) was predominant folllowed by
Trichostrongyle (44/100), Moniezia (12/100), Trichuris
(8/100) and Coccidia ( 3/100).
There was mixed parasitic infection with mean EPG of
1227.53±167.43.

6. EPG count regarding the parasites was as follows:
 Strongyle : 829.49±110.41
 Trichostrongyle : 351.90±81.08
 Trichuris : 40.00 ± 14.62
 Moniezia : 27.50 ± 9.90
 Total EPG: 1227.75 ±167.43
80
12
3
0
20
40
60
80
100
Roundworms Cestodes Coccidia
Prevalence%
Generawise prevalence of
parasites
78
44
8 12
3
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Prevalence%
Specieswise prevalence of parasites

7. Parameters % positive samples P-value
Age Below 6 months
1-2 year
Above 2 years
12/22 ( 54.54 % )
23/30 ( 76.67 % )
45/48 ( 93.75 % )
0.001
Sex Male
Female
17/26 ( 65.38% )
63/74 ( 85.13% )
0.46
Species Sinhal
Baruwal
15/17 ( 88.23% )
65/83 ( 78.31% )
0.56

8. 78.31
88.23
70
75
80
85
90
Sheep Goat
Prevalence%
Species of Animal
Species wise prevalence of
gastrointestinal helminthes
65.38
85.31
0
20
40
60
80
100
Male Female
Prevalence%
Sexwise prevalence of gastrointestinal
helminthes
54.54
76.67
93.75
0
20
40
60
80
100
Below 6 months of age 1-2 years of age Above 2 years
Prevalence%
Agewise prevalence of parasites

9. Parameters Strongyle Trichostrongyle Trichuris Moniezia Total
Goat 513.33±183.20 433.33 ± 262.346 40.00 ± 33.52 0.00±0.00
993.33 ±
439.856
Sheep 876.92 ± 125.585 327.69 ± 79.072 39.39 ± 16.14 33.33 ± 11.892
1262.12 ±
178.804
Below 6 months
of age 273.68 ± 172.709 60.00 ± 29.38 105 ± 50.51 5.00 ± 5.00
430.00 ±
116.551
1-2 years of age 336.67 ± 76.632 110.00 ± 41.48 0.00 ±0.00 36.67 ± 18.87
490.00 ±
107.034
Above 2 years of
age 984.00 ±165.526 471.43 ± 125.49 22.00 ± 10.416 20.00 ± 11.066
1490.00 ±
255.05
Male 623.52 ± 175.216 241.18 ± 145.789 105.88 ± 49.609 29.41 ± 29.41 1000 ± 332.438
Female 847.69 ±125.50 379.69 ±92.426 21.54 ± 11.908 26.15 ± 9.627
1272.31 ±
187.50
Whatever may be the case in other animals, significance of EPG counts vary by season : Spring 500-1000
EPG is serious infection , while in Fall > 2000 EPG is a serious infection. (Source:
www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/primefacts/worm test for livestock and guide to EPG count).

10. Discussion
Higher infection with parasites (80%) in this study population
could be explained by the environment shared commonly both by
large animals, sheep and goats -------re-infection of contaminated
pastures.
• The lower EPG count in the sampled population during the March
might be due to condition of hypobiosis in which roundworms is
present in host with reduced fecundity as cited by Fritsche et al
1993.

11. • High Prevalence ------- low altitude and suitability for survival,
development and dissemination of nematode larvae.
• Higher incidence of parasitic infection in adult (92%) corroborates to the
findings of Annene et al 1994, Zvinorova et al 2016 and Singh et al 2015
while in contrast with the Talukdar (1996) and Pundlikrao (2009) as cited
by Singh et al 2015.
• High prevalence and relatively low intensity of infection seems to have
close agreement with the climatic conditions of study area and poor winter
nutrition and phenomenon of periparturient rise thus increasing
susceptibility to infection including worms.

12. • There was variation in prevalence between Sheep and Goat but that was non-
significant.
• Female animals had higher worm burden than male (P: 85.13% and EPG: 1000 ±
332.438 and P: 65.38% and EPG: 1272.31 ± 187.50 respectively).
• This could be due to differential susceptibility owing to hormonal control (Tariq et al
2008;Badaso and Addis 2015).
• The absence of Hemonchus in this study could be due to absence of hot humid
tropical environment (70-80º F) which is utmost need for the survival and
development of Hemonchus larvae (Joshi 1998; Yadav 2000) and this
environment is more favorable for the transmission of Strongyle and
Trichostrongylus sps (Joshi 1998).
• Note: The differentiation between Hemonchus and Strongyle sps was done only
based on morphological characteristics. Differentiation based on larvae
culture could not be done due to technical problem.

13. • Fecal egg count is the crude estimate of the worm burden (
Lloyd 1987).
• As cited by Lloyd 1987 and Joshi 1994, fecal egg count of >
2000 EPG ---- indicative of clinical disease and 500-2000
EPG indicative of subclinical parasitism.
• In this population, migratory sheep and goat are suffering from
sub-clinical helminth infection.
• The subclinical parasitism in this study is in agreement with
Joshi 1996 who reported the subclinical parasitism in
migratory flock and clinical parasitism common under the
intensive management system.

14. Strongyle EPG counts Actions: Remarks
˂200 Drench probably not required
200-500 Productivity losses and scouring may be
occurring. Drenching or repeating worm test is
required.
But in case of Hemonchus, an EPG count of
500 necessitates immediate de-worming
500-1000** Drench required This is high range
1000-2000 Needs immediate de-worming High range with mostly scours seen
2000 + Treatment with highly effective drench and
moving to low risk paddock is necessary.
Severe production loss and death may be
imminent.
Nematodirus eggs Number even low ( ˂ 100epg) cause significant
illness in young lambs.
Counts greater than 200 should be investigated
promptly
Liver fluke In Sheep: > 50 Epg and Cattle: >25 EPG are
considered high
Source: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/primefacts/worm test for livestock and guide to EPG count)

15. Conclusion
• Though there is subclinical parasitism, it is necessary to
perform regular de-worming as there is presence of
pathogenic worms such as Trichostrongyle and strongyle at
high range.

16. References
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17. Thank you !!!