Abstract

A cross sectional study on gastrointestinal parasite of small ruminants was conducted from November, 2011 to April, 2012 in Dire Dawa with the objective to determine the prevalence of infestation, and to identify the gastrointestinal helminth parasite in sheep and goats. A total of 768 coprological examinations were performed on 384 fecal sample each from sheep and goats. Taking the overall parasitic infestation into consideration, 91.4% sheep and 86.2% were found to harbor egg of gastro intestinal helminth. The coprological findings were Strongyle (45.01%), Nematodirus (11.11%), Trichuris 12.8%, Moniezia 13.67%, Fasciola 6.84%, Strongyloides 10.54% in sheep while Strongyle (39.88%), Nematodirus (15.10%) Trichuris 16.31%, Monezia 12.08%, Fasciola 6.04%, Strongyloides 6.51% in goats. Upon coproculture, accurate differentiation of each genera of nematode were identified prevalent for those animal which were positive for strongyle egg type 138 (sheep), and 97 (goat) sample was cultured. Based on faecal culture, six genera of nematode were identified including Bunostomum 20.29%, Oesophogostomum 25.64%, Chabertia 23.19%, Haemonchus 28.99%, Cooperia 24.64%, Trichostrongylus 40.33% in sheep while in goats Bunostomum 20.62%; Oesophogostomum 24.74%; Chabertia 23.71%; Haemonchus 32.99%; Cooperia 25.77% and Trichostrongylus 40.1%. The majority of sheep and goats were having mixed infestation with more than one helminth. The study shows that gastrointestinal (GIT) parasite was a major problem of small ruminant in the study area. Therefore, comprehensive study on GIT parasite, cost effective strategic treatment and awareness creation to the smallholder should be instituted in the study area.

Key words: Dire Dawa, Eastern Ethiopa, GIT Helminth, Goat, Nematode, Sheep.