Prevalence of Haemonchosis and Associated Risk Factors in Small Ruminants Slaughtered at Bishoftu ELFORA Export Abattoir, Ethiopia

Abstract

Haemonchosis have been recognized as a major constraint to both small and large-scale small ruminant production in developing countries. A cross- sectional study was carried out in sheep and goats from November 2015 to April 2016 in Debrezeit ELFORA export abattoir in Bishoftu town, with the objectives of evaluating the status of H. contortus and determining the associated risk factors. The study animals were 845 small ruminants in which 425 male sheep and 420 male goats slaughtered in the abattoir. The study revealed that an overall prevalence of 63.4% in the study abattoir. Of the examined animals, 296 (69.6%) sheep and 240 (57.1%) goats were found positive for the parasite. There was statistically significant difference (p<0.05) in infection rates between sheep and goat. The prevalence of haemonchosis in young and adult was 66.9% and 59%, respectively, and this difference was found statistically significant (p < 0.05). But there was no statistically significance (p>0.05) in H. contortus infection in animals with different body condition scores. In this study, as high rate of infection with H. contortus observed in small ruminants slaughtered in the study abattoir, appropriate control measure should be instituted in area of animals’ origin to reduce further infection.

Keywords: Abomasum, Bishoftu; Goats, H. contortus, Prevalence, Risk Factors, Sheep