Parasitological and Hematological Study on Fasciola spp. Infections in Local Breeds of Sheep in Middle Awash River Basin, Afar Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was carried out at Gewane Agricultural Technical and Vocational Education Training Collage, Gewane district, Ethiopia. Two local breeds of sheep, Afar and Blackhead, were experimental animals. Twelve each of Afar and Blackhead sheep aged between 5-6 months were assigned and each breed was divided by sex into two groups of 6 animals. All sheep was naturally exposed to infection with Fasciola spp. for 5 months from contaminated pasture near the Awash River path. The animals were regularly monitored for any evidence of disease. It was found that the overall prevalence of Fasciola spp. infection was 54%. Prevalence of infection by breeds was 37.5% for Blackhead and 33.3% for Afar breed. Prevalence of the infection by sex group was 61.5% for female and 38.5% for male group. There was no significant difference of the prevalence for different breeds and sex groups. The health status of these sheep was reduced in body weight, red cell count (RBC), packed cell volume (PCV), total protein (TP) and hemoglobin (Hb) and this condition was obviously seen in severe infected sheep. Severe infection of Fasciola spp. started from fourteen weeks after the exposure to the end of the experiment. Breeds resistant potency occurred at sixteen weeks for infected breeds and the shedding rates were higher in the Blackhead sheep. On the basis of egg per gram and clinicalpathology parameters, the Blackhead breed was considered more susceptible to Fasciola spp. infection than the other. The Afar breed may be better adapted in the study area as shown in PCV and another blood parameters. However, there was no significant difference between the two breeds and sex groups.