Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Helminths in Sheep from White Nile State, Sudan

Abstract

This study was carried out during November 1997 to October 1998 to determine the species and prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths from White Nile State, which is a major sheep production area in the Sudan. These sheep were slaughtered at Omdurman Central Abattoir and were designated for export. A total of 507 faecal samples and 30 gastrointestinal tracts were collected at random and processed, using microscopic coprological examination, faecal culture and postmortem examination. Mixed helminth infections were found common in 93.3% of gastrointestinal tracts examined. Nematode infections were the commonest, reaching 90.0% of the examined animals. Trichostrongylus colubriformis was the predominant nematode species with an infection rate of 86.7% followed by Haemonchus contortus with a prevalence of 76.6%. Other identified nematode species were Cooperia pectinata, Oesophagostomum columbianum, Strongyloide spapillosus, Trichuris globulosa and Skrjabinema ovis with frequencies of 50%, 36.7%, 66.7%, 26.7% and 6.7%, respectively. Cestodes were recovered in 80% of the gastrointestinal tracts. The identified species were Stilesia globipunctata, Avitellina centripunctata, Moniezia expansa and Moniezia benedeni The most prevalent cestode was S. globipunctata followed by A. centripunctata with frequencies of 66.7% and 60.0%, respectively. The study indicated that nematodes may be involved in causing significant losses in sheep production in the Sudan. The results revealed involvement of some potentially pathogenic forms such as T. colubriformis and H. contortus. In this study, four helminth species are reported for the first time in the White Nile State. These are Trichuris globulosa, Skrjabinema ovis, Stilesia globipunctata and Avitellina centripunctata