Ovine Lungworm Infection: Prevalence, Species Composition and Associated Risk Factors in Dessie Zuria District, Northeastern Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was conducted between October and December 2011 to determine the prevalence and species composition of lungworms and evaluate the effect of associated risk factors in sheep in Dessie Zuria district, northeastern Ethiopia. A total of 390 sheep faecal samples were collected and examined to detect first stage larvae (L ) of lungworms using a modified Baermann technique. The overall prevalence of 1 lungworm infection was 43.33% (169/390). Muellerius capillaris, Dictyocaulus filaria and Protostrongylus rufescens were identified as single and mixed infections. The proportions of infection by M. capillaries, D. filarial P. rufescens and mixed infection were 26.15, 10.51, 4.61 and 2.05%, respectively. Mixed infections were formed among M. capillaris and D. filaria. Age-wise infection rate was 50.00 and 36.31% in adults and young animals, respectively with significant difference (P<0.05) between them. A significant difference (P<0.05) was also observed in the infection rate between male (36.81%) and female (49.03%) animals. The infection prevalence in the highland (48.43%) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than midland (38.38%) areas. The result of this study indicated that lungworms in sheep are common parasites which induce heavy economic loss that needs greater attention.