Abstract
Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) are major constraints to health and productivity of small ruminants. Methods of their control relies mainly on anthelmintic drugs; however, the indiscriminate use of these drugs could lead to the development of anthelmintic resistance (AR). This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of GINs infection, and field evaluation of anthelmintic efficacy in sheep. The epidemiological data were collected using a cross-sectional study design while a farm-based field study design was employed for the evaluation of anthelminthic efficacy. Furthermore, standard parasitological techniques were employed for qualitative and quantitative worm identification. The overall prevalence indicated 50.3%. Six genera of GINs (Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Oesophagostomum/Chabertia, Trichuris, Teladosargia/Ostertagia and Nematodirus) were identified. Among the identified genera, Haemonchus (25.4%) and Trichostrongylus (24.8%) were the dominant genera followed by mixed infection (21.8%), Oesophagostomum/Chabertia (10.4%), Trichuris (7.8%), Teladosargia (Ostertagia) (5.7%) and Nematodirus (4.1%). Mixed infections consisted either of double infections with Haemonchus and Trichostrongylus, or triple infections with Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus and Trichuris. The McMaster egg counting results showed that the mean EPG of infected sheep was 845.6. The results also showed 66 (34.2%), 101 (52.3%) and 26 (13.5%) sheep had low, moderate and heavy worm burden, respectively. Albendazole and Ivermectin showed low efficacy (percentage reductions = 90% and 92%; 95% lower confidence limit = 82.1% and 83.6% respectively) whereas Tetramisole was effective (FECR% = 96.8%; 95% LCL = 93.4%). Factors such as age, body condition, management system and past deworming history of sheep were found to have a statistically significant (p < 0.05) influence on the occurrence and burden of the worms. This is further explained as the highest prevalence and worm burden was detected in sheep of young age (p = 0.008; OR = 0.58; 95% CI = 0.39-0.87), poor body condition (p = 0.001; OR = 0.08; 95% CI = 0.04-0.16) and sheep kept under semi-intensive (p = 0.04; OR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.02-2.29) with no deworming history for the last two months (p = 0.001; OR = 2.97; 95% CI = 1.94-4.56). The study results revealed that nematode infections were among sheep health constraints that could hurt their productivity while low efficacy of Albendazole and Ivermectin were detected. Therefore, the appropriate management techniques of GIN infections should be designed and implemented. Moreover, a further study involving more sensitive techniques (e.g. Mini-FLOTAC, molecular, and serological techniques) should be conducted by considering different host and environmental risk factors such as production level and seasons.