Prevalence and Risk Factors of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Sheep in Kajiado North Sub-County, Kenya.

The gastrointestinal parasite (G.I.P.) species of Public Health, Agricultural and Veterinary concern, which affect the health of sheep and goat, belong to several Genera in the Phylum Protozoa (Unicellular Organisms), Phylum Nematohelminthes (Round Worms), and Phylum Platyhelminthes (Flatworms). The species of clinical significance in the Phylum Protozoa belong to the Genera: Eimeria, Isospora, Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, Toxoplasma, and Giardia. Roundworm species belong to the Class Nematoda, with several Genera. These are Trichostrongylus, Strongylus, Cyanthostomin, Strongyloides, Haemonchus, Cooperia, Nematodirus, Trichuris, Toxocara, Ostertagia, Oesophagostomum, Cherpertia, Bunostomum (Hookworms), and Gongylonema. Flatworm species belong to two classes: Trematoda (Flukes) and Cestoda (Tapeworms). Trematodes of clinical concern belong to the Genera: Fasciola, Dicroelium, and Paramphistomum. The cestode species of clinical concern belong to the Genera: Moniezia, Avitellina and Echinococcus. The Unicellular parasites belong to Phylum: Protozoa, Sub-phylum: Sporozoa, Class Telosporidea and Sub-class Coccidea. The Coccidian parasite species of clinical concern belong to several Genera, namely: Eimeria, Isospora, Cyclospora, Toxoplasma, Cryptosporidium, and Sarcocystis. Gastrointestinal parasites (G.I.P.) of sheep are a threat to sheep industry worldwide. A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with GIP in sheep under an extensive grazing system from 16 farms in Kajiado North Sub-County.
Faecal samples equal to 640 were collected from randomly selected Red Maasai and Red Maasai x Dorper crossbred sheep in both dry and wet seasons. Faecal samples were subjected to the McMaster technique, sedimentation, larval cultures. Coccidia species identification of eggs and oocysts was based on morphology.
Overall parasites prevalence was 91.3%, with many sheep showing one or more G.I.P (Gastro-Intestinal Parasites). The study revealed Strongylus species nematode eggs (80%), Eimeria species. oocysts at (60.8%) and Cestode eggs (5.2%). The highest prevalence of gastro-intestinal parasites was recorded in the wet season than in the dry season (p<0.05). Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Cooperia and Oesophagostomum were parasites identified using Baerman’s technique. Haemonchus species was the commonest and Oesophagostomum was the least common. Cestodes (Moniezia species) were present, but there were no Trematode species seen. E. parva, E. ovinoidalis, E. crandallis, E. bakuensis, E. faurei, E. ahsata, E. pallida. The following Eimeria species were identified: E. intricata, E. marsica, and E. granulosa, after sporulation using 2.5% potassium dichromate. The majority of sheep were also severely infested with gastrointestinal nematodes (Strongylus species). Multiple correlation analysis revealed elevation, deworming, Body Condition Scores (B.C.S.), and age of the sheep as factors of Gastro-intestinal Parasite (G.I.P.) infection. The study area was highly infested with gastro- intestinal parasites requiring an effective and strategic deworming of all sheep before the rainy season, especially considering the lambs. Further studies should also be taken on Gastrointestinal Nematode (G.I.N.) anthelmintic resistance and their economic losses for effective management practices to minimise the associated mortality and morbidity of sheep.

Risk Factors, Sheep, Eimeria,

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