Original scientific paper

Vulvar morphology and sympatry of Haemonchus species in naturally infected sheep and goats of Ogaden region, eastern Ethiopia

Bersissa Kumsa ; Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia
Adugna Tolera ; Department of Animal and Range Sciences, Hawassa College of Agriculture, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia
Rahmeto Abebe ; Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia

Abstract

A study was carried out to determine the type of vulvar process of 3187 and 2386 female Haemonchus worms recovered from naturally infected sheep and goats respectively, during the period from August 2003 to March 2004. In addition a total of 1159 adult male Haemonchus worms from sheep and 1285 from goats were subjected to a species identification study. The study revealed that out of the total female worms from sheep 49.5% linguiform, 28.5% knobbed and 23% smooth vulvar morph types were identified. Likewise, from goats 53.8% linguiform, 18. 5% knobbed and 27.6% smooth vulvar morph types were identified. Significant variations (P<0.05) were observed in proportions between the three major vulvar morph types in different months of the study period in both host species. Further sub-classification of the linguiform female worms from sheep revealed 27.2% linguiform A (LA), 14.8% linguiform B (LB), 5.3% linguiform C (LC) and 2.2% linguiform I (LI) subtypes. Similarly from goats 27.4 % LA, 17.5% LB, and 6.6% LC and 2.3% LI subtypes were identified. Within the linguiform vulvar flap types, the A subtype linguiform showed statistically significant (P<0.05) fluctuation during the months of study period in both host species. Haemonchus species identification based on morphometric parameters on spicules of 1159 adult male Haemonchus from sheep revealed 95.1% H. contortus, 3.5% H. placei and 1.5% H. longistipes, while out of 841 mature male Haemonchus from goats, 96.6% H. contortus, 2.9% H. placei and 0.5 % H. longistipes were identified. The study showed 57.9% H. contortus mono-species, 22.4% H. contortus and H. placei mixed infection, 7.9% H. longistipes and H. Placei mixed infection and the rest 11.8% H. contortus, H. placei and H. longistipes triple infection of the examined sheep. Similarly in goats, 58.2% H. contortus mono-species, 38.2% H. contortus and H. placei mixed infection, 3.6% H. longistipes and H. placei mixed infection and 0% triple Haemonchus species infection of the examined goats was observed. This finding revealed the coexistence and sympatry of two or three Haemonchus species in a single small ruminant host suggesting the occurrence of heterologous hosts for Haemonchus spp. which need to be taken into account in the control strategies against this parasite.

Keywords

Haemonchus spp.; Ogaden; small ruminants; vulvar morphology

Hrčak ID:

26540

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/26540

Publication date:

20.8.2008.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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