Seasonal prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in sheep and goats of Jammu Yadav Anish1, Khajuria J.K.1, Raina A.K.2 1Division of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, S.K. University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, R.S. Pura, Jammu-181 102, India 2Division of Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, S.K. University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, R.S. Pura, Jammu-181 102, India Abstract Faecal samples (n=520) from sheep (n=245) and goats (n=275) from R.S. Pura, Bishnah and Samba tehsils of Jammu district revealed a total of 83.07% gastro-intestinal parasite infection, where 83.24%, 80.00%, 84.72% and 80.55% infection was observed in sheep, lambs/hoggets, goats and kids, respectively. Strongyles (44.62%) were predominant followed by amphistomes (8.07%), Eimeria sp. (6.73%), Fasciola sp. (3.08%), Trichuris sp. (3.08%), Dicrocoelium sp. (1.92%), Strongyloides sp. (1.15%) and Moniezia sp. (0.96%). Mixed infection with one or more gastro-intestinal ova was also detected in 13.46% of animals. Seasonal variation was recorded throughout the year and was highest during rainy season (88.54%) followed by summer (83.15%) and winter (76.01%). Eggs per gram (EPG) of faeces recorded during rainy, summer and winter seasons were 2302.33±225.19, 1720±162.97, 1418.18±129.20, respectively. The EPG recorded was similar in sheep (1844.55±165.37) and goats (1872.30±150.18). Adults had higher EPG counts (2046.51±139.33) as compared to young ones (1338.23±136.87). Top Keywords Gastrointestinal parasites, Sheep, Goat, Jammu. Top |