Ovine helminthosis, a major health constraint to productivity of sheep in Ethiopia

Abstract

Small ruminants represent an important component of the Ethiopian livestock production system, providing 12% of the value of livestock products consumed at the farm level and 48% of the cash income generated. Ethiopia is second in Africa and sixth in the world in terms of sheep population. The country has, however, benefited little from this enormous resource owing to a multitude of problems, disease being the most important. Disease alone accounts for mortalities of 30% in lambs and 20% in adults. Productivity losses attributable to helminth parasites are often substantial. A loss of US $ 81.8 million is reported annually due to helminth parasites. In a country confronted with challenges of an ever-rising human population and food shortage, such enormous losses caused by helminth parasites, 'the silent predators', are intolerable. Therefore, helminth control should receive special attention in poverty reduction strategies through improved productivity of livestock if the present and future challenges of food shortage are to be addressed. Productivity loss due to helminth infections can be substantially reduced through implementation of effective disease control strategies, which require an understanding of the epidemiology and ecology of parasites and parasitic infections under local conditions. This paper reviews extensive evidence demonstrating that helminthosis is a major constraint to productivity of sheep in Ethiopia. It also discusses epidemiology and ecology of major helminth parasites in the country and suggests strategies for improved control in various agro-ecological zones and production systems.

Major metacestodes in small ruminants slaughtered at Dessie municipal abattoir, Eastern Ethiopia: prevalence, cyst viability, organ distribution and economic implications

“…Small ruminants are particularly important resources of the country as they provide more than 30 % of the local meat consumption and form a vital source of income for small-scale farmers (ILCA 2007). Of the factors impeding productivity, diseases were recorded to play a leading role (Biffa et al 2006). Significant losses result each year from the death of animals, inferior weight gain, condemnation of edible organs and carcass at slaughter due to helminths (Biffa et al 2006).…”

Gastrointestinal Nematode Parasites of Small Ruminants and Anthelmintics Efficacy Test in Sheep of Haramaya District, Eastern Ethiopia

“…In Ethiopia use of anthelmintics has been practiced for many years with available drugs which represent a major veterinary service cost [10]. A Few reports are observed on the resistance of gastrointestinal nematodes to anthelmintic drugs in case of Ethiopia.…”

Pasteurella organism: Its isolation and identification from pneumonic lungs of goats in Ethiopia

“…In spite of large livestock population in Ethiopia, the productivity remains marginal and this may be mainly due to malnutrition, prevalent diseases and management problems, poor genetic potentials of the local stock, marketing, social factors, structural constraints (Biffa et al, 2007). Among the diseases, Pneumonia reported as the most important infections and frequently diagnosed in veterinary clinics and abattoirs in goats in Ethiopia.…”