Epidemiology of parasites of sheep in the Southern-forest zone of Cote d'Ivoire

Abstract

An epidemiological study of parasites of Djallonke sheep was carried out in the Southern-forest zone of Côte d’Ivoire, where the climate is tropical. Six sheep were necropsied every month for two years, from August 1994 to July 1996 (n = 145). The parasite spectrum comprised nine species of nematodes, which were, in decreasing order of prevalence, Trichostrongylus colubriformis (89.7%), Haemonchus contortus (84.1%), Strongyloides papillosus (49.7%), Cooperia curticei (42.1%), Oesophagostomum columbianum (25.5%), Gaigeria pachyscelis (20.2%), Trichostrongylus axei (11.7%), Trichuris globulosa (11.7%) and Bunostomum trigonocephalum (2.1%). It also comprised three cestodes (Moniezia benedeni, M. expansa and Cysticercus tenuicollis) and three trematodes (Paramphistomum spp., Dicrocoelium hospes and Fasciola gigantica). The other parasites observed during the study were coccidia, microfilaria, protozoa (Babesia ovis, Trypanosoma brucei, T. congolense and T. vivax) and Oestrus ovis. Seasonal variations in the parasitism were observed, but there was no hypobiosis. Parasite burdens and helminth-egg excretion were moderate throughout the year. Animals under one year of age and males were more infected than other sheep. Prophylactic measures are suggested.