Introduction

Gastrointestinal parasitism is the major health problems severely limiting the productivity of animals [1]. Parasitism in sheep is a substantial problem plaguing farmers. Parasitic gastro-enteritis continues to pose a serious health threat and limitation to the productivity of small ruminants due to associated morbidity, mortality, and cost of treatment and control measures on a clinical and sub-clinical level [2]. Due to improper care, unhygienic environment, extreme climate and close contact with infected animals, ruminants get infected with a variety of parasites [3]. Paramphistomiasis adversely affect ruminants, causing hematological and biochemical disturbances, anorexia, weight loss poor reproductive performance, leading to decrease resistance to diseases which can lead to and c even cause severe mortality thus leading to heavy loss [4]. Economically, a decrease in profitability of up to 15% and weight loss of up to 50% due to gastrointestinal parasite have been reported [5]. Paramphistomes play a vital role in ruminant diseases world-wide [6], with those commonly associated with diseases in sheep were identified to be Paraphisthomum (P) cervi, [7], principally cause anaemia.

Paramphistomosis (or amphistomosis) is a disease caused by digenean trematodes of Paramphistomatidae family parasitising the rumen of ruminants worldwide. Clinical disease is confined to warmer tropical and sub-tropical areas [8]. There are certain geographical regions in which livestock population needs to be examined for the presence of paramphistomum. But the overall occurrence of parasites of digestive tract, their variation in relation to age and sex of sheep and their seasonal dynamics was not studied adequately.

The objectives of this study were

a. To determine the prevalence Paraphisthomum

b. To know the relationship of Paramphistomiasis with age, sex, body condition

Material and Methods

Study area

The study was conducted from November 2018 to April 2019 in selected rural dustrict near Kutaber town to study the prevalence of ovine paramphistomiasis. Geographically the area is found in South Wollo zone, Amhara regional. It is located at 11012’36” -11018’36” N latitude and 39031’12” -39034’12” E longitude. Kutaber area poses highland and lowland areas. The average minimum and maximum rainfall ranges between 500 and 955ml in short and long rainy season. The average annual temperature is 22°C, [9]. Mixed agriculture is the main occupation of the population of the area. The major livestock reared in the area are sheep, goat, cattle and equine. According to statistical data, Kutaber Woreda has livestock population of 69 720 cattle, 65 727sheep, 53 304 goats, 18 005 Equines and 104 737 chickens [10].

Sample size determination

To determine the sample size, a prevalence rate of 50% was taken into consideration since there was no research performed on ovine paramphistomiasis done in the area. The desired sample size for the study was calculated by using the formula given by [11] with 95% Confidence interval and 5% absolute precision.

Where, N=Sample size; P_exp=Expected prevalence;

D₂=Absolute precision;

Then,

Sample collection

Faecal samples were collected directly from the rectum of 384 sheep between November 2018 to April 2019. These animals were randomly selected from 5 nearby districts of Kutaber. Samples were transported to Kutaber Livestock Development Office, Veterinary Clinic, parasitology laboratory, for detailed coproscopic examination.

Faecal examination

Microscopic examinations of faecal samples were carried out using standard laboratory methods of sedimentation techniques. Eggs were identified using the light microscope and classified as described by [12].

Statistical analysis

Data collected on prevalence and numbers of paramphistomiasis in faecal samples of sheep were statistically analyzed using SPSS statistics 20 software such as percentage and Chi square test. The test statistics (Chi Square) was applied at P<0.05 level of significance.

Results

The overall prevalence of Paramphistomiasis in kutaber was 39.1%. A total of 384 sheep were sampled in the area, 150 sheep were infected with paramphisthomum while 234 were negative. The prevalence of paramphistomiasis based on gender is found to have higher rate of infection in female 111 (41.3%) than male 39 (33.9%). There was statistically significant association (P<0.05) between occurrence of infection based on sex sampled. The prevalence among different age groups was adult (40.9%) and young (33.3%). Prevalence of paramphistomiasis in different age groups of sheep was not significant (P>0.05) (Table1&2). The statistical analyses indicated that 33.9 % of males and 41.3% of females were positive for the infection. Statically analysis showed that there was statistically significant (P<0.05). On the present study area prevalence of paramphistomiasis were found to be higher in sheep with poor body condition than those with medium and good body condition with prevalence of 49.7%. 30.8% and 36.5% respectively. The prevalence of ovine paramphistomiasis in 5 district of Kutaber districts was Alansha (19.5%), Doshign (32.3%), Beshilo (44.5%), Lewcho (50.0%) and Elsa (42.1%). The prevalence variation between studies District (Table 3&4) showed the highest and the lowest were 50.0 % & 19.5% in Lewcho and Alansha respectively.

X²: 1.692; P>0.05 (Statically not significant).

(X²: 0.871; P<0.05 (Statically significant).

(X²: 12.125; P<0.05 (Statically significant).

(X²:14.981; P<0.05 (Statically significant)).

Discussion

The overall prevalence of (39.1 %) paramphistomosis was found in small ruminant those were examined that reared in kutaber near by clinics. Lower findings were reported by [13] in Debrezeit to be 28.9% and [14] to be 23.7%, in Ashange, Tigray. The prevalence variation between studies District showed the highest and the lowest were 50.0 % and 19.5% in Lewcho and Alansha respectively. The main reason is due to variation in ago ecology and awareness to use antihelmentics.

It was observed that the prevalence of paramphistomum infections was higher in females (41.3%) than in male (33.9%) sheep. This finding is in agreement with the earlier study of [15] in Bangladesh who recorded higher prevalence of helminth infection in females than in male sheep. Similar trend of higher infestation rate reported in earlier work with goats where females (75.0%) were found more susceptible to Paramphistomum infestation than males (67.5%). Likewise, in another study, significantly higher prevalence in females (41.61%) than males (27.45%) were recorded [16].The reason for higher prevalence of paramphistomum infection in the females can be assumed that the alteration in the physiological condition of the females during pregnancy, lactation and parturition as well as stresses leading to immune suppression may be associated with this phenomenon. Higher level of prolactin and progesterone hormones makes the female individual more susceptible to any infection [17]. In other way the male were kept for a shorter period of time than female in the farmer house.

It was revealed that the prevalence of paramphistomum was higher in poor (49.7%) than medium (30.8%) and good (36.5%) body conditioned sheep. This revealed that nutritional condition of sheep had significant (p<0.005) effect with paramphistomum infection. The higher prevalence of paramphistomum infection was recorded in poor (49.7%) sheep than that in good (36.5%) sheep. This finding is in agreement with the earlier study of [18] who found that malnourished animals are more susceptible to any infection as they are immunocompromised. The present study also agrees with the findings of [19,20] who repoted that in immunocompromised animal the fecundity of parasites is usually increased.

Age of the host had an effect on the prevalence of paramphistomum in sheep. The Prevalence of paramphisthomiasis was higher in adult sheep (40.9%) than young (33.3%). There was no statically significant difference (p>0.05) in the prevalence of paramphisthomiasis with respect to the age. In other studies, Young animals had a low prevalence rate than adult which agrees with those of [13] in adult 30.5% and young 15.1% and [14] in adult 34.72% and young 11.11%. The reason behind of this low infestation in young than adult sheep may be due to less exposure of the young sheep to the parasite than adult.

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