Coproparasitological study in grazing sheep in Boyacá, Colombia

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to know the mainly gastrointestinal parasites  affecting sheep and their prevalence in Boyacá. Six hundred and thirty seven fecal samples of grazing sheep were collected. It was found that 89.4 % of sheep were parasitized. The samples were processed by the modified Ritchie technique and visualized in optical microscopy. The Eimeriidae family had the highest prevalence (63 %), followed by Trichostrongylidae (47.4 %), Dyctiocaulidae (38.1 %) and Strongyloidae with a prevalence of 21.5 %. The families Fasciolidae (6.3 %), Trichuridae (5.7 %), Anoplocefalidae (2.4 %), Toxocaridae (1.3 %), Taeniidae (0.3 %), and Capillaridae (0.2 %) had a lower prevalence. These results are consistent with the prevailing climatic conditions in the production areas, where egg and larvae survival values have decreased. It is important to implement health programs, provide adequate food for animals, reduce stress factors and establish regular deworming programs for the control of these parasite populations in such region.

Key words: gastrointestinal parasites, sheep, infection, prevalence.