Abstract

Hemonchus contortus is a blood sucking parasite infesting sheep and goats throughout the world, thus significantly deteriorate the health and production of the animals, rendering huge economic losses to the livestock enterprise. Therefore, this cross-sectional study was designed for the estimation of epidemiological incidence of Hemonchus contortus in goat and sheep population in District Tank of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan and to analyze the associated risk factors. For this purpose, a sum of 400 fecal samples were randomly collected from sheep and goat populations in District Tank, during the year 2021-22 for the determination of prevalence of the Haemonchus contortus. The results revealed that overall prevalence of Haemonchus contortus in sheep and goats in Tank was 15.50 and 13.00%, respectively. The significant difference (P<0.05) was seen in the prevalence percentage of this parasite in both species of small ruminants. The males in sheep showed a prevalence of 12.85%, while the females showed a prevalence of 16.92%, revealing a non-significant (P?0.05) difference. The prevalence percentage in bucks was 12.72%, while the female goats showed a prevalence of 13.10%, hence, that were statistically non-significant (P?0.05). It was concluded from the study that there was significant incidence of Haemonchus contortus in small ruminants in District Tank, and it declines the production of the animals and badly affect their health, production and growth. Therefore, strategic control measures should be adapted and devised to control the infestation of Haemonchus contortus in the animals.

Keywords: Economic impact; Endemic; Incidence of Parasitism; Infestation; Small Ruminants.