Prevalence and seasonal variation of gastrointestinal nematodes and coccidia infecting ovine grazing on communal rangela
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IMMUNOLOGY AND HOST-PARASITE INTERACTIONS - ORIGINAL PAPER
Prevalence and seasonal variation of gastrointestinal nematodes and coccidia infecting ovine grazing on communal rangelands in the Eastern Cape, South Africa Mlungisi S. Jansen 1,2 & Nkululeko Nyangiwe 1 Voster Muchenje 2 & Thando C. Mpendulo 2
&
Mandla Yawa 2 & Mzwethu Dastile 3 & Vuyiswa Mabhece 3 &
Received: 15 June 2020 / Accepted: 7 October 2020 # Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Nematodes and coccidia are major pathogens causing parasitic infections in livestock production. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and seasonality of gastrointestinal helminths and coccidia in communal sheep grazing in humid, semi-humid and arid zones of the Eastern Cape Province. A total of 3299 faecal samples were collected from sheep between January 2012 and December 2015. Of the collected roundworm species (faecal eggs and faecal cultures), Haemonchus contortus was the only species found. The prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was significantly higher in the humid zone (H. contortus 81% and coccidia 37%), followed by a semi-humid zone (H. contortus 75% and coccidia 22%) and the arid zone was the lowest (H. contortus 71% and coccidia 14%). Haemonchus contortus had significantly higher faecal egg counts (FEC) during spring (1465.73 ± 143.56) and summer (1418.73 ± 160.73) and the lowest during autumn (496.67 ± 219.13) and winter (352.05 ± 164.44) in all agro-ecological zone. The humid zone had significantly higher FEC in seasonal occurrence of H. contortus and coccidia compared with other agro-ecological zones (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) observed in the seasonal occurrence of H. contortus species in arid zone. Surprisingly, higher coccidia counts (352.17 ± 43.58) during 2012 winter season in humid zone and in summer season (0.00 ± 559.72) of 2013 in the semi-humid zone than other agro-ecological zones. However, agro-ecological zone differences and seasonal variations had an influence on H. contortus and coccidia distribution and abundance. This study confirms that helminths and coccidia are major causative agents causing parasitic infections in livestock production, and therefore, good animal health management practices including proper hygiene should be followed to prevent parasitic infection in small ruminants. Keywords Agro-ecological zone . Communal farming . Coccidian . Roundworms . Season . South Africa
Introduction
Section Editor: Abdul Jabbar * Nkululeko Nyangiwe [email protected] 1
Dӧhne Agricultural Development Institute, Private Bag X 15, Stutterheim 4930, South Africa
2
Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag x 1314, Alice 5700, South Africa
3
Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, P.O Box 131, Cradock 5880, South Africa
Small ruminants in particular sheep are significantly constrained by coccidia and gastrointestinal nematode parasites globally. These parasites have negative i
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