Epidemiological studies on the gastrointestinal parasitic infection of lambs in the Guinea and Transitional Savanna regions of Ghana
Item
Title
Epidemiological studies on the gastrointestinal parasitic infection of lambs in the Guinea and Transitional Savanna regions of Ghana
Language
English
Abstract
The Eimeria oocyst and strongylate nematode egg outputs from 40 Djallonke lambs, 2() each in Pong-Tamale in the Guinea Savanna and Ejura in the Transitional Savanna zones of Ghana, were followed for 18 months. The modified McMaster technique was used to determine the level of worm egg and oocyst outputs. The earliest time for the appeatance of oocysts of Iambs in the Transitional Savanna region was 16 days after birth and peaked in the first month. In the Guinea Savanna region the period of oocyst appearance ranged from 26-41 days after birth, but oocyst output rose gradually and reached a mean of 21,929 oocyst per gram (opg) of faeces in December, 4 months after birth. The species of Eimeria oocysts encountered by the Iambs in both areas were Eimeria ivinoidalis, E. ahsata, E. bakuensis, E. granulosa, E. faurei, E. intricata, E. pallida, E. parva, E. crandallis and E. marsica. There were differences in the prevalence and composition of Eimeria species in the different zones; E. marsica was absent in lambs in the Guinea Savanna region and E. ovinoidalis dominated in lambs in the Transitional Savanna region but placed seventh in the Guinea Savanna region. Strongylate nematode eggs were seen 43-60 days in lambs in the Guinea Savanna, and showed a relatively lower worm egg output between the 3 rd and 4th month after birth, followed by fluctuating counts which peaked at 18,409 egg per gram about a year old. Worm egg counts in lambs in the Transitional Savanna zone peaked 2 months after birth and peaked again after I year of age. Strongylate nematode worms encountered included Strongyloides papillosus, Haemonchus spp., Trichostrongylus spp., Oesophagostomum spp., Cooperia spp., Bunostomum spp. and Ostertagia-like spp. as revealed by larval culture. Herbage LAS in the Transitional Savanna reached 2998 kg-2 DM of grass during the period of high rainfall in September with strongylate nematode worm egg counts following the pattern of rainfall.
Collection
Citation
“Epidemiological studies on the gastrointestinal parasitic infection of lambs in the Guinea and Transitional Savanna regions of Ghana,” CSIRSpace, accessed September 21, 2024, http://cspace.csirgh.com/items/show/1979.