Gastrointestinal parasites of sheep in Kafrelsheikh governorate, Egypt: Prevalence, control and public health implications

Gastrointestinal (GI) parasitism is a primary cause of losses in sheep production. A cross-sectional study was designed to investigate the prevalence, control strategies and public health importance of the GI parasites of sheep from Nile-Delta, Egypt. The prevalence of GI parasites in a total of 224 individual sheep was 50%: Protozoa (29.02%) and helminths (37.05%). The prevalence of helminths infection was by Strongyle-group (19.21%), Paramphistomes (9.38%), Strongyloides papillosus (4.02%), Trichuris spp. (2.68%), Moniezia spp. (0.89%) and Nematodirus spp. (0.45%). No single infection with Fasciola spp. was recorded. The protozoan infections included Eimeria spp. (16.52%), Entamoeba spp. (10.27%), Giardia duodenalis (0.45%), and, for the first time in sheep population in Egypt, Balantidium coli cyst (1.79%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that usage of multiple anti-parasitic drug combinations and “Twice per year treatment” regime were associated with a substantial reduction of parasitic infection among examined sheep. The relative risk (RR) associated with lab technicians' lack of awareness of Fasciola and Balantidium zoonotic parasites was higher by 3 and 9 times than that of Giardia, respectively. In conclusion, GI parasites are endemic at high levels among sheep in the study area. Also, continuous awareness campaigns about zoonotic parasites are essential to reduce the possible public health threats.