Prevalence, associated risk factors and species identification of lung worm infection in sheep in Dangla district, Western Amhara, North West Ethiopia

Cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2014 to May 2015 to determine lungworm prevalence, risk factors associated with lungworm infection and identification of species of lungworm in sheep in Dangla district, Northwestern Ethiopia. Faecal samples were randomly taken from 384 heads of sheep for examination of first stage larvae (L1) of lungworms using a modified Baerman technique. The overall prevalence of lungworm infection was 14.8% (57 of 384). The lungworm species identified were Dictyocaulus filaria (D. filaria), Muellerius capillaris (M. capillaris) and Protostrongylus rufescens (P. rufescens) as single and mixed infection. The proportions of infection by D. filaria, M. capillaries, P. rufescens and mixed were 6.3%, 3.9%, 2.9% and 1.8% respectively. There was an infection rate of 15.6% in males and 14.3% in females but this difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The Lungworm infection observed in different body conditions was statistically significantly (P < 0.05) in which higher prevalence was observed in sheep those have poor body condition. The infection rate of D. filarial, M. capillaries and P. rufescens infection did not show significant difference (p>0.05) among young (15.6%), adult (16.4%) and old (13.6%) age groups. This study has revealed that there was high prevalence of lungworm infection, which impairs the productivity of sheep in the study area. This implies the need for control intervention.