Abstract            Volume:11  Issue-10  Year-2023         Original Research Articles

Online ISSN : 2347 - 3215 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcret@gmail.com

A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2021 to April 2022 with the objectives of determining the prevalence of lungworm infection by coproscopic and postmortem examination, associated risk factors, and identification of the species parasite in fecal examination and financial losses due to ovine lungworm in and around Assela town. The number of investigated animals were 380 for coprology and 170 for post-mortem examination. The overall prevalence was 45.52% and 49.41% were found by coprological and post-mortem examinations respectively. Age, sex, and body condition were taken as risk factors for the occurrence of lungworm infection. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the infection among the sex group, respiratory signs and body condition of sheep. However, the rest risk factors like age and management system of animals were not found to have a significant statistical association with the occurrence of lungworm infection (P > 0.05). Dictyocaulus filaria, Muellerius capillaries and Protostrongylus rufescens were identified as single and mixed infections. The prevalence of infection by D. filarial was high and Protostrongylus rufescens has the lowest one. The direct and indirect annual financial loss incurred due to lungworm infection in Assela municipal abattoir was estimated at 7,650,373 Ethiopian Birr (US$ 148,263). In conclusion, our work revealed that ovine lungworm is a common problem that affect the health and productivity of sheep in the study area; hence an appropriate control and prevention intervention should be carried out to reduce the losses associated with the parasite.

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