Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.17, No.3,2018
Proceeding of 6th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Basrah,Iraq
770
ACTIVE SURVEY STUDY OF HAEMONCHOSIS IN
SLAUGHTERED SHEEPS AND GOATS AT BASRAH ABATTOIR,
BASRAH PROVINCE, IRAQ
Huda Abdul hussein Abbas , Suzan A. Al-Azizz
Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Veterinary
Medicine, University of Basrah, Iraq
Keywords: Haemonchosis, Sheeps, Abomasum
Corresponding Author: profdrsuzan@gmail com
ABSTRACT
In the current study a total of (705) slaughtered sheeps and goats were
examined, divided into (556) sheep and (149) goat which were taken from Basrah
slaughter house during the period between June 2016 to January 2017.
The total number of infected animals with Haemonchosis were (90) which is
divided into (78) sheep and (12) goats while the total number of isolated worms
from the abomasum was (2439) for both sheep and goats with total percentage of
infection12.76 % which was divided in to (14.02% and 8.05 % ) in sheep and
goats respectively, while the intensity of infection was about (27.1)which divided
into(27.12and 26.91) in sheep and goats respectively.
INTRODUCTION
Among the diseases that compel the survival and productivity of cattle, sheep and
goats a gastrointestinal nematode infection known as Haemonchosis that caused by
Heamonchus contortus which have overwhelming importance (1). So, Haemonchosis
is an economic disease that causes rapid death, depletion and severe anemia to their
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.17, No.3,2018
Proceeding of 6th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Basrah,Iraq
771
hosts (2).
H. contortus is related to trichostrongylidae nematode and this parasite is a great
pathogen which is considered the most economically important that establishes in the
abomasum of goats , sheep, camels and other ruminants of nearly all subtropical and
temperate areas at worldwide distribution (3).
(4) noticed that the main source of nutrient of these nematode is blood, therefore the
infection with this parasite can cause in young animals anemia, anorexia, weight loss,
reduced in wool growth that in some causes result in death associated with little
ruminant production and this was dependent upon the amount of infection.
Debilitating infection with H. contortus is commonly seen in young animals while in
older animals the develop of resistance to the infection occur (5). (6); (7) explained that
the dangerous of Haemonchosis by the adult female of the parasites which have the
ability to produce a huge number of eggs which cause extensive pasture contamination
and the blood-feeding nature of this parasite causes variable degrees of anemia that
lead finally to mortality. (8) reported that the prevalence of infection with H. contortus
in Iran which was (77.20%), and a similar percentage found by (9); (10); (11) which
reported a high percentage of infection with H. contortus in Ogaden. in Iran the
percentage of infection with Haemonchosis was (44%) (12).
(13) and (14) found that in Saudi Arabia after examination of slaughtered male sheep’s
abomasum the infection percentage with H. contortus is 21.33% and 47.9% respectively.
While, in Saudi Arabia after examination of the abomasum of slaughtered sheep (15)
reported that the infection with H. contortus in Egypt was 7,9%.
In Iraq, specially Basrah city a study by (16) examined 661 abomasum of sheep and
recorded the prevalence rate of infection with H. contortus was 19.06%. While (17)
found that the percentage of infection with H. contortus was 1.66% after the
examination of 770 sheep.
Aims of the Study
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.17, No.3,2018
Proceeding of 6th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Basrah,Iraq
772
This study designed for each aim below:
Detection and diagnosis of H. contortus between slaughtered sheep and goats in Basrah
city. This aim include surveys study of H. contortus among slaughtered animals (sheep
and goats) to detect the prevalence of H. contortus in Basrah province.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Samples Collection
A random visit to the Basrah slaughter house in Basrah province (twice a week ) from
June 2016 till January 2017 to examine abomasum of slaughtered animals (sheep and
goats).
Organs Examination
The abomasum of the slaughtered animals were brought to the laboratory of
Veterinary Parasitology at the College of Veterinary Medicine in Basrah
University, and examined carefully to detecting parasites, which were
isolated from the infected abomasum. After that the worms were washed
many times with normal saline (0.9%) according to the method by ( 18).
After being recognized, the worms were rinsed in containers with 70% ethyl
alcohol which was stored at room temperature for other tests.
The parasitological terms which were used under this work according to
(19) are as follows :
Prevalence(%)= N. Infected animals X100
N. Examined animals
Infection Intensity=N. Parasite species
N. Infected animal
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.17, No.3,2018
Proceeding of 6th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Basrah,Iraq
773
RESULTS
Microscopic Study
The isolated worms were placed on glass slide then examined by using
compound light microscope in order to determine the morphological
characteristic.
The number of infected abomasum under this study was (90)which include (78)
infected sheep and (12) infected goats. The infected abomasum with H.
contortus show in (Picture,1).
(A) (B)
Picture (1): Infected Abomasum With Haemonchus contortus (A, B)
While, the total number of the isolated worms was(2439), the length of
males was (9-20 mm) while females length was (14-32 mm) length as
shown in the (Picture,2), Figs. (1,2) show the existance of ova from uterus,
vulver flap and copulatory bursa with Y shape.
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.17, No.3,2018
Proceeding of 6th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Basrah,Iraq
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27 mm
19 mm
(A) (B)
Picture (2) : (A) male, (B) Female of Haemonchus contortus
Fig.(1): Female of Haemonchus contortus, (A) The ova exited with the uterus,(B) The
vulvar flap.
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.17, No.3,2018
Proceeding of 6th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Basrah,Iraq
775
(A) (B)
Fig. (2): (A) Male of Haemonchus contortus with copulatory bursa in the posterior part
and ( Y) shape. (B) Female of Haemonchus contortus with the medal part which show the
uterus filled with ova.
Survey Study
The samples that were collected during the period of research recorded under different conditions such
as month, sex and type of animal. The total number of the examined animals were (705), the total
number of infected animals was (90). The examined sheep were (556) which are divided in to (402)
males and (154) females, from these, the infected sheep were (78) which are divided in to (53), (25)
males and females respectively.
The total percentage of infection in the sheep was between (13.18% and 16.23%) for males and
females, respectively. The statistical analysis results showed that there were a significant differences
between the percentage of infection in sheep males and females (P< 0.05) (0.038), also The intensity
of infection of sheep showed a significant difference between males and females (0.041).
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.17, No.3,2018
Proceeding of 6th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Basrah,Iraq
776
By the other hand, the statistical analysis of the percentage of infection and the intensity of infection
between males and females sheep depending on the months shows that the higher percentage of
infection recorded in October, while, the higher intensity of infection recorded in June, and the
percentage of infection showed a significant differences under (P<0.05) ( 0.035), also the intensity of
infection showed significant differences ( 0.017) (table,1). The total number of the examined goats
were ( 149) , which are divided in to (143) males and (6) females, while, the total number of infected
goats were (12 ) which were males only, so, the total percentage of infection was (8.39%) for males
only.
The statistical analysis of the percentage of infection in males shows that there was a significant
difference ( 0.044), also the intensity of infection in males showed a significant difference (0.038). On
the other hand, the analysis of the percentage and the intensity of infection in males depending on the
months show that the higher percentage and intensity of the infection were recorded in September
(0.011) which means there was a significant difference (P< 0.05) (Table2).
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.17, No.3,2018
Proceeding of 6th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Basrah,Iraq
777
Table(1):The total number of the examined and infected sheep with Haemonchus contortus
with percentage and intensity of infection under probability P< 0.05
*Percentage of Inf. (male& female): P= 0.038.
-Intensity of Inf. (male& female): P= 0.041.
*Percentage of Inf. (month): P= 0.035.
-Intensity of Inf. (month): P= 0.017
Month No. of Exam No. of Inf. Percentage of
Inf. %
Intensity of Inf.
Male Female male female Male Female
male Female
June 15 15 1 3 6 20 0.25 195.5-
July 64 34 12 8 19 *23 2.6 11.65
August 69 29 4 2 6 7 22.5 4.16
September 29 28 6 5 21 18 8.90 1.63
October 84 26 27 6 *32 23 19.39 2.695
November 37 8 2 1 5 12 68- 7.66
December 70 14 1 0 1 0 37 0
January 34 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 402 154 53 25 13.18 16.23 14.65 12.47
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.17, No.3,2018
Proceeding of 6th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Basrah,Iraq
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Table(2):The total number of the examined and infected goats with Haemonchus contortus
with percentage and intensity of infection under probability P< 0.05
*Percentage of Inf. (male): P= 0.044.
-Intensity of Inf. (male): P= 0.038.
*Percentage of Inf. & -Intensity of Inf. (month): P= 0.011.
The total number of the isolated worms from the infected sheep and goats was (2439). In sheep,
the total number of worms was (2116) which was divided into (973 ) males and (1143) females
.the statistical analysis of the number of worms in both infected male and female showed that
there were a significant difference ( 0.04). While in goats, the total number of worms was
(323) isolated from males only. The statistical analysis of the number of the worms in male
showed a significant difference (0.01), and the intensity of worms in both sheep and goats was
Month No. of Exam No. of Inf. Percentage of
Inf. %
Intensity of Inf.
Male Female Male Female Male Female
e
Male Female
June 14 3 2 0 14 0 74 0
July 32 2 3 0 9 0 13.33 0
August 26 1 3 0 12 0 9.33 0
September 14 0 3 0 *21 0 29.33- 0
October 16 0 1 0 6 0 19 0
November 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
December 26 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
January 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 143 6 12 0 8.39 0 26.91 0
Basrah Journal of Veterinary Research,Vol.17, No.3,2018
Proceeding of 6th International Scientific Conference,College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Basrah,Iraq
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(0.015) which means there was a significant difference (P< 0.05) (Table,3).
Table (3) : The total number of Haemonchus contortus isolated from both sheep and
goats under probability P< 0.05
*No. of worms in sheep (male & female): P= 0.04.
*No. of worms in sheep & -No. of worms in Goats (male): P=0.01.
*No. of worms in sheep & -No. of worms in Goats (month): P=0.015
Month No. of worms in sheep No. of worms in Goats
Male Female Male Female
June 1 *782 148- 0
July 52 233 40 0
August 135 25 28 0
September 98 18 88 0
October *446 62 19 0
November 204 23 0 0
December 37 0 0 0
January 0 0 0 0
Total 973 1143 323 0
780
Fig.(3): The percentage of infection in sheep
Fig. (4): The intensity of infection in sheep.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Male
Female
0
50
100
150
200
250
Male
Female
781
Fig.(5): The percentage of infection& The intensity of infection in Goats
Fig.(6): The number of worms isolated from sheep & goats.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Percentage of infection
Intensity of infection
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
Sheep
Goat
782
DISCUSSION
The microscopic study showed that the total number of isolated adult worms were (2439) from
both sheep and goats, and the measurements of these worms was (9-20 mm) in males and (14-
32mm) in females, this varied in measurements depending about the type of host, region and
parasite strain.
The measurements of adult H. contortus that were reported in the present study show agreement
with other measurements which were reported by different researchers around the world, like:
(20) recorded the measures of H. contortus for both adult males and females were (9.55-11.85 mm
in length and 0.15- 0.29 mm in width); (18.38-24.50 mm in length and 0.32-0.64 mm in width)
respectively. While, (21) in Saudi Arabia recorded the male’s body length were (13.1) mm. and
(14.4) mm in both H. contorts and H. placei respectively, while the average female’s body length
was measures (18.5 and 19.6 ) mm in both H. contorts and H. placei respectively. But, (17) in
Basrah city/ southern Iraq pointed of views that the measurements of H. contortus were (14) mm
for male, while, female was (23) mm . On the other hand, (16) recorded the measures of males and
females which was (15) mm Body length for males, and (24.5) mm Body length for female. The
epidemiological study during the period of this study shows different results such as the total
percentage of infection in sheep was (13.18 –16.23) for both males and females respectively
which there was a significant difference P<0.05while in goat the percentage of infection was
(8.39) for males only which shows a significant difference P< 0.05 , on the other hand, the
intensity of infection in sheep was (14.65–12.47) for males and females respectively which shows
a significant difference P<0.05 and in goats, the intensity of infection was (26.9) which shows a
significant difference P< 0.05.was (26.9) for males only. The variation in the infection is due to
several reasons like the environmental conditions such as type of soil, humidity, temperature, PH
and weather and because of H. contorts preferred to survive in hot and humid, therefore it can see
the percentage of infection increase during summer, spring and started to decrease during autumn
while in winter there was no infection found. On the other hand, the other condition effect on the
infection was the variability of nutrition for the host, the age and the sex of host.
783
The total percentage of infection in the present study was 12.76 % , this result agrees with (22)
and (23) in Iran while it was very low as compared with other studies around the world, In Iran
(12); in Eastern Ethiopia (24); (25) in Pakistan; in Bangladesh (26) and in Kashmir (27 ). The
difference in prevalence reported by these studies could be accounted on the basis of differential
management practices, natural resistance, drug treatment, local geo-climatic factors and nutrition .
In Nigeria (28) recorded that the abomasum of 200 goats and 100 of sheep were examined, goats
and sheep had the prevalence of (78.5) and (85%) for Haemonchus sp. respectively, on the other
hand, (29) recorded in Pakistan that out of total 380 examined fecal samples 96 were positive for
H. contortus and the percentage of overall prevalence was 25.26%. Also, (30) in Hilla city in Iraq
recorded the prevalence of Haemonchus, and showed no significant variation (P>0.05) between
the infected sheep and goat which were recorded high percentage in females of sheep (48.64%)
while in males were (27.63%),also the high infection was recorded in females of goats (39.53%)
while in the males were (20.83%),which show disagreement with the results of this study.
In conclusion The barber’s pole worms H. contortus with (12.76 %) percentage means Basrah
province has good environmental properties for growth and complete the life cycle. , and the
staining with alum carmine stain showed that this worms can be stained and recognize the body
organelles.
784
دراسة مسحیة لداء الھیمونکس بین الاغنام والمعز المذبوحة فی
مجزرة البصرة، مدینة البصرة، العراق
ھدى عبد الحسین عباس , سوزان عبد الجبار عبد العزیز
فرع الاحیاء المجھریة والطفیلیات البیطریة، کلیة الطب البیطری، جامعة البصرة
الخلاصة
و قسمت الحیوانات Haemonchosis تم فی الدراسة الحالیة فحص ( 705 )حیوان مصاب بمرض ال
المفحوصة الى ( 556 ) أغنام و ( 149 ) معز والتی أخذت من مجزرة البصرة فی الفترة الممتدة مابین
. شھر حزیران 2016 الى شھر کانون الثانی 2017
کان العدد الکلی للحیوانات المصابة ( 90 ) حیوان مقسمة الى ( 78 ) أغنام و ( 12 ) معز بینما کان عدد
الکلیة المعزولة ( 2439 ) دودة. Haemonchus contortus دیدان ال
أظھرت نسبة الإصابة الکلیة حوالی( 12.76 ) موزعة الى ( 14.02 ) فی الأغنام و ( 8.05 ) فی المعز،
بینما کانت شدة الإصابة الکلیة حوالی ( 27.1 ) موزعة الى ( 27.12 ) فی الأغنام و ( 26.91 ) فی المعز .
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