Epidemiological and therapeutical study of Giardiasis in sheep in AL-Diwaniya province

Abstract

Abstract: This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of giardiasis in sheep and carried out in seven different areas in AL – Diwaniya province. It was designed to investigate the effect of region, age, sex and months of the year on the infection ratios during the period from November 2006 to October 2007.In addition to study albendazole efficiency in treatment of giardiasis in sheep. A total (400) fecal samples has been collected from sheep, Results revealed that overall prevalence was (13.5%), The highest prevalence in sheep were (20%),(18.18%) in AL-Shamiya and Afak respectively, While the lowest (5.35%) was recorded in AL-Diwaniya center ,Which was significantly differ (p<0.05) .On the other hand the highest ratio was recorded in sheep (25.53%) on January, which was significantly higher (p<0.05) than (4.76%),(6.25%) on August and September respectively. Results showed higher prevalence rate were recorded in sheep less than 6 months of age as (21.78%), There were significantly higher (p<0.05) than that more than 6 months. There was no significant difference regarding the prevalence in different sex. Giardia parasite was found in diarrheic sheep as (22.91%) there was significantly higher (p<0.05) than the non- diarrheic sheep. Oral treatment of giardiasis in sheep with albendazole at a dose of 20 mg/kg B.W. once daily for three consecutive days, showed that the drug was effective in reduction of cysts shedding with cure rates (99.37%), (97.41%),(96.07%) and (100%) in fourth, seventh, tenth, fourteenth days of treatment respectively, with no adverse reactions of the drug.