Abstract:

[Objective] This study aimed to understand the status of intestinal helminth infections in sheep in a large livestock trading market in Inner Mongolia, China. [Method] From July 2020 to June 2021, a total of 1 082 fecal samples of sheep in the livestock trading market were collected 12 times month by month. The eggs were examined by saturated sucrose solution floating method, and morphological identification of the helminth eggs found in sheep was subsequently carried out. The infection rates of intestinal helminth in sheep of different ages and genders among varied sampling months were statistically compared. [Result] There were 282 fecal samples were positive for helminth eggs, with an overall infection rate of 26.1% （282/1 082）. Six species of helminths were identified, of which Strongylodes was the dominant species, with an infection rate of 16.5% （179/1 082）. The infection rates of whipworm, Moniezia, Nematodirus, pinworm and hookworm were 7.8% （84/1 082）, 3.2% （35/1 082）, 1.9% （21/1 082）, 0.6% （7/1 082） and 0.1% （1/1 082）, respectively. The intestinal helminth infection rates of sheep were higher in October and November, at 47.4% （45/95） and 43.7% （38/87）, respectively, and lower in January and February, at 13.0% （12/92） and 12.2% （11/90）, respectively. The differences in intestinal helminth infection rates between different sampling months were statistically significant （χ²=63.957, df=11, P<0.01）. There were statistically significant differences （χ²=42.853，df=2，P<0.01）in intestinal helminth infection rates among the sheep aged 6 months or less, 7 to 12 months, and beyond 1 year, which were 14.5% （56/385）, 31.1% （161/517）, and 36.1% （65/180）, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in intestinal helminth infection rates between ram and ewe （P>0.05）, which were 24.3% （102/420） and 27.2% （180/662）, respectively. [Conclusion] The intestinal helminth infection in sheep in the livestock trading market was related to season and age. The targeted preventative and control strategy should be taken.

Key words: helminth, infection, age, livestock trading market, sheep