Abstract:
A cross-sectional study design using questionnaire survey and coprological examination was
carried out between December 2021and August 2022on small ruminant lung worm infection in
Hulet Ejjue Enesie and Bibugne Districts of East Gojjam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia. The
objectives of the study were to; i)determine the prevalence and species composition of small
ruminant lung worm infection, ii) identify the associated putative risk factors affecting the
prevalence of lung worm infection and, iii) explore small ruminant management and lung worm
control practices in the study areas. A multistage stratified sampling technique was used to
sample study Districts and the respective small ruminant producers and animals. Accordingly, a
total of 384 small ruminants from 100 farmers were sampled. Fecal samples were randomly
collected directly from the rectum of individual animal and examined for the presence of lung
worm infections using modified Berman technique. The overall prevalence of lung worm
infection in small ruminants in the study areas was 20.5% (79/384), in which 65.82% (52/79),
24.05 % (19/79) and 10.12% (8/79) of infections were due to D.Filaria, M.Capillaris and
P.Rufences, respectively. A relatively higher prevalence of lung worm infection was recorded in
sheep 27.8 %, (74/266), when compared to goats 4.2%, (5/118).A statistically significant
difference (P < 0.05) was found in the prevalence of lung worm infections between species, age
group, body condition and study locations. Lungworm infection in goats was lower (OR=0.11;
95%CI; 0.0432-0.292; p=0.000) when compared to sheep. Likewise, the likelihood of lung worm
infection in adult (OR=3.9, 95%CI=1.820-8.632; p=0.001) and older (OR=2.9, 95%CI=1.089-
7.879; p=0.033) small ruminants was higher when compared to younger small ruminants.
Likewise, a higher prevalence of lung worm infection was observed in poor (OR=5.06,
95%CI=1.910- 13.43; p=0.001) and medium (OR=3.4, 95%CI=1.341- 8.658; p=0.010) body
conditioned small ruminants as compared to good body conditioned small ruminants. Location
wise, the prevalence of lung worm infection in Bibugn (OR=0.42, 95%CI=0.226- 0.792;
p=0.007) was lower when compared to Hulet Ejju Enesie District. Survey findings showed that
majority (45%) of respondents manage their flock in communal grazing areas; of which 23%
and 15% of them graze their animals on dry and marshy grazing areas respectively. Among
surveyed farmers, respiratory tract infections (RTI) account the larger (92%) of small ruminant
health problems. However, majority (96%) of them were not be able to differentiate lung worm
infection from other respiratory disorders. This suggested that majority of small ruminant
producers in the study area lack awareness about lung worm infection and its control methods.
In conclusion, the coprological result revealed that the prevalence of lung worm infection in the
study area was higher. This high prevalence could affect the productivity of animals and income
of small ruminant producers through lung worm infection associated morbidity and mortality.
Therefore, intervention measures against the identified risk factors, including proper
management of pasture and rational use of anthelmintics is suggested to control small ruminant
lung worm infection in the study areas.