Prevalence and Risk Factors of Gastrointestinal Parasitic Infections in Small Ruminants in the Greek Temperate Mediterranean Environment

Vaia Kantzoura, Marc K. Kouam, Helen Theodoropoulou, Haralambos Feidas, Georgios Theodoropoulos

Department of Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals, Faculty of Animal Science and Aquaculture,.
Department of Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals, Faculty of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Department of Home Economics and Ecology, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
Department of Meteorology and Climatology, School of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.

DOI: 10.4236/ojvm.2012.21005                

Abstract

Gastrointestinal (GI) parasitic infections of sheep and goats were investigated in 69 farms located in Thessaly region of Greece, characterized by temperate Mediterranean climate, during two consecutive seasons. A total of 557 fecal samples were collected. Helminth eggs were detected in 44 (7.9%) samples. Strongyle-type eggs were found in 19 (3.4%) samples, Nematodirus spp. eggs in 6 (1.1%) samples, Trichuris spp. eggs in 16 (2.9%) samples, Fasciola hepatica in 3 (0.5%) samples, and Dicrocoelium dendriticum in 1 (0.2%) sample. Coccidian oocysts were found in 36 (6.5%) samples. Risk factors related to animal and farmer status, farm and pasture management, and environmental factors derived by satellite data were examined for their association with the prevalence of helmith infections. A logistic regression model showed that the educational level of farmers and the elevation of farm location were associated with helminth infections

Keywords

Risk Factors; Gastrointestinal Parasites; Sheep; Goats; Farm; Greece

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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