Prevalence of Eimeria Species in Sheep in Sulaimaniya Province, Iraq

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of Eimeria species in sheep in Sulaimaniya province, Iraq-region, between August-2012 - March 2013. The material collected for the present study was comprised of 150 sheep at nine different locations. The faecal samples consist of 28 lambs (0-6 month-old), 55sheep (6-12 month-old) and 67 sheep (˃12 month old). The faecal samples were taken directly from the rectum. Oocysts of Eimeria species were found in 108 (72%) of sheep and were infected with a total of 11 species. According to the age groups 0-6 month-old lambs were recorded with highest rate. In this study 150 sheep were examined, among them 28% was not infected, 6.48 %infected with single species of Eimeria, and 67.33 %were mixed infection, and highest rate of mixed infection include 6 Eimeria species. As a result this study was to determine the prevalence of coccidiosis in sheep in Sulaimaniya province.