Gastro-intestinal helminths of sheepand goats in subhumid and sahelian areas of Burkina Faso

Post-mortem examinations and individual faecal egg counts were performed on different breeds of dwarf and sahelian sheep and goats from traditional livestock system in the southern subhumid zone and the northern dry Sahelian areas of Burkina Faso over a year period. The overall infection rate was 100 % in Bah Ball sheep, 74 % in Sahelian goats and 100 % in both Djallonke sheep and goats. The most prevalent parasites were Trichostrongylus colubriformis Haemonchus contortus Cooperia punctata, C, pectinata, Oesophagostomum columbianum, Oes. radiatum, Bunostomum phlebotomum, Trichuris ovis and Skrjabinema ovis for nematodes without any significant difference between sheep and goats. Four species of cestodes, Moniezia expansa M benedeni, Avirellina centripunctata, Stilesia globipunctata were identified in the southern part of the country. Seasonal patterns showed high worms burdens during the rainy season and low numbers during the dry season in both areas whereas the annual average rainfall in the South is twice higher compared to the Sahel. Egg output variations are similar to worm burden with higher excretions during rainy season. However, fourth stage hypobiotic larvae of H, contortus were mainly recorded during dry season from February to May. This study showed that available information on small ruminants gastrointestinal helminths must lead to preventive control in the dry part of Burkina Faso.