diagnosis of protozoa and nematodes in stomach and intestine of sheep in Salah Al-Din Governorate

T his study was designed to diagnose intestinal protozoans and Nematodes in sheep in Salah al-Din Governorate, As 500 sheep fecal samples were collected from different regions of Salah Al-Din Governorate for the period from November 2019 to April 2020, The result of the study showed that the total number of positive samples for infection with intestinal protozoa and Nematodes is 270 samples with an infection rate of (54%), and The results also showed that the total infection rate of intestinal protozoa was (24%), Nine species of Eimeria were diagnosed in sheep, and the highest infection rate for E. parva (14.4%) and the lowest rate for E. weybridgensis (2.2%), While Cryptosporidium Spp the infection rate was (1.8%). As for overall infection of nematodes was (42%) The highest rate of infection Marshallagia marshalli was (44.4%) and the lowest rate of infection with Strongyloides papillosus was (2.9%). The diagnosis of oocysts and eggs depended on the morphological features and measurments that existing in specialized


Introduction
Sheep infected with many types of parasites that inhabit the stomach and intestine and cause a major losses in productivity and health problem.Sheep infected with coccidiosis caused by two types of intestinal protozoans (Eimeria and Cryptosporidium) which are obligate and intracellular parasite [1].Sheep are susceptible to infected by Eimeria of all ages and breeds, the major clinical signs with Eimeria is characterized by diarrhea which can be hemorrhagic and poor weight and weakness in adult sheep.[2].As for Cryptosporidium, it is a zoonotic disease between human and animals, which is characterized as being the second cause after the rotavirus, causing economic losses around the world [3].and Decreased immunity in an infected animals.[4].As for Nematodes, they are considered intestinal parasites that infect sheep, causing economic losses [5], as sheep are affected by infection with these worms at a high rate leading to the emergence of major pathological changes such as protein deficiency, anemia in the body, lack of appetite, ease of wool removal and lack of Meat and milk production, as well as changes in the inner wall of the intestine and changes in the vitality and shape of microvilli and epithelial cells of the intestine leading to an imbalance in the process of nutrient absorption [6].This study was aimed to diagnose intestinal protozoa and Nematodes in sheep in Salah al-Din Governorate.

Materials and methods
Since November 2019 to the end of April 2020, 500 feces samples were collected directly from sheep from different regions of Salah al-Din Governorate, Each sample was kept in dry and clean container labeled with the sheep number, date and place of taking the sample Then, feces samples were examined using Modified Zeihl-Neelson to diagnose infection with the Cryptosporidium spp.[7].Flotation method by using saturated sugar solution to diagnose Eimeria oocyst cysts and Nematode eggs.[8].

Results:
The results of the study showed that 270 (54%) of sheep were infected with protozoa (Eimeria and Cryptosporidium) and Nematodes , According to the current study, nine species of Eimeria were diagnosed as shown in table (1), with the highest incidence of E.parva type being recorded at an infection rate 14.4% and the lowest incidence of E.weybridgensis type with 2.2% infection, while the Cryptosporidium Spp parasite had a 1.8% infection rate (Table 1).

Discussion
Examination of fecal samples form 500 sheep revealed that ( 54%) were positive for intestinal protozoa and nematodes, [9] reported similar percent( 53.1%) with study on sheep in Kirkuk city, While our finding was lower than result (40.46%) detected by [10] in Erbil and with [11] in Sulaimaniya province 34.3%.
In the present study, the overall prevalence of protozoan parasite which included Cryptosporidium spp and Eimeria spp was(24%) these finding disagree with [12] in Al-Muthanna(67.5%).Nine species of Eimeria were identified in this study , These results agreed with studies carried out in sheep in Mosul province , [13] but disagree with [14] were detected eleven species of Eimeria in sheep.The high rate of infection was with the E. parva (14.4%) these results are identical with [15] in Sulaimaniya where the E. parva was more common than among the genus of Eimeria but disagree with [16] which It was recorded in Baghdad, where the highest incidence of E.ovinoidalis was 18.5%,while the lower rate of infection was with E. weybridgensis (2.2%) these finding agree with [17] Alsadoon( 2018) in Baghdad, where the E. weybridgensis recorded the lowest infection rate as it reached 2.5% but disagree with the results of [9] in Kirkuk, where they recorded the lowest rate of the E. crandallis at 21.7%.The variation in the rates of infection may be due to the terms of samples collection , number of samples , climate ,feeding of the sheep and their immunity and the type of examination .No clinical signs of coccidiosis were observed Eimeria caused considerable disease when the infected animals are being stress condition or under feeding and thus Eimeria could cause intestine pathogenisity [18].The morphological features of oocysts that isolated by using flotation techniques ,agree with the description that given by [19], Examination of stained fixed samples revealed that(1.8%)were positive for Cryptosporidium spp.This result agreed with [20] in Baghdad (5.85%) and disagreement with [21] were recorded the height rate of Cryptosporidium (15.8%), while [22] found the prevalence of Cryptosporidium in sheep was (51%).The appearance of detected Cryptosporidium oocysts stained with modified Zeihl-Neelson as spherical oocysts (4-6 µm), bright red or pink and that agree with description of [14].
In the present study, the overall prevalence of nematodes parasite was(42%) these finding disagree with [23] in Baghdad(51.94%) and with [24] in Mosul (62.9%)Ten genus of Nematodes were identified in this study ,these result disagree with [25] in the Kirkuk city ,were detected four genus of Nematodes in sheep.
The variation in the rates of infection may be due to the infection rates, climatic conditions, different methods of breeding, sampling methods and random use of treatments.The high rate of infection was with Marshallagia marshalli was (44%), these results are identical with [26] in Salah al-Din governorate where the Marshallagia marshalli was more common than among of Nematodes but disagree with [27] which It was recorded in Erbil , where the highest incidence of Haemonchus contortus, while the lower rate of infection was with Strongyloides papillosus (2.9%) these finding disagree with [10] in Erbil, where they recorded the lowest rate of the Tricuris spp.2.79%.Also, Nematodes were diagnosed based on measuring the size, length and width of the egg, These results are identical with [24][26].

Table 2 : The number and percentage of infection with Nematodes in sheep.
(4)ptosporidium and Eimeria oocysts were diagnosed based on shape and length and width measurements of Oocysts Table(3).Also, eggs were diagnosed based on length and width measurements and number of embryonic cells inside the egg and as shown in Table(4).