Peri-urban sheep breeding in Ivory Coast : evaluation of gastro-intestinal parasitism and influent factors of variation

An epidemiological survey on gastro-intestinal parasites in urban sheep (Djallonke, Sahelians, crossbreeds) was conducted in Bouake commune. Survey was composed of two kinds of observations which were carried out over two different periods. The first year, parasites egg and oocyst counts were carried out in outdoor breeding sheep. The second year, in addition to counting, necropsy was carried out in indoor breeding sheep. The strongyles were the most frequent among these gastro-intestinal parasites. The Multiple Correspondance Analysis (MCA) has put out an associations of parasites: Strongyles, Strongyloides, Coccidia. The parasitic fauna encountered was constituted of eight species of parasites: Haemonchus ontortus, Trichostrongylus colubrJermis, Cooperia sp., Oesophagostomum columbianum, Trichurus globulosa and Strongyloides papillosus, Paramphistomum sp., Monielia ex pansa. Among all these species, the species Haemonchus contortus was the most widespread. The infestation of the sheep by the gastro-intestinal strongyles is less massive than in rural zone. The excretion of the strongyle eggs was significantly higher at the end of the rainy season than in dry season in outdoor breeding animals. On the other hand no significant difference in parasitism between these two seasons was observed for indoor breeding sheep which were fed with fodder composed essentially of shrubs. Consequently, to establish a parasitic program of prevention, the flock management remains the most important basic element to consider. The program will be same throughout the year for indoor breeding animals whereas it is variable according to season for the outdoor breeding animals as in rural zone. (Resume d'auteur)