title: Prevalence of intestinal and haemoprotozoan parasites of small ruminants in Tamil Nadu, India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study is to assess the prevalence of intestinal and haemoprotozoan parasites of small ruminants (Sheep and Goats) in North Western part of Tamil Nadu, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 630 faecal samples (251-sheep, 379-goats) and 554 blood smears (242-sheep, 312-goats) were examined, for the presence of eggs of intestinal and haemoprotozoan parasites, respectively. The samples were received from the Veterinary college hospital and Veterinary dispensaries in North Western part of Tamil Nadu. Faecal samples were processed by sedimentation technique and examined under low power objective (×10), and blood smears were stained using Giemsa's technique and examined under oil immersion (×100).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis of data on the prevalence of intestinal and haemoprotozoan parasites of sheep and goats in North Western part of Tamil Nadu for the period from 2004 to 2013, showed an overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was found to be 67% and 35% in sheep and goats, respectively, whereas only 11% of sheep and 3% of goats had the haemoprotozoan parasitic infection. Highly, significant difference (p<0.01) in the prevalence of intestinal (χ(2)=65), and hemoprotozoan (χ(2)=15.4) parasitism was observed between sheep and goats. Intestinal parasites such as strongyles, Trichuris, Moniezia, amphistome, and coccidia were identified in which the highest prevalence was observed with coccidia, followed by strongyles, Monezia, Trichuris, and least with amphistome in both the sheep and goats. The haemoprotozoan parasites recorded were Theileria and Anaplasma species, of which, Anaplasma spp. being the highest and Theileria spp. the least prevalent in both the sheep and goats. The seasonal prevalence of intestinal parasites showed highest in rainy season, followed by moderate in winter and least with summer in both the sheep and goats, whereas the haemoprotozoan parasites recorded were the highest in summer followed by winter and least with rainy season.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study suggests that North Western part of Tamil Nadu is highly endemic for intestinal parasites such as coccidia and strongyles and haemoprotozoans such as Anaplasma and Theileria species in small ruminants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Namakkal - 637 002, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Velusamy
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Namakkal - 637 002, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rani
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Namakkal - 637 002, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ponnudurai
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Namakkal - 637 002, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Anbarasi
keywords: goats; haemoprotozoan parasites; helminths; prevalence; sheep