Abstract

A cross sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors of ovine fasciolosis in and around Shirka Woreda, East Arsi, South East of Ethiopia from February 2021 to June 2021. Parasitological examination of fecal samples collected from 327 sheep by using sedimentation method. The samples from these animal examinations 140 were positive with an overall fasciolosis prevalence of 42.81%. The results demonstrated in three climatic conditions that fasciola infection was higher in highland, midland and lowland with 54.43, 39.48 and 33.33 respectively, but there was no statistical significance (p>0.05). The prevalence of ovine fasciolosis for the different age groups were found to vary with non-significant difference (p>0.05) and infection rate between male and female sheep were found nonsignificant (p>0.05). Infection rates for sheep with good body condition (46.01%) were higher than sheep with medium body condition and poor body condition (43.12% and 32.73% respectively). There was no significant difference (P>0.05) for body condition. The result of the present study indicated that fasciolosis is a highly prevalent sheep disease in the study area that could potentially hinder productivity of sheep and tremendously affect the rural economy at large. To control the disease in this area, appropriate preventive control strategies have to be designed to reduce the impact of the disease on sheep production.