Impact of sex and age on gastrointestinal nematode infections in sheep: Insights from Sugih Mukti Sheep Farm

Gastrointestinal nematodes are pervasive parasites encountered globally, including across all regions of Indonesia, where they significantly impair sheep production by causing weight loss, reducing reproductive performance, and increasing mortality rate. This study assessed the prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal nematode infections in sheep from the Sugih Mukti Sheep Farm Group in Neglasari Village, Dramaga Sub-District, Bogor Regency, West Java Indonesia. We collected faecal samples from 43 sheep within this group and analysed them for gastrointestinal parasites using the flotation and modified McMaster methods. Our findings revealed the exclusive presence of strongyle eggs, indicative of the order Strongylida, in the faecal samples. The overall prevalence of strongyle infection at the Sugih Mukti farm was 60.5%, with infection rates varying significantly between sexes and age groups: 12.5% in males (n=8), 71.4% in females (n=35), 31.8% in young sheep (n=22), and 90.4% in adult females (n=21). These differences were statistically significant (P≤0.05). However, the average intensity of strongyle infections was categorised as light, with no significant variation observed with sex or age (P≥0.05).