Prevalence and Diagnosis of Gastro-intestinal Parasites from Libyan Local Sheep (Ovis aries)

Parasitic diseases, particularly nematodes, are among the most significant pathogens affecting economically important animals such as sheep, leading to their deterioration, reduced productivity, and poor growth.Nematode infections are considered one of the most severe parasitic diseases in sheep.Therefore, this study aimed to examine fresh sheep manure samples collected from Misurata.A total of 35 samples were analyzed using two concentration methods and laboratory culture techniques.Additionally, the morphological and structural characteristics of nematode larvae were identified.Larvae were cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen with distilled water and saline solution to assess survival rates.The results indicated that the laboratory culture method yielded higher detection rates (66%) than the concentration method (31.4%).Based on morphological and structural traits, four genera of nematodes were identified.Among these, Haemonchus contortus was the most prevalent, followed by Trichostrongylus spp.and Oesophagostomum spp., with Dictyocaulus spp.(lungworms) being the least common.Cryopreservation of larvae in liquid nitrogen demonstrated a higher survival rate when distilled water was used (68%) compared to saline solution (38%), with statistically significant differences.This study highlights the importance of differentiating between the types of nematode larvae that infect sheep and small ruminants.Accurate and rapid diagnosis, as demonstrated here, is essential for epidemiological research and improving disease management strategies.