Association between Epidemiology and Haematophagous Behaviour of Haemonchus contortus and Ostertagia ostertagi Infecting Sheep of Kashmir Valley, India

Haemonchus contortus and Ostertagia ostertagi are predominantly sheep parasites and majority of the pathological effects they cause are due to their blood-feeding behaviour. This study was carried out to ascertain the prevalence of these two parasites in sheep of Kashmir Valley, India and to determine effect on haematological parameters of sheep. H. contortus was more prevalent than O. ostertagi; the infection was found to be higher in summer, lower age groups and males. As far as the effect on haematology is concerned, haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume and red blood cell count showed significant decrease and white blood cell count showed significant increase in case of infected sheep.