HELMINTH INFECTIONS OF SHEEP IN NORTH-SUMATRA, INDONESIA

Gastrointestinal tracts of 73 indigenous sheep were obtained from the Medan abattoir in North Sumatra, Indonesia, and examined for the prese nce of helminths. A total of 13 species of helminths, eight nematodes, one cestode and four trematodes were encountered. All sheep were infe cted by more than one species of nematodes, Trichostrongylus colubrifo rmis, T, axel and Haemonchus contortus were the most common species. T he intensity of the nematode infections was very high: the average bur den was over 7500 worms, Trichostrongylus spp, accounted, on average, for 81.5% of the total nematode burden, No influence of age on total n ematode burden could be shown, Eurytrema pancreaticum and Schistosoma spindale were found in 23.3% and 4.1% of the examined sheep, respectiv ely, The results are discussed in relation to common management and he lminth control systems.