Specifics of Regional Spreading of Oesophagostomosis in the North Caucasus Region, Taking into Account the Breed and Age of Sheep

The purpose of the research is to study the specifics of the regional spreading of oesophagostomosis in the North Caucasus region, taking into account the breed and age of the sheep.Materials and methods. The materials used for the study are sets of intestinal sections (90 sets each) and feces samples (300 samples each) of North Caucasian meat and wool breed and Karachaev coarse-haired breed. In this study, the method of full helminthological dissection according to K. I. Skryabin was used, along with method of coprolarvoscopy. The determination of the species of nematodes was carried out according to the guide of K. I. Skryabin and others.Results and discussion. Oesophagostomosis in Kabardino-Balkaria is an enzootic infection that infects 44.44–61.11% of sheep population. The intensity of infection with oesophagostomosis ranges from 110.3±12.8 to 303.53±28.20 species/animal. In lambs up to 1 year of age, the extensiveness of infection by oesophagostomosis was 63.33% with an intensity of infection of 328.6±28.3 species/animal; in Karachai lambs the rate was 43.33% and 212.4±19.2 species/animal respectively; in young sheep of 1–2 years old, the rate was 80.0% and 406.3±39.9 species/animal; in the Karachai breed the rate was 63.33 % and 289.6±25.7 species/animal. The most susceptible to oesophagostomosis, regardless of age, are sheep of the North Caucasian meat and wool breed, which is explained by the characteristics of the range and ecology of food. Oesophagostomosis, regardless of breed, is most common in lambs from 3 months to 1 year. These data should be used in predicting the epizootic situation and searching for measures to combat sheep oesophagostomosis in the region.