الفهرس 
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Abstract
This study aimed to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal and blood parasites of sheep in Assiut Governorate using fecal and blood examination.
The first part of the study was designed to detect the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in sheep in the fecal examination. For this purpose, a total of 100 fecal samples were randomly collected from sheep from different localities in Assiut Governorate and were examined during the period between February 2022 to January 2023 to investigate their seasonal abundance, age, and sex susceptibility of these animals to the infection.
The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic infection was 57%, the parasites detected were protozoa 55% (Eimeria spp. 51%, Cryptosporidium spp.42%, Giardia spp.18% and Balantidium coli4%), trematodes 7 % (Paramphistomum cervi), cestodes 2% (Monieziaspp.) andnematodes 38% (Trichuris ovis 5%, Strongyle spp. eggs 33% and Strongyloides papillosus 32 %). Protozoa were the most prevalent followed by nematodes, trematodes, and cestodes (55%, 38%, 7%, and 2% respectively). The identified Eimeriaspp were (E.parva ,E.pallida ,E.marsica ,E.crandallis ,E.ovinoidalis , E. bakuensis(ovina) , E. intricata , E. granulosa , E. ninakohlyakimovae , E. webybridgensis , E. ahsata , E. faurei, E. arloingi ).The recovered larvae from the fecal culturewere Haemonchus spp., Trichostrongylus spp., Cooperia spp.,Bunostomum spp., Oesophagostomum spp., and Strongyloides spp. The most prevalent detected nematode larva was Haemonchuscontortusby molecular study.
In relation to age, (48Animal< 2years and 52 > 2 years) were examined in the present study. The prevalence rate was (64.6%in animals <2 years and 50% in animals> 2 years). There was a significant relationship between strongyle infection in sheep by age (P<0.05).
In relation to sex, fecal samples were collected from 70 female sheep and 30male sheep revealed that the prevalence of parasitic infection in males (63.3%) was higher than in females (54.3%). There was no significant relationship between parasitic infection by sex (P>0.05).
In relation to seasonal variation, 56 fecal samples were collected in the cold season and 44 in the hot season for studying the effect of seasonal variations on the incidence of parasitic infection in sheep. This study showed that gastrointestinal parasitic infection rate was significantly higher in the cold season 94.6% than in the hot season 9.1%, there was a significant relationship between parasitic infection about the season (P<0.01).
The second part of the study was designed to detect the prevalence of blood parasites in sheep. Out of 100 blood samples were randomly collected from sheep and were examined. The overall prevalence of blood parasites was 44%. The infection rate of Theileria spp. and Babesia spp. was 30% and 14% respectively.
In relation to age, (48Animal< 2years and 52 > 2 years) were examined in the present study. The overall prevalence of blood parasites was higher in young animal 50 % than in adult ones 38.5%. There was no significant relationship between blood parasitic infection in relation to age (P= 0.246).
In relation to sex, blood samples were collected from 70female and 30male sheep revealed that the overall prevalence of blood parasites in males was 63.3% which was higher than in females 35.7%. There was a significant relationship between blood parasitic infection in relation to sex (P= 0.011).
In relation to seasonal variation, there is a high effect of season in the prevalence of blood parasites. A total of 56 samples were collected in the cold season and 44in the hot season. The prevalence of blood parasites was higher in the cold season 66.1% than in the hot season 15.9%. There was a significant relationship between blood parasitic infection in relation to season (P<0.001).