Coccidiosis in Awassi, Romanov, Charollais and Suffolk sheep breeds during the winter and summer seasons in Jordan
Khaleel I. Z. Jawasreh, Rami M. Mukbel, Anas Abdel Qader, Mohammad A. Mayyas

Abstract
Subclinical infection of coccidiosis in adult sheep cause loses in animal production especially for animals under stress including susceptible animals imported to a new environment. Local breeds usually are adapted to local environmental stress and more resistant to local parasite species/strains than exotic breeds. In this study, we investigate; coccidia infection rate, oocyct output and differential blood cell count in four groups of local Awassi sheep and three exotic breeds (Romanov, Charollais and Suffolk) in the Summer and Winter seasons. About 63.4% of animals were infected with Eimeria spp. The highest infection rates were in Romanov (81.5%), and in winter (P<0.05) than in summer for all breeds. The lowest infection rate and oocyct per gram (OPG) were recorded for Awassi breed during the summer season (11.1%).A negative correlation (P <0.05) between the OPG and lymphocyte (L) blood level was detected; while a positive (P <0.05) correlation with neutrophil (N) was only detected in the Awassi breed. Repeatability estimates for OPG were 0.32, 0.22, 0.30 and 0.42 for Awassi, Charollais, Romanov and Suffolk breeds, respectively. The N/L ratio estimates of repeatability were ranged between 0.04 in Charollais to 0.25 in Awassi breed. The current results demonstrated within and between breeds variations that can be utilized in genetic selection and breeding programs to increase genetic resistance to coccidiosis.

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