An-Najah Staff

The prevalence and the species of Eimeria oocysts in 180 fecal samples of immature and

adult domestic Awassi sheep were screened in 16 farms in four provinces northern

Palestine, the overall incidence of the all types of coccidian oocysts was 68.75%. The

prevalence of the oocysts in was significantly higher (p<0.05) in farms in Tubas (mean

100%) compared to Jenin (mean 75%), Nablus (mean 50%) and Tulkarem (mean 50%).

The prevalence of the oocysts was significantly higher (p<0.05) in immature sheep (less

than one year) with mean of 60% compared to adult sheep (more than a year) with mean

of 40%. Eight species of Eimeria were indentified, they (and their prevalence) were E.

Crandalis (18.88%), E. Parva (14.44%), E. Intricata (12.77%), E. Ovina (10%), E.

Ahsata (8.88%), E. Ovinoidalis (8.33%), E. Pallida (7.22%) and E. Faurei )%6666(, a

single infection was not observed, all of the infected sheep had mixed infections with two

to five species.