Helminth Fauna of Domestic and Wild Ruminants in Garabagh, Azerbaijan

Abstract

Helminth infections represent a significant constraint impacting the health and productivity of ruminants, with their distribution closely associated with ecological and management factors. The present study aimed to investigate the species composition, prevalence, and biocenological characteristics of helminths in domestic and wild ruminants in the Garabakh Economic Region of Azerbaijan. Between 2022 and 2025, a total of 760 animals were examined. Out of these, 620 were domestic ruminants such as cattle, sheep, and goats, whereas the other 140 included wild ruminants such as European roe deer, red deer, Caucasian chamois, wild sheep, and goitered gazelle. Helminth infections were evaluated through standard coprological techniques such as flotation, sedimentation, and larval recovery methods. Species identification was conducted based on morphological characteristics, and faunistic similarity was assessed using the Jaccard index. A total of 29 helminth species were identified, with 18 presented in both domestic and wild hosts. The overall prevalence was 61.7%, with goats demonstrating the highest infection rate at 74.2%. The most frequently detected species across the total examined population of domestic and wild ruminants were Fasciola hepatica, Moniezia expansa, Moniezia benedeni, Haemonchus contortus, and Trichostrongylus axei. The high faunistic similarity between cattle and wild sheep, and between goats and Caucasian chamois (Ij = 0.51), indicated active circulation of parasites through shared grazing areas and water sources. Out of the 16 helminth species identified in domestic ruminants, 15 were found in wild hosts. Wild sheep and chamois exhibited the most similar faunal composition. The overall prevalence did not differ significantly between domestic (63.1%) and wild (55.7%) ruminants, with Fasciola hepatica detected in both groups. These quantitative results indicated that wild sheep and chamois played an active role in maintaining helminths alongside livestock, highlighting the importance of ecologically integrated surveillance in shared grazing regions.