author(s)
IM Allaie, RA Shahardar, SR Tramboo, KH Bulbul, ZA Wani and AA Khan

abstract
A total of 1,477 copro samples from small ruminants of Kashmir valley comprising of 686, 412 and 379 from each zone i.e. Central, South and North Kashmir, respectively, were examined over a period of two years for presence of trichostrongyle eggs by qualitative and quantitative techniques. A total of sixteen farms were screened comprising of six farms from central and five each from south and north Kashmir. A total of 1,076 (72.85%) copro samples were found positive for trichostrongyle type of eggs including Nematodirus. Highest prevalence was observed in north Kashmir (78.63%) followed by south (70.87%) and central Kashmir (70.84%), the difference being statistically significant (P<0.05) except between south and central Kashmir. Overall prevalence was found more in private farms (83.55%) compared to Govt. farms (67.98%) of Kashmir valley, the difference being statistically significant (P<0.05). Overall EPG ranged from 0 to 10,550 with an average of 334.02±9.76. The average EPG was found slightly higher in the central zone (387.97±11.48) as compared to south (386.16±27.41) and least in north Kashmir (179.68±6.44), the difference being statistically significant (P<0.05) except between central and south Kashmir.The average EPG was found higher in private farms of Kashmir valley (418.40±24.03) than Govt. farms (297.39±8.86), the difference being statistically significant (P<0.05). Six farms of Kashmir valley (two each in central, south and north zone) exhibited Nematodirus infection among trichostrongylid positive copro-samples during qualitative and quantitative faecal examination.