TYPOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SHEEP FARMS IN RELATION TO A POTENTIAL RISK OF CONTAMINATION WITH NEOSPORA CANINUM IN THE CENTRAL REGION OF ALGERIA

Abstract

The aim of this work was to produce a typology of sheep farms in five districts of the central region of Algeria and to identify the elements linked to the contamination with Neospora caninum. It concerned 195 farms and was conducted from March 2016 to March 2018. A multiple correspondence analysis individualized three groups of modalities with a variance between groups of 47%. The results showed that the farming system was extensive with semi-tie-stall housing, the number of sheep was small (<50 heads), the dominant breed was the Ouled Djellal (29.74%) and the sheep lived with the goats (36.92%). The dominant pathologies were parasitic, respiratory and reproductive, and abortions were present at 96%. This survey allowed us to identify breeding practices linked to possible contamination with Neospora caninum, such as cohabitation with goats and the fate of abortions and afterbirths. The presence of dogs was the most important factor (72.30%).