THE FAMACHA METHOD AS A TOOL FOR SELECTING TREATMENT OFHAEMONCHUS CONTORTUS INFECTION IN GOATS.
THE FAMACHA METHOD AS A TOOL FOR SELECTING TREATMENT OFHAEMONCHUS CONTORTUS INFECTION IN GOATS.
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Date
2015-11
Authors
ABDULGANIYU, KHADIJAH
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Abstract
The FAMACHA system was first developed in South Africa and it has been successfully
tested in different geographic area where Haemonchus contortus is the major gastrointestinal
(GI) helminth of sheep. The present study was aimed at using the FAMACHA method as a
tool for selective treatment of Haemonchus contortusinfection in goats. Each study animal
was monthly subjected to blood and faecal sample collection, and all the animals were scored
on a 1-5 scale with particular attention to the colour of ocular mucous membranes. The
parasitological data included numbers of nematode eggs per gram of faeces (EPG), faecal
culture L3 larvae, packed cell volume (PCV), and FAMACHA eye-colour score estimates,
along with animal performance (body weight change). There were 5 species of nematodes
present in goats with Haemonchus contortusbeing the most prevalent (54–73%), followed by
Trichostrongylusspp (10-20%), Oesophagostomumspp (7-10%), Strongyloidesspp (4-8%) and
Bunostomumspp (3-4%). The nematode infection (natural infection) showed that all the
animals were positive for faecal egg, with the highest infection occurring during the raining
season. Correlations between FAMACHA and PCV, FAMACHA and BW, EPG and PCV,
EPG and BW, as well as FAMACHA and EPG, PCV and BW were all highly significant. (P
<0.001).
Faecal egg count reduction tests (FECRT) conducted on all farms visited confirmed the
efficacy of commonly used anthelmintics, including imported albendazole, locally made
albendazole 1, 2 and 3, Imported and locally made Levamisole and Ivermectin. Initially, high
levels of resistance to all the benzimidazole group were found with percentage reduction of
(65.90%, 93.81%, 59.94%, and -12.72%) respectively. While the levamisole, both imported
and locally made had an efficacy of (98.5% and 99.5%), Ivermectin both injectable and
drench had an efficacy of 99.51 and 97.45) respectively. Individual FECRT were also
conducted on 4 goat flocks, 2 commercial and 2 local farms. There were 8 treatment groups in each of these farms. All the 8 drugs were 100% effective against Haemonchus contortusin the
2 local farm. For commercial farm 1, Ivermectin drenched and injectable showed 100% and
99% effectiveness respectively against all worm species found, Imported and Locally made
levamisole had 100% and 90% reduction respectively, Imported Albendazole had 94%
reduction while the locally made albendazole (1,2 and 3) reduced faecal egg counts by 70%,
94% and 94%, respectively while for commercial farm 2 Ivermectin drenched and injectable
showed 96% and 100% effectiveness respectively against all worm species found, imported
and locally made Levamisole had 99% reduction each, imported Albendazole had a negative
reduction of -35%, locally made Albendazole (2) had 97% efficacy while locally made
albendazole (3) also had a negative reduction of -291%. It was therefore concluded that the
FAMACHA method can be used by farmers in Nigeria as an on-farm tool to identify anaemic
goats and give a guide on goats that need to be treated with anthelminthic particularly in
condition of haemonchosis.
Description
DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY AND ENTOMOLOGY,
FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA.
Keywords
FAMACHA METHOD,, TOOL,, SELECTING TREATMENT,, HAEMONCHUS CONTORTUS INFECTION,, GOATS,