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Ovine gastrointestinal parasite burden and the impact of strategic anthelmintic treatment strategy in community-based breeding sites in Ethiopia

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Title Ovine gastrointestinal parasite burden and the impact of strategic anthelmintic treatment strategy in community-based breeding sites in Ethiopia
 
Creator Molla, W.
Moliso, Mesfin M.
Gizaw, Solomon
Nane, T.
Arke, A.
Ayele, F.
Knight-Jones, Theodore J.D.
 
Subject small ruminants
sheep
animal health
disease control
 
Description Introduction: In Ethiopia, small ruminants contribute significantly to livelihoods and food security but productivity is low with high disease burden and essential endoparasite control not widely practiced. The current study assessed worm burden and its control in three districts in Ethiopia.

Methods: All sheep older than 3 months in nine villages were treated en-masse with albendazole and triclabendazole twice a year from 2018 to 2021. Treatments were administered under field conditions by animal health workers. Pre- and post-treatment data were assessed looking at fecal egg presence/absence and fecal egg per gram (EPG) count.

Results: A total of 1,928 and 735 sheep were examined before and after deworming, respectively. Before treatment worms were detected in 54.4% (95% CI: 52.2–56.6) of sheep. Strongylid (30.4%) and Fasciola (18.2%) were the most frequently identified parasites. Animals living in wet mid-highland environments were more than 23 times more likely to have strongylid eggs in their feces and 5 times more likely to have eggs from any gastrointestinal tract (GIT) parasites detected, as compared to animals living in moist highland agro-ecology. Over the course of the 2018–2021 community intervention there was total elimination of animals with a high worm burden (EPG > 1,500), and elimination of a third of those with moderate infections. Mild infections remained, largely accounted for by strongylid, which remains at low levels in healthy sheep. However, there were signs of emerging drug resistance.

Conclusion: Generally, sheep in smallholder systems in Ethiopia experience a needlessly large economic burden from GIT worms. Routine therapy reduces this burden but smart strategies are needed to limit the onset of drug resistance.
 
Date 2023-03-21
2023-03-21T09:55:26Z
2023-03-21T09:55:26Z
 
Type Journal Article
 
Identifier Molla, W., Moliso, M.M., Gizaw, S., Nane, T., Arke, A., Ayele, F. and Knight-Jones, T. 2023. Ovine gastrointestinal parasite burden and the impact of strategic anthelmintic treatment strategy in community-based breeding sites in Ethiopia. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 10: 1094672.
2297-1769
https://hdl.handle.net/10568/129695
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1094672
 
Language en
 
Rights CC-BY-4.0
Open Access
 
Format 1094672
 
Publisher Frontiers Media SA
 
Source Frontiers in Veterinary Science