Host specificity of Haemonchus spp. for domestic ruminants in the savanna in northern Ivory Coast

Three Haemonchus species (Haemonchus contortus, Haemonchus placei and Haemonchus similis) live in sympatry in the savanna of North C?te d'Ivoire. Four domestic ruminant hosts (zebu-cattle, taurine-cattle, sheep and goats) share the same pastures throughout the year. Our post-mortem data imply that a Haemonchus spp. circulation exists among the different hosts species in the savanna of North C?te d'Ivoire. Under field conditions, mixed congeneric infections were the rule except in sheep where mono-specific H. contortus infections were the most frequent. The associations H.contortus+H.placei and H.placei+H.similis were dominant in goats and in cattle, respectively. In the populations examined, triple infections occurred in 11.5% of zebu-cattle and 29% of the taurine-cattle. Considering the intensities of infections, H. contortus was the main Haemonchus species of sheep and goats whereas H. similis was very rare in these host species. About 10% of the worms recovered in goats belong to the H. placei species. In cattle, H. contortus was very rare. H. placei was the dominant species in zebu-cattle (58.7% of the identified worms) and in taurine-cattle (73.9%) nevertheless, the proportion of H. similis was higher in zebu-cattle (38.6%) than in taurine-cattle (21.3%). Only few hybrids between H. placei and H. similis were found. The importance of such Haemonchus spp. circulation is discussed.     

The pathogenicity of haemonchosis in sheep and goats in Iraq: 1. Clinical, parasitological and haematological findings

The response of Awassi sheep and the local breed of Iraqi goats to primary infection with a prevalent trichostrongylid nematode, Haemonchus contortus, was compared by examining their worm burden and the pathogenic effects of the parasite on these hosts following experimental infection. The results showed that the goats had lower worm burdens and had suffered less severe clinical and haematological disturbances than the Awassi sheep. The worm counts in sheep were higher than in goats but the count of the mucosal phase of the larvae was higher in goats. These differences are possibly immunologic in origin though a genetic resistance may operate, primarily at the level of worm establishment. The pathophysiological changes are correlated with parasitological and clinical observations in the two host species.     

Experiences with the FAMACHA-Eye-Colour-Chart for identifying sheep and goats for targeted anthelmintic treatment

The bloodsuckling abomasal parasite Haemonchus contortus is the most pathogenic worm in sheep and goats. High prevalences of anthelmintic-resistant isolates make H. contortus difficult to control. Detecting the most anaemic animals could support a targeted selective treatment approach. Leaving the rest of the flock untreated would generate a refuge for anthelmintic-sensitive parasites. South-African researchers tried the FAMACHA-Eye-Colour-Chart for anaemic sheep and goats with good success. Field studies, carried out in Northern Germany on naturally infected sheep and goats showed, that at a comparatively low prevalence of H. contortus the FAMACHA-test proved not being sufficient in detecting all animals with high fecal egg counts. Under these conditions there was no satisfying reliability to identify small ruminants for selective deworming only based on the FAMACHAEye-Colour-Test. But if not working hours are the limiting factor, the repeated score could support the selection of pale animals in need to be treated.     

The response of Awassi and Merino sheep to primary infection with Haemonchus contortus

The possible existence of breed differences in the response of sheep to primary infection with Haemonchus contortus was examined by comparing worm establishment and pathogenic effects of the parasite in Awassi and Merino sheep of haemoglobin type B infected with 500 third stage H. contortus larvae per kg body weight. The results showed that the Merino sheep had lower faecal egg counts and worm burdens and suffered less severe clinical disturbances than sheep of the Awassi breed. This suggests that genetic resistance operates primarily at the level of worm establishment.     

Immunoprotective effect of cysteine proteinase fractions from two Haemonchus contortus strains adapted to sheep and goats

A preliminary analysis of the significance of genetic diversity in cysteine proteinase genes has been performed simultaneously in sheep and goats, with regard to the immunological control using these enzymes against haemonchosis. For this purpose, we have studied the cross-immunoprotective effect of cysteine protease-enriched protein fractions (CPFs) in adult worms of two Haemonchus contortus strains from North America and Spain that are adapted to sheep and goats, respectively. Previous genetic analysis of cysteine proteinase genes in both strains has shown that some of loci are polymorphic and these differences are translated into changes in the amino acid sequences. However, our results show that CPFs from H. contortus adult worms have a protective effect against the parasite in both sheep and goats. These results are similar regardless of whether they were obtained from sheep or goat-adapted H. contortus strains, which could be very important in case H. contortus CPFs were commercially used in different countries, as vaccines to prevent the negative effects of this parasite. Interestingly, this experimental inoculation of both species with a heterologous strain of H. contortus contributes to the idea shown in previous studies about how difficult is the interpretation and the comparison of vaccination where strains not adapted to a specific host are used. Therefore, the challenger of using heterologous strains could provide similar results to those observed in immunised animals. This study suggests the possibility of exploring the mechanisms involved in natural protection against non-adapted strains, in order to develop strategies to control haemonchosis.     

Critical controlled test to evaluate resistance of field strains of Haemonchus contortus to thiophanate

Following reports of suspected gastrointestinal strongylid nematode resistance to thiophanate in sheep and goats at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Tanzania, field strains of Haemonchus contortus, one from SUA and another from Kimamba, Tanzania, were selected for a critical controlled test to evaluate the efficacy of thiophanate. The SUA H. contortus strain in goats showed a marked resistance to thiophanate at an oral dose of 50 mg kg-1 liveweight (efficacy = 24.1%), while the Kimamba H. contortus strain showed very marked susceptibility (efficacy = 99.7%) to thiophanate at the same oral dose. This is the first report from East Africa of a field strain of H. contortus resistant to thiophanate. The incidence of resistant strains of strongyloid parasites to benzimidazole anthelmintics in sheep and goats in East Africa is on the increase. The magnitude of this problem should be evaluated and remedial solutions sought.     

Towards the eradication of Haemonchus contortus from sheep flocks in Sweden

Previous studies have shown that between-year transmission of Haemonchus contortus in Swedish sheep flocks is almost entirely as over-wintered populations within housed animals, and not on pasture. This suggests that eradication of this parasite is a realistic possibility. Thus, two sheep farms with a history of H. contortus infection on the Swedish island of Oland were selected for study. During the winter housing period of 2003/2004 all ruminants (sheep and cattle) on both farms were treated with ivermectin. Monitoring by faecal egg counts and infective larval differentials of ewes and lambs for the subsequent two grazing seasons, together with total abomasal worm counts of 10 lambs from each farm at the end of the first grazing year, showed that this objective was achieved.     

Stocking rate effects on the worm burdens of Angora goats and Merino sheep

Worm egg counts of yearling Angora or Merino wethers grazing in mixed flocks at either 4/ha or 8/ha were observed over a 5 month period. Based on faecal egg counts infection levels in the sheep increased for the first 3 months and then decreased as the animals developed resistance. Egg counts in the goats did not decrease during the experiment. Post mortem worm counts indicated that there was a significant host species--stocking rate interaction on worm burdens of Haemonchus contortus adults and Ostertagia circumcincta adults and larvae. Goats had more H. contortus and O. circumcincta adults than sheep at the 8/ha stocking rate. At 4/ha goats had fewer O. circumcincta fourth stage larvae than sheep. There was no stocking rate effect on the numbers of Trichostrongylus axei or T. colubriformis. Sheep had more T. axei and fewer T. colubriformis than goats.     

Comparative experimental Haemonchus contortus infection of two sheep breeds native to the Canary Islands

This study compares the susceptibility to Haemonchus contortus infection in two breeds of sheep endemic to the Canary Islands, the Canaria Hair Breed sheep and the Canaria sheep. Sheep were experimentally infected with 20,000 larvae of H. contortus and animals killed on days 7 and 28 post-infection. No difference between sheep breeds were detected in immature worm counts at days 7 or 28 post-infection. However, in comparison to the Canaria sheep breed, the Canaria Hair Breed sheep showed lower mean faecal egg counts, lower adult worm counts, lower number of eggs in utero and female worm stunting. Overall, these data suggest that the Canaria Hair Breed sheep has a greater resistance to H. contortus infection than Canaria sheep, and that this resistance may act at the level of the adult parasite.     

Gross pathology and histopathology of haemonchosis in sheep and goats in Iraq

The response of Awassi sheep and a local breed of goats to H. contortus, the prevalent ovine and caprine strongyloid species in Iraq, was studied. A dose of 500 H. contortus (sheep origin) larvae kg-1 body wt. induced clinical and pathological changes of haemonchosis. Although the percentage recovery of worms was higher in sheep, the pathological (gross and microscopic) changes were more marked in infected goats. The extensive abomasal changes noted in goats were, in general, accompanied by a higher density or larvae in the gastric wall; the pathology did not necessarily depend upon parasite count alone and a definite relationship could not be established. The tissue changes in the goats are possibly of immunological origin, although a genetic resistance may operate, primarily at the level of worm establishment.     

Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis in pen-trials with Javanese thin tail sheep and Kacang cross Etawah goats

Weight gain costs due to infection were higher in sheep than goats, 28 and 17.5%, respectively, for Trichostrongylus colubriformis and 48.7 and 32.2%, respectively, for Haemonchus contortus. The extent of bodyweight cost attributed to anorexia in sheep infected with H. contortus was higher (13.5 g/day) than in sheep infected with T. colubriformis (2.3 g/day). On the other hand, bodyweight cost due to the other pathogenic effects in sheep infected with T. colubriformis were higher (35.6 g/day) compared to sheep infected with H. contortus (10.9 g/day). A strong relationship between faecal egg count and worm count (r=0.79, P=0.006) was shown only in sheep infected with T. colubriformis. About half of the infected sheep and goats had low or zero faecal egg counts throughout the study. In about 40% the egg count rose initially but became low by weeks 10-16, whereas in about 10% counts increased progressively throughout the period of observation and these animals also had the highest numbers of worms at slaughter. Packed cell volume was reduced in sheep and goats infected with H. contortus but serum protein and haemoglobin levels were unaffected. Sheep infected with T. colubriformis had a higher level of eosinophilia after 8 weeks (18.4%) than sheep infected with H. contortus (11.4%), whereas this pattern was reversed in goats and levels were also lower (4.1 and 8.9%, respectively). There was no apparent relationship between eosinophilia and resistance to infection with H. contortus or T. colubriformis.     

Seasonal variations in the numbers of trichostrongylid nematode eggs and their larvae in the faeces of farmed goats in Malaysia.

Faecal worm egg counts of goats from two farms in Penang Island, West Malaysia, were monitored over a period of 14 months. The faecal egg count pattern followed that of total rainfall. The humid tropical environment was favourable for the development of various species of trichostrongylid nematodes, namely Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus spp., Oesophagostomum spp. and Cooperia spp. Generally, H. contortus was observed to be the predominant species, more so in the monsoon months of the year.     

The comparative efficacy of four broad spectrum anthelmintics against some experimentally induced trichostrongylid infections in sheep and goats

A controlled slaughter trial was undertaken to compare the efficacies of oxfendazole (5 mg/kg), morantel citrate (10 mg/kg), levamisole (8 mg/kg) and ivermectin (0.2 mg/kg) against experimentally induced infections of adult Haemonchus contortus, Ostertagia spp., Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Cooperiacurticei in sheep and goats. Ivermectin and oxfendazole achieved similar levels of efficacy in both hosts against all four worm genera as did levamisole and mortantel against H. contortus and C. curticei. Against Ostertagia spp. and T. colubriformis, however, the latter two drugs were less effective in goats than sheep. Neither the numbers of Ostertagia spp. removed from goats by levamisole (81% reduction) nor the numbers of T. colubriformis removed from goats by morantel (56% reduction) were statistically significant (P>0.05).     

Rumen function and digestion of Merino sheep divergently selected for genetic difference in resistance to Haemonchus contortus

The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effect of Haemonchus contortus infection on rumen function and digestion of Merino sheep from lines divergently selected for genetic resistance to H. contortus. Rumen function and whole-tract digestibility were determined in 29 Merino weaner wethers from the CSIRO Haemonchus selection flock, increased resistance to Haemonchus (IRH), decreased resistance to Haemonchus (DRH) and random bred control (C) selection lines. Wethers were fed a restricted low quality roughage diet (5.9 MJ ME/kg DM, 29 g MP/kg DM) to maintain weight and were either uninfected (NIL) or infected with H. contortus (INF). Measurements were taken at week 7 of infection, while animals were housed in metabolic crates. Animals were then euthanased to determine abomasal worm counts. IRH had significantly lower worm egg count than DRH and C lines however, adult worm and larval counts, though lower in IRH animals, did not differ significantly. DM and OM digestibility and in sacco degradability of IRH and DRH selection lines were greater than C animals. Rumen function of animals from the IRH line was altered in response to H. contortus infection with an increase in fluid outflow and turnover rate and a decrease in propionic acid concentration. These changes may be a component of a greater host resistance and begin to explain the failure of IRH animals to translate lower worm egg count into greater bodyweight gain.     

Strongyle infections of small ruminants in Nigeria

A survey of strongyle infections was conducted in sheep and goats reared in a traditional e extensive husbandry system in two ecological zones if Nigeria. One zone had a seasonal pattern of infection. The majority of animals had faecal worm parasite egg counts of below 500 eggs per gram. Kids, and lambs younger than 3 months did not carry strongyle worm burdens, and the highest infection rate was found in the 7–12 month age group. A high proportion of small ruminants shed strongyle eggs during the postparturient period.The helminth species found by the use of larval culture techniques on the faeces were: Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Oesophagostonum columbianum. Adults of the same species were found in the few animals necropsied. The significance of the findings is discussed.     

Anthelmintic resistance in South Africa: surveys indicate an extremely serious situation in sheep and goat farming

Surveys to determine the prevalence and degree of resistance of Haemonchus spp. of sheep and goats to the available anthelmintics in South Africa indicate that small ruminant production is entering a crisis situation. Three surveys employing the faecal egg count reduction (FECR) test to determine resistance were conducted in some of the main sheep-producing areas in the summer rainfall region of South Africa, where H. contortus is the principal worm species in sheep. After analyzing the data recorded in the surveys by six different methods, including the RESO test at two different levels of confidence, the results obtained in the least stringent one (geometric mean reduction of the worm egg counts of drenched, vs untreated group of sheep) are reported in this paper, so that if any bias was obtained it would be in the favour of the anthelmintic. In Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal there was anthelmintic resistance in Haemonchus spp. on all the 52 farms surveyed. Sixteen percent of the strains of H. contortus were < 60% susceptible to three of the four anthelmintics tested, and 8% of the strains were < 40% susceptible to all four of the anthelmintics. FECR tests of sheep in six localities in the Lebowa district of Northern Province indicated that even in previously disadvantaged communities where anthelmintic treatment is less intensive, anthelmintic resistance is developing, and is possibly at the level at which the situation on commercial sheep and goat farms in South Africa was 25 years ago. From the data it appears that the level of anthelmintic resistance of H. contortus in South Africa is possibly the highest that has so far been recorded in the world and that strains of it are emerging that may soon not be controllable by treatment with any of the existing anthelmintics. Farmers in the summer rainfall region, if not the whole country, must be alerted to the immediate need for testing the parasite burdens of their sheep for susceptibility to preparations in all four groups of anthelmintic compounds currently available. Alternative methods of integrated worm control, including biological, must be sought and implemented with urgency, to reduce further selection for resistance and to induce reversion of the resistance that has already developed.     

Haemonchus contortus infection in sheep: parasite fecundity correlates with worm size and host lymphocyte counts

Two experiments were conducted to elucidate the timing and nature of the sheep immune response to Haemonchus contortus (Barber's pole worm). The first experiment examined the establishment of H. contortus populations and the immune response by comparing a bolus infection of third-stage larvae in na?ve sheep with a group previously primed by a trickle infection. The second experiment used staggered doses of ivermectin-resistant larvae to compare the development of adult worms during different durations of trickle infection with ivermectin-sensitive larvae. Infections successfully generated pathological signs of haemonchosis such as anaemia. Image analysis software was used to measure the area and perimeter of worms collected at post-mortem, and the number of eggs present in individual adult females (fecundity) was significantly correlated with worm size. A significant inverse correlation was found between blood lymphocyte counts and worm fecundity. The absence of correlation between worm fecundity and other leukocyte and erythrocyte counts highlighted the specificity of the lymphocyte response. This is the first report of a link between haematology profiles and worm fecundity in haemonchosis. The correlation observed between adult worm size and egg content leads to the hypothesis that egg production in H. contortus is limited by immune regulation of worm size and presumably growth. Mean worm size and fecundity declined as sheep received more prolonged trickle infections before necropsy, confirming previous reports that immune responses to adult worms are enhanced by ongoing larval challenge. Immunohistochemical results showed trends consistent with a Th2 (humoral) immune response which has been implicated in reducing nematode burdens in several species.     

Multiple Anthelmintic Resistance in Haemonchus Contortus on a Sheep Farm in Kenya

Multiple resistance to albendazole, thiophanate, levamisole and orally administered ivermectin was detected in an isolate of Haemonchus contortus in sheep on a farm where benzimidazole resistance had already been identified. Following a faecal egg count reduction test, this was confirmed by both critical and controlled anthelmintic tests. Different groups of sheep infected naturally or given an experimental infection with the benzimidazole-resistant isolate were treated with the recommended doses of various anthelmintics. Compared to the control group, the percentage reductions in the faecal egg counts of sheep treated with albendazole, thiophanate, levamisole and ivermectin varied between 38.2% and 79.1% and the residual worm counts between 27.3% and 57.5%. The results indicate the presence of multiple anthelmintic resistance in this isolate of H. contortus. Sheep treated with closantel showed 100% reductions in faecal egg and worm counts, indicating that this drug was very effective against the population of H. contortus on the farm.     

In Vivo Effects of Fagara Leaves on Sheep Infected with Gastrointestinal Nematodes

Infections of the gastrointestinal tract with parasitic nematodes, and particularly Haemonchus contortus, represent one of the main pathological constraints on the breeding of small ruminants in tropical countries. Owing to the constant development of anthelmintic resistance in worm populations, alternative control methods are being evaluated, including an assessment of the value of the traditional plants. The effect of the consumption of Fagara leaves on sheep infected with gastrointestinal nematodes was therefore measured both under controlled conditions and in a field survey. In sheep experimentally infected with 2500 third-stage larvae of H. contortus, a three-day administration of Fagara was associated with a decrease in egg excretion and a significant reduction in the fertility of female worms, without changes in the worm number. A reduction in egg output was also confirmed from the results obtained of a survey or naturally infected sheep performed in smallholder farms. This survey also indicated that the repeated consumption of small amounts of Fagara leaves was more effective than a single three-day administration. Results of both studies suggest that Fagara leaves might be an alternative option to chemotherapy to modulate the epidemiology of H. contortus in tropical countries.     

Experimental Haemonchus contortus infection in three breeds of sheep

Nine- to 10-month-old Florida Native, St. Croix and Dorset/Rambouillet sheep were infected with Haemonchus contortus. The primary infection was terminated by anthelmintic treatment 9 weeks later and animals were then reinfected with H. contortus. Dorset/Rambouillet sheep showed higher fecal egg counts and decreased packed cell volumes and plasma protein levels compared with the other two breeds during the primary infection. However, no breed differences were found in total worm burdens in either primary or secondary infection. Differences between breeds were also not detected in lymphocyte responsiveness to parasite antigen, H. contortus specific mucosal antibody levels, numbers of abomasal mast cells and globule leukocytes or abomasal histamine levels.