Gastrointestinal Parasite Infections and Environmental Sustainability of the Ovine Sector: <i>Eimeria</i> spp. Infections and Nitrogen and Phosphorus Excretions in Dairy Sheep in Italy
In sheep farming, gastrointestinal parasites can be responsible for significant reductions in animal health and production. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fecal excretions are the main determining factors for N<sub>2</sub>O emissions from manure management and may pose other environment...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/12/1459 |
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| author | Irene Sodi Mina Martini Federica Salari Stefania Perrucci |
| author_facet | Irene Sodi Mina Martini Federica Salari Stefania Perrucci |
| author_sort | Irene Sodi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In sheep farming, gastrointestinal parasites can be responsible for significant reductions in animal health and production. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fecal excretions are the main determining factors for N<sub>2</sub>O emissions from manure management and may pose other environmental problems, such as the acidification and eutrophication of natural habitats. By using the Mini-FLOTAC technique on fecal samples from sheep of different ages and physiological status from 19 dairy sheep farms in Tuscany (central Italy), gastrointestinal parasite infections were evaluated. The animal N and P fecal contents were also assessed, with the aim of evaluating possible relationships between the identified parasites and the environmental sustainability of the examined farms. The obtained results showed that <i>Eimeria</i> spp. (86.36%) and gastrointestinal strongyle (54.55%) infections are prevalent in the examined farms. Moreover, significantly higher (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05) P and <i>Eimeria</i> oocyst/gram-of-feces (OPG) values were found in fecal samples from animals < 1 year of age, and a significant (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05) positive correlation resulted between N content and <i>Eimeria</i> OPG in fecal samples from animals in the first month of lactation. The findings from this study suggest for the first time that <i>Eimeria</i> spp. infections may have an impact on the environmental sustainability of sheep farming. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:27:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a0366a7e128746a899d9c5244f7aee8a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:27:12Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-a0366a7e128746a899d9c5244f7aee8a2023-12-22T14:31:04ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172023-12-011212145910.3390/pathogens12121459Gastrointestinal Parasite Infections and Environmental Sustainability of the Ovine Sector: <i>Eimeria</i> spp. Infections and Nitrogen and Phosphorus Excretions in Dairy Sheep in ItalyIrene Sodi0Mina Martini1Federica Salari2Stefania Perrucci3Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, ItalyIn sheep farming, gastrointestinal parasites can be responsible for significant reductions in animal health and production. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fecal excretions are the main determining factors for N<sub>2</sub>O emissions from manure management and may pose other environmental problems, such as the acidification and eutrophication of natural habitats. By using the Mini-FLOTAC technique on fecal samples from sheep of different ages and physiological status from 19 dairy sheep farms in Tuscany (central Italy), gastrointestinal parasite infections were evaluated. The animal N and P fecal contents were also assessed, with the aim of evaluating possible relationships between the identified parasites and the environmental sustainability of the examined farms. The obtained results showed that <i>Eimeria</i> spp. (86.36%) and gastrointestinal strongyle (54.55%) infections are prevalent in the examined farms. Moreover, significantly higher (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05) P and <i>Eimeria</i> oocyst/gram-of-feces (OPG) values were found in fecal samples from animals < 1 year of age, and a significant (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05) positive correlation resulted between N content and <i>Eimeria</i> OPG in fecal samples from animals in the first month of lactation. The findings from this study suggest for the first time that <i>Eimeria</i> spp. infections may have an impact on the environmental sustainability of sheep farming.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/12/1459dairy sheepgastrointestinal parasitesnitrogen excretionphosphorus excretion<i>Eimeria</i> spp.environmental sustainability |
| spellingShingle | Irene Sodi Mina Martini Federica Salari Stefania Perrucci Gastrointestinal Parasite Infections and Environmental Sustainability of the Ovine Sector: <i>Eimeria</i> spp. Infections and Nitrogen and Phosphorus Excretions in Dairy Sheep in Italy Pathogens dairy sheep gastrointestinal parasites nitrogen excretion phosphorus excretion <i>Eimeria</i> spp. environmental sustainability |
| title | Gastrointestinal Parasite Infections and Environmental Sustainability of the Ovine Sector: <i>Eimeria</i> spp. Infections and Nitrogen and Phosphorus Excretions in Dairy Sheep in Italy |
| title_full | Gastrointestinal Parasite Infections and Environmental Sustainability of the Ovine Sector: <i>Eimeria</i> spp. Infections and Nitrogen and Phosphorus Excretions in Dairy Sheep in Italy |
| title_fullStr | Gastrointestinal Parasite Infections and Environmental Sustainability of the Ovine Sector: <i>Eimeria</i> spp. Infections and Nitrogen and Phosphorus Excretions in Dairy Sheep in Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gastrointestinal Parasite Infections and Environmental Sustainability of the Ovine Sector: <i>Eimeria</i> spp. Infections and Nitrogen and Phosphorus Excretions in Dairy Sheep in Italy |
| title_short | Gastrointestinal Parasite Infections and Environmental Sustainability of the Ovine Sector: <i>Eimeria</i> spp. Infections and Nitrogen and Phosphorus Excretions in Dairy Sheep in Italy |
| title_sort | gastrointestinal parasite infections and environmental sustainability of the ovine sector i eimeria i spp infections and nitrogen and phosphorus excretions in dairy sheep in italy |
| topic | dairy sheep gastrointestinal parasites nitrogen excretion phosphorus excretion <i>Eimeria</i> spp. environmental sustainability |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/12/1459 |
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