Helminth Infections in Dairy Sheep Found in an Extensive Countrywide Study in Greece and Potential Predictors for Their Presence in Faecal Samples
The aims of the present study were: (a) to describe the prevalence of helminth infections from pooled faecal samples from sheep flocks across Greece and (b) to evaluate flock-related factors potentially associated with the presence of these infections in the flocks. An extensive countrywide study wa...
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/3/571 |
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| author | Daphne T. Lianou Konstantinos V. Arsenopoulos Charalambia K. Michael Vasia S. Mavrogianni Elias Papadopoulos George C. Fthenakis |
| author_facet | Daphne T. Lianou Konstantinos V. Arsenopoulos Charalambia K. Michael Vasia S. Mavrogianni Elias Papadopoulos George C. Fthenakis |
| author_sort | Daphne T. Lianou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aims of the present study were: (a) to describe the prevalence of helminth infections from pooled faecal samples from sheep flocks across Greece and (b) to evaluate flock-related factors potentially associated with the presence of these infections in the flocks. An extensive countrywide study was performed on 325 sheep farms throughout Greece; faecal samples were collected from ewes and processed for the identification of helminth parasites. Helminths were detected in samples from 92.9% of flocks; these included <i>Dicrocoelium dendriticum</i> (16.7% of flocks), <i>Fasciola hepatica</i> (0.6%), <i>Paramphistomum cervi</i> (2.2%), <i>Moniezia</i> spp. (18.8%), Trichostrongylidae (85.5%), <i>Nematodirus</i> spp. (18.8%), <i>Strongyloides papillosus</i> (7.1%), <i>Trichuris</i> spp. (20.0%) and lungworms (17.8%). Mean Trichostrongylidae counts across all flocks in the study were 215 epg. Specifically, for Trichostrongylidae, there were differences between flocks that had or had not received anthelmintics during the two months prior to sampling, as well as between flocks located in various areas of the country. In multivariable analyses, for the outcome ‘high (>300) epg counts in faecal samples’, the month into the lactation period at sampling and the application of reproductive control practices on the farm emerged as significant factors; for the outcome ‘high proportion (>63%) of <i>Teladorsagia</i> spp. in faecal samples’, the availability of straw bedding emerged as a significant factor; and for the outcome ‘high proportion (>63%) of <i>Haemonchus contortus</i> in faecal samples’, the age of the farmer emerged as a significant factor. For the outcome ‘presence of <i>Trichuris</i> spp. in faecal samples’, the provision of finished feed (concentrate) to animals emerged as a significant factor, whilst, finally, for the outcomes ‘presence of <i>D. dendriticum</i> in faecal samples’ and ‘presence of lungworms in faecal samples,’ no significant factors emerged. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:00:30Z |
| format | Article |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T11:00:30Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-bb065306cb494ecc85917653bc62c5952023-12-01T01:20:27ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072023-02-0111357110.3390/microorganisms11030571Helminth Infections in Dairy Sheep Found in an Extensive Countrywide Study in Greece and Potential Predictors for Their Presence in Faecal SamplesDaphne T. Lianou0Konstantinos V. Arsenopoulos1Charalambia K. Michael2Vasia S. Mavrogianni3Elias Papadopoulos4George C. Fthenakis5Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, GreeceLaboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceVeterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, GreeceVeterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, GreeceLaboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceVeterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, GreeceThe aims of the present study were: (a) to describe the prevalence of helminth infections from pooled faecal samples from sheep flocks across Greece and (b) to evaluate flock-related factors potentially associated with the presence of these infections in the flocks. An extensive countrywide study was performed on 325 sheep farms throughout Greece; faecal samples were collected from ewes and processed for the identification of helminth parasites. Helminths were detected in samples from 92.9% of flocks; these included <i>Dicrocoelium dendriticum</i> (16.7% of flocks), <i>Fasciola hepatica</i> (0.6%), <i>Paramphistomum cervi</i> (2.2%), <i>Moniezia</i> spp. (18.8%), Trichostrongylidae (85.5%), <i>Nematodirus</i> spp. (18.8%), <i>Strongyloides papillosus</i> (7.1%), <i>Trichuris</i> spp. (20.0%) and lungworms (17.8%). Mean Trichostrongylidae counts across all flocks in the study were 215 epg. Specifically, for Trichostrongylidae, there were differences between flocks that had or had not received anthelmintics during the two months prior to sampling, as well as between flocks located in various areas of the country. In multivariable analyses, for the outcome ‘high (>300) epg counts in faecal samples’, the month into the lactation period at sampling and the application of reproductive control practices on the farm emerged as significant factors; for the outcome ‘high proportion (>63%) of <i>Teladorsagia</i> spp. in faecal samples’, the availability of straw bedding emerged as a significant factor; and for the outcome ‘high proportion (>63%) of <i>Haemonchus contortus</i> in faecal samples’, the age of the farmer emerged as a significant factor. For the outcome ‘presence of <i>Trichuris</i> spp. in faecal samples’, the provision of finished feed (concentrate) to animals emerged as a significant factor, whilst, finally, for the outcomes ‘presence of <i>D. dendriticum</i> in faecal samples’ and ‘presence of lungworms in faecal samples,’ no significant factors emerged.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/3/571diarrhoea<i>Dicrocoelium dendriticum</i>epg countslungwormsnematodeparasite |
| spellingShingle | Daphne T. Lianou Konstantinos V. Arsenopoulos Charalambia K. Michael Vasia S. Mavrogianni Elias Papadopoulos George C. Fthenakis Helminth Infections in Dairy Sheep Found in an Extensive Countrywide Study in Greece and Potential Predictors for Their Presence in Faecal Samples Microorganisms diarrhoea <i>Dicrocoelium dendriticum</i> epg counts lungworms nematode parasite |
| title | Helminth Infections in Dairy Sheep Found in an Extensive Countrywide Study in Greece and Potential Predictors for Their Presence in Faecal Samples |
| title_full | Helminth Infections in Dairy Sheep Found in an Extensive Countrywide Study in Greece and Potential Predictors for Their Presence in Faecal Samples |
| title_fullStr | Helminth Infections in Dairy Sheep Found in an Extensive Countrywide Study in Greece and Potential Predictors for Their Presence in Faecal Samples |
| title_full_unstemmed | Helminth Infections in Dairy Sheep Found in an Extensive Countrywide Study in Greece and Potential Predictors for Their Presence in Faecal Samples |
| title_short | Helminth Infections in Dairy Sheep Found in an Extensive Countrywide Study in Greece and Potential Predictors for Their Presence in Faecal Samples |
| title_sort | helminth infections in dairy sheep found in an extensive countrywide study in greece and potential predictors for their presence in faecal samples |
| topic | diarrhoea <i>Dicrocoelium dendriticum</i> epg counts lungworms nematode parasite |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/3/571 |
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