Haemonchosis: A Challenging Parasitic Infection of Sheep and Goats
The paper reviews the challenges about haemonchosis—a significant and common parasitic infection of small ruminants. <i>Haemonchus contortus</i> is a highly pathogenic parasite that localises in the abomasum of affected animals and exerts its pathogenicity by blood-sucking activity, adve...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/2/363 |
| _version_ | 1797416898512551936 |
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| author | Konstantinos V. Arsenopoulos George C. Fthenakis Eleni I. Katsarou Elias Papadopoulos |
| author_facet | Konstantinos V. Arsenopoulos George C. Fthenakis Eleni I. Katsarou Elias Papadopoulos |
| author_sort | Konstantinos V. Arsenopoulos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The paper reviews the challenges about haemonchosis—a significant and common parasitic infection of small ruminants. <i>Haemonchus contortus</i> is a highly pathogenic parasite that localises in the abomasum of affected animals and exerts its pathogenicity by blood-sucking activity, adversely affecting the health and productivity of animals. The first challenge is the uneven distribution of the infection globally, this being more prevalent in tropical and subtropical and warm temperate and summer rainfall regions than in cool and cold temperate and arid regions; hence, this leads in differences in the approaches required for its control. Another challenge is the widespread presence of <i>Haemonchus</i> strains resistant to the various anthelmintics available: Benzimidazoles, imidazothiazoles, macrocyclic lactones, closantel and monepantel, which makes the control of the infection difficult. The third challenge refers to the difficulty of diagnosing the disease, given that field evidence can provide suspicion about the infection, which needs to be subsequently confirmed by laboratory tests through parasitological or molecular techniques. The final challenge relates to the difficulties in the control of the infection and the necessity to use pharmaceutical products cautiously and with a planned approach, to avoid further development of anthelmintic resistance, also given that use of a recently licenced vaccine is not widespread. In conclusion, at the moment, we should be concerned, but not worried, about this infection, and apply correctly the appropriate health management plans. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:10:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d860cf8a591541fca971ef6f5b02a7e9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:10:56Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-d860cf8a591541fca971ef6f5b02a7e92023-12-03T11:58:54ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-02-0111236310.3390/ani11020363Haemonchosis: A Challenging Parasitic Infection of Sheep and GoatsKonstantinos V. Arsenopoulos0George C. Fthenakis1Eleni I. Katsarou2Elias Papadopoulos3Laboratory 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, GreeceThe paper reviews the challenges about haemonchosis—a significant and common parasitic infection of small ruminants. <i>Haemonchus contortus</i> is a highly pathogenic parasite that localises in the abomasum of affected animals and exerts its pathogenicity by blood-sucking activity, adversely affecting the health and productivity of animals. The first challenge is the uneven distribution of the infection globally, this being more prevalent in tropical and subtropical and warm temperate and summer rainfall regions than in cool and cold temperate and arid regions; hence, this leads in differences in the approaches required for its control. Another challenge is the widespread presence of <i>Haemonchus</i> strains resistant to the various anthelmintics available: Benzimidazoles, imidazothiazoles, macrocyclic lactones, closantel and monepantel, which makes the control of the infection difficult. The third challenge refers to the difficulty of diagnosing the disease, given that field evidence can provide suspicion about the infection, which needs to be subsequently confirmed by laboratory tests through parasitological or molecular techniques. The final challenge relates to the difficulties in the control of the infection and the necessity to use pharmaceutical products cautiously and with a planned approach, to avoid further development of anthelmintic resistance, also given that use of a recently licenced vaccine is not widespread. In conclusion, at the moment, we should be concerned, but not worried, about this infection, and apply correctly the appropriate health management plans.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/2/363abomasumanthelmintic resistancediagnosisgoat<i>Haemonchus</i>health management |
| spellingShingle | Konstantinos V. Arsenopoulos George C. Fthenakis Eleni I. Katsarou Elias Papadopoulos Haemonchosis: A Challenging Parasitic Infection of Sheep and Goats Animals abomasum anthelmintic resistance diagnosis goat <i>Haemonchus</i> health management |
| title | Haemonchosis: A Challenging Parasitic Infection of Sheep and Goats |
| title_full | Haemonchosis: A Challenging Parasitic Infection of Sheep and Goats |
| title_fullStr | Haemonchosis: A Challenging Parasitic Infection of Sheep and Goats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Haemonchosis: A Challenging Parasitic Infection of Sheep and Goats |
| title_short | Haemonchosis: A Challenging Parasitic Infection of Sheep and Goats |
| title_sort | haemonchosis a challenging parasitic infection of sheep and goats |
| topic | abomasum anthelmintic resistance diagnosis goat <i>Haemonchus</i> health management |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/2/363 |
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