Epidemiology and field efficacy of anthelmintic drugs associated with gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep in Nejo district, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) are major constraints to health and productivity of small ruminants. Methods of their control relies mainly on anthelmintic drugs; however, the indiscriminate use of these drugs could lead to the development of anthelmintic resistance (AR). This study aimed...

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Main Authors: Latera Solomon, Geremew Haile, Nejash A. Ahmed, Debela Abdeta, Workineh Galalcha, Yacob Hailu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-03-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55611-7
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author Latera Solomon
Geremew Haile
Nejash A. Ahmed
Debela Abdeta
Workineh Galalcha
Yacob Hailu
author_facet Latera Solomon
Geremew Haile
Nejash A. Ahmed
Debela Abdeta
Workineh Galalcha
Yacob Hailu
author_sort Latera Solomon
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) are major constraints to health and productivity of small ruminants. Methods of their control relies mainly on anthelmintic drugs; however, the indiscriminate use of these drugs could lead to the development of anthelmintic resistance (AR). This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of GINs infection, and field evaluation of anthelmintic efficacy in sheep. The epidemiological data were collected using a cross-sectional study design while a farm-based field study design was employed for the evaluation of anthelminthic efficacy. Furthermore, standard parasitological techniques were employed for qualitative and quantitative worm identification. The overall prevalence indicated 50.3%. Six genera of GINs (Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Oesophagostomum/Chabertia, Trichuris, Teladosargia/Ostertagia and Nematodirus) were identified. Among the identified genera, Haemonchus (25.4%) and Trichostrongylus (24.8%) were the dominant genera followed by mixed infection (21.8%), Oesophagostomum/Chabertia (10.4%), Trichuris (7.8%), Teladosargia (Ostertagia) (5.7%) and Nematodirus (4.1%). Mixed infections consisted either of double infections with Haemonchus and Trichostrongylus, or triple infections with Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus and Trichuris. The McMaster egg counting results showed that the mean EPG of infected sheep was 845.6. The results also showed 66 (34.2%), 101 (52.3%) and 26 (13.5%) sheep had low, moderate and heavy worm burden, respectively. Albendazole and Ivermectin showed low efficacy (percentage reductions = 90% and 92%; 95% lower confidence limit = 82.1% and 83.6% respectively) whereas Tetramisole was effective (FECR% = 96.8%; 95% LCL = 93.4%). Factors such as age, body condition, management system and past deworming history of sheep were found to have a statistically significant (p < 0.05) influence on the occurrence and burden of the worms. This is further explained as the highest prevalence and worm burden was detected in sheep of young age (p = 0.008; OR = 0.58; 95% CI = 0.39–0.87), poor body condition (p = 0.001; OR = 0.08; 95% CI = 0.04–0.16) and sheep kept under semi-intensive (p = 0.04; OR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.02–2.29) with no deworming history for the last two months (p = 0.001; OR = 2.97; 95% CI = 1.94–4.56). The study results revealed that nematode infections were among sheep health constraints that could hurt their productivity while low efficacy of Albendazole and Ivermectin were detected. Therefore, the appropriate management techniques of GIN infections should be designed and implemented. Moreover, a further study involving more sensitive techniques (e.g. Mini-FLOTAC, molecular, and serological techniques) should be conducted by considering different host and environmental risk factors such as production level and seasons.
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spelling doaj.art-f8849d315535432b90d0a03e6a6681eb2024-03-24T12:17:57ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-03-0114111010.1038/s41598-024-55611-7Epidemiology and field efficacy of anthelmintic drugs associated with gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep in Nejo district, Oromia, EthiopiaLatera Solomon0Geremew Haile1Nejash A. Ahmed2Debela Abdeta3Workineh Galalcha4Yacob Hailu5Jarso District Agricultural OfficeCollege of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa UniversityAnimal Health Team, Daro Lebu District Agriculture OfficeCollege of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa UniversityNejo Agricultural Poly Technique CollegeCollege of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa UniversityAbstract Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) are major constraints to health and productivity of small ruminants. Methods of their control relies mainly on anthelmintic drugs; however, the indiscriminate use of these drugs could lead to the development of anthelmintic resistance (AR). This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of GINs infection, and field evaluation of anthelmintic efficacy in sheep. The epidemiological data were collected using a cross-sectional study design while a farm-based field study design was employed for the evaluation of anthelminthic efficacy. Furthermore, standard parasitological techniques were employed for qualitative and quantitative worm identification. The overall prevalence indicated 50.3%. Six genera of GINs (Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Oesophagostomum/Chabertia, Trichuris, Teladosargia/Ostertagia and Nematodirus) were identified. Among the identified genera, Haemonchus (25.4%) and Trichostrongylus (24.8%) were the dominant genera followed by mixed infection (21.8%), Oesophagostomum/Chabertia (10.4%), Trichuris (7.8%), Teladosargia (Ostertagia) (5.7%) and Nematodirus (4.1%). Mixed infections consisted either of double infections with Haemonchus and Trichostrongylus, or triple infections with Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus and Trichuris. The McMaster egg counting results showed that the mean EPG of infected sheep was 845.6. The results also showed 66 (34.2%), 101 (52.3%) and 26 (13.5%) sheep had low, moderate and heavy worm burden, respectively. Albendazole and Ivermectin showed low efficacy (percentage reductions = 90% and 92%; 95% lower confidence limit = 82.1% and 83.6% respectively) whereas Tetramisole was effective (FECR% = 96.8%; 95% LCL = 93.4%). Factors such as age, body condition, management system and past deworming history of sheep were found to have a statistically significant (p < 0.05) influence on the occurrence and burden of the worms. This is further explained as the highest prevalence and worm burden was detected in sheep of young age (p = 0.008; OR = 0.58; 95% CI = 0.39–0.87), poor body condition (p = 0.001; OR = 0.08; 95% CI = 0.04–0.16) and sheep kept under semi-intensive (p = 0.04; OR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.02–2.29) with no deworming history for the last two months (p = 0.001; OR = 2.97; 95% CI = 1.94–4.56). The study results revealed that nematode infections were among sheep health constraints that could hurt their productivity while low efficacy of Albendazole and Ivermectin were detected. Therefore, the appropriate management techniques of GIN infections should be designed and implemented. Moreover, a further study involving more sensitive techniques (e.g. Mini-FLOTAC, molecular, and serological techniques) should be conducted by considering different host and environmental risk factors such as production level and seasons.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55611-7Anthelmintic resistanceEpidemiologyGINsNejoSheep
spellingShingle Latera Solomon
Geremew Haile
Nejash A. Ahmed
Debela Abdeta
Workineh Galalcha
Yacob Hailu
Epidemiology and field efficacy of anthelmintic drugs associated with gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep in Nejo district, Oromia, Ethiopia
Scientific Reports
Anthelmintic resistance
Epidemiology
GINs
Nejo
Sheep
title Epidemiology and field efficacy of anthelmintic drugs associated with gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep in Nejo district, Oromia, Ethiopia
title_full Epidemiology and field efficacy of anthelmintic drugs associated with gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep in Nejo district, Oromia, Ethiopia
title_fullStr Epidemiology and field efficacy of anthelmintic drugs associated with gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep in Nejo district, Oromia, Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Epidemiology and field efficacy of anthelmintic drugs associated with gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep in Nejo district, Oromia, Ethiopia
title_short Epidemiology and field efficacy of anthelmintic drugs associated with gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep in Nejo district, Oromia, Ethiopia
title_sort epidemiology and field efficacy of anthelmintic drugs associated with gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep in nejo district oromia ethiopia
topic Anthelmintic resistance
Epidemiology
GINs
Nejo
Sheep
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55611-7
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