Title: Comparative evaluation of anaemia using FAMACHA scores and anthelmintic resistance in two naturally infected indigenous goat breeds in Kaduna State, northwestern, Nigeria.

Abstract:

Two studies were conducted to evaluate the corelated the level of anaemia and anthelmintic resistance in goats. The FAMACHA system was first developed in South Africa and it has been successfully tested in different geographic area where Haemonchus contortus is the major gastrointestinal (GI) helminth of sheep. The present study was aimed at using the FAMACHA method as a tool for selective treatment of Haemonchus contortus infection in goats. Each study animal was monthly subjected to blood and faecal sample collection, and all the animals were scored using FAMACHA. The parasitological data included numbers of nematode eggs per gram of faeces (EPG), faecal culture L₃ larvae, packed cell volume (PCV), and FAMACHA eye-colour score estimates and body weight change. The nematode infection (natural infection) showed that all the animals were positive for faecal egg, with the highest infection occurring during the raining season. Correlations between FAMACHA and PCV, FAMACHA and BW, EPG and PCV, EPG and BW, as well as FAMACHA and EPG, PCV and BW were all highly significant. (P < 0.001).

Faecal egg count reduction tests (FECRT) conducted on all farms visited confirmed the efficacy of commonly used anthelmintics, including imported albendazole, imported and locally made Levamisole and Ivermectin.  Initially, high levels of resistance to all the benzimidazole group were found with percentage reduction of (65.90%, 93.81%, 59.94%, and -12.72%) respectively. While the levamisole, both imported and locally made had an efficacy of (98.5% and 99.5%), Ivermectin both injectable and oral had an efficacy of 99.51 and 97.45 respectively.  Individual FECRT were also conducted on 4 goat flocks, 2 commercial and 2 local farms. There were 8 treatment groups in each of these farms. All the 8 drugs were 100% effective against Haemonchus contortus in the 2-local farm. For commercial farm 1, Ivermectin drenched and injectable showed 100% and 99% effectiveness respectively against all worm species found, Imported and Locally made levamisole had 100% and 90% reduction respectively, while there was resistance to albendazole on one of the commercial farm. It was therefore concluded that the FAMACHA method can be used by farmers in Nigeria as an on-farm tool to identify anaemic goats and give a guide on goats that need to be treated with anthelminthic particularly in condition of haemonchosis.