Prevalence of Haemonchus contortus infections in sheep and goats in Nyagatare District, Rwanda
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Date
2018
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Abstract
This study investigated the overall prevalence of Haemonchus contortus infection in sheep and goats from five purposively selected
subdivisions (sectors) of Nyagatare district from January to December 2014, after a high prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites
and generalized poor productivity was reported in small ruminants in some districts of Rwanda. Faecal egg counts (FEC) were
performed using the Modified Wisconsin Sugar Floatation method and the Fluorescent-labeled peanut-lectin agglutination test
while enumerations, as log (FEC), were done using themodifiedMcMastermethod.The overall prevalence of H. contortus infection
in sheep and goats was 75.7% (n=949). The overall prevalence of H. contortus infection in sheep (83.4%, n=314) was higher than in
goats (71.8%, n=635) (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.98, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.40-2.79, and p≤0.001).The prevalence of H. contortus
infection in female goats (74.2%) was higher than in male goats (64.3%) (OR 1.60, 95% CI: 1.09-2.36, and p=0.01).The prevalence of
H. contortus infection in goats fromNyagatarewas higher than in goats fromMatimba (OR3.25, 95%CI: 1.76-5.99, and p≤0.001) and
from Katabagemu (OR 3.67, 95% CI: 2.04-6.59, and p≤0.001).The prevalence of H. contortus infection in goats fromKarangazi was
higher than in goats fromMatimba (OR 4.72, 95%CI: 2.40-9.28, and p≤0.001).Theoverall mean monthly log (FEC) for H. contortus
in sheep and goats were highest in April (18.9±0.2 and 14.05±0.1, respectively) and October (19.25± 0.2 and 13.75±0.1, respectively).
Though, overall, sheep in Nyagatare district were at greater risk of H. contortus infection and goats from Nyagatare and Karangazi
sectors were paradoxically at greater risk of H. contortus infection. It was also apparent that young female goats were at greater
risk of H. contortus infection than young male goats. H. contortus infection is endemic in small ruminants in Nyagatare district
and possibly other districts in Rwanda. Targeted selective treatment (TST) using FAMACHA with emphasis on low-lying swampy
pastures and appropriate anthelmintic drugs may be the most economically viable solution in the short term. In the long term
breeding of H. contortus resistant small ruminants and strategic grazing using the concept of refugia may bring about considerable
relief from H. contortus infection in Nyagatare district, in particular, and Rwanda at large.
Description
Keywords
Haemonchus, Goats, Sheep
Citation
Mushonga, B., Habumugisha, D., Kandiwa, E., et al. Hindawi Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 1-9.