BACKGROUND Accurate identification of sheep nematodes is a critical point in epidemiological studies and monitoring of drug resistance in flocks. However, due to a close morphological similarity between the eggs and larval stages of many of these nematodes, such identification is not a trivial task. There are a number of studies showing that molecular targets in ribosomal DNA (Internal transcri...

Following claims of anthelmintic activity of Cereus jamacaru DC (Cactaceae) by a commercial farmer, in vivo studies were conducted to determine the possible direct anthelmintic effects of the plant on ovine gastrointestinal nematodes. Eighteen sheep were infected with 4000 Haemonchus contortus and 6000 Trichostrongylus colubriformis larvae given in three divided doses over a period of three day...

OBJECTIVE To establish the prevalence of anthelmintic resistance in ovine gastrointestinal nematodes in southern Queensland. DESIGN An observational parasitological study using the faecal egg count reduction test. METHODS Sheep farms (n = 20) enrolled in this study met the twin criteria of using worm testing for drench decisions and having concerns about anthelmintic efficacy. On each farm,...

Gastrointestinal (GI) nematode infection is a major constraint for grazing livestock production. The increasing prevalence and severity of anthelmintic-resistant nematodes in many parts of the world has led to a search for non-chemical control options. Under experimental conditions, the nematophagous fungus Duddingtonia flagrans is emerging as an alternative to chemotherapy for the control of G...

Effective alternatives to anthelmintic treatment against nematode parasites of goats are required because of the high prevalence of benzimidazole resistance. Towards this objective, the nematophagous fungus, Duddingtonia flagrans (Df), was used in a plot study against two main parasitic nematode species of goats, Teladorsagia circumcincta (Tcir) and Trichostrongylus colubriformis (Tcol). Worm-f...

Previous field studies have supported the absence of a nutritional cost outweighing the beneficial anthelmintic effect of supplementing the diet of grazing goats with tannin-containing heather. In order to further research in this regard, an experiment was conducted indoors with 18 does artificially infected with Trichostrongylus colubriformis. The goats were offered lucerne hay for 6 weeks and...

Genetic manipulation of sheep by selective breeding offers a means to reduce the current reliance on chemotherapy for the control of gastro-intestinal nematodes. Simulated epidemiological studies support this view as, compared to lambs of 'normal' susceptibility, those 'selected' for resistance to Trichostrongylus colubriformis have lower worm burdens and reduced production losses. Considerable...

The effect of maize grain supplementation on the resilience and resistance of browsing Criollo goat kids against gastrointestinal nematodes was evaluated. Five-month-old kids (n = 42), raised worm-free, were allocated to five groups: infected + not supplemented (I-NS; n = 10), infected + maize supplement at 108 g/d (I-S108; n = 8), maize supplement at 1% of body weight (BW) (I-S1%; n = 8), maiz...

The aim of this study was to determine the inhibitory effects of condensed tannin extract from acacia on the feeding of first-stage larvae (L1) of Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus vitrinus and Teladorsagia circumcincta. The experiment was developed such that the inhibition of feeding for each of the nematode species could be evaluated. L1 recovered from fecal samples from a donor with mon...

The accurate diagnosis of parasitic nematode infections in livestock (including sheep and goats) is central to their effective control and the detection of the anthelmintic resistance. Traditionally, the faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT), combined with the technique of larval culture (LC), has been used widely to assess drug-susceptibility/resistance in strongylid nematodes. However, this...