| Livestock Research for Rural Development 28 (12) 2016 | Guide for preparation of papers | LRRD Newsletter | Citation of this paper |
The study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of Albendazole, Tetramisole and Ivermectin for treatment gastrointestinal nematodes on naturally infected small ruminants. For survey study, 100 households were selected and interviewed. After screening examination, a total of 80 small ruminant (36 Goats and 44 Sheep) were selected randomly, and grouped in to four treatment groups (n= 20) that is Albendazole, Tetramisole, Ivermectin and Control.
The effectiveness of the anthelmintics were evaluated by computing the mean faecal egg counts reduction for each treatment groups and 95% upper and lower confidence limits. Majority (82%) of the respondents used Albendazole as their first choice. They used drug when animal get sick and there was no practice of using anthelmintics rotationally. More than half (61%) of small ruminant were found to harbor one or more gastrointestinal nematodes. Efficacy of anthelmintics under study revealed that Albendazole, Ivermectin and Tetramisole had shown effective against gastrointestinal nematodes 95%, 97% and 99%, respectively. In this study there was no detectable level of anthelmintic resistance was recorded. However, the efficiency of Albendazole was lower than both Ivermectin and Tetramisole. Majority of small ruminant shed gastrointestinal nematodes which are adversely affecting the small ruminant production and reproductive performance. Therefore, appropriate deworming strategies for small ruminants should be undertaken and proper utilization of the drugs should be promoted in order to avoid resistance of drug in the future.
Keywords: Albendazole, faecal egg counts reduction, Ivermectin, prevalence, Tetramisole
Small ruminants are major sources of livelihood. They are mainly kept by resource poor smallholder farmers (Kosgey 2004). In Ethiopia, about 25.5 million sheep and 24.06 million of goats were estimated to be found (CSA 2013). Despite huge population of small ruminant in the country, their productivity remains marginal due to prevailing diseases, poor nutrition and husbandry systems, and lack of effective veterinary services (CSA 2013; Sileshi and Desalegn 2008). In Ethiopia, annual disease losses are estimated to be 14–16% and 11–13% for sheep and goat populations, respectively (Sileshi and Desalegn 2008). In general, gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) constitute one of the greatest disease threats for grazing livestock. Infection with helminth parasites results in both clinical and sub-clinical diseases causing low productivity due to stunted growth, insufficient weight gain, delay of puberty, anemia, poor feed utilization and mortality (CSA 2013; Mavrot et al 2015) hindering optimization of the economic benefits from small ruminants.
In Ethiopia, various anthelmintics have been used in different parts of the country for the treatment of sheep and goats helminth parasites. Some of these drugs, particularly Albendazole, Ivermectin and Tetramisole, have been continuously imported and distributed to every corner of the country (Achenef et al 2013; Ayalew et al 2014; Desie et al 2013; Getachew et al 2013; Takele et al 2013). The use of anthelmintics has been practiced for a long time, and constitutes a considerable share of the costs spent by the country in the control of helminthosis (Biffa et al 2006). There was increasing reports of parasite populations that have developed anthelmintic resistance have become increasingly common, and some researcher reported existence of anthelmintic resistance in other region of the country (Desie et al 2013; Getachew et al 2016; Haile Mariam 2015; Takele et al 2013).
Gimbo is one of the districts found in Kaffa zone south western part of Ethiopia, known to be home for Bonga Sheep breed and Kaffa goat type (FARM Africa 1996; Tesfaye 2004; Zewdu 2008). However, the products obtained from small ruminant were very low due to parasitic diseases and poor production systems. In the district different anthelmintic drugs under different trade names and by different manufacturers were used to combat the problem encountered by parasitic diseases in small ruminant. But there is frequent compliance of the small ruminant producers on the efficacy of the commonly used anthelmintics drugs; there was no study conducted in the area to confirm whether the complaints were real or no. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of Albendazole, Tetramisole and Ivermectin for treatment gastrointestinal nematodes on naturally infected small ruminants.
The study was conducted in Gimbo district of Kaffa zone in South-western part of Ethiopia. Gimbo district is 450 km south west of Addis Ababa. It is bordered to the south by Chena woreda, to the north by Adiyo and Shebe district, to the west by Gera and Gewata district and to the east by Decha district. Gimbo district is geographically located at 0360 13.58’E and 070 26.16’N. The elevation ranges from 1300-3500 mts and the respective minimum and maximum average temperature is 20oC and 31oC. Annual rainfall ranges from 900mm-1150mm and livestock population in the district are cattle 116,557, Sheep 36,146, Goats 28,510, Equine 4,220 and Poultry 19, 7145. The total area of the district is around 871.86 km2 and have different agro climates ranging from highland (10.3%), midland (74.4%) and lowland (15.3%) (GWLFO 2016).
Semi structured questionnaire was designed to gather data on commonly used anthelemintics(AH), reason for AH choice, sources of AH, when to use AH, treatment frequency, rotation practice of AH and response of small ruminants to treatment. A total of 100 households who were involved in rearing of small ruminants were selected for interview from three Peasant Associations namely Kuti, Choba and Ufa.
Cross-sectional study design was undertaken from May to August 2014. The study animal were Bonga sheep and Kaffa goats breed which are kept by small holder farmers under backyard management system in the district. Before the actual experiment, screening was carried out to identify sheep and goats naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes. During the screening examination, 300 fecal samples (148 sheep and 152 goats) were collected and results were recorded using the owner’s code of identification, for ease of identification. According the guidelines by Coles et al (1992) sheep and goats with more than 150 eggs per gram (EPG) of feces and aged 6 to 18 months were eligible for inclusion in the field experiment on anthelmintic efficacy.
Finally, a total of 80 small ruminant (36 Goats and 44 Sheep) were selected randomly, and each species was grouped proportionally and randomly assigned into four treatments (n= 20) that is Albendazole, Tetramisole, Ivermectin and Control (i.e. left untreated). On day 0, the fecal samples were collected from each animal enrolled in the study, and then the animals were either treated with an anthelmintic based on the prescription of the manufacturer or left untreated (Table 1). Fecal samples were collected again 10 to 14 days post-treatment from all animals included in the study, and the changes in the EPG was determined. All fecal samples were analyzed using a modified Mc-Master technique as described by Coles et al (1992), with a minimum detection limit of 50 EPG.
Then Anthelmintic resistance status was evaluated by Faecal Egg Count Reduction Percentage (FECR) based on methods described by the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP) (Coles et al 1992).
· Faecal Egg Count Reduction Percentage (FECR%) = (1 – Xt /Xc) × 100 where Xt is the arithmetic mean of post-treatment EPG of the treated group and Xc is the arithmetic mean of post-treatment EPG of the control group.
Resistance is present when two criteria are met (1) FECR% is less than 95% and (2) 95% lower confidence limit is less than 90%. Resistance is suspected if only one of these two criteria is met (Coles et al 1992).
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Table 1. Anthelmintic’s used in the field efficacy evaluation against sheep and goats nematodes |
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|
Trade name |
Generic name |
Manufacturer |
Dose(mg/kg BW) |
Route |
|
ALBENDA-QK |
Albendazole |
Chengu qiankun, China |
7.5 |
Per os |
|
DOXAM-QK |
Tetramisole |
Chengu qiankun, China |
15 |
Per os |
|
Ivermictin |
Ivermectin |
Shenyang Sunvictor, China |
0.02ml/Kg |
Sc* |
|
*Sc: Subcutaneous |
||||
Data were first recorded in Excel spreadsheet. The survey data were analyzed by descriptive statistic using SPSS V. 20. The effectiveness of different anthelmintics was evaluated by computing the mean faecal egg counts reduction for each treatment group. Computation of the arithmetic mean, percentage of reduction and 95% upper and lower confidence limits, and the findings, were interpreted as described by Coles et al (1992).
In the study area, mixed crop livestock production was the major production system. Majority (98%) of the respondents indicated that they do not have any idea about anthelmintics rotation as a result they never rotate anthelmintics families. All the respondents indicated that doses of anthelmentics were determined only by visual estimation of small ruminant weight. The detail results obtained from the respondents is presented in table 2.
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Table 2. Responses of farmers to questionnaire survey on anthelmintic utilization practice (n=100) |
|
|
Questionnaire focus |
Responses |
|
Commonly used AH: |
Albendazole 82%, Tetramisole 17%, Ivermectin (1%) |
|
Reason for AH choice: |
By price (25%), color (60%), by prescriptions of veterinarian (15%) |
|
When to use AH: |
Reduced body condition, diarrhea, coughing etc |
|
Sources of AH: |
21% open markets/shops, 40% private veterinary pharmacies, 10% from illegal sellers in the villages, 29% government veterinary clinics |
|
Treatment frequency: |
Average twice per year (range: 1-3 times/year) |
|
Response to treatment: |
90% improvement in clinical signs and body conditions and 10% little or no improvement |
Out of 300 goats and sheep examined, about 61.0% (n=183) were found to harbor one or more gastrointestinal nematodes as shown in table 3.
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Table 3. Prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes in the study area |
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|
Species |
Category |
No. of animals |
No. of positive |
Mean
EPG ± |
|
Sheep |
Male |
64 |
34(53.1%) |
427±89.4 |
|
Female |
84 |
59(70.2%) |
529±83.4 |
|
|
Total |
148 |
93(62.8%) |
485±61.1 |
|
|
Goat |
Male |
51 |
30(58.8%) |
512±109 |
|
Female |
101 |
60(59.4%) |
558 ± 91.2 |
|
|
Total |
152 |
90(59.2%) |
542±70.6 |
|
|
Over all total |
300 |
183(61.0%) |
514±46.7 |
|
The result of FECRT and the efficacy of the anthelmintic are shown in Table 4. Evaluation of the efficacy of anthelmintics under study revealed that Ivermectin and Tetramisole had 97% and 99% reduction, respectively while Albendazole had shown 95% efficacy against gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs). In this study there was no detectable level of anthelmintic resistance recorded to Albendazole, Ivermectin and Tetramisole. However, the efficiency Albendazole was lower than both Ivermectin and Tetramisole.
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Table 4. Faecal egg count reduction test result of anthelmintic efficacy in the study area |
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|
Treatment group |
N |
EPG |
Reduction |
95% confidence |
||
|
Pre-treatment |
Post-treatment |
Lower |
Upper |
|||
|
Albendazole |
20 |
1360±184 |
67±17.1 |
95 |
91 |
97 |
|
Ivermectine |
20 |
1293±123 |
35±19.2 |
97 |
92 |
99 |
|
Tetramisole |
20 |
1335±130 |
10 ±7.8 |
99 |
96 |
100 |
|
Control |
20 |
1218±196 |
1353 ±162 |
- |
- |
- |
Small ruminant production in the area is characterized by mixed crop livestock production with small number of flock size, uncontrolled matting and free grazing systems (FARM Africa 1996; Zewdu 2008). This production system is one of a predisposing factor for high prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes in the area. In the study area, majority (82%) of the respondents used Albendazole. The drugs were used when animal got sick and there were no report on rotational usage of anthelmentic.
In this study, the prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes was 62.8% and 59.2% in sheep and goats, respectively. Relatively high prevalence of GI parasite load (61%) were reported in the current study as compared with the previous finding in similar study areas about 54.1% of small ruminants were harbouring gastrointestinal nematodes in Kaffa and Bench Maji Zones, Southwest Ethiopia specifically about 55.1% in sheep and 52.6% in goats (Tigist et al 2015). Similarly in southern Ethiopia, about 43.5% of small ruminants were found to be infected with one or more GI nematodes which mean 47.2% in sheep and 38.9% in goats (Rahmeto et al 2010). In contrast to the current finding, high prevalence of GI parasite in small ruminants were reported in different part of the country, about 86.3% of sheep in Eastern Ethiopia (Ayalew et al 2014), 100% of goats in Ziway southern Ethiopia (Bersissa et al 2010), 100% of sheep in North Gondar, North-Western Ethiopia(Achenef et al 2013), 91% of sheep and 92.6% of the goats in Dale district, Southern Ethiopia (Desie et al 2013) and 72% of sheep at Bedelle District of Oromia Region, Ethiopia(Getachew et al 2013). The variability in prevalence rate might be due to difference in production system, agro climatic condition and breed difference of small ruminants.
In the present study, Albendazole, Ivermectin and Tetramisole were efficient against gastrointestinal nematodes in small ruminants. This finding is in line with other studies conducted in various parts of Ethiopia, on efficacy Albendazole, Tetramisole and Ivermectin in Jigjiga, Eastern Ethiopia (Ayalew et al 2014) and at Bedelle District of Oromia region, Ethiopia (Getachew et al 2013) and also no resistance was reported for similar drugs in sheep owned by smallholder farmers in Wolaita, Southern Ethiopia ( Desie and Amenu 2010). Similarly in eastern Ethiopia there was no evidence of anthelmintic resistance in nematode parasites of either sheep and goats was reported (Sissay et al 2006). However, the efficacy of albendazole was lower than ivermectin and tetramisole in this study. Different study in other part of the country showed that resistance was suspected to Albendazole at Dale district, Southern Ethiopia (Desie et al 2013) and in Western Oromiya, Ethiopia (Takele et al 2013). However, according to Achenef et al (2013) report in North Gondar, North-Western Ethiopia Albendazole was effective against gastrointestinal nematodes.
The authors would like to acknowledge Mizan Regional Veterinary Laboratory for financial support and providing of all facilities to conduct the study. Our thanks also go to smallholder farmer who were actively participated and allowed their animals for the study.
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Received 1 October 2016; Accepted 13 October 2016; Published 1 December 2016