Between-breed variations in resistance/resilience to gastrointestinal nematodes among indigenous goat breeds in Uganda

R B Onzima,K K Benda,E Kanis,A Ampaire,R Mukiibi

doi:10.1007/s11250-017-1390-9

Abstract

Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs), Haemonchus contortus, are a major health problem in goat production. Resistance to H. contortus, the most prevalent GIN in Uganda, was studied among three indigenous goat breeds to assess their differences. Twelve male goats of each breed approximately 7 months old of small East African (SEA), Mubende, and Kigezi goats from smallholder farmers in Arua, Mubende, and Kabale were assembled for the study. At the station, they were dewormed with a combination therapy of the broad-spectrum dewormers closantel and albendazole to free the goats of gastrointestinal parasites. During experimentation, the goats were kept indoors and ad libitum fed on clean banana peels and napier grass. On attainment of zero-worm-egg status, the goats were artificially infected with 18,000 third-stage (L3) larvae of H. contortus prepared according to Baermann’s procedure. Data were collected on fecal egg count (FEC), packed cell volume (PCV), and body weight (BW) on a 2-week basis until 12 weeks post infection and carcass weight and total worm count (WC) in the abomasum at termination of the experiment. The data on FEC, PCV, and BW were subjected to repeated-measure analysis of variance and the others by one-way analysis of variance. FEC between breeds was only significantly different at 12 weeks post infection (p = 0.04). Generally, higher FEC was recorded in Kigezi compared to SEA and Mubende goats. Carcass weight was significantly different among breeds (p < 0.05), with Mubende having the highest carcass weight, followed by Kigezi and SEA. PCV and daily weight gains were significantly different between breeds (p < 0.05). WC was not significantly different between the breeds. FEC and PCV were weakly significant at later stages of the experiment with higher parasite burden suggesting potential variation in resistance to H. contortus. These differences could be exploited in designing breeding programs with disease resistance in indigenous goat breeds.

Highlights

The gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) Haemonchus contortus is a major health problem, causing immense economic losses in goat production (Baker et al 1998; Bambou et al 2013; Campos et al 2009; Mandonnet et al 2001)
Log-transformed eggs per gram (LEPG) were not significantly different between the breeds, the numerical values were higher in KIG, followed by small East African (SEA) and the lowest in MUB
At week 12, fecal egg count (FEC) was marginally significant (P = 0.04) with the highest value recorded in KIG goats

Summary

Introduction

The gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) Haemonchus contortus is a major health problem, causing immense economic losses in goat production (Baker et al 1998; Bambou et al 2013; Campos et al 2009; Mandonnet et al 2001). In Australia, the annual losses due to GIN is estimated at over AUD 400 million (McLeod 1995; Sacket et al 2006). It is estimated that the costs of diseases generally may be as high as 35– 50% of turnover within the livestock sector in developing countries (Bishop 2012). Helminthosis (diseases including those caused by nematode parasites) is the most important livestock disease in most tropical countries (Khan et al 2010; Lapenga et al 2009; Trop Anim Health Prod (2017) 49:1763–1769

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