Correlates of Resistance to Gastro-Intestinal Parasites Infection in South African Communal Indigenous Goat Populations

Takalani Judas Mpofu,Bohani Mtileni,Khathutshelo Agree Nephawe

doi:10.3844/ajavsp.2020.176.184

Takalani Judas Mpofu, Bohani Mtileni + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3844/ajavsp.2020.176.184

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Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate the correlates of resistance to Gastro-Intestinal Parasites (GIPs) infection in South African communal indigenous goat. A total of 288 goats were randomly sampled for fecal and blood collection. Infection intensity was estimated through determining the fecal egg per gram using a modified McMaster technique. Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Hemoglobin (Hgb) and Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) were determined through Auto-Haematology-Analyser BC-2800Vet®. Goat diagnosed free from GIP egg during coprologic evaluation were classified as uninfected, those whose Fecal Egg Count (FEC) were less than 800 as Low Fecal Count (LFEC) phenotype, those with FEC between 800 and 1200 as Intermediate Fecal Egg Count (IFEC) and those that were higher than 1200 as High Fecal Egg Count (HFEC) phenotype. Data were subjected to one-way ANOVA analyses, for dual co-infection, not all comparisons were possible. Pearson’s moment correlation test was computed to determine the relationship between variables. The HFEC phenotyped goats were highly (p 0.05). There was a negative relationship (p<0.05) between the Hgb and overall FEC, strongyles and Trichuris spp. intensity. Negative relationship (p<0.05) between PCV and overall FEC and all the GIPs except for Moniezia spp. intensity was evident. The MCH depicted a negative relationship (p<0.05) with Eimeria and Trichuris spp. intensity. The interactions between concomitant GIPs complicates the clinical outcome of infected goats and should be taken into consideration in any study that investigates disease under field conditions. The FECs, Hgb, PCV and MCH are correlates and potential selection criteria of GIP resistant goats.

Highlights

Goats (Capra hircus) are found to be highly susceptible to Gastro-Intestinal Parasite (GIP) infections (Singh et al, 2017; Mpofu et al, 2020) often leading to clinical diseases and loss of productivity (Risso et al, 2015; Rodríguez et al, 2015) and in extreme conditions, even death (Jegede et al, 2015)
The pattern of the Fecal Egg Count (FEC) intensity depicted that High Fecal Egg Count (HFEC) phenotyped goats were highly (p
The results suggest that interactions between concomitant GIP complicates the clinical outcome of the infected goats and should be taken into consideration in any study that investigates disease under field conditions and disease management programme

Summary

Introduction

Goats (Capra hircus) are found to be highly susceptible to Gastro-Intestinal Parasite (GIP) infections (Singh et al, 2017; Mpofu et al, 2020) often leading to clinical diseases and loss of productivity (Risso et al, 2015; Rodríguez et al, 2015) and in extreme conditions, even death (Jegede et al, 2015). The most prevalent GIPs affecting goats in Africa are the Strongyloides papillosus, Monezia, Trichuris, Eimeria spp. and strongyles, especially the Homonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus spp. belonging to the order Strongylida (Blackie, 2014; Verma et al, 2018; Mpofu et al, 2020). Their prevalence varies with location/agro-ecological zones and ranges up to 90% and have been documented in various studies in Africa (Adeyemi et al, 2017; Zvinorova, 2017; Hassan et al, 2019; Squire et al, 2019; Mpofu et al, 2020). A relatively simple and cheap method of reducing the effects of GIPs infection would be the selection and breeding of genetically GIP resistant animals (Baker, 1999; Bishop and Stear, 1999)

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