The effect of pumpkin seed cake and ground cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) supplementation on gastrointestinal nematode egg shedding in sheep.

Jožica Ježek,Karmen Mirtič,Nina Rešetič,Jaka Jakob Hodnik,Aleksandra Vergles Rataj

doi:10.1051/parasite/2021076

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of feed additives (pumpkin seed cake and cloves) on the egg excretion of gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) in sheep. Thirty ewes naturally infected with GIN were randomly selected from a flock and assigned to the following groups of 10 animals each: clove group (received 1.8 g ground cloves/ewe/day, for 7 days), pumpkin seed cake group (200 g pumpkin seed cake/ewe/day, for 7 days) and control group. Before starting the study, on day 0, and 5 days after the 7-day supplementation, on day 12, the body condition and FAMACHA scores were assessed and individual faecal egg counts (FEC) were performed. The mean body condition and the FAMACHA scores did not change significantly between day 0 and 12 with the exception of a significantly deteriorated FAMACHA score in the clove group. The percentage reduction of FEC was 40.7% on day 12 in the clove group and 52.9% in the pumpkin seed cake group. In the control group, FEC increased by 8.7%. A coproculture of faecal samples from four of the most infected animals on day 0 revealed Trichostrongylus spp. larvae L3 in all four selected ewes, Ostertagia spp. and Cooperia spp. in three and Haemonchus contortus in one ewe. These results are promising and encourage further studies aimed to evaluate the possibility that these plant supplements could be a complementary method for parasite control, thus reducing the need for chemotherapy.

Highlights

Grazing animals, small ruminants, are frequently infected by gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN), resulting in reduced productivity and increased mortality [38]
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of feed additives on the egg excretion of gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) in sheep
Thirty ewes naturally infected with GIN were randomly selected from a flock and assigned to the following groups of 10 animals each: clove group, pumpkin seed cake group (200 g pumpkin seed cake/ewe/day, for 7 days) and control group

Summary

Introduction

Small ruminants, are frequently infected by gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN), resulting in reduced productivity and increased mortality [38]. Parasitic diseases in ruminants have been controlled by the use of broad-spectrum and commonly available anthelmintics. J. Ježek et al.: Parasite 2021, 28, 78 of anthelmintic drugs has led to a loss of effectiveness. Anthelmintic resistance has been reported in many European countries [16, 36] and worldwide [38]

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