Use of medicinal plants to control Haemonchus contortus infection in small ruminants

Sawleha Qadir,A Dixit

doi:10.5455/vetworld.2010.515-518

Abstract

Haemonchus contortus is singly the most important of all the gastrointestinal nematodes that constrain the survival and productivity of sheep and goats owned by rural poor farmers in the developing world. This haematophagus parasite is infamous throughout the humid tropics/subtropics, being responsible for acute disease outbreaks with high levels of mortalities, particularly in young animals. Costs associated with control of this parasite in India, have been estimated to be US$ 103 million. H. contortus is also prominent amongst the reports of anthelmintic resistance that has emerged in all countries of the world that produce small ruminants. This emergence of multiple anthelmintic resistances has provided a spur for research on alternative forms of control. Recent surveys in developing countries have identified many plants that are intended and have the potential to be used as anthelmintics. This paper reviews the use of some medicinal plants as anthelmintics against H. contortus infection in small ruminants.

Highlights

Infections by gastrointestinal helminth parasites of livestock are among the common and economically important diseases of grazing livestock (Perry et al, 2002)
The ethanol extract inhibited egg hatching by 99.77% at 3.12mg/ml. These results suggest that A. indica extracts may be useful in the control of gastro-intestinal nematodes of small ruminants
This study shows that ginger possesses in vivo anthelmintic activity in sheep justifying the age-old traditional use of this plant in helminth infestation (Iqbal et al, 2006)

Summary

Introduction

Infections by gastrointestinal helminth parasites of livestock are among the common and economically important diseases of grazing livestock (Perry et al, 2002). Anthelmintic activity of medicinal plants with particular reference to Haemonchus contortus infection. In another study, Chandrawathani et al (2006) evaluated the anthelmintic effect of Neem (A. indica) on nematode parasites of sheep.

Results

Conclusion