Parasitic coinfections among selected smallholder goat flocks in Malaysia
https://doi.org/10.47665/tb.40.4.010
- Author:
Paul, B.T.
1
,
2
;
Jesse, F.F.A.
3
,
4
;
Kamaludeen, J.
1
;
Chung, E.L.T.
5
;
Mat Isa, K.
6
;
Azhar, N.A.
4
;
Jimale, Y.A.
3
;
Mohd Lila, M.A.
7
Author Information
1. Department of Animal Science and Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia Campus Bintulu Sarawak, Malaysia&
2. Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, 600230, Borno State, Nigeria
3. Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia&
4. Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
5. Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
6. Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, 62624, Putrajaya, Malaysia
7. Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Blood protozoa;
coinfection;
gastrointestinal parasites;
goats;
parasite burden.
- From:Tropical Biomedicine
2023;40(No.4):444-452
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
This paper describes the occurrence of multiple parasitic infection with special reference to emerging
haemotropic Mycoplasma ovis. A cross-sectional survey of four selected goat flocks was conducted to
collect samples and management information. Blood samples were processed using microhaematocrit
centrifugation to determine the packed cell volume (PCV). Detection and morphological identification
of blood protozoa and haemotropic Mycoplasma ovis from Giemsa-stained smears were done
microscopically. M. ovis infection was classified mild (1-29% infected cells), moderate (30-59% infected
cells), or severe (above 60% infected cells). Faecal floatation and McMaster faecal egg count were used
to detect and classify strongyle infections as negative (no eggs/oocysts), light (< 500 epg), Moderate
(500 – 1000 epg), or severe (>1000 epg) and coccidia infection as light (<1800 opg), moderate (1800 –
6000 opg), or severe (>6000 opg). There were 149 goats with blood protozoa (57.98%; 95% CI: 51.87 –
63.85) and 204 goats with GI parasites (79.38%; 95% CI: 74.02 - 83.87) involved in single (15.8%; 95% CI:
11.7 – 21.0) or multiple (84.2%; 95% CI: 79.0 – 88.3) infections. The risk of Strongyles increases by 2.49
(95% CI: 1.24 – 4.99) in females versus males and 6.79 (95% CI: 3.25 – 14.18, p =0.000) in adults versus
young. The risk of Eimeria species increases by 7.32 (95% CI: 3.45 – 15.50, p =0.000) in adults versus
young, while M. ovis coinfection risk increases by 4.51 (95% CI: 1.40 – 14.50, p =0.000) in female versus
males. Thin animals had a significantly higher (p<0.05) mean burden of Strongyle (1370.37 ± 345.49)
and Eimeria (1594.12 ± 695.26) than the moderate and fat goats. The PCV was negatively associated
with mean faecal egg count (FEC) (p<0.05) such that a lower PCV was recorded in animals with a higher
Strongyle epg output. A severe burden of M. ovis was accompanied by an increased nematode FEC and
decreased haematocrit (p<0.05). Coinfections of Strongyles, or Eimeria species involving M. ovis were
associated with a higher parasitaemia compared with single infections (p<0.05). This study highlights
the importance of M. ovis and Strongyle or Eimeria species coinfections among goat flocks and provides
valuable data for developing and implementing an integrated herd health management program for
parasite control among low-input smallholder flocks.
- Full text:8.2023my1441.pdf
