Management practices to control gastrointestinal parasites in dairy and beef goats in Minas Gerais; Brazil (original) (raw)
Related papers
Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira, 2013
Parasitic infection is recognized worldwide as a limiting factor in the production of goats, and various control methods are used to reduce economic losses, often without considering the epidemiology of the parasites. This has led to the development of highly tolerant parasite populations and the presence of chemical residues in the beef and milk. The objective of this study was to determine the level of knowledge of goat farmers about parasitic diseases and to correlate this with the epidemiology of endoparasites and parasite control practices in goat farms in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The analysis was based on a questionnaire applied by trained veterinarians. The sample was homogeneous throughout the state, covering 18.4% (157/853) of municipalities. Eighty-four dairy goat farms in 81 municipalities and 200 properties with beef goats in 76 municipalities were evaluated. The herd size per goat farm ranged from 4 to 57 (average 24) for beef herds and from 2 to 308 (average 63) for dairy farms. The majority of the beef herd production was extensive and semi-extensive (98.5%), while the dairy herds were maintained under intensive farming (98.8%). The mixed production of goats and sheep was reported by 36.5% of beef goat farmers and by 20.2% of dairy goat farmers. Among the beef goats farms on which the technological level was determined, 2.0% were categorized as having high technological level, 34.5% as medium, and 63.5% as low. Of the 84 dairy farms, 30% operated at a high, 47% at a medium, and 23% at a low technological level. The adoption of practices to reduce parasitism, such as the quarantine of animals, treatment of newly arrived animals, regular cleaning of the floor, and technical assistance, was significantly higher on dairy farms than on beef farms. Although 85.7% of dairy farmers and 83% of beef farmers medicate their animals, the treatments were performed without technical criteria, and deworming intervals ranged from 30 to 120 days or more. The average interval between treatments was significantly longer in dairy goat herds (4.8 months) than in the beef herds (3.6 months). The most commonly used drugs were macrocyclic lactones (37.7% in dairy and 39.5% in beef herds) and benzimidazoles (48.9% in dairy and 31.5% in beef herds). Goat production in Minas Gerais is still in its infancy, and even though using a control program associated with other health practices, producers still rely heavily on chemicals to get satisfactory results.
Management and control of parasites on dairy farms in northwestern region of São Paulo state
Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária, 2016
Dairy cattle farming is of great economic and social importance in all Brazilian’s regions. Parasites can reduce milk productivity, especially the tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. This study consisted of a questionnaire answered by 40 milk producers in the northwestern region of the State of São Paulo. The aim was to ascertain how these producers controlled ticks and other parasites. Very many of them knew nothing about the biological cycle of the cattle tick or about strategic control or acaricide efficacy tests. The majority (87.5%) controlled ticks at a high frequency, without technical criteria and care to apply the acaricide. Spraying was the most used mode of acaricide application (95%) and endectocides were used by 45%. Cattle tick fever was the harm most associated with ticks (87.5%) followed closely by screwworm (77.5%). However, 65% were satisfied with their tick control. About the control of others parasites, all dewormed at least twice a year their animals; 65% ...
Parasites in dairy cattle farms in southern Brazil
Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation among type and size of the farms related to the management of production and especially the presence and control of parasites. Materials and methods. To accomplish the above, 65 farms were used: 56 of semi-extensive system (cows in pastures), classified as low density farms (n=15, up to 15/cows), medium density farms (n=20; between 16-30/cows) and large density farms (n=21; over 31/cows). It was also included nine farms freestall system (n=9; confinement, over 70 cows) as part of the study population. Results. In the farms visited for the study can be noticed that the farms that had the higher level of technological improvement in managements practice were properties in high level (3) and freestall (4). In most of the farms there were observed the presence of ticks and flies, regardless of density of farms. Feces samples collected from 650 cows (n=10/farm), and analyzed using McMaster showed that 191 cows were positive for parasites. The presence of antibodies in bulk milk tank occurred in 36 (55.38%; CI95% 42-67) to Neospora caninum of the studied farms. Conclusions. We also conclude that N. caninum is present in cattle herds in Western Santa Catarina, and may be linked to reproductive problems in cows.
Veterinary Parasitology, 2012
This study aimed to evaluate the utilization of FAMACHA © method as an auxiliary strategy to use the individual identification for the selective control of gastrointestinal helminthiasis in naturally infected dairy goats. The experiment was conducted on 63 farms in the towns of Passagem, Quixabá and Cacimba de Areia, semiarid region of the Paraíba state, Brazil. Fifty animals were used on each farm, being visited tree farms per month, totaling 1800 animals, between May 2009 and April 2010. The animals received no anthelmintic treatment for at least four months prior to the farm visits. All animals were subjected to parasitological faecal collection, blood sampling for packed cell volume and the visual/selective exam of the eye colour through the FAMACHA © method. Larvae culture was performed in every assessment on each farm. Haemonchus sp. was the most prevalent helminth (80.1%) on larval cultures. The use of this method allowed a reduction of 79.2% on anthelmintic application in dairy goats. The FAMACHA © method proved to be a viable auxiliary strategy to control gastrointestinal helminthiasis of dairy goats from a resource-poor area in the semiarid region of the Paraíba state, Northeastern Brazil.
Veterinary …, 2010
Anthelmintic resistance in parasites maybe a consequence of over-exposing populations of parasites to drugs or from the commerce/transit of animals harboring resistant parasites. Knowledge of the sensitivity of nematodes to anthelmintics is essential to establish an efficient integrated program of parasite control. In Brazil, producers rely on technology transfer from field professionals and non-technical labor for new management strategies of parasite control. The aim of this work was to determine the practices farmers used for anthelmintic management and to monitor drug efficacy on sheep farms from northern and northwestern regions of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A questionnaire was sent to 34 farms, and anthelmintics were tested on ten of these farms. Sheep (n = 10/group) were weighed and treated with albendazole, closantel, doramectin, fenbendazole, ivermectin, levamisole, moxidectin, or nitroxynil with their recommended doses. Faeces were collected on the day of treatment and after 7-10 days. The faecal egg count reduction test was evaluated based on RESO 2.0. Among the farmers interviewed, 97% applied commercial anthelmintics to control parasites, 77% rotated anthelmintics annually, 72% used ivermectin as the principal anthelmintic, and 38% applied anthelmintics with a frequency of 30-60 days. On two farms, none of the anthelmintics was efficacious. Levamisole had the best overall efficacy (70%). Albendazole, ivermectin, and fenbendazole were efficacious (above 95%) on only two farms. The present work illustrates the alarming lack of efficacy of drugs even in an area new to sheep farming. It is important to establish alternative strategies of management in a broad program of parasite control for reducing the selection pressure on parasites by the commercially available anthelmintics.
Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Medicine
Parasitic infections are common in sheep farming worldwide. A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors among gastrointestinal parasites and sheep herds from the Brazilian Pampa biome, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Twenty-one farms were visited, where rectal faecal samples were individually collected from 309 animals. The sheep industry on the studied farms was characterised by small farms with a low level of technification, an extensive grazing system and meat production. Of all samples analysed, strongyle nematodes had the highest prevalence (77.02%), followed by Eimeria spp. (70.55%), Moniezia expansa (20.39%) and Strongyloides papillosus (17.48%). Mixed infection, between helminths and protozoans, was detected in 68.61% of samples. All herds were positive for strongyle and Eimeria spp. A predominance of Haemonchus spp. and Trichostrongylus spp. nematodes was observed in the herds. Younger animals were significantly more affected by Eimeria and M. expansa. In the semi-intensive and intensive systems, a higher frequency of Eimeria and strongyle infections was observed. Parasite infection was significantly reduced at low animal densities. The Brazilian Pampa region presents a high prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites among sheep; age, breeding system and stocking density were factors associated with parasite infection.
Revista Brasileira de Saúde e Produção Animal
This study aimed to analyze the seasonal variation of gastrointestinal parasitic infections in goats and sheep in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. Fecal samples were collected directly from the rectal ampulla of the animals to count the eggs per gram in the feces at 30-day intervals over the 12-month study period. This study included 40 small ruminants, comprising 22 goats (14 sows, 6 kids, and 2 sires) and 18 sheep (13 sows, 4 lambs, and 1 sire). The study assessed the variation in the excretion of gastrointestinal nematode eggs during the dry and rainy seasons. Coproculture was performed to identify third-stage larvae. In the 12 months of research and monthly sample collections, 95.9% and 82.3% of the eggs detected were endoparasites in the fecal samples of the goats and sheep, respectively. Eimeria spp. oocysts were present in 50.6% and 30.4% of the goat and sheep fecal samples, respectively. The results indicated that the mean number of eggs per gram of feces was higher in the rainy ...
Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira, 2015
From 2012 to 2013 were surveyed gastrointestinal parasites from pig farms located in different municpaliyies in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Fecal samples from 790 pigs were collected from the rectum on 88 family farms and 702 farms with industrial production. The samples were subjected to Faust et al., Sheather, Ritchie, Lutz and direct examination faecal techniques. The estimated parasite prevalence was 93.1% in family farms and 59.1% in industrial farms. Balantidium coli, coccidia and Entamoeba sp. were the parasites with the highest frequencies, and the male and female reproductive categories and fatteners pigs the most infected (p<0.05). Trophozoites of B. coli were most evident in stool samples from semi-solid followed by solid and diarrheal consistencies. Strongyles eggs and Trichuris suis have been detected exclusively in family farms. Ascaris suum eggs and Strongyloides ransomi showed low frequency. The high degree of parasitism, especially protozoa, indicates the need to reassess the management of pigs in both types of production.
Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária, 2014
In this study, we aimed to establish the prevalence and risk factors relating to gastrointestinal helminthiasis, and to characterize the sanitary management practiced among sheep herds in the Sertão region of the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil, based on factors that condition the ways of controlling these parasites in these herds. The research was carried out between April and July 2012. We visited 54 farms, where fecal and blood samples were individually collected from 465 animals. On each farm, a questionnaire was applied to gather information on variables relating to potential risk factors. The prevalence of sheep gastrointestinal helminthiasis in the region was 75.9%. At least one animal tested positive for this helminthiasis on 53 (98.1%) of the 54 farms evaluated. The eggs per gram of feces (EPG) analysis showed the following infection burdens: 51.8% with mild infection, 27.1% moderate infection, 9.9% heavy infection and 11.2% fatal infection. Among the sheep farms visi...