| dc.description.abstract | Gastrointestinal nematode (GI) parasitism, dominated by haemonchosis, is a major constraint to
economic goat production in Kenya. Currently, the conventional method of control is almost
based on the use of anthelmintics. Consequently anthelmintic resistance has developed in goat
farms in the county.
In view of this, there is need for alternative control methods. The use of Copper Oxide Wire
Particles (COWP) to help reduce parasite burden is one such alternative. The objective of the
present study was to determine the curative and preventive efficacy of COWP in naturally
infected goat exhibiting predominant infections with Haemonchus contortus, Trichostronglus
spp. and Oesophagostomum venulosum. The trial was conducted on a farm in Katani area of
Kathiani Division, Machakos District, Kenya. Forty five small East African goats were randomly
assigned into 3 groups based on faecal egg counts (FEC). Group I were treated orally with
COWP boluses (Copinox®, Animal Ltd, UK; 2g), group II were treated with COWP plus
Curafluke® (Fenbendazole and Rafoxanide, 7.5 mg Kg-1 bodyweight) and group III were the
untreated controls. The infection levels were monitored over a period of 98 days by bi-weekly
determination of FEC and blood PCV. Serum copper levels were determined before and at the
end of the trials. Coproculture was conducted fortnightly to determine relative distribution of
infective larvae genera. On days 56 and 98 respectively, 3 goats from each group were randomly
selected and necropsied to determine GI nematode burden. The efficacy of COWP was nil
against Trichostronglus spp. and Oesophagostomum venulosum. In contrast, the efficacy of
COWP against H. contortus was clearly established in reducing the worm burden by 76.9% for
group and 96.0% for group II goats on day 56 post-treatment. A single dose of either COWP or
COWP plus CuraflukeR was effective (group I, 62.8 – 92.1%; group II, 97.0 – 100%) in
suppressing faecal egg output up to day 56 post-treatment, and group II FEC remained
significantly lower than those of group I up to day 84 post-treatment (p < 0.05). There was no
diference in PCV between the 3 groups.
Copper levels were within normal range before treatmet and remained within normal limits at the
end of the trial. Results indicates that COWP may represent an alternative to conventional
anthelmintics in the control of H. contortus infection in goat farms where this parasite is
predominant | en_US |
