Haemonchosis: A Challenging Parasitic Infection of Sheep and Goats

Bibliographic Details
Title: Haemonchosis: A Challenging Parasitic Infection of Sheep and Goats
Authors: Konstantinos V. Arsenopoulos, George C. Fthenakis, Eleni I. Katsarou, Elias Papadopoulos
Source: Animals, Vol 11, Iss 2, p 363 (2021)
Publisher Information: MDPI AG, 2021.
Publication Year: 2021
Collection: LCC:Veterinary medicine
LCC:Zoology
Subject Terms: abomasum, anthelmintic resistance, diagnosis, goat, Haemonchus, health management, Veterinary medicine, SF600-1100, Zoology, QL1-991
More Details: The paper reviews the challenges about haemonchosis—a significant and common parasitic infection of small ruminants. Haemonchus contortus is a highly pathogenic parasite that localises in the abomasum of affected animals and exerts its pathogenicity by blood-sucking activity, adversely affecting the health and productivity of animals. The first challenge is the uneven distribution of the infection globally, this being more prevalent in tropical and subtropical and warm temperate and summer rainfall regions than in cool and cold temperate and arid regions; hence, this leads in differences in the approaches required for its control. Another challenge is the widespread presence of Haemonchus strains resistant to the various anthelmintics available: Benzimidazoles, imidazothiazoles, macrocyclic lactones, closantel and monepantel, which makes the control of the infection difficult. The third challenge refers to the difficulty of diagnosing the disease, given that field evidence can provide suspicion about the infection, which needs to be subsequently confirmed by laboratory tests through parasitological or molecular techniques. The final challenge relates to the difficulties in the control of the infection and the necessity to use pharmaceutical products cautiously and with a planned approach, to avoid further development of anthelmintic resistance, also given that use of a recently licenced vaccine is not widespread. In conclusion, at the moment, we should be concerned, but not worried, about this infection, and apply correctly the appropriate health management plans.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2076-2615
Relation: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/2/363; https://doaj.org/toc/2076-2615
DOI: 10.3390/ani11020363
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/d860cf8a591541fca971ef6f5b02a7e9
Accession Number: edsdoj.860cf8a591541fca971ef6f5b02a7e9
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
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More Details
ISSN:20762615
DOI:10.3390/ani11020363
Published in:Animals
Language:English