Efficacy of 3 anthelmintics in communally grazed sheep as reflected by faecal egg count reduction tests in a semi-arid area of South Africa : short communication

Abstract

A survey was conducted on the occurrence of anthelmintic resistance of nematodes in communally grazed sheep in a semi-arid area near Mafikeng, South Africa, from January to March 2006. In the herds belonging to twelve smallholder sheep farmers, the efficacies of albendazole, levamisole and closantel were tested by faecal egg count reduction tests where 80 % efficacy was considered the cut off for anthelmintic resistance. The results of the faecal egg count reduction tests showed more than 80 % efficacy with all the drugs used in most cases, but there were notable exceptions. In 1 case, closantel had an efficacy of 72 %, albendazole had an efficacy of 68 % and levamisole showed efficacies of 58 %, 60 % and 75 % respectively on 4 farms. The occurrence of anthelmintic resistance in this farming sector is of concern and steps should be taken to prevent its further spread and development to avoid a situation developing as on numerous commercial sheep farms in South Africa where resistance is common

Assessment of gastrointestinal nematode anthelmintic resistance and acaricidal efficacy of fluazuron-flumethrin on sheep and goat ticks in the North West province of South Africa

“…was detected in seven farms after treatment with all three-drug classes. These findings are consistent with other studies conducted in small-scale communal farming systems in North West, Gauteng, Limpopo, and Free State Provinces of South Africa [ 1 , 39 , 40 , 51 ], which reported AR development in GINs of small stock against broad-spectrum anthelmintics (BZD, LEV, and ML).…”

“…GINs in both sheep and goat populations were more resistant to BZD and LEV compared with ML. Bakunzi [1] reported 68% and 58% efficacy with BZD and LEV, respectively. The results obtained in this investigation are relatively identical to those reported previously by Mphahlele et al [40] who noted a similar pattern of results, but with a resistance of 6.7%.…”

“…Communal farming is one of the world’s oldest farming systems, practiced primarily by smallholder farmers in developing countries, particularly in rural areas of Africa [ 1 ]. Communal farms are typically associated with nutrient-dense pasture feed, which results in communal grazing in open fields, with many livestock species grazing together, increasing the risk of contamination [ 2 ].…”