Seasonal changes in the level of infective strongylate nematode larvae on pasture in the coastal savanna regions of Ghana

Agyei, A. D.

doi:10.1016/s0304-4017(96)01101-6

Cited by 29 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…On dry, warm days, cattle faeces rapidly form a crust on the pat surface and it appears this crust, although it may protect them from further desiccation in the development stage, cannot be penetrated by L3. In the tropics, the sudden migration of these larvae, made possible by the arrival of the rainy season, may result in very sharp and dangerous peaks of larval emergence (Fakae and Chiejina, 1988;Chiejina and Fakae, 1989;Agyei, 1997). In temperate regions, it was also documented that drought-breaking rains may suddenly increase larval density on herbage 10-fold (Bryan and Kerr, 1989).…”

Section: Migration Of Nematodesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Williams and Bilkovich, 1973;Bryan and Kerr, 1989;Stromberg, 1997). Such associations are most dramatic in semi-arid regions, where absence of rain may bring parasite transmission to a halt during the driest months and sharp peaks of larval emergence can be seen after periods of rainfall (Chiejina and Fakae, 1989;Onyali et al, 1990;Agyei, 1997;Sissay et al, 2007). Moisture is also prerequisite for both Galba spp.…”

Section: Moisturementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ostertagia, Haemonchus and Cooperia spp. proved not to be able to escape from cattle dung once it had become desiccated (Williams and Bilkovich, 1973;Chiejina and Fakae, 1989;Agyei, 1997). On dry, warm days, cattle faeces rapidly form a crust on the pat surface and it appears this crust, although it may protect them from further desiccation in the development stage, cannot be penetrated by L3.…”

Section: Migration Of Nematodesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Climate change and infectious disease: helminthological challenges to farmed ruminants in temperate regions

Dijk

Sargison

Kenyon

et al. 2010

Animal

203

123

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In the UK, recent mean temperatures have consistently increased by between 18C and 48C compared to the 30-year monthly averages. Furthermore, all available predictive models for the UK indicate that the climate is likely to change further and feature more extreme weather events and a trend towards wetter, milder winters and hotter, drier summers. These changes will alter the prevalence of endemic diseases spatially and/or temporally and impact on animal health and welfare. Most notable among these endemic parasites are the helminths, which have been shown to be very strongly influenced by both the shortterm weather and climate through effects on their free-living larval stages on pasture. In this review, we examine recent trends in prevalence and epidemiology of key helminth species and consider whether these could be climate-related. We identify likely effects of temperature and rainfall on the free-living stages and some key parasite traits likely to determine parasite abundance under changed climatic conditions. We find clear evidence that climate change, especially elevated temperature, has already changed the overall abundance, seasonality and spatial spread of endemic helminths in the UK. We explore some confounders and alternative explanations for the observed patterns. Finally, we explore the implications of these findings for policy makers and the livestock industry and make some recommendations for future research priorities.

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Section: Migration Of Nematodesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Moisturementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Migration Of Nematodesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Climate change and infectious disease: helminthological challenges to farmed ruminants in temperate regions

Dijk

Sargison

Kenyon

et al. 2010

Animal

203

123

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“…Production losses through mortality and reduced weight gain have been reported by several authors (Oduro, 1972;Schillhorn van Veen, 1973;Allonby & Urquhart 1975;Fabiyi, 1987;Bekele et al, 1992;Nwafor, 2004). Strongyle nematodes are the main cause of parasitic gastroenteritis (PGE) in sheep and goats in Ghana (Agyei & Amponsah, 2001). The epidemiology and pathogenesis of many strongyle infections of grazing animals are very similar.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The prepatent period is normally 2-3 weeks, although it may be more than 6 months for certain species or if development is "arrested" (Michel, 1974;Eysker, 1993). Rainfall is considered to be the main climatic factor determining the availability of infective strongylid larvae and the transmission of infection in grazing animals (Chiejina et al, 1989;Fakae, 1990;Agyei & Amponsah, 2001;Agyei, 2003;Agyei et al, 2005). This paper reviews the epidemiological knowledge of gastrointestinal (GI) nematode infections in sheep and goats in the different agro-ecological zones of Ghana with the view to providing adequate information for developing strategic control measures against GI nematode infections in small ruminant in Ghana.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of the Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Nematode Infections in Sheep and Goats in Ghana

Blackie¹

2014

JAS

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In this paper, the gastrointestinal nematode parasites infecting small ruminants (sheep and goats) in Ghana and the epidemiological factors influencing their prevalence are reviewed and discussed. Twelve nematode species belonging to six families have been reported to infect these livestock in the country with Haemonchus contortus being the most prevalent helminth parasite in both animals. Parasitic gastroenteritis is caused by mixed infection of several nematode species. Management /husbandry practices, climate and host influence are found to be the main factors that affect gastrointestinal nematode infections in sheep and goats. Seasonal changes in the level of infective strongylate nematode larvae on pasture in the different agro-ecological zones of Ghana are reviewed. The number of infective larvae on pasture is reported to be directly related to the pattern of rainfall. Consequently, rainfall could be relied on to predict the rate of transmission of infection in grazing animals. Finally, the relevance of epidemiological knowledge in the development of efficient measures for controlling gastrointestinal nematode infections in sheep and goats in Ghana is discussed.

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Gastrointestinal helminths in farmers and their ruminant livestock from the Coastal Savannah zone of Ghana

et al. 2018

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To identify the gastrointestinal helminths of veterinary, zoonotic and public health importance in farmers and their ruminant livestock in Ghana, faecal samples were collected from 95 farmers and their livestock (cattle = 328, sheep = 285 and goats = 217) and examined by microscopy and/or molecular techniques. Overall, 21 farmers tested positive for at least one gastrointestinal helminth, 80.9% of which were single infections and 19.0% co-infections. The parasites identified in the farmers consisted of hookworms (n = 13) (9 were Necator americanus and the other 4 could not be amplified by PCR), Trichostrongylus spp. (n = 9), Schistosoma mansoni (n = 1), Schistosoma haematobium (n = 1) and Diphyllobothrium latum (n = 1). In livestock, strongylid nematodes were dominant (56.6%), followed by Paramphistomum spp. (16.9%), Dicrocoelium spp. (7.1%), Thysaniezia spp. (5.8%), Trichuris spp. (3.3%), Moniezia spp. (3.1%), Fasciola spp. (2.8%), Toxocara spp. (1.1%) and Schistosoma spp. (0.2%). Genotyping of Trichostrongylus spp. in the farmer's stools identified six T. colubriformis similar to T. colubriformis detected in cattle, sheep and goats in the study, two Trichostrongylus spp. with 98.3% and 99.2% genetic similarity to T. probolurus respectively and one Trichostrongylus spp. which showed 96.6% similarity to both T. probolurus and T. rugatus. Trichostrongylus axei was also identified in cattle, sheep and goats. This is the first molecular characterisation of Trichostrongylus spp. in Ghana and the species identified in the present study suggests zoonotic transmission from cattle, sheep and goats. Further studies involving larger numbers of farmers and their household members are essential to understand the transmission dynamics and impact of these parasites on farming communities in Ghana.

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Seasonal changes in the level of infective strongylate nematode larvae on pasture in the coastal savanna regions of Ghana

Cited by 29 publications

References 13 publications

Climate change and infectious disease: helminthological challenges to farmed ruminants in temperate regions

Climate change and infectious disease: helminthological challenges to farmed ruminants in temperate regions

A Review of the Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Nematode Infections in Sheep and Goats in Ghana

Gastrointestinal helminths in farmers and their ruminant livestock from the Coastal Savannah zone of Ghana

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