The responses of two ecotypes of Nigerian West African Dwarf goat to experimental infections with Trypanosoma brucei and Haemonchus contortus

Chiejina, S.N.; Behnke, Jerzy M.; Nnadi, P.A.; Ngongeh, Lucas Atehmengo; Musongong, G.A.

doi:10.1016/j.smallrumres.2009.07.004

Cited by 20 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…There are two major WAD ecotypes, corresponding to the humid zone and the savanna zone. Liberia WAD goats are of the savannah type which is generally heavier with larger body size (Chiejina et al, 2009;Rotimi et al, 2017) and some degree of trypanotolerance (Geerts et al, 2009). The body weight and linear measurements obtained in the current study are comparable to those reported for Benis Arrous goats (Hilal et al, 2013).…”

Section: Phenotypic Characterizationsupporting

confidence: 79%

Phenotypic characterization of the West Africa dwarf goats and the production system in Liberia

Karnuah¹,

Osei-Amponsah²,

Dunga³

et al. 2018

Int. J. Livest. Prod.

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Data on characterization of animal genetic resources are valuable in the development of breeding and conservation schemes to ensure their sustainable use. A survey was conducted to collect baseline data on the phenotypic characteristics, production system, traits of economic importance and challenges faced by goat farmers in Liberia. The survey was carried out in the 15 counties of Liberia and covered 1314 animals in their production environments. 1267 respondents participated in this study. A pretested structured questionnaire, group discussions and in-depth interviews were used in the data collection. Phenotypic descriptors were directly measured using a measuring tape and weighing scale. Results indicated that Liberia goats are predominantly West Africa dwarf (WAD) breed (99%) and either docile or moderate in temperament. Majority of WAD goats have solid/uniform/plain coat colour pattern (68%) and black or white coat colour (63%). Most goats are horned (70%) and have curved horns (50%). The main motivation for keeping local goats is their relative adaptation to the environment, fast growth and efficient meat production. Average body weight, body length, chest girth and height at withers were 39 kg, 65, 79 and 51 cm, respectively. Government should address the issue of feed, access to veterinary care and medicines, disease control and also assist goat farmers to put up housing and fencing for their animals. There is a need for the government to improve policies on AnGR management in Liberia. In particular, the recently adopted NSAP on AnGR which provides a clear framework for the development of the livestock sector should be validated and implemented by the MOA/CARI and other stakeholders. In situ and ex situ conservation strategies including establishment of national breeding and conservation centres and community-based breeding programs for goat farmers are viable options which should be pursued.

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Section: Phenotypic Characterizationsupporting

confidence: 79%

Phenotypic characterization of the West Africa dwarf goats and the production system in Liberia

Karnuah¹,

Osei-Amponsah²,

Dunga³

et al. 2018

Int. J. Livest. Prod.

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“…80% of the population) and the absence of significant interaction between trypanosome infections and concomitant GI nematodes is reminiscent of the pattern of responsiveness of WAD goats of the humid zone, which are known to express strong resistance and resilience to H. contortus in particular (haemonchotolerance) and GI nematodes in general (Fakae et al, 2004;Behnke et al, 2006). A recent experiment in which goats of both ecotypes were experimentally infected with either H. contortus or T. brucei confirmed that the savanna WAD ecotype exhibits comparably strong degrees of trypanotolerance and haemonchotolerance to its humid zone counterpart (Chiejina et al, 2009). In that study FEC and PCV were shown to be reliable phenotypic markers and correlates of resistance and resilience, respectively, to H. contortus.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This report presents data from a survey conducted on a savanna WAD goat population in Benue State, northern Nigeria, naturally exposed to concurrent trypanosome -GI nematode infections. Following Chiejina et al (2009), we tested the hypothesis that under field conditions this WAD goat ecotype, like its humid-zone counterpart, is innately trypanotolerant and GI nematode resistant, with no significant mutual enhancement of the pathogenicity of the parasites and no attenuation of host resilience to trypanosomosis in concurrent infections.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resistance and resilience of traditionally managed West African Dwarf goats from the savanna zone of northern Nigeria to naturally acquired trypanosome and gastrointestinal nematode infections

et al. 2010

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A survey was conducted of gastrointestinal nematode infections and trypanosomosis in Nigerian West African Dwarf (WAD) goats from the savanna region of the country. Animals were screened at two markets, Gboko and Akpagher, from the beginning of April until the end of September, coinciding with the end of the dry season and the first 5 months of the wet season. Of 1054 goats that were examined, 80.5% carried gastrointestinal (GI) nematodes belonging to the genera Haemonchus (61.0%), Oesophagostomum (21.0%) and Trichostrongylus (17.9%). Faecal egg counts (FEC) increased very slowly but significantly from April to maximum levels in September, and varied marginally between the two market sources. The majority of goats (68.8 and 70.1% at the two markets) had low FEC not exceeding 50 eggs/g (epg). FEC did not differ significantly between the sexes or between age classes. Packed cell volume (PCV) also declined significantly with month of the study, but was affected by host sex (a significant month x sex interaction) being generally higher in male animals throughout the period. There was a highly significant negative correlation between log₁₀(FEC+1) and PCV, when all other factors had been taken into account. Body condition scores (BCS) also declined with month of the study, but there was a marked difference between the two sexes, with male animals generally showing a greater stability of BCS across the months compared with females. Trypanosome infections were found in only 4% of the goats and only during the rainy season. Most infections (92.86%) were caused by Trypanosoma brucei alone although T. vivax and T. congolense were occasionally detected. Overall, the majority of goats sampled each month maintained generally good body condition (BCS 3.0-5.0), normal or slightly reduced PCV, even when concurrently infected with trypanosomes and GI nematodes. However, four concurrently infected goats showed signs of overt anaemia during periods of peak infection, during the late rainy season, with marked reductions in PCV (< 15%). Two of the infected goats were also in poor body condition with BCS of < 2.0. There was no evidence of additive or synergistic pathogenic effects of the two parasites. These results are discussed in the context of the unexpectedly strong resistance and resilience of the savanna WAD ecotype to its native strains of GI nematode and trypanosome parasites.

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“…Sheep belonging to the LWb phenotype or class (strong responders) had significantly lower FEC than those of the HWb (weak responders) phenotype. Such variability in worm burden was described by Chiejina et al (2002Chiejina et al ( , 2005Chiejina et al ( , 2009) and Fakae et al (2004) in humid zone ecotype of Nigerian WAD goats and Chiejina et al (2009Chiejina et al ( , 2010 in savanna ecotype of the Nigerian WAD goats experimentally infected with their native strains of H. contortus. Behnke et al (2006Behnke et al ( , 2011 confirmed that this pattern of responsiveness also occur under natural acquired field infections with mixed GI nematodes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…These are 'resistance' and 'resilience' (Bisset and Morris 1996). Currently, evidence abound that the savanna (Chiejina et al 2009(Chiejina et al , 2010 and humid zone (Fakae et al 1999(Fakae et al , 2004Chiejina et al 2002Chiejina et al , 2005Behnke et al 2006) ecotypes of the Nigerian West African Dwarf (WAD) goat possess a uniquely strong innate resistance and resilience to GI nematode parasites in general and Haemonchus contortus in particular. These workers had described the resistance and resilience of the WAD goats to H. contortus as haemonchotolerance (Fakae et al 2004) and considered it an attribute of the breed, thus making them potential candidates for use in cross-breeding with more productive parasite-susceptible goat breeds for the development of more productive helminth-resistant genotypes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of the humid zone ecotype of the Nigerian West African Dwarf sheep to mixed infections with Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis

Idika

Chiejina

Mhomga³

et al. 2012

Parasitol Res

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The responses of the Nigerian West African Dwarf sheep to experimental infections with two of its most important gastrointestinal (GI) nematodes, namely, Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis were studied by means of two measures of parasitological response, namely, faecal egg count (FEC) and worm burden (Wb), and three measures of host pathology, namely, packed cell volume (PCV), body weight (Bwt) and body condition score (BCS). Following exposure to weekly escalating infections (60% H. contortus and 40% T. colubriformis) starting with single doses of 500 infective larvae (L(3)) at week 1, 1,000 L(3) at week 2, 2,000 L(3) at week 3 and 4,000 L(3) at week 4, two distinctive worm burden response phenotypes were readily recognisable, namely, low Wb (LWb) and high Wb (HWb) phenotypes. The percentage of inoculums (adults and immature stages) recovered at necropsy were 3.75% and 33.08% respectively for H. contortus and T. colubriformis. The results showed that the FECs of the lambs belonging to the LWb phenotype were significantly lower than the FECs of their HWb counterpart. Among the measures of host pathology tested, the LWb phenotype sheep had similar Bwt, PCV and BCS to the uninfected control sheep, whereas the HWb phenotype sheep had significantly lower values than their LWb counterparts and the control sheep towards the end of the experiment. There was a highly significant positive correlation between worm burden transformed as log(10) (Wb + 10) and the average of D56 and D59 FECs. A highly significant negative correlation also was obtained between log(10) (Wb + 10) and the PCV, Bwt and BCS. The low percentage of H. contortus inoculums recovered at necropsy suggested that the sheep may be resistant to their most important GI nematode, H. contortus but less so to T. colubriformis.

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The responses of two ecotypes of Nigerian West African Dwarf goat to experimental infections with Trypanosoma brucei and Haemonchus contortus

Cited by 20 publications

References 20 publications

Phenotypic characterization of the West Africa dwarf goats and the production system in Liberia

Phenotypic characterization of the West Africa dwarf goats and the production system in Liberia

Resistance and resilience of traditionally managed West African Dwarf goats from the savanna zone of northern Nigeria to naturally acquired trypanosome and gastrointestinal nematode infections

Responses of the humid zone ecotype of the Nigerian West African Dwarf sheep to mixed infections with Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis

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