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Influence of sustained deworming pressure on the anthelmintic resistance status in strongyles of sheep under field conditions

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Abstract

Anthelmintic resistance (AR) status in Madras Red sheep from selected field flocks of a government funded scheme, covered by regular, sustained anthelmintic treatment for more than 10 years was determined. Parameters such as fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT), larval paralysis assay (LPA), and allele-specific-PCR (AS-PCR) were used to test the efficacy of fenbendazole, tetramisole, and ivermectin at recommended doses, in two seasons. Sheep belonging to non-beneficiary farmers were used as controls. Mean FECRT values of beneficiary group during winter and summer seasons were 77.77 and 76.04, 93.65 and 92.12, and 95.37 and 98.06 %, respectively, for fenbendazole, tetramisole, and ivermectin. In the non-beneficiary groups, the corresponding values were 74.82 and 81.09 %, 96.05 and 97.40 %, and 97.26 and 98.23 %, respectively. The results revealed resistance to fenbendazole, suspect resistance to tetramisole and susceptibility to ivermectin in beneficiary flock. In non-beneficiary flock, while resistance was noticed against fenbendazole, both tetramisole and ivermectin were effective. FECR values were found to be significantly different between beneficiary and non-beneficiary groups against tetramisole. The results of LPA confirmed this finding, as 50 % of the Haemonchus contortus larvae were paralyzed at the concentration of 0.0156 μg/ml in the beneficiary group, while those of non-beneficiary groups required lower concentrations of 0.0078 μg/ml. AS-PCR revealed the predominance of heterozygous susceptible population of H. contortus in the beneficiary group. In this study, resistance to fenbendazole was confirmed in both the beneficiary and non-beneficiary groups and this could be attributed to frequent use of benzimidazoles as seen from the deworming records. Emergence of tetramisole resistance was detected in the beneficiary group, where the drug was used continuously for 4 years. Ivermectin was found to be effective in all the flocks. It is recommended that the practice of routine deworming of three to four times a year should be avoided, as it can lead to emergence of anthelmintic resistance.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Indian Council of Agricultural Research scheme on Network Project on Sheep Improvement for the logistic assistance and the farmers of the constituent flocks for extending their support. They thank the Director for Centre for Animal Production Studies, TANUVAS, Chennai, for granting permission to carry out the research. The cooperation and help from staff of NWPSI during the study period is acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Madras Veterinary College (TANUVAS), Vepery, Chennai, 600 007, Tamil Nadu, India

    M. K. Vijayasarathi

  2. Postgraduate Research Institute in Animal Sciences, Kattupakkam, Kanchipuram, 603 203, Tamil Nadu, India

    C. Sreekumar & R. Venkataramanan

  3. Translational Research Platform for Veterinary Biologicals, Madhavaram Milk Colony, Chennai, 600 051, Tamil Nadu, India

    M. Raman

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  1. M. K. Vijayasarathi
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  2. C. Sreekumar
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  3. R. Venkataramanan
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Correspondence to M. K. Vijayasarathi.

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Vijayasarathi, M.K., Sreekumar, C., Venkataramanan, R. et al. Influence of sustained deworming pressure on the anthelmintic resistance status in strongyles of sheep under field conditions. Trop Anim Health Prod 48, 1455–1462 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-016-1117-3

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