A Comparison of the Prevalence of the Parasites of the Digestive Tract in Goats from Organic and Conventional Farms

The aim of the study was to compare the prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal parasitic infections in goats kept on organic (n = 76) and conventional farms (n = 82). In general, a higher prevalence of some gastrointestinal parasitic infections was found in the conventional farms compared to the organic farms: the mean prevalence of Eimeria spp. was 85.4% in conventional farms and 77.6% in organic farms, that of Fasciola hepatica was 6.10% in conventional farms and 2.63% in organic farms, and that of Moniezia expansa was 31.7% and 17.1%, in conventional and organic farms, respectively. Both farm types demonstrated a similar mean prevalence of nematodes (80.3 vs. 84.2%). Conventional farms demonstrated a significantly higher intensity of infection with E. arloingi, Haemonchus spp., Nematodirus spp. and Moniezia expansa compared to organic farms. They also demonstrated a higher intensity of infection with Eimeria spp. than organic farms. The prophylactic programs used to combat parasitic infections in both types of farms appear ineffective and require improvement. There is a need for goat herds to be covered by ongoing parasitological monitoring. It is also recommended that keepers employ rotational or intensive rotational grazing methods and take care to ensure the hygiene of animal quarters and livestock rooms.

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The Goat as a Risk Factor for Parasitic Infections in Ovine Flocks

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11072077 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 2077

Author(s):

David García-Dios ◽

Rosario Panadero ◽

Pablo Díaz ◽

Miguel Viña ◽

Susana Remesar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

Fasciola Hepatica ◽

Small Ruminants ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Gastrointestinal Nematodes ◽

Parasitic Infections ◽

Joint Management ◽

Eimeria Spp ◽

Northwestern Spain ◽

Pasture Contamination

Small ruminants in northwestern Spain are frequently managed in mixed flocks. Sheep–goat joint management has not been considered a risk factor for parasite infection, so the main objective of this study was to establish if mixed management with goats supposes a risk factor for parasitic infections in ovine flocks. Two thousand and ninety-three sheep were sampled from 74 commercial meat ovine flocks for diagnostic of the main parasites. Goat contact was a risk factor for sheep to be infected by protostrongylids, Dictyocaulus filaria, gastrointestinal nematodes and Eimeria spp. In contrast, Moniezia, Fasciola hepatica, Dicrocoelium dendriticum and Paramphistomidae prevalences were not influenced. Sheep–goat mixed management can be considered as a risk factor, since goats would act as a source of pasture contamination for interspecific parasites (protostrongylids, Dictyocaulus filaria and gastrointestinal nematodes). In relation to host-specific parasites, such as Eimeria spp., goats cannot be considered as a source for sheep, but competition for food and spaces between both small ungulates can suppose a reduced grazing area to sheep, provoking high environmental contamination and stress that facilitate their infection. Future epidemiological studies for parasitic infections in small ruminants should consider sheep–goat mixed management as a possible risk factor to be included in multivariate analyses.

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Presence of endoparasites in the Greek buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) from Northern Greece

Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society ◽

10.12681/jhvms.18019 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 69 (2) ◽

pp. 999 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A. FOUNTA ◽

E. PAPADOPOULOS ◽

S. CHLIOUNAKIS ◽

V. A. BAMPIDIS ◽

M. PAPAZAHARIADOU

Keyword(s):

Fasciola Hepatica ◽

Bubalus Bubalis ◽

Gastrointestinal Nematodes ◽

Parasitic Infections ◽

Northern Greece ◽

Toxocara Vitulorum ◽

Faecal Samples ◽

Eimeria Spp ◽

Paramphistomum Cervi ◽

Lake Kerkini

This study was conducted in order to determine the presence of parasitic infections of the Greek buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in the Prefecture of Serres, Northern Greece. During the period from February to October 2014, faecal samples from 110 buffaloes of the Greek buffalo breed (Bubalus bubalis), from 9 farms located in proximity to Lake Kerkini, in the Prefecture of Serres, Northern Greece, were examined, in order to find reproductive elements of parasites. Out of 110 faecal samples examined, 102 (92.73%) were found infected with reproductive elements (eggs, larvae, cysts and oocysts) of parasites. Specifically, the parasites found were: Eimeria spp. (40%), Entamoeba bovis (16.36%), Paramphistomum cervi (10%), Fasciola hepatica (16.36%), Dicrocoelium dendriticum (28.18%), Moniezia benedeni (27.27%), Toxocara vitulorum (11.82%), Strongylida (gastrointestinal nematodes) (31.82%) and lungworms (28.18%). The present study appears to be the first report of the detection of lungworms in buffaloes, in Greece.

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Nitrate leaching from organic farms and conventional farms following best practice

Soil Use and Management ◽

10.1111/j.1475-2743.2002.tb00267.x ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 18 ◽

pp. 256-263 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

C. Stopes ◽

E.I. Lord ◽

L. Philipps ◽

L. Woodward

Keyword(s):

Nitrate Leaching ◽

Best Practice ◽

Organic Farms ◽

Conventional Farms

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A holistic sustainability assessment of organic (certified and non-certified) and non-organic smallholder farms in Kenya

Environment Development and Sustainability ◽

10.1007/s10668-021-01736-y ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Juliet Wanjiku Kamau ◽

Christian Schader ◽

Lisa Biber-Freudenberger ◽

Till Stellmacher ◽

David M. Amudavi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Management Practices ◽

Farm Management ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Economic Resilience ◽

Organic Farms ◽

Smallholder Farms ◽

Sustainability Performance ◽

Certified Organic ◽

Environmental Integrity ◽

Farm Types

AbstractThe introduction of organic farm management practices in sub-Saharan Africa could act as a lever for supporting regional sustainable development. In this study, we sought to assess the sustainability performance of organic (certified and non-certified) and non-organic farms in the dry Kajiado County and the wet Murang’a County in Kenya, based on four sustainability dimensions: Good Governance, Environmental Integrity, Economic Resilience and Social Well-Being. We collected household survey data from 400 smallholder farms, which were formally characterized into five types (mixed organic and conventional, certified organic, organic, conventional, and subsistence farms). We used multivariate analysis of variance, linear fixed-effects and general linear models to examine differences in sustainability performance. Model results indicate that all farms lack reliable farm management information and that only limited knowledge, skills and social security exist for farmers and farm workers. Comparison of the five farm types indicates no significant differences in their sustainability performance. Nonetheless, certified organic farms had better sustainability performance than non-certified farms due to higher economic resilience, environmental integrity, better support and training for workers. However, except for avoiding the use of agrochemicals in certified farms, there is relatively little difference in the farm management practices across farm types. Our results also indicate that farms in Murang’a were more sustainable than those in Kajiado due to better regional land-tenure security and conflict resolution mechanisms, soil and water conservation measures, and farm commercial viability. Nonetheless, unlike Kajiado, farms in Murang’a showed a tendency toward poor animal husbandry practices which affects overall animal welfare, limited credit uptake and market involvement. The results of this study can support decision making to identify appropriate interventions for improving sustainability in smallholder farms.

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Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and their associated risk factors among preschool and school children in Egypt

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0258037 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (9) ◽

pp. e0258037

Author(s):

Walid Elmonir ◽

Haitham Elaadli ◽

Anan Amer ◽

Hammed El-Sharkawy ◽

Mohamed Bessat ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

School Children ◽

Low Income ◽

Fasciola Hepatica ◽

Companion Animals ◽

Preschool Age ◽

Parasitic Infections ◽

Study Region ◽

Effective Prevention ◽

Intestinal Parasitic Infections

Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are among the major public health problems globally, particularly in developing countries like Egypt. This study aimed to evaluate prevalence and risk factors associated with IPIs among preschool and school children in Egypt. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 996 randomly selected preschool and school-aged children in Gharbia governorate during January to April 2018. Stool specimens were examined for the presence of the parasite by direct smear and the formol-ether concentration methods. The overall prevalence of IPIs was 46.2%. Entamoeba histolytica and Ascaris lumbricoides were the most predominant parasites (12.7% per each). This is followed by Enterobius vermicularis (8.6%), Giardia lamblia (7.1%), Cryptosporidium parvum (1.5%), Heterophyes heterophyes (1.4%), Hymenolepis nana (0.7%), Hookworms (0.6%), Fasciola hepatica (0.5%) and Dipylidium caninum (0.4%). Infected children with no symptoms (26.8%) were significantly (P < 0.001) more frequent than those with medical complaint (19.4%). Socio-demographic predictors of IPIs were preschool age (OR = 4.9; P < 0.001; 95%CI 3.3–7.3), living in rural dwellings (OR = 1.96; P < 0.001; 95%CI 1.5–2.5), and belonging to a low-income family (OR = 4.7; P < 0.001; 95%CI 2.3–9.3). The absence of safe drinking water, lack of hand washing (after soil contact, or before meals, or after toilet usage), and eating unwashed vegetables were risk factors for IPIs in the study region (OR = 1.3–6.9, P < 0.001 –P = 0.05). Higher odds for exposure to potential zoonotic parasites were evident in children with pets in their homes for G. lambia and D. caninum (OR = 2.1–8.3; P = 0.02 –P = 0.04), children having household reared ruminants for C. parvum (OR = 10.4; P < 0.001), and children that play with stray animals for E. histolytica and Hookworm (OR = 1.8–6.3; P = 0.04 –P = 0.05)compared to other children with no animal contact. The present study highlights the importance of periodic screening and treatment of IPIs in children, deworming companion animals, and public education for effective prevention of IPIs in children in Egypt.

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The influence of water temperature and pH on the survival of Fasciola hepatica miracidia

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182000054378 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 88 (1) ◽

pp. 97-104 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

G. Smith ◽

B. T. Grenfell

Keyword(s):

Maximum Likelihood Method ◽

Fasciola Hepatica ◽

Good Description ◽

Survival Function ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Likelihood Method ◽

Confidence Limits ◽

Mean Values ◽

Influence Of Water ◽

The Mean

SUMMARYExperimental studies on the survival of Fasciola hepatica miracidia show no evidence that miracidial mortality varies with the pH of the medium, at least in the range 6·0–8·0. On the other hand, miracidial mortality is shown to vary with both the temperature of the medium and the age of the larvae. The mean expected life-span of the miracidium decreases from about 35 h at 6°C to about 6° h at 25° C. The Gompertz survival function provides a good description of the miracidial survivorship curves over the range of temperatures used, and we describe, a maximum likelihood method of estimating the mean values of the parameters of this function, together with their approximate 95% confidence limits.

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Fascioloides magna (Trematoda) in woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) of the George River herd, Labrador

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z88-067 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 66 (2) ◽

pp. 475-479 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Murray W. Lankester ◽

Stu Luttich

Keyword(s):

Rangifer Tarandus ◽

Age Groups ◽

Liver Weight ◽

Rangifer Tarandus Caribou ◽

Woodland Caribou ◽

Intensity Of Infection ◽

Fascioloides Magna ◽

The Mean ◽

George River ◽

Liver Flukes

Fifty-eight percent of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) of the George River herd, Labrador, were infected with up to 110 giant American liver flukes (Fascioloides magna). The prevalence and intensity of infection did not differ between 2 sampling years or between sexes. Prevalence tended to increase with age while intensity did not differ among age groups. Liver weight increased with intensity of infection but condition, as measured by the mean depth of back fat, did not differ between infected and uninfected animals. Caribou must be considered a suitable host of F. magna since the growth and maturation of the parasite and lesions produced in Rangifer resemble those in deer and wapiti.

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Fasciola hepatica larval development within the intermediate host.

10.1079/9781789246162.0002 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 23-64

Author(s):

Gilles Dreyfuss ◽

Philippe Sindou ◽

Philippe Hourdin ◽

Philippe Vignoles ◽

Daniel Rondelaud

Keyword(s):

Intermediate Host ◽

Larval Development ◽

Fasciola Hepatica ◽

Parasitic Infections ◽

Snail Species ◽

Larval Behavior ◽

Host Snail

Abstract This book chapter focuses on host snail species and larval behavior forms in snails, and features of parasitic infections in naturally or experimentally infected snails, or in coinfected snails.

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Prevalence of gastro-intestinal parasites of calves in Mirsarai Upazilla of Chittagong district of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.3329/bjas.v42i2.18494 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 42 (2) ◽

pp. 139-142

Author(s):

TC Nath ◽

MJU Bhuiyan ◽

MS Alam

Keyword(s):

Intestinal Parasites ◽

Fasciola Gigantica ◽

Gastrointestinal Parasites ◽

Parasitic Infections ◽

Faecal Examination ◽

Fecal Samples ◽

Eimeria Spp

To investigate the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of calves, 450 feacal samples were collected from Mirsarai Upazilla of Chittagong District of Bangladesh during the period from 2011 to 2012. Fecal samples of calves aged up to 6 months of three different genotypes were examined for gastrointestinal parasites. The results of faecal examination revealed that 54.22% calves were infected with some of the parasites. Toxocara spp (22.66%), Eimeria spp (17.33%), Strongyloides spp (6.44%), gastrointestinal strongyles (3.78%), Moniezia spp (01.78%), Trichuris spp (01.56%) and Fasciola gigantica (0.66%) were found. We found eggs of Toxocara spp eggs, Strongyloides spp eggs and oocysts of Eimeria spp during the age of first month, gastrointestinal strongyles eggs and Moniezia eggs at/during/within the age of 3 months and eggs of Trichuris spp and Fasciola gigantic during the age of five months of age. Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in Local, Shahiwal cross and Holstein Frisian cross were 46%, 52% and 62%, respectively. The age and genotype of the calves and the locality of investigations might have influenced the prevalence of the parasitic infections. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v42i2.18494 Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2013. 42 (2): 139-142

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