The Occurence of Gastrointestinal Parasitic Infections and Assessment of Therapeutic Procedures among Ruminants in Aruba

Bc. Dominika Roudná

Diplomová práce

Abstract:

The research of the diploma thesis was focused on monitoring the occurrence of developmental stages of parasites in sheep and goats on selected farms on the island of Aruba. It was a pilot project focused on the demonstration of protozoa and helminths and further verification of the effectiveness of the chemical preparation and plant extract, with the declaration of effectiveness against coccidiosis. In collaboration with Riem van den Berg DVM, microbiologist, interim Head of the Veterinary Service in Aruba, research was carried out in field conditions and in the laboratory and the presence of parasitic species of coccidia Eimeria spp. nematodes and Trichuris spp. The research took place in the period February 2019-December 2020 on selected sheep and goat farms, in cooperation with the Veterinary Diest Aruba and local breeders. There were four farms, where a total of 202 samples of sheep and goat droppings were taken and subsequently processed in the laboratory. Initially, the research was focused on parasitological monitoring, to determine parasitic agents using the flotation-centrifugation method. In the next stage of the research, sampling was targeted at farms where the positive occurrence of parasites in individual animals was confirmed, followed by laboratory examinations before and after the application of antiparasitics. The aim was to demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of the veterinary medicinal product Vecoxan® (Inc. Elanco, UK), containing diclazuril and plant extract Emanox® (Biokron Ltd. comp., Czech Republic) in selected localities of the Caribbean island based on laboratory results. Manure collection was performed individually, from the youngest individuals raised on farms, before and after administration of medicinal products Vecoxan®, containing diclazuril, was administered to the first two farms B (Sero Alejandro) and C (Sero Grandy). On other farms D (Jaburubari) and E (San Nicolas) the natural plant extract Emanox® was applied in control and monitored groups of animals. The efficacy of both products was statistically evaluated, similar to the weight gain of animals after drug administration. The results initially showed a 100% occurrence of coccidia of the genus Eimeria spp. in sheep and goats, on all farms. After administration of the medicinal products, a reduced intensity of infection of developmental stages of Eimeria oocysts was statistically demonstrated in both monitored anticoccidials and animal species, ie in the medicinal product Emanox® (p = 0.001896 in sheep, p = 0.014095 in goats). Nevertheless, in the treatment of coccidiosis, a higher efficacy of the anticoccidial agent containing diclazuril was found, when there was a significant decrease in the intensity of infection in sheep (p = 0.000135), compared to goats (p = 0.002633). For product D, a statistically significant difference (p = 0.15239) was found in the reduction in infection intensity between goats and sheep. In addition, the mean pre-drug weight was in sheep (Emanox® - 17.75 ± 6.90 kg, Vecoxan® -77 ± 2.46 kg) and goats (Emanox® - 14.50 ± 4.53, Vecoxan® - 13.27 ± 2 , 90 kg) and administration in sheep (Emanox® - 19.94 ± 6.86 kg, Vecoxan® - 14.82 ± 1.87 kg) and goats (Emanox® - 16, 94 ± 4.43 kg, Vecoxan® - 15, 68 ± 2, 68kg). Thus, no statistically significant differences between sheep and goats either in the initial average weight or in the average weight after administration of the product. Differences in animal weights after drug administration were in sheep (Emanox® - 2.19 ± 0.26 kg, Vecoxan® - 3.05 ± 2.04 kg) and goats (Emanox® - 2.44 ± 0.63 kg, Vecoxan® - 2 , 41 ± 1.59 kg). Given the growing number of animals reared on the island without any medicinal products, attention should be focused on biosecurity in the youngest age group of sheep and goats, as coccidiosis has a high prevalence and could affect the economics of small-scale farming animal farms in Aruba.

Keywords

parasites, sheep, goats, antiparasitic treatment, biosecurity

Jazyk práce: angličtina

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 22. 4. 2021

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Vedoucí: prof. MVDr. Daniela Lukešová, CSc.

Česká zemědělská univerzita v Praze

Fakulta tropického zemědělství

Magisterský studijní program / obor:
Tropické zemědělství / Wildlife Management in Tropics and Subtropics