Resistance of Galla and Small East African goats in the sub-humid tropics to gastrointestinal nematode infections and the peri-parturient rise in faecal egg counts

• Published in: Veterinary parasitology Vol. 79; no. 1; pp. 53 - 64
• Main Authors: Baker, R.L, Mwamachi, D.M, Audho, J.O, Aduda, E.O, Thorpe, W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.09.1998
• Subjects: Animals; Body Weight; Breeding; BREEDS (ANIMALS); CAPRIN; CAPRINOS; Feces - parasitology; Female; Genetic resistance; Goat Diseases - genetics; Goat Diseases - immunology; Goat Diseases - parasitology; GOATS; HAEMONCHUS CONTORTUS; Hematocrit - veterinary; Immunity, Innate - genetics; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - genetics; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - immunology; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic - veterinary; KENIA; KENYA; Labor, Obstetric - immunology; Lactation - immunology; Least-Squares Analysis; Litter Size - physiology; Male; Nematoda; Nematode Infections - genetics; Nematode Infections - immunology; Nematode Infections - veterinary; Parasite Egg Count - veterinary; Peri-parturient rise; PEST RESISTANCE; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic - immunology; Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic - parasitology; Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic - veterinary; RACE (ANIMAL); RAZAS (ANIMALES); RESISTANCE AUX ORGANISMES NUISIBLES; RESISTENCIA A LAS PLAGAS; SUBHUMID ZONES; Tropical Climate; ZONA SUBHUMEDA; ZONE SUBHUMIDE; Kenya; Haemonchus contortus; Peri-parturient rise; Goats; Kenya; Nematoda; Genetic resistance
• DOI: 10.1016/S0304-4017(98)00151-4
• ISSN: 0304-4017

A study was carried out from 1994 to 1996 to compare the resistance to naturally acquired gastrointestinal (GI) nematode infections (predominantly Haemonchus contortus) of 88 Galla and 114 Small East African (SEA) goats (does) in the sub-humid coastal region of Kenya. Live weights (LWT), blood packed cell volume (PCV) and faecal egg counts (FEC) were recorded each year at mating, 3–4 months after mating, 1–2 weeks before kidding and 1–4 months after kidding. There was a significant increase in FEC and a decline in PCV in lactating does compared to non-lactating does over the peri-parturient period. This peri-parturient rise in FEC occurred in both breeds but was more marked and persistent in the Galla than in the SEA. The SEA does were more resistant to GI nematode infections than Galla does as shown by their significantly lower FEC and higher PCV at all sampling times over the reproductive cycle, but this breed difference was particularly marked over the lactation period.