Publikationsdatenbank

Impact of natural trypanosome and helminth infections on the productivity of cattle in Busia district, Kenya (2005)

Art

Poster

Autoren

Karanja, S. M.

Zessin, K. H.

Kyule, M.

Bauer, B

Clausen, P H

Kongress

Tagung der DVG-Fachgruppe

Postdam, 22. – 24.06.2005

Quelle

Diagnostik, Epidemiologie und Bekämpfung von Parasitosen bei Nutz-, Haus- und Heimtieren — Schein, Eberhard (Hrsg.)

Berlin: Mensch & Buch Verlag, 2005 — S. 60

ISBN: 3-89820-907-5

Sprache

Englisch

Kontakt

Institut für Parasitologie und Tropenveterinärmedizin

Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13
14163 Berlin
+49 30 838 62310
parasitologie@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

A longitudinal study was conducted in Budalang’i and Funyula divisions of Busia District in Kenya to assess the importance of trypanosome and helminth infections on the performance of Zebu and exotic/crossbred cattle. Two hundred ear-tagged local Zebu and exotic/crossbred cattle, stratified by breed and age, were purposively sampled from each division. They were randomly assigned to 4 trial groups consisting of 50 (20 adults, 15 heifers and 15 calves) animals per group. Group I served as control, while Group II animals were prophylactically treated with isometamidium chloride at 1 mg/kg bw. Group III animals received albendazole at 10mg/kg bw and Group IV cattle were given albendazole at 10mg/kg bw and isometamidium chloride at 1 mg/kg bw. The treatment regimes were repeated every three months during the 9-month follow-up study period. All animals were monitored monthly for trypanosome and helminth infections using the BCT and the McMaster technique, respectively and for monthly profiles of packed cell volume (PCV). Results indicate that in both divisions, the risk of new trypanosome infections was highest in the control- followed by albendazole- and then by the ISMM-treated animals and lowest in the albendazole/ISMM-treated ones. Calves had significantly higher faecal egg counts (FEC) than any other age group. In addition, free grazed animals were also shedding significantly higher numbers of eggs than tethered and stall-fed animals. Combined trypanosome and helminth infections significantly reduced PCV of infected cattle and weight gains in calves, although helminth infections were a much more important factor in calves. Faecal egg counts were significantly reduced by albendazole treatment. Combined albendazole/ISMM resulted in significant weight gains in calves, improved PCV and reduced mortality rates in cattle.