dc.contributor.author | Maingi, N | |
dc.contributor.author | Otieno, R O | |
dc.contributor.author | Weda, E H | |
dc.contributor.author | Gichohi, V.M | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2013-05-26T07:06:14Z | |
dc.date.available | 2013-05-26T07:06:14Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2002 | |
dc.identifier.citation | Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, 69:229-235 (2002) | en |
dc.identifier.uri | http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/25850 | |
dc.description.abstract | The effectiveness of anthelmintic treatments given 3 weeks after the onset of rains to control gastrointestinal
nematodes in sheep in the highlands of central Kenya was investigated. The study was
carried out on a farm situated approximately 85 km north west of Nairobi in Nyandarua District of
central Kenya. In May 1999, 35 Corriedale ram lambs aged between 8 and 10 months were eartagged,
weighed and given albendazole at 3.8 mg/kg body mass. The animals were then allocated
to three treatment groups.
Three weeks after onset of both the short and long rains' season in November 1999 and April 2000
respectively, lambs in groups 1 and 2 were dewormed. Lambs in group 1 were given closantel at 10
mg/kg body mass in November and closantel plus albendazole at 3.8 mg/kg body mass in April.
Lambs in group 2 were given albendazole at 3.8 mg/kg body mass on both occasions, while lambs
in group 3 were maintained as the untreated controls. Nematode eggs per gram of faeces (epg) for
lambs in the control group were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than in the treated groups beginning
from November, when the strategic treatments started. The levels of epg did not differ significantly
between the two treated groups. Body mass for the treated groups was significantly higher (P < 0.05)
than for the control group from January 2000 until the experiment was terminated. The rainfall
received in the study area in 2000 during the long rain season was inadequate and only occurred for
a short period. The amount of herbage on pastures was therefore not adequate and all the study
animals started losing mass from June 2000 until the experiment was terminated. The cumulative
mass gain and amount of wool produced by the treated lambs during the study period did not differ
significantly. There was therefore no difference in using either of the two drugs. It is concluded that,
strategic anthelmintic treatments of sheep at the start of the wet season in the highlands of central
Kenya is effective in controlling gastrointestinal nematodes. To prevent high levels of re-infection during
the season of the long rains (April to June), it is recommended that, during this season, a second
treatment be given 5-6 weeks after the first one or at the start of the dry season. | en |
dc.language.iso | en | en |
dc.publisher | University of Nairobi | en |
dc.subject | Albendazole | en |
dc.subject | closantel | en |
dc.subject | control | en |
dc.subject | gastrointestinal nematodes | en |
dc.subject | Kenya highlands | en |
dc.subject | Sheep | en |
dc.title | Strategic control of gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep in the highlands of central Kenya | en |
dc.type | Article | en |
local.publisher | Department of Veterinary Pathology, Micribiology and parasitology, University of Nairobi, Kenya | en |