DETECTION OF MULTIPLE ANTHELMINTIC RESISTANCE OF GASTROINTESTINAL NEMATODES IN SMALL RUMINANTS OF CENTRAL AND NORTHERN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Abstract

The current study has been designed to detect multiple anthelmintic resistance against gastrointestinal nematodes in small ruminants reared at central and northern Punjab, Pakistan. The potential production of small ruminants is greatly affected by the development of anthelmintic resistance. The rates of appearance of anthelmintic resistance against gastrointestinal nematodes all over the world appear to differ geographically and in accord with the current climate, parasites type and treatment regime adopt in the region. Various in vivo and in vitro methods were used to detect multiple anthelmintic drugs resistance. First of all, to conduct a comprehensive studies on selected sheep and goat herds to evaluate the reliability of treatment with wide spectrum anthelmintic drugs using faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) and, concurrently, to undertake in vitro egg hatch assays (EHA) to evaluate the susceptibility of nematode to anthelmintic drugs. Mean faecal egg count, percentage reduction and 95 per cent confidence interval were calculated by using the formula recommended by the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP) for detecting multiple anthelmintic resistant gastrointestinal nematodes of ruminants. Multiple anthelmintic resistance was found in selected goats and sheep flocks. All flocks were found resistance against the albendazol; six were resistance against levamisol, two suspected for resistance. Seven flocks were susceptible against Ivermectin while one is suspected for resistance. The results revealed that a significant difference (P<0.05) of FECRT were found on pretreatment and after post-treatment with different anthelmintic drug as compared to control group in all the flocks. The results against albendazol were also confirmed by the Egg Hatch Assay (EHA). Results of EHT revealed that all the eight flocks found positive for resistance against albendazol. The LC50 values ranged from 0.138 μg/mL to 0.152 μg/mL, which confirmed the results of FECRT.