News
Small Ruminant Parasite Control focus of RUSVM Researcher
06/10/10
Dr. Adriano Vatta, professor for parasitology at RUSVM, recently attended the Southern Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control (SCRSRPC, www.wormx.org), which brings together parasitologists, animal and pasture scientists, veterinarians and extension agents from nine states of the south-eastern US, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, South Africa, and St. Kitts. The goals of the group are to develop novel methods for the sustainable control of gastrointestinal nematodes in small ruminants (sheep and goats) and to educate the stakeholders in the small ruminant industry on the most up-to-date methods and recommendations for the control of these parasites. The driving force behind this research are the alarming levels of anthelmintic (dewormer) resistance that is prevalent on sheep and goat farms of the south-eastern US and on sheep and goat farms worldwide.
At the annual meeting in Auburn, Alabama, the group presented updates on experiments to test the anthelmintic properties of sericea lespedeza, a leguminous forage, that may be grazed by sheep and goats or fed as a hay or in pelleted form. Work was also presented on the use of copper oxide wire particles for their anthelmintic properties and on the potential use of orange oils as dewormers. The group has produced a guide for the training of producers in the use of “smart drenching” and the FAMACHA© system, a method used to identify and treat sheep and goats that are suffering from anemia as a result of infection with the barber’s pole worm (Haemonchus contortus).
Dr. Vatta presented a talk entitled, “Extended efficacy of copper oxide wire particles against Haemonchus contortus in grazing goats." This work showed that the efficacy of the copper oxide wire particles is limited to a month, but indicated that repeated treatments every two to three months could probably be safely given – a potentially viable alternative to the use of conventional anthelmintics. Future plans include updates to the website and continued research towards refining the results for producer uptake and application.
