Prevalence of helminths and helminth control practices in Molo division, Nakuru District, Kenya.

摘要

A survey was conducted on the prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes, general farm management and worm control programmes in 40 small-holder farms with a total of 391 sheep in the Turi, Kamara, Sachangwan and Kerisoi areas of Molo, Kenya. Nematodeinfections were found in 54.7% of the sheep and included Haemonchus (58.78% of all nematodes), Oesophagostomum (15.74%), Trichostrongylus (12.09%), Cooperia (7.09%), Nematodirus (3.34%), Strongyloides (1.3%), Bunostomum (0.89%) and Ostertagia (0.78%). The number of eggs per gram (epg) of faeces ranged from 100 to 4700, with 90% of flocks having an average epg of <500. Levamisole, albendazole or febantel had been used in 87.5% of the farms. In most farms anthelmintics were given only in response to perceived helminthiasis. There were no significant differences in worm burdens between farms using and not using anthelmintics. Pasture rotation and other management practices to limit exposure to nematodes were unknown to most farmers. Nematode infection rates were influenced by age, the presence of coccidia, the location of the farm and the type of water source used. For sheep without coccidia, the nematode infection rate decreased with age; in sheep with coccidia the nematode infection rate increased with age. The survey indicated that worm control programmes in Molo are based on occasional and haphazard anthelmintic treatment.