THE EFFECTS OF MIXED INFECTION OF STRONGYLES IN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS IN THE VETERINARY RESEARCH INSTITUTE

LILY ROZITA M.H.1*, CHANDRAWATHANI P.1, ERWANAS A.I.1, PREMAALATHA B.1, ZAINI C.M.1, LEE C.H.2, CHONG K.L.2, AGNES NG W.S.2 AND RAMLAN M.1

This paper reports the
relationship between mixed infections of
strongyles with fecal egg count (FEC),
packed cell volume (PCV) of the blood
and FAMACHA in experimental sheep
in VRI. The third larval stage (L3) of
strongylid nematode were fed orally to
two experimental sheep. Each animal was
given 3 ml L3 or equivalent to 3000 larvae.
Faecal samples were then collected weekly
for a 10 week duration. The FAMACHA
scale for anemia estimation was used and
blood collection through ear tip was also
done twice a week to measure the packed
cell volume (PCV) of the blood. The results
show that the PCV decreases while faecal
egg counts increase over the study period.
The FAMACHA scale also increases with
time indicating a progressive anemia
with the decreasing PCV. As helminth
infections are common in small ruminants,
the effects of anemia are critical parameters
to be monitored in any flock as this will
determine its productivity in terms of
mortality and morbidity.