Risk Factors of Gastrointestinal Nematode Infections in Small Ruminants in Kenya
Author Information
Author(s): Odoi Agricola, Gathuma Joseph M, Gachuiri Charles K, Omore Amos
Primary Institution: Department of Comparative Medicine, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN., USA
Hypothesis
What are the burden and risk factors of gastrointestinal nematode parasite infections in sheep and goats kept in smallholder mixed farms in Kenya?
Conclusion
Controlling gastrointestinal helminths in resource-poor smallholder mixed farms requires a sustainable integrated helminth control strategy that includes zero-grazing and farmer education.
Supporting Evidence
- Farmer education, age category, de-worming during the preceding month, and grazing system were significant predictors of fecal egg counts.
- 49.6% of the recorded fecal egg counts were zero, indicating a high number of animals with no detectable infections.
- The study identified significant interactions between grazing system and both de-worming and age category.
Takeaway
This study found that how farmers manage their animals affects the number of worms in sheep and goats, and teaching them better practices can help keep their animals healthy.
Methodology
Fecal samples were collected from 307 small ruminants across 66 farms, and fecal egg counts were performed using the modified McMaster technique.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to reliance on farmer-reported data and the observational nature of the study.
Limitations
The study was limited to a single year and may not represent variations in other years.
Participant Demographics
Farmers had a median age of 55 years and a median of 16 years of farming experience.
Statistical Information
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website