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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Booneville, Arkansas » Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #260461
Title: Efficacy of copper oxide wire particles against gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep and goats

Author
item SOLI, F - Fort Valley State University
item TERRILL, T - Fort Valley State University
item SHAIK, S - Fort Valley State University
item GETZ, W - Fort Valley State University
item MILLER, J - Louisiana State University
item VANGURU, M - Fort Valley State University
item Burke, Joan

Submitted to: Veterinary Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/4/2009
Publication Date: 2/26/2010
Citation: Soli, F., Terrill, T.H., Shaik, S.A., Getz, W.R., Miller, J.E., Vanguru, M., Burke, J.M. 2010. Efficacy of copper oxide wire particles against gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep and goats. Veterinary Parasitology. 168(1-2):93-96.

Interpretive Summary: Widespread resistance of gastrointestinal worms to chemical dewormers has led to the need for alternative parasite control. Copper oxide wire particles (COWP) have been used as an alternative to chemical dewormers in sheep and goats, but efficacy between species has not been examined. Scientists at Fort Valley State University, GA, Louisiana State University and USDA, ARS in Booneville, AR determined that COWP was equally effective against Haemonchus contortus in sheep and goats. These results are important to producers, extension agents, and scientists.

Technical Abstract: Economic sheep and goat production in the USA is severely limited by gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) parasitism, particularly by Haemonchus contortus, a highly pathogenic blood-feeder. Copper oxide wire particles (COWP) have anti-parasitic properties in the diet of small ruminants, but efficacy of COWP may differ between sheep and goats. In a study with weaned kids (Kiko x Spanish cross, 6 months old) and lambs (Katahdin or Dorper x Blackface crosses, 5 months old), grazing the same pasture area in Central Georgia, 2 g of COWP in a gel capsule was given to half the animals of each species, while the other half were given no COWP. Fecal and blood samples were taken weekly to determine GIN fecal egg counts (FEC) and blood packed cell volume (PCV). After COWP treatment, animals were grazed for 4 wk and then slaughtered, with adult GIN recovered from the abomasum and small intestines for counting and identification to species. For both sheep and goats, COWP treatment reduced EPG (P<0.05), increased PCV (P<0.05), and lowered abomasal GIN numbers (P<0.05). For EPG, these differences were 82.5 and 90.5% for sheep and goats, respectively, 26 days after treatment, while adult H. contortus were 67.2 and 85.8% lower for COWP-treated sheep and goats, respectively. In this study, COWP treatment was equally effective against GIN infection in lambs and kids and appears to be an effective method of controlling GIN infection in small ruminants following weaning.