Semester of Graduation

May 2024

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Department

School of Animal Sciences

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

Gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) are a major constraint to small ruminant health and production throughout the world. Haemonchus contortus commonly known as the “barber pole worm” is a major concern for producers and veterinarians because of the severe anemia, and other clinical symptoms these worms cause. For decades, anthelmintics have been used to control the GIN burden small ruminants face. Katahdin (n=36) and Hampshire sheep (n=12) were used in a randomized block design experiment over a 30-day period. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Duddingtonia flagrans spores, the active ingredient in a commercial product, Bioworma® (International Animal Health Products Pty Ltd, Australia), when thoroughly combined with a mineral mix and aged for seven days prior to feeding. Three treatment groups were utilized: control, Bioworma fed in concentrate (BWC) and Bioworma fed in mineral (BWM). Coprocultures were set up twice a week in order to allow the nematode eggs in the feces to develop to third-stage larvae (L3s) which were then counted. The percentage of larvae recovered was then calculated per culture and least squares means by treatment were reported. The percentage of larvae recovered from Bioworma-treated animals was consistently lower than the percentage of larvae recovered from animals in the control group. There was no difference in the percentage of larvae recovered when BWC and BWM treatments were compared. These data support the effectiveness of Bioworma when it has previously been mixed with a mineral supplement at least seven days prior to feeding.

Date

4-4-2024

Committee Chair

Cathleen C. Williams

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