47 Effect of Summer Heat Stress on Internal Parasite Populations in Lebanese Baladi Goats

Abstract Gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infections affecting ruminants pose serious problems whenever management systems are deficient with inappropriate nutrition and sanitation. The Lebanese Baladi goat, reared under very challenging transhumant conditions, is recently being challenged nutrient availability due to the recent economic crisis. Therefore, prevalence of helminth parasites was studied in 90 does raised three different (Man) intensive/managed (M), extensive/pastoral (P) or semi-intensive/agro-pastoral (AP). A 5-point score assessment fat muscle covering using Body Condition Score (BCS), anemic state revealed by conjunctivae mucosal color FAMACHA, nostril discharge, stool character bottle jaw edema were recorded twice for each system at two predetermined summer periods heat stress (HS) THI 20 24 respectively, fecal samples collected. Fecal eggs (FEC) protozoan oocyst count (FOC) analyzed a modified McMaster method. Results showed that BCS not altered (P > 0.05) between periods, but decreased M. FAMACHA did differ M, P AP. All tested strongyles nematodes, while 98% Eimeria spp. occasional occurrence Scrjabinema Moniezia. Parasitic burden GIN low 17%, high 98 %. Further, there significant < 0.001) Man x HS HOTC, 5-fold greater AP M late summer, indicating contaminated overgrazed agro-pastoral land. Though effect obvious on endoparasite goats, confounding effects resilience GIN, nutritional these locally resilient goats require further investigation. This study reports, first time Lebanon, method Local therefore methods validation on-farm use.