Conjunctival mucous membrane colour as an indicator for the targeted selective treatment of haemonchosis and of the general health status of peri-urban smallholder goats in southern Malawi

• Large scale study of FAMACHA© scores and gastrointestinal nematode burdens Malawian peri-urban goats. Conjunctival mucous membrane scoring as a method engagement in animal health management. score alone was poor index for targeted selective treatment nematodes. Combined age, body condition sensitive haemonchosis. Sustainable control haemonchosis will support livelihoods goat keepers. The world’s growing population is becoming increasingly centred around large cities, affording opportunities food production. Goats are well-suited to conversion resources that available settings into meat occasionally milk. Haemonchus contortus has been described “the nemesis small ruminant production systems tropical subtropical regions”; hence through planned management affords pragmatic first step improving the efficiency This investigated potential value 452 keepers southern Malawi were visited during three seasonal periods with relevance epidemiology 622, 599 455 individually identified goats clinically examined dry season, rainy shortly after end respectively. Data recorded sex, weight, conjunctival colour (FAMACHA©), (BCS) faecal worm egg count (FEC); where possible pregnancy lactation status. Animals pale ocular membranes treated 10 mg/kg albendazole, then re-examined 14 days later. pink membranes, but FECs ?250 eggs per gram also results show high variability growth rates deduced from ages bodyweights each 999 at time their enrolment. haemonchosis, because they failed identify too many animals would have required different times year using FEC cut-offs. Combining indices ?4, ?2, age >18 months more reliable identifying those requiring when epidemiologically-relevant thresholds seasons taken account. Inclusion late or early status resulted very few being missed. use this way provided valuable insight general goats, create improve productivity. efficacy albendazole poor, putatively due drug resistance, bioavailability In summary, our shows better demonstrates simple clinical diagnostic decision tools